Album: American VI: Ain't No Grave

Overview
"American VI: Ain't No Grave" is the last installment in Johnny Cash's American Recordings series and was launched on February 23, 2010, almost seven years after his death in 2003. The album consists of cover songs and initial material chosen by Cash and producer Rick Rubin during their cooperations. While Cash was suffering from numerous health concerns during the recording sessions, his intensifying condition forced him to rely on a wheelchair and oxygen device. Regardless of these difficulties, "American VI: Ain't No Grave" showcases Cash's deep spirituality, themes of redemption, and death, along with his iconic baritone voice.

Production and Recording
"American VI: Ain't No Grave" was mainly taped in the final months of Cash's life, while he continued to work with longtime producer Rick Rubin. The album marks their 6th partnership in the American Recordings series which started in 1994. The duo aimed to complete the album before Cash's passing, but numerous tracks were unfinished when he died in September 2003. Rubin resumed deal with the album later on, eventually assembling 10 songs which formed the final tracklisting.

With the recording sessions happening at Cash's estate and the Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research in Los Angeles, Rubin acknowledges that Cash's declining health affected the process. However, he believes that they were able to catch the essence of Cash's spirit and his message to his fans. Rubin's production choices on the album improve Cash's raw efficiency, staying real to the minimalist technique followed throughout the American Recordings series.

Album Artwork and Release
The album cover includes a picture of Johnny Cash taken by Martyn Atkins, and the title "Ain't No Grave" is a reference to the gospel song "Ain't No Grave (Gon na Hold This Body Down)" by Claude Ely. While the initial plans were to launch the album on the fifth anniversary of Cash's death, various aspects delayed the release to February 23, 2010, which would have been Cash's 78th birthday.

Upon release, the album received normally positive reviews, with critics valuing Cash's vulnerability and the ongoing success of his collaborations with Rubin. "American VI: Ain't No Grave" debuted at number 3 on the United States Billboard 200 chart and together with "American V: Hundred Highways", it went on to offer over a million copies, a substantial business success for a posthumous release.

Tracks and Themes
"American VI: Ain't No Grave" is a collection of 10 tracks, including covers and original material by Johnny Cash, handpicked by the singer and Rick Rubin. Throughout the album, Cash's deep baritone voice reveals his vulnerability and conviction in his beliefs. The opening track, "Ain't No Grave (Gon na Hold This Body Down)", embodies Cash's assertion of getting rid of death and continuing his musical journey. Other tracks like "Redemption Day" by Sheryl Crow and "I Don't Hurt Anymore" by Hank Snow depict styles of redemption and forgiveness present throughout the record.

Cash's performance of Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times" stresses life's fleeting nature, while "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream", an anti-war anthem, brings a message of peace and optimism. Money's original song, "1 Corinthians 15:55", poses questions about mortality and the afterlife. The closing track, "Aloha Oe", is a bittersweet farewell, with Cash bidding adieu to his audience, ending the album and American Recordings series on a poignant note.

"American VI: Ain't No Grave" offers Johnny Cash's fans one last peek into his world, where he faces his mortality and showcases his steady belief in redemption. The album works as a fitting closure to his renowned career and the American Recordings series, leaving behind a tradition that continues to motivate generations of musicians and fans alike.