Studio Album · No. 8
The Sound of Johnny Cash Songwriting Credits by Johnny Cash
Holds writing credit on 6 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 6 / 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
The Sound of Johnny Cash leans heavily on outside writers, with only two of its twelve tracks credited to Cash himself: 'You Remembered Me' and 'Sing It Pretty, Sue.' The remainder are covers and newly sourced material from writers such as Dallas Frazier and Buddy Mize ('Lost on the Desert'), the Glaser brothers, and Cecil A. Null, plus folk standards like Lead Belly's 'Cotton Fields' and Jimmie Rodgers' 'In the Jailhouse Now.' The album's blend of rockabilly, country, and blues reflects this varied authorship.
"The Sound of Johnny Cash" is a 1962 album by Johnny Cash that blends country, rockabilly, and blues, released on Columbia Records and produced by Don Law and Frank Jones. The record includes "In the Jailhouse Now," a Jimmie Rodgers cover that reached number 8 on the Country Singles chart, along with "Delia's Gone," "Cotton Fields," and "Lost on the Desert." Cash was backed by Luther Perkins on lead guitar and Marshall Grant on bass, with Floyd Cramer on piano, Buddy Harman on drums, and Don Helms on steel guitar. The album did not chart on the Billboard album charts, though it produced a top ten country single. During these sessions Cash re-recorded earlier Sun hits such as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line," versions that stayed unreleased until the 1990s.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Lost on the Desert
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Accidentally on Purpose
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
In the Jailhouse Now
#8
|
Jimmie Rodgers | Jimmie Rodgers | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Mr. Lonesome
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
You Remembered Me
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now
|
Lou HerscherSaul Klein | Lou HerscherSaul Klein | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Bonanza!
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
The Rebel, Johnny Yuma
|
Andrew J. Fenady | Richard Markowitz | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Forty Shades of Green
|
Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
I'd Rather Die Young
|
Traditional | Traditional | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Delia's Gone
|
Traditional | Traditional | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
I Forgot to Remember to Forget
|
Stan KeslerCharlie Feathers | Stan KeslerCharlie Feathers | Don Law | Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals) |