Greatest!
Encyclopedia
Greatest! is the fourth album
by country
singer Johnny Cash
, released on Sun Records
on 12 January 1959 (see 1959 in music
). It was Cash's third record on the label, which he had left the previous year to join Columbia Records
. By the time the album was released, Cash had already recorded The Fabulous Johnny Cash
, his first album with Columbia. The tracks on Greatest! were recorded between July 1955 and July 1958. Six out of the twelve songs became singles, with "Get Rhythm
" topping the Country charts and becoming the most successful one. The album was rereleased on Varèse Sarabande
on May 6, 2003 (see 2003 in music
) with four additional tracks, two of them being alternate versions of songs already on the record.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, released on Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
on 12 January 1959 (see 1959 in music
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
). It was Cash's third record on the label, which he had left the previous year to join Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. By the time the album was released, Cash had already recorded The Fabulous Johnny Cash
The Fabulous Johnny Cash
The Fabulous Johnny Cash is the third album by country singer Johnny Cash. It was released in January 1959 by the Columbia label, after Cash's departure from Sun Records, and was re-issued in 2002 by Sony Music's Legacy imprint...
, his first album with Columbia. The tracks on Greatest! were recorded between July 1955 and July 1958. Six out of the twelve songs became singles, with "Get Rhythm
Get Rhythm
"Get Rhythm" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. It was released in September 1969 as a single.-Content:...
" topping the Country charts and becoming the most successful one. The album was rereleased on Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...
on May 6, 2003 (see 2003 in music
2003 in music
-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
) with four additional tracks, two of them being alternate versions of songs already on the record.
Track listing
- "Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye" (Gene AutryGene AutryOrvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, Johnny Marvin) – 2:14 - "I Just Thought You'd Like to Know" (Charlie RichCharlie RichCharles Rich was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver...
) – 2:23 - "You Tell Me" (Roy OrbisonRoy OrbisonRoy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
) – 1:48 - "Just About Time" (Cash) – 2:07
- "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" (Stan Kesler, Charlie FeathersCharlie FeathersCharles Arthur "Charlie" Feathers was an influential American rockabilly and country music performer.-Biography:...
) – 2:09 - "Katy Too" (Cash, Jack ClementJack ClementJack Henderson Clement is an American singer, songwriter, and a record and film producer.Raised and educated in Memphis, Jack Clement was performing at an early age...
) – 1:57 - "Thanks a Lot" (Rich) – 2:38
- "Luther Played the Boogie" (Cash) – 2:03
- "You Win AgainYou Win Again (song)"You Win Again" is a 1987 song written and performed by the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb wrote the melody while brother Maurice conceived the drum sounds that open the track....
" (Hank Williams) – 2:18 - "Hey Good Lookin'Hey Good Lookin' (song)"Hey Good Lookin" is a 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams, and his version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. Since its original 1951 recording it has been covered by a variety of artists.-Chart performance:...
'" (Williams) – 1:41 - "I Could Never Be Ashamed of You" (Williams) – 2:14
- "Get RhythmGet Rhythm"Get Rhythm" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. It was released in September 1969 as a single.-Content:...
" (Cash) – 2:14
Bonus tracks
- "Fool's Hall of Fame" (Jerry Freeman, Danny Wolfe) – 2:26
- "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" (Kesler, Feathers) – 2:11
- "Hey Good Lookin'" (Williams) – 1:43
- "Rock and Roll Ruby" (Cash) – 1:42
Charts
Singles - Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | "Just About Time" | Country Singles | 30 |
| 1959 | "Thanks a Lot" | Country Singles | 12 |
| 1959 | "Luther Played the Boogie" | Country Singles | 8 |
| 1959 | "Katy Too" | Country Singles | 11 |
| 1959 | "Cry Cry Cry" | Pop Singles | 66 |
| 1959 | "Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye" | Country Singles | 22 |
| 1959 | "Get Rhythm" | Country Singles | 1 |