The 1991 grunge anthem Johnny Cash was nervous to record: “Not my kind of song”
Johnny Cash was reportedly nervous about recording Soundgarden’s 1991 grunge anthem ‘Rusty Cage’, initially saying it was not the sort of song he usually performed. His eventual version demonstrated the interpretive range of his later work with producer Rick Rubin, recasting a hard-rock song in Cash’s stark, distinctive style.
Written by Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, ‘Rusty Cage’ appeared on the band’s 1991 album Badmotorfinger. Cash recorded it for his 1996 album Unchained, with the cover becoming one of the most striking examples of his American Recordings-era reinvention.
- Cash initially doubted Soundgarden’s ‘Rusty Cage’.
- Rick Rubin helped bring the cover to life.
- The recording showcased Cash’s late-career reinvention.