The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me was released in 1974 by Columbia Records, produced by Johnny Cash. The album is a concept album addressing themes of addiction, redemption, and spirituality, with a title referring to three characters: a junkie, a juicehead (alcoholic), and Cash himself.
The album includes original songs written by Cash, such as 'The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me' and 'If I Had a Hammer', as well as covers of gospel hymns like 'What Is Man?' and 'Jesus Was Our Savior and Cotton Was Our King'. The production is minimalist, with Cash primarily accompanied by his guitar and his wife June Carter Cash on backing vocals.
Although the album was not a major commercial success, it reached number 49 on the Billboard country albums chart. It is considered a personal and experimental work in Cash's discography, reflecting his own struggles with addiction and his Christian faith.