American V: A Hundred Highways is a posthumously released studio album by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. It was released on July 4, 2006, by American Recordings. As the title implies, it is the fifth entry in Cash's American series. Like its predecessors, the album is produced by Rick Rubin. It was Cash's first No. 1 album in 37 years.Thomson, G. (2011). The Resurrection of Johnny Cash: Hurt, Redemption, and American Recording Jawbone Press, p. 233. It was certified Gold on August 18, 2006, by the RIAA.

Background As with the other albums in the American series, the album includes covers and originals. The originals on this album are "I Came to Believe" and "Like the 309", the latter of which was the last song Cash wrote before his death in 2003. Recorded on August 21, 2003, "Like the 309" was the next-to-last song Cash ever recorded; the last being "Engine One-Forty-Three" which was produced by John Carter Cash and released on the 2004 compilation album The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family. The album takes its name from a lyric on the track "Love's Been Good to Me" by Rod McKuen.

Previous recordings Three songs on the album are updated versions of songs previously recorded by Cash. "Help Me" was previously recorded by Cash for his 1973 album "The Gospel Road". "I Came to Believe" was previously recorded by Cash in the 1980s during the recording sessions that would ultimately result in the posthumous 2014 release Out Among the Stars. "I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now" was previously recorded by Cash for his 1962 album The Sound of Johnny Cash.

Chart performance American V: A Hundred Highways peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 with 88,000 copies sold in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was Cash's first No. 1 album since 1969's Johnny Cash at San Quentin.

Track listing

Personnel Cash engineer David "Fergie" Ferguson (assisted by Jimmy Tittle) and Rubin oversaw the completion of the recordings. Other musicians on the album include keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarists Mike Campbell, Smoky Hormel, Matt Sweeney and Jonny Polonsky.

Johnny Cash – vocal, guitar Laura Cash – fiddle Dennis Crouch – bass guitar Smokey Hormel – guitar Pat McLaughlin – guitar Larry Perkins – guitar Jonny Polonsky – guitar Randy Scruggs – guitar Marty Stuart – guitar Matt Sweeney – guitar Benmont Tench – organ, piano, harpsichord Pete Wade – guitar Mac Wiseman – guitar David Campbell – string arrangements Production and technical staff Martyn Atkins – photography Christine Cano – art direction, design John Carter Cash – executive producer Lindsay Chase – production coordination Greg Fidelman – mixing Paul Figueroa – mixing assistant Dan Leffler – mixing assistant Vlado Meller – mastering Rick Rubin – producer, liner notes Mark Santangelo – mastering assistant Jimmy Tittle – assistant engineer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2006) Peak position

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 86 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 95 UK Albums (OCC) 192 US Billboard 200 182 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 35

Certifications

References

External links "American V: A Hundred Highways" Review on "Cool Album of the Day" USATODAY.com - Johnny Cash's final work yields 2 more albums E! Online News - Johnny Cash's Last "American" Song THE POP LIFE; Johnny Cash's Legacy Of Emotions, on CD's. New York Times (reprinted on JohnnyCashMusic.com). November 27, 2003. Cash Earns First No. 1 Album Since 1969. Billboard July 12, 2006. Luma Electronic's Johnny Cash discography listing