An album titled Songwriter has been unveiled this month featuring previously unheard songs by the late Johnny Cash from 1993, just before his notable late-career resurgence with Rick Rubin. During this period, Cash found himself without a record deal and decided to record a collection of primarily solo-acoustic demos of songs he had composed over the years. These raw demos have been augmented with additional production and musicians, offering a new perspective on Cash’s work.
Produced by Johnny Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, and his long-time engineer David “Fergie” Ferguson, the Songwriter album incorporates contributions from many of Cash’s original collaborators. Following the release of “Well Alright,” the album is now showcasing “Spotlight,” a polished and orchestrated piece that diverges significantly from Cash’s initial acoustic rendition.
“Spotlight” features a lush orchestration with prominent string arrangements and includes performances from established Johnny Cash accompanists such as Marty Stuart, Pete Abbott, and the late bassist Dave Roe. Notably, the track also incorporates the talents of Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys, who was brought in by David Ferguson. Auerbach expressed his excitement, stating, “It was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to play guitar on a Johnny Cash song. Hearing his voice through the speakers in my studio sent chills down my spine. I can’t thank John Carter and Fergie enough for including me.” Experience the song below.
Songwriter is set to be released on 6/28 via Mercury Nashville/UMe.
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