The Mystery of Life

Infobox Album
Name = The Mystery of Life
Type = Album
Artist = Johnny Cash

Released = Original: March 1991
Re-issued: February 11, 2003
Recorded = September 1986 -
September 1990
Genre = Country
Length = Original: 30:17
Re-issue: 35:01
Label = Mercury
Producer = Jack Clement
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jsh1z8oajyvj link]
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|cut [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=johnny+cash link]
Chronology = Johnny Cash
Last album = "Highwayman 2"
(1990)
This album = "The Mystery of Life"
(1991)
Next album = "Return to the Promised Land"
(1993)

"The Mystery of Life" is an album by country singer Johnny Cash, released in 1991 (see 1991 in music). It was his last for Mercury. Included on the album are new recordings of two songs already associated with Cash from his Sun and Columbia days, "Hey Porter" and "Wanted Man." "I'll Go Somewhere and Sing My Songs Again" is a duet with Tom T. Hall. The album's poor performance on the charts - it peaked at No. 70 - and that of "Goin' by the Book", the only single to chart (at No. 69), coupled with Cash's unsteady relationship with his label, ensured his departure from it following the record's release. In 2003 (see 2003 in music), the album was re-released, with "The Wanderer" from U2's 1993 album "Zooropa" as a bonus track. In 2006, "I'm an Easy Rider" and "Beans for Breakfast" were used in the soundtrack to the video game "".

Track listing

All tracks composed by Johnny Cash; except where indicated

#"The Greatest Cowboy of Them All" – 3:34
#"I'm an Easy Rider" – 2:36
#"The Mystery of Life" (Joe Nixon) – 3:11
#"Hey Porter" – 2:20
#"Beans for Breakfast" – 3:18
#"Goin' by the Book" (Chet Atkins/Les Paul) – 3:19
#"Wanted Man" (Bob Dylan) – 2:52
#"I'll Go Somewhere and Sing My Songs Again" (Tom T. Hall) – 3:11
#*With Tom T. Hall
#"The Hobo Song" (John Prine) – 3:32
#"Angel and the Badman" – 2:24

Bonus tracks

#"The Wanderer" (Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr.) – 4:44

Personnel

* Johhny Cash - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
* Anita Carter, Jim Dant, Debra Dekelaita, Jay Patten, John Prine, Pat McLaughlin - Background Vocals
* Jack Clement - Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Ukulele, Producer
* David Ferguson - Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Engineer, Mixing, Assistant Producer
* Jamie Hartford - Background Vocals, Mandolin
* Claude Hill - Background Vocals, Project Coordinator
* Irving Kane - Background Vocals, Horn
* Marty Stuart - Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Arranger
* Jim Soldi - Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
* Jimmy Tittle - Background Vocals, Electric Bass
* Lloyd Green - Steel Guitar
* Kerry Marx - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
* Mark Howard - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Engineer, Mixing Assistant
* W.S. Holland, Kenny Malone, Jody Maphis - Percussion, Drums
* Roy Huskey, Jr. , Steve Logan - Acoustic Bass
* Earl Ball - Piano
* Joey Miskulin - Piano, Accordion, Keyboards, Arranger
* Jack Hale, Bob Lewin - Horn
* Mark O'Connor - Fiddle

Additional personnel

* Andy McKaie, Brian Eno - Producers
* Claudia Mize - Executive Producer
* Richard Adler Engineer
* Benny Quinn - Mastering
* Suha Gur - Digital Remastering
* Mike Fink - Design
* Alan Messer - Photography
* Vartan - Art Direction
* Kim Markovchick - Executive Art Direction
* Ryan Null - Photo Research
* Harold Shedd - Production Executive
* Beth Stempel, Mary Todd-Roberts - Production Coordination
* June Carter Cash - Liner Notes

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)

External links

* [http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/c/Cash/cash_mysteryof.htm Luma Electronic entry on "The Mystery of Life"]