John R. Cash
Encyclopedia
John R. Cash is an album
by country
singer Johnny Cash
, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
) on Columbia Records
. The album consists mostly of covers of others' songs. The first track, a version of "My Old Kentucky Home
", the state song of Kentucky
, was released as a single, though "The Lady Came from Baltimore" achieved greater success on the charts, reaching No. 14. The Cash original "Lonesome to the Bone" had previously appeared on Ragged Old Flag
(1974) and would make one more appearance on Silver
(1979).
Cash himself disliked John R. Cash, criticizing both the album, and its production process, in his 1997 autobiography
, Cash: The Autobiography
. He claimed the release was "[the CBS bosses'] idea of an album to restore [Cash's] sales potential", mentioning that the instrumental tracks were recorded separately from the vocals.
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 in 1975 (see 1975 in music
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
) on 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...
. The album consists mostly of covers of others' songs. The first track, a version of "My Old Kentucky Home
My Old Kentucky Home
"My Old Kentucky Home" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster , probably composed in 1852. It was published as "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" in January 1853 by Firth, Pond, & Co. of New York...
", the state song of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, was released as a single, though "The Lady Came from Baltimore" achieved greater success on the charts, reaching No. 14. The Cash original "Lonesome to the Bone" had previously appeared on Ragged Old Flag
Ragged Old Flag
Ragged Old Flag is an album by American country music singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1974 . The album addresses several political as well as ethical issues, not unlike many of Cash's other releases. The title track, and simultaneously the only single from the album, is a spoken...
(1974) and would make one more appearance on Silver
Silver (Johnny Cash album)
Silver is an album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1979. It peaked at #28 on the albums chart. " Riders In The Sky" peaked at #2 on the singles chart; the two other singles, "Bull Rider" and "I'll Say It's True", reached #66 and #42, respectively...
(1979).
Cash himself disliked John R. Cash, criticizing both the album, and its production process, in his 1997 autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Cash: The Autobiography
Cash: The Autobiography
Cash: The Autobiography is a 1997 autobiography of Johnny Cash, country musician, written twenty years after his first autobiography, Man in Black. Cash co-wrote this book with Patrick Carr. Cash's autobiographies were the basis for the award-winning biopic Walk the Line in 2005....
. He claimed the release was "[the CBS bosses'] idea of an album to restore [Cash's] sales potential", mentioning that the instrumental tracks were recorded separately from the vocals.
Track listing
- "My Old Kentucky HomeMy Old Kentucky Home"My Old Kentucky Home" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster , probably composed in 1852. It was published as "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" in January 1853 by Firth, Pond, & Co. of New York...
(Turpentine and Dandelion Wine)" (Randy NewmanRandy NewmanRandall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
) – 2:49 - "Hard Times Comin'" (Jack Routh) – 2:40
- "The Lady Came from Baltimore" (Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
) – 2:43 - "Lonesome to the Bone" (Cash) – 2:34
- "The Night They Drove Old Dixie DownThe Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is a song written by Canadian musician Robbie Robertson, first recorded by The Band in 1969 and released on their self-titled second album. Joan Baez' cover of the song was a top-five chart hit in late 1971....
" (Robbie RobertsonRobbie RobertsonRobbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
) – 3:25 - "Clean Your Own Tables" (Chip TaylorChip TaylorJames Wesley Voight , better known by his stage name as Chip Taylor, is an American songwriter, who is noted for writing the songs "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing." He is the brother of actor Jon Voight and geologist Barry Voight...
) – 3:36 - "Jesus Was Our Saviour and Cotton Was Our King" (Billy Joe ShaverBilly Joe ShaverBilly Joe Shaver is a Texas country music singer and songwriter. Shaver's 1973 album Old Five and Dimers Like Me is a classic in the outlaw country genre.-Biography:...
) – 2:46 - "Reason to BelieveReason to Believe"Reason to Believe" is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965, which has since been recorded by a number of other artists, the most known of which is by Rod Stewart in 1971 and 1993...
" (Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
) – 2:08 - "Cocaine Carolina" (David Allan CoeDavid Allan CoeDavid Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
) – 2:38- With David Allan Coe
- "Smokey Factory Blues" (Albert HammondAlbert HammondAlbert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew...
, Mike HazelwoodMike Hazelwood (singer)Mike Hazlewood was an English singer, composer and songwriter.-Biography:Educated at Hazelwick School, in Crawley, West Sussex, Hazlewood began his career as a DJ at the radio station Radio Luxembourg in the early 1960s. In 1966 he founded the group The Family Dogg, together with Albert Hammond...
) – 3:18
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - Vocals, Guitar
- Reggie YoungReggie YoungReggie Young was lead guitarist in the American Sound Studios Band , and is a leading session musician. He played on various recordings with artists such as Elvis Presley, B.J. Thomas, John Prine, Dusty Springfield, J.J...
- Guitar - Henry Strzelecki - Bass
- Kenny MaloneKenny MaloneKenny Malone is an American drummer/percussionist from Nashville, Tennessee. He has been, since the 1970s, and continues to be a prominent session musician in folk, country and many other acoustic-based genres.-References:...
- Drums - Shane KeisterShane KeisterShane Keister is an American musician. He is known for his work as a studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. He plays synthesizer, piano, Hammond B3, Synclavier, Fairlight, Fender Rhodes, and others.-History:...
, Teddy Irwin - Keyboards - David Allan CoeDavid Allan CoeDavid Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
- Harmony Voice - Jackie Ward, The Ron Hicklin SingersRon Hicklin SingersThe Ron Hicklin Singers were a group of Los Angeles studio singers contracted and organized by Ron Hicklin. They are most famously known as the real singers behind the background vocals on The Partridge Family recordings....
- Background Vocals - Harry Bluestone - Strings Concertmaster
- Frank DeCaro - Contractor
- Ron Tutt, Reini Press, David FosterDavid FosterDavid Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, Larry MuhoberacLarry MuhoberacLarry Muhoberac is an American musician, producer and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon....
, Ron Elliot, Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, James BurtonJames BurtonJames Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
, Russ Thelman, Jerry Cole, Victor FeldmanVictor FeldmanVictor Stanley Feldman was a British jazz musician, best known as a pianist.-Early history:...
, Joe PorcaroJoe PorcaroJoseph Porcaro is an American jazz drummer, percussionist and educator....
, Gene Estes, Nick DeCaro, Gene Cipriano - Musicians (Los Angeles)
Additional Personnel
- Produced by: Gary Klein
- Arranged by: Nick DeCaro
- Cover Design: Bill Barnes and Julie Holiner
- Cover Photo: Al Clayton
- Flyleaf Photo: Emerson-Loew
Charts
Singles - Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "The Lady Came from Baltimore" | Country Singles | 14 |
| 1975 | "My Old Kentucky Home (Turpentine and Dandelion Wine)" | Country Singles | 42 |