Studio Album · No. 12
Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West Songwriting Credits by Johnny Cash
Holds writing credit on 5 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 5 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Johnny Cash carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
This Old West concept double album blends Cash originals, covers, and traditional ballads he arranged. Cash wrote 'Hiawatha's Vision,' 'Hardin Wouldn't Run,' 'Mean as Hell,' and 'Reflections,' and co-wrote 'The Road to Kaintuck' with June Carter, while adapting traditionals such as 'I Ride an Old Paint,' 'Streets of Laredo,' and 'Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie' under his own arrangement credit. The remaining tracks are covers by notable writers: 'The Ballad of Boot Hill' (Carl Perkins), '25 Minutes to Go' (Shel Silverstein), 'Stampede' (Peter La Farge), 'The Blizzard' (Harlan Howard), 'Johnny Reb' (Merle Kilgore), 'Sweet Betsy from Pike' (Jimmie Driftwood), and 'Mister Garfield,' a traditional song about President Garfield's assassination.
"Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West" is a 1965 concept double album by Johnny Cash, drawing on Western and bluegrass styles, released on Columbia Records and produced by Don Law and Frank Jones. The set explores Old West history through ballads including "The Ballad of Boot Hill," "Streets of Laredo," "Sweet Betsy from Pike," and Shel Silverstein's "25 Minutes to Go." Cash was backed by the Tennessee Three, with Luther Perkins on guitar, Marshall Grant on bass, and W.S. Holland on drums, plus contributors such as Norman Blake, Charlie McCoy, Mother Maybelle Carter, and the Statler Brothers. The album reached number 4 on the Country Albums chart, and its single "Mr. Garfield" peaked at number 15 on the country singles chart in 1965. Cash later performed "25 Minutes to Go" during his 1968 Folsom Prison concert.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Hiawatha's Vision
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
The Road to Kaintuck
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
The Shifting, Whispering Sands
|
V. C. Gilbert | Mary M. Hadler | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Ballad of Boot Hill
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
I Ride an Old Paint
|
Traditional | Traditional | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
The Streets of Laredo
|
Traditional | Traditional | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Johnny Reb
|
Dorsey Dixon | Dorsey Dixon | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Mr. Garfield
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Remember the Alamo
|
Jane Bowers | Jane Bowers | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
The Rebel, Johnny Yuma
|
Andrew J. Fenady | Richard Markowitz | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
|
Traditional | Traditional | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Mean as Hell
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |