Studio Album · No. 27
The Rambler Songwriting Credits by Johnny Cash
Holds writing credit on 7 of 7 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 7 / 7 documented
Scored across the 7 tracks with documented writers, by whether Johnny Cash carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 7 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
The Rambler is one of the few Johnny Cash albums to feature only songs written by Cash himself, and it was the last to do so. Conceived as a concept album about travel, it threads spoken dialogue passages between the songs as the narrator drives cross-country, giving Cash full authorship of both the music and the narrative. Songs such as 'Lady,' 'After the Ball,' 'No Earthly Good,' and 'A Wednesday Car' are all his own compositions. It was also his last non-religious concept album.
The Rambler is a 1977 country concept album by Johnny Cash, released June 27 on Columbia Records and produced by Charlie Bragg, Jack Routh, and Cash. Built around the theme of traveling, the record interweaves songs with eight spoken dialogue segments between Cash and the hitchhikers and strangers he meets on a cross-country trip. Key tracks include "Hit the Road and Go," "Lady," and "After the Ball," with "Lady" reaching number 46 and "After the Ball" number 32 on the country singles chart. The album peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It stands out as the last and one of the few Johnny Cash albums to feature only songs written by Cash himself, and his final non-religious concept album.
Track Listing & Credits 7 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Hit the Road and Go
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
If It Wasn't for the Wabash River
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
After Taxes
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
No Earthly Good
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
A Wednesday Car
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
My Cowboy's Last Ride
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Calico (The Rambler's Song)
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Charlie BraggLarry Butler | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |