Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash
Encyclopedia
Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash is a compilations album by country
singer Johnny Cash
, released on Columbia Records
in 1963 (see 1963 in music
). This album collects tracks from singles and an EP released between 1959 and 1963, Cash's first years on the Columbia label. "Ring of Fire
", one of Cash's most famous tracks, made its first LP appearance here. Ring of Fire was the first #1 album when Billboard debuted their Country Album Chart on Jan. 11, 1964. It was certified Gold on 2/11/1965
by the R.I.A.A.
Singles - Billboard (North America)
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 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...
in 1963 (see 1963 in music
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
). This album collects tracks from singles and an EP released between 1959 and 1963, Cash's first years on the Columbia label. "Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (song)
"Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...
", one of Cash's most famous tracks, made its first LP appearance here. Ring of Fire was the first #1 album when Billboard debuted their Country Album Chart on Jan. 11, 1964. It was certified Gold on 2/11/1965
by the R.I.A.A.
Track listing
- "Ring of FireRing of Fire (song)"Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...
" (June Carter CashJune Carter CashValerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
, Merle KilgoreMerle KilgoreWyatt Merle Kilgore was an American singer, songwriter, and manager.-Early life:Although born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Merle Kilgore was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the son of Wyatt and Gladys B. Kilgore...
) – 2:38- Single A-side (April 1963)
- "I'd Still Be There" (Cash, Johnny HortonJohnny HortonJohn Gale "Johnny" Horton was an American country music and rockabilly singer most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s...
) – 2:34- "Ring of Fire" B-side (April 1963)
- "What Do I Care" (Cash) – 2:07
- "All Over Again" B-side (September 1958)
- "I Still Miss SomeoneI Still Miss Someone"I Still Miss Someone" is the title of a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Johnny Cash. He first recorded it in 1958 as the b-side to "Don't Take Your Guns to Town".-History:...
" (Johnny Cash, Roy Cash) – 2:35- "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" B-side (December 1958), this version appears on The Fabulous Johnny CashThe Fabulous Johnny CashThe 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...
(January 1959)
- "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" B-side (December 1958), this version appears on The Fabulous Johnny Cash
- "Forty Shades of Green" (Cash) – 2:54
- "The Rebel - Johnny Yuma" B-side (April 1961)
- "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord" (Traditional) with The Carter Family – 3:56
- "Peace In The Valley" B-side (October 1962)
- "The Rebel - Johnny Yuma" (Richard Markowitz, Andrew Fenady) – 1:52
- From Johnny Yuma EP (1959)
- "Bonanza" (Jay LivingstonJay LivingstonJay Livingston was an American composer and singer best known as half of a songwriting duo with Ray Evans that specialized in songs composed for films. Livingston wrote the music and Evans the lyrics....
, Ray EvansRay EvansRaymond Bernard Evans was an American songwriter. He was a partner in a composing and songwriting duo with Jay Livingston, known for the songs they composed for films...
) – 2:20- Single A-side (August 1962)
- "The Big Battle" (Cash) – 4:03
- Single A-side (February 1962)
- "Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo (song)"Remember the Alamo" is a song written by Texan folk singer and songwriter Jane Bowers. Bowers details the last days of 180 soldiers at the Alamo and names several famous figures who fought at the Alamo, including Mexican general Santa Anna and Texans: Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis and Davy...
" (Jane Bowers) – 2:50- From Johnny Yuma EP (1959)
- "Tennessee Flat Top BoxTennessee Flat Top Box"Tennessee Flat Top Box" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Johnny Cash. It was released as a single in late 1961, reaching 11 on the Billboard country singles charts and 84 on the pop charts...
" (Cash) – 3:00- Single A-side (September 1961)
- "Peace In The ValleyPeace in the Valley"Peace in the Valley" is a 1937 song written by Thomas A. Dorsey, originally for Mahalia Jackson. The song became a hit in 1951 for Red Foley and the Sunshine Boys, reaching No. 7 on the Country & Western Best Seller chart. It was among the first gospel recordings to sell one million copies...
" (Thomas A. DorseyThomas A. DorseyThomas Andrew Dorsey was known as "the father of black gospel music" and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes known as "dorseys." Earlier in his life he was a leading blues pianist known as Georgia Tom.As formulated by Dorsey,...
) with The Carter Family – 2:47- Single A-side (October 1962)
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - Vocals, Guitar
- Luther PerkinsLuther PerkinsLuther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
, 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...
, Norman BlakeNorman Blake (American musician)Norman Blake is an instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 50 years Blake has played in a number of folk and Country groups...
- Guitar - Marshall GrantMarshall GrantMarshall Garnett Grant was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cash's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist Luther Perkins played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland...
- Bass - Buddy HarmanBuddy HarmanBuddy Harman was an American session musician.-Career:Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Connie Francis, Chet Atkins, Marty Robbins, Roger Miller,...
, Morris Palmer, W. S. HollandW. S. HollandW. S. "Fluke" Holland is a drummer who worked extensively with numerous rock and roll musicians, beginning with Carl Perkins, but became well known as the drummer in singer Johnny Cash's succession of backing bands: The Tennessee Three, The Great Eighties Eight, and The Johnny Cash Show Band...
- Drums - Bill PursellBill PursellBill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist. He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player....
- Piano - Billy Lathum - Banjo
- Maybelle CarterMaybelle Carter"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
- Autoharp - Karl Garvin, Bill McElhiney - Trumpet
Additional Personnel
- Produced By: Don Law and Frank Jones
- Reissue Producer: Bob Irwin
- Digitally Remastered for CD by: Vic Anesini, Sony Music Studios, NY
- Cover Photo: Frank Bez
- Liner Notes: Joe Goldberg
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Country Albums | 1 |
| 1963 | Pop Albums | 26 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "The Rebel - Johnny Yuma" | Country Singles | 24 |
| 1961 | "Tennessee Flat Top Box" | Country Singles | 11 |
| 1961 | "Tennessee Flat Top Box" | Pop Singles | 84 |
| 1962 | "The Big Battle" | Country Singles | 24 |
| 1962 | "Bonanza" | Pop Singles | 94 |
| 1963 | "What Do I Care" | Country Singles | 7 |
| 1963 | "What Do I Care" | Pop Singles | 52 |
| 1963 | "Ring of Fire" | Country Singles | 1 |
| 1963 | "Ring of Fire" | Pop Singles | 17 |