The release was a result of the success of the 2005 career-spanning compilation The Legend of Johnny Cash. The follow-up similarly includes songs performed by Cash at various stages of his career, starting from "There You Go" from the mid-1950s and ending on a number of selections from the singer's American series, including a version of "In the Sweet By and By" from My Mother's Hymn Book and a live, orchestral version of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire".
The release was driven by the success of The Legend of Johnny Cash (2005), a career-spanning compilation. Its follow-up includes songs Cash performed at different points in his career, starting with "There You Go" from the mid-1950s and ending on various selections from his American series, such as an interpretation of "In the Sweet By and By" from My Mother's Hymn Book and a live orchestral version of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire".