In the months leading up to his passing in September 2003, Johnny Cash had been recording all-new material with producer Rick Rubin. In the tradition of his previous albums, it features covers from artists Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen.

"Johnny Cash is one of the most beloved and influential country-music stars of all time, having composed more than six hundred songs and sold more than ninety million records. He received twenty-nine gold, platinum, and multiplatinum awards for his recordings and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is the first time Cash's fifty years of...

The Essential Johnny Cash was issued to commemorate Cash's 70th birthday. All of his very biggest hits are here in this 2-disc, 36 track collection.