The Man In Black against illness and death

Even at the recording sessions for "Unchained" Johnny Cash several times had to insert disease-related breaks, how badly he was doing, but was only in October 1997, apparently when he almost collapsed at a concert. Cash was suffering from a nervous disease that slowly more and more weakened his body and made further tours impossible. However, cash settled once again not be beaten, decided to forget the name of the disease and continue to make music.
"Solitary Man", the third album from the "American Recordings" - series, finally appeared in Ocotber 2000. Again under the production Rick Rubin and with the participation of several guest stars emerged, represents the album an impressive statement of the Man In Black to his state and against his struggle is.
The theme of the songs is very bleak, heavy strokes of fate and death are omnipresent, but despite its obvious weakness cash are here more determined than ever to never give up. The cover picture shows the Man in Black in the penumbra, slung the guitar. Cash appears slightly bent, but still unbroken by the merciless fate. Its sonorous baritone acts here for the first time brittle and rough, you can hear him on the serious illness, but also you can hear in every song Cash's determination not to let them be distracted.
The song material is once again excellent, whether originals or excellent selected cover versions. Tom Petty's "I Will not Back Down" or "One" by U2 win by the powerful interpretation and Cash's unmistakable perseverance much intensity and depth. The subject of death is on "Solitary Man" frequently and treated without false pathos, whether in the dramatic ballad "Mary Of The Wild Moor", the defiant "Nobody", in Will Oldham's "I See A Darkness" (a great duet with Oldham itself) or, particularly dramatically in Nick Cave's "The Mercy Seat", the absolute highlight of the album. Besides Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, who have been involved in "Unchained", various guest musicians are again represented that provide all a first-class contribution, so there June Carter Cash and Sheryl Crow in "Field of Diamonds" to hear and Merle Haggard's to "I'm Leavin 'Now" a congenial duet partner. The album ends with the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger", a song that once represented more Cash's unwavering faith and points to the death not as a terrible fate, but as Savior and a new beginning.
"Solitary Man" is, despite the gloomy theme, one of the strongest albums that Cash ever published, impressive by the inflexibility of the Man in Black and the excellent quality of sonds and the musicians. A statement for not to let it get out of heavy blows, and, despite the Allegenwart of death, one of tröstlichtsten albums that I know.