On this day (July 22), Johnny Cash’s second posthumously-released album, American V: A Hundred Highways, debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and the publication’s Top Country Albums chart. It was his first No. 1 on the all-genre survey since Johnny Cash at San Quentin spent four weeks at the summit in 1969.
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Cash established his place among the icons of American music early in his career. However, his album sales suffered during the 1980s. Then, in 1992, he performed at a concert celebrating Bob Dylan and caught the ear of legendary producer Rick Rubin. Later, Rubin approached Cash with a record deal with Def American Recordings. While the Man in Black was skeptical at first, Rubin won him over by offering him creative control over his work. The result was a series of stripped-down albums of original songs and covers.
Johnny Cash Returns to the Top of the Charts with A Hundred Highways
The Rubin-produced albums helped revitalize Cash’s career. The first in the series, simply titled American Recordings, dropped in 1994 and peaked at No. 23 on the Top Country Albums chart. It was his highest-charting solo album since I Would Like to See You Again landed at the same position in 1978. He saw similar success with the following entries in the series. However, American V: A Hundred Highways was the most successful, debuting at No. 1 on the all-genre and country charts.
It was his first solo album to reach the top of the country chart since Man in Black went to No. 1 in 1971. He hadn’t had a No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since Johnny Cash at San Quentin spent four weeks at the top in 1969.
American V: A Hundred Highways was Cash’s final No. 1 on the all-genre album chart. Nearly a decade later, he would top the country albums chart for the final time with Out Among the Stars in 2014.
Featured Image by Beth Gwinn/Redferns
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