As it turns out, we can thank Rick Rubin for throwing Nick Cave and Johnny Cash together. Praise Jesus!
If there’s one thing that brings me absolute joy, it’s opening my inbox to see Nick Cave’s email newsletter waiting for me. I mean, come on, the man is a legend, and to have him respond to his fans with short essays or opinion pieces is nothing short of amazing.
But let’s talk about his latest newsletter, which shines a big, beautiful light on his collaboration with none other than Johnny Cash. I mean, can we just take a moment to appreciate the fact that Rick Rubin was the mastermind behind bringing these two giants together?
Via Red Hand Files issue 224, Nick Cave shares a personal account of his experience singing with the late great Johnny Cash. He talks about how he was initially intimidated by Johnny’s deep, grave voice, which had been a source of inspiration for him since he was a kid watching The Johnny Cash Show on TV.
Nick goes on to describe how he and Johnny ended up singing “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” together in the studio, and how his nerves almost got the best of him. But when Johnny started singing, something amazing happened. The years fell away, and Johnny was completely taken by the spirit. His voice was powerful and possessed, and when he started singing, Nick was moved to tears.
This is the kind of stuff that makes a good email newsletter great. It’s personal, it’s inspiring, and it’s something that you can’t get anywhere else. So if you’re not already subscribed to Nick Cave’s newsletter, what are you waiting for? Trust me, it’s worth it.
Check out the newsletter in full over at Red Hand Files.
Listen to Johnny Cash I’m so Lonesome I could Cry featuring Nick Cave.
