There are guest appearances by country music veteran Marty Stuart (additional guitar on more than half the songs); Flea (bassist from Red Hot Chili Peppers), on "Spiritual"; and by Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood, both of Fleetwood Mac, on "Sea of Heartbreak".

The album also included a cover of the classic 1962 Hank Snow song, "I've Been Everywhere", written by Geoff Mack.

Cash's version of "I've Been Everywhere" has also been used as a soundtrack in Season 2 of the animated series The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.

"Country Boy" was featured on his 1957 debut album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!.

The album was recorded over a six-month period with engineer Sylvia Massy at Sound City Studios.