The Fabulous Johnny Cash was Johnny Cash’s first album for Columbia, released in November 1958 (CL 1253 in mono, CS 8122 in stereo) after he left Sun Records. Don Law produced it at the Bradley Film and Recording Studio on 16th Avenue South in Nashville. Most of the twelve songs were cut over two days, 8 and 13 August 1958; “Suppertime” is from a session on 24 July.
Cash is on vocals and acoustic guitar, with Luther Perkins on electric guitar, Marshall Grant on bass, Morris Palmer on drums and Marvin Hughes on piano. Don Helms played steel guitar at the 13 August session, and the Jordanaires added background vocals. Five of the songs are Cash’s own, among them “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” “Run Softly, Blue River” and “Pickin’ Time,” and the set also includes Bob Nolan’s “One More Ride,” Cindy Walker’s “The Troubadour,” and “I Still Miss Someone,” which Cash wrote with Roy Cash.
“Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” a story about a young cowboy who ignores his mother’s warning, was released as a single in December 1958 with “I Still Miss Someone” on the other side. It reached number one on Billboard’s country chart and stayed there six weeks, and also reached number 32 on the pop chart. The album peaked at number 19 on Billboard’s Best Selling LP’s chart.
Tracklist
- 1 Run Softly, Blue River 2:20
- 2 Frankie's Man, Johnny 2:18
- 3 That's All Over 1:55
- 4 The Troubadour 2:16
- 5 One More Ride 2:02
- 6 That's Enough 2:43
- 7 I Still MIss Someone alt version 2:34
- 8 Don't Take Your Guns to Town 3:03
- 9 I'd Rather Die Young 2:32
- 10 Pickin' Time 1:59
- 11 Shepherd of My Heart 2:15
- 12 Suppertime 2:50
