Johnny Cash
Johnny 99

Over thirty publications during the 1970s, mainly gospel-oriented and engaged in social themes.

The great successes of the fifties and sixties are distant, compositional fatigue is settled, with timely Christmas albums and collections of bygone times. The creative spark is declining, yet he still manages to place a fair number of singles on the country charts by repeating the established formula.

The eighties pass with partial discontinuity compared to the previous decade: successful collaborations ("Highwaymen" of 1985 with Jennings, Nelson, Kristofferson; "Class of '55" of 1986 with Orbison, Lewis & Perkins) moderately improve opinions about his artistic fortunes.

Individually, he attempts to range from rock and roll to gospel again and the more congenial country and folk, but the reception is always mixed.

He certainly comes into contact with contemporary rock, which floods all the country's radio stations. However, he doesn't let himself be completely overwhelmed: he carefully selects the authors and songs to interpret, once again regarding social themes, marginalization, ethnic minorities, legends of the American tradition. At the same time, he tries to refresh the sound and make it "contemporary."

As an example, one can mention "Johnny 99" from 1983. His last work under Columbia, it presents a reinterpretation of contemporary songs (late seventies - early eighties) and some semi-famous pieces from the past.

From the pure country rock of "New Cut Road," "That's the Truth," and "Girl from the Canyon" to the "ballads" infused with historical reminiscences of "God Bless Robert E. Lee" and "Joshua Gone Barbados," up to the sweet duet with his wife June Carter Cash in "Brand New Dance," the grooves flow smoothly but suffer from sometimes trite arrangements, sometimes mawkish.

The lively and entertaining "I'm Ragged but I'm Right" closes side B and the entire work.

Finally interesting are the reinterpretations of "Highway Patrolman" (lead and best song of the album) and "Johnny 99" by Bruce Springsteen, who released them in 1982 in his much underrated album "Nebraska."

A record quite far from those "American Records" that represent his great artistic renaissance (but also his testament), "Johnny 99" can be (forcing a bit) a kind of vague anticipation.