The Fabulous Johnny Cash Explained

The Fabulous Johnny Cash
Type:	studio
Artist:	Johnny Cash
Cover:	JohnnyCashTheFabulousJohnnyCash.jpg
Released:	November 3, 1958
Recorded:	July 24–August 13, 1958
Studio:	Bradley Studios (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre:	Country
Length:	28:28
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Don Law
Prev Title:	Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!
Prev Year:	1957
Next Title:	Johnny Cash Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous
Next Year:	1958

The Fabulous Johnny Cash is the second studio album by American country singer Johnny Cash and his first to be released by Columbia Records. The album was released on November 3, 1958, not long after Cash's departure from Sun Records.

Content

The album features five tracks written by Cash and backing vocal performances by The Jordanaires (who at this time were also regulars on Elvis Presley's recording sessions for RCA Records). Overall, even though the album is only 29 minutes in length, it is considered one of Cash's most cohesive pieces. This is largely because his sessions with Columbia were completed over a two-month period. That is greatly reduced when compared to the year by year sessions by Sun Records.^[1]

Commercial performance

The Fabulous Johnny Cash was a successful debut on Columbia for Cash as it sold over half a million copies during its initial release.^[2] Although Billboard did not publish a chart for country albums in 1958, the album peaked at #19 on the Billboard Best Selling LP's chart.

Reissues

The album was reissued in 2002 by Sony Music's Legacy imprint. The re-issue contains six bonus tracks and unedited versions of the songs. Legacy reissued the album on 180 gram vinyl for Record Store Day on November 23, 2012.^[3]

Personnel

Musicians

• Johnny Cash - vocals, rhythm guitar
• Luther Perkins - lead guitar
• Don Helms - steel guitar
• Marshall Grant - bass
• The Jordanaires - background vocals
• Marvin Hughes - piano
• Buddy Harman - drums on "Suppertime," "Oh, What a Dream" and "I'll Remember You"
• Morris Palmer - drums

Additional personnel

• Al Quaglieri - Producer
• Don Law - Producer
• Billy Altman - Liner Notes
• Don Hunstein - Photography
• Seth Foster - Mastering
• Mark Wilder - Mastering, Mixing
• Hal Adams - Cover Photo
• Stacey Boyle - Tape Research
• Kay Smith - Tape Research
• Matt Kelly - Tape Research
• Geoff Gillette - Sleeve Design
• Steven Berkowitz - A&R
• Darren Salmieri - A&R
• Patti Matheny - A&R
• Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
• Nick Shaffran - Series Consultant

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1959	"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"	Country Singles	1
1959	"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"	Pop Singles	32
1959	"Frankie's Man, Johnny"	Country Singles	9
1959	"Frankie's Man, Johnny"	Pop Singles	57

References

1. Web site: Johnny Cash. adriandenning.co.uk. March 4, 2015.
2. Web site: Johnny Cash .
3. Web site: Johnny Cash - Fabulous Johnny Cash. johnnycashonline.com. March 4, 2015.