A Raw, Stripped-down Sound

Today in Music History: July 15, 1986

 Songwriter, storyteller and cat lover, Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash In November 2005, the life and times of Johnny Cash were depicted in the movie Walk the Line. His was a career of many highs during the 50s but also plagued with drug-related lows in the 60s. Having signed with Columbia Records in 1960, Cash was lured away from Sun Records (his first label) with a lucrative deal. After 26 years of history-making partnership, on July 15, 1986, Columbia Records dropped him from its roster. While Johnny cash established himself as an iconic figure selling millions upon millions of records for Columbia, the mid-80s brought about a shift in music that caused his numbers to decline drastically. For Columbia, Johnny Cash was no longer profitable.

Cash's first Columbia single, "All Over Again," made the country Top 5.

His second, "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" made it all the way to NO.1.

The best were yet to come... 

Of course, we all know the rest of this story. It was NOT by any means the end of Johnny Cash. His resurgence emerged in 1994 under contract with Mercury Records with the guidance of Rick Rubin.

Under Rubin's influence, Cash moved to a raw, stripped-down sound that proved to be enormously successful with critics, with country traditionalists and with hipster newcomers to country music. When his second Rubin-produced album, Unchained, won a Grammy for Best Country Album in 1998, American Recordings placed a full-page ad in Billboard magazine featuring a 1970 photo of Cash brandishing his middle finger under the sarcastic line of copy, "American Recordings and Johnny Cash would like to acknowledge the Nashville music establishment and country radio for your support."

  

 

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...

Johnny Cash @Awakenings:

1963 Memorable Music Moments

Generations of Country Music

Morsels of Music Moments

Stories Behind the Music

Concerts to Picnics & Beyond