# Unchained (Johnny Cash album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | link |
| Robert Christgau | link |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Unchained, also known as American II: Unchained is the second album in Johnny Cash's American Recordings series (and his 82nd overall). It was released on November 5, 1996, by American Recordings. Like all of Cash's albums for American Recordings, Unchained was produced by Rick Rubin. The album received a Grammy for Best Country Album and Cash was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his version of "Rusty Cage."

## Background

While Cash's first album produced by Rubin featured only his voice and guitar, on Unchained Cash is backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. There are guest appearances by country music veteran Marty Stuart (additional guitar on more than half the songs); Flea (bassist from Red Hot Chili Peppers), on "Spiritual"; and by Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood, both of Fleetwood Mac, on "Sea of Heartbreak".
Unchained focuses on cover song written by other performers. In addition to three of Cash's own compositions, Unchained contained songs by Jude Johnstone ("Unchained"), Tom Petty ("Southern Accents"), Spain ("Spiritual"), Soundgarden ("Rusty Cage"), and Beck ("Rowboat"). The album also included a cover of the classic 1962 Hank Snow song, "I've Been Everywhere", written by Geoff Mack. From 2003 to 2009, Cash's version of "I've Been Everywhere" from this album Unchained has been used in several Choice Hotels commercials and has been the theme for these commercials. It was also used in a USPS commercial from 2021 to 2022. Cash's version of "I've Been Everywhere" has also been used as a soundtrack in Season 2 of the animated series The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. According to biographer Robert Hilburn, Cash also recorded a cover version of Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" during the recording sessions for Unchained, but it was not released.
For Unchained Cash recorded new versions of two songs he'd recorded decades earlier. "Country Boy" was featured on his 1957 debut album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!. He recorded "Mean Eyed Cat" the 1960 album Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams.
The album was recorded over a six-month period with engineer Sylvia Massy at Sound City Studios.

## Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.
* Johnny Cash – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
* Tom Petty – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, Chamberlin
* Mike Campbell – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, mandolin, Dobro
* Benmont Tench – piano, Hammond organ, Vox Continental organ, harmonium, Chamberlin
* Rick DePiro – piano, organ (8, 13)
* Howie Epstein – acoustic guitar, bass
* Steve Ferrone – drums and percussion (1–6, 10, 12, 14)
* Curt Bisquera – drums and percussion (7–8)
* Marty Stuart – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass (1, 4–5, 10–14)
* Flea – bass (7)
* Lindsey Buckingham – acoustic guitar (2)
* Mick Fleetwood – percussion (2)
* Juliet Prater – percussion (3)

### Production and technical staff

* Rick Rubin – producer
* David R. Ferguson – engineer
* Sylvia Massy – engineer, mixing
* John Ewing Jr., Greg Fidelman, Eddie Miller, Michael Stock – assistant engineers
* Gene Grimaldi, Eddy Schreyer – mastering (Oasis Mastering)
* Martyn Atkins – art direction, photography
* Christine Cano – art direction, design, photography, inlay photography
* Andy Earl – photography

## Charts

| Album Chart | Peak position |
| US Billboard 200 | 170 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard) | 26 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC) | 4 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 96 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 23 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 20 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 96 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States | — | 221,000 |