← Back

Rainbow

by Johnny Cash

Released: October 28, 1985

Country

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Genre Shift.

The Album

The album features the single "I'm Leaving Now," which was later re-recorded for Cash's American III: Solitary Man. Its signature song is a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Here Comes That Rainbow Again." This song also appeared on Cash's 1995 collaboration with Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings in The Highwaymen project, though it was sung solo by Kristofferson there. After this album and a duet project with Jennings in 1986, Cash transitioned to Mercury Records due to Columbia's declining interest in his music, though he later returned to Columbia for the second Highwaymen album.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

"Rainbow" is the 70th album by American country…

"Rainbow" is the 70th album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released in 1985 as his last for Columbia Records.

The album also includes a cover of Creedence…

The album also includes a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and the song "Love Me Like You Used To," which became a hit for Tanya Tucker.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Johnny Cash - Rainbow

Open in Albums Gallery

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Rainbow" is the 70th album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released in 1985 as his last for Columbia Records. The album features the single "I'm Leaving Now," which was later re-recorded for Cash's American III: Solitary Man. Its signature song is a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Here Comes That Rainbow Again." This song also appeared on Cash's 1995 collaboration with Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings in The Highwaymen project, though it was sung solo by Kristofferson there. The album also includes a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and the song "Love Me Like You Used To," which became a hit for Tanya Tucker. After this album and a duet project with Jennings in 1986, Cash transitioned to Mercury Records due to Columbia's declining interest in his music, though he later returned to Columbia for the second Highwaymen album.