Heroes (Cash and Jennings album)
Encyclopedia
Heroes is an album
by country
singers Johnny Cash
and Waylon Jennings
, released on Columbia Records
in 1986 (see 1986 in music
). Although the two musicians had collaborated several times before - most notably in 1985 as part of The Highwaymen
, along with Willie Nelson
and Kris Kristofferson
- this was the duo's first and only full-length album.
Heroes was also Cash's last original release on Columbia, with which he parted ways soon after the record's release. "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" charted as a single, reaching No. 35 on the country charts. "Field of Diamonds" was recorded by Cash fourteen years later for American III: Solitary Man
(2000). The last track, "One Too Many Mornings
" is a song written by Bob Dylan
for his album The Times They Are a-Changin'
, and had been recorded, but deemed unusable, by Cash and Dylan in 1969 during the sessions for Nashville Skyline
.
The album got as high as #13 on the Country charts. Unfortunately, Cash the solo artist wouldn't have another higher charting LP until 2000's American III: Solitary Man
(#11 C&W).
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singers Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, released on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1986 (see 1986 in music
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
). Although the two musicians had collaborated several times before - most notably in 1985 as part of The Highwaymen
The Highwaymen (country supergroup)
The Highwaymen were an American supergroup comprising four country music artists well known for, among other things, their involvement and pioneering influence on the outlaw country subgenre: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson...
, along with Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
- this was the duo's first and only full-length album.
Heroes was also Cash's last original release on Columbia, with which he parted ways soon after the record's release. "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" charted as a single, reaching No. 35 on the country charts. "Field of Diamonds" was recorded by Cash fourteen years later for American III: Solitary Man
American III: Solitary Man
American III: Solitary Man is the third album in the American series by Johnny Cash released in 2000. The album was notable for being Cash's highest charting solo studio LP since his 1976 One Piece at a Time , an album that reached No. 2 Country based on the title cut...
(2000). The last track, "One Too Many Mornings
One Too Many Mornings
"One Too Many Mornings" is a song by Bob Dylan, released on his third studio album The Times They Are a-Changin in 1964. The chords and vocal melody are in some places very similar to the song "The Times They Are A-Changin'". "One Too Many Mornings" is in the key of C Major and is fingerpicked...
" is a song written by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
for his album The Times They Are a-Changin'
The Times They Are a-Changin'
The Times They Are a-Changin opens with the title track, one of Dylan's most famous songs. Dylan's friend, Tony Glover, recalls visiting Dylan's apartment in September 1963, where he saw a number of song manuscripts and poems lying on a table. "The Times They Are a-Changin'" had yet to be recorded,...
, and had been recorded, but deemed unusable, by Cash and Dylan in 1969 during the sessions for Nashville Skyline
Nashville Skyline
Nashville Skyline is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's ninth studio album, released by Columbia Records in April 1969.The album marked a dramatic departure for Dylan, previously known for his groundbreaking, poetic folk music and rock and roll...
.
The album got as high as #13 on the Country charts. Unfortunately, Cash the solo artist wouldn't have another higher charting LP until 2000's American III: Solitary Man
American III: Solitary Man
American III: Solitary Man is the third album in the American series by Johnny Cash released in 2000. The album was notable for being Cash's highest charting solo studio LP since his 1976 One Piece at a Time , an album that reached No. 2 Country based on the title cut...
(#11 C&W).
Track listing
- "Folks Out on the Road" (Frank J. Myers, Eddy RavenEddy RavenEdward Garvin Futch is an American country music artist known professionally as Eddy Raven. Known for his Cajun-influenced country music, Raven has been a recording artist since 1962...
) – 2:47 - "I'm Never Gonna Roam Again" (Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) – 2:56 - "American by Birth" (Roger Alan WadeRoger Alan WadeRoger Alan Wade is an American singer-songwriter.According to his website, Roger Alan Wade penned songs for country legends such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, George Jones and Hank Williams Jr. He embarked on a solo career with the promotional assistance of his cousin, actor Johnny Knoxville,...
) – 2:33 - "Field of Diamonds" (Cash, Jack Routh) – 2:37
- "Heroes" (Bobby Emmons, Chips MomanChips MomanLincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman is an American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas, and Merrilee Rush, as well as guiding the career of the Box Tops in Memphis, Tennessee during the 1960s...
) – 4:16 - "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" (Crowell) – 3:03
- "Love Is the Way" (Kris KristoffersonKris KristoffersonKristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
) – 2:31 - "Ballad of Forty Dollars" (Tom T. HallTom T. HallThomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
) – 3:11 - "I'll Always Love You (in My Own Crazy Way)" (Frank Miller, Troy SealsTroy SealsTroy Seals is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.He is a member of the prominent Seals family of musicians that includes, Jim Seals and Dan Seals and Brady Seals...
, Brian SetzerBrian SetzerBrian Setzer is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He first found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly revival group The Stray Cats, and revitalized his career in the late 1990s with a jazz-oriented big band.-Career:Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York...
) – 3:58 - "One Too Many MorningsOne Too Many Mornings"One Too Many Mornings" is a song by Bob Dylan, released on his third studio album The Times They Are a-Changin in 1964. The chords and vocal melody are in some places very similar to the song "The Times They Are A-Changin'". "One Too Many Mornings" is in the key of C Major and is fingerpicked...
" (Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) – 2:38
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - Vocals, Guitar
- Waylon JenningsWaylon JenningsWaylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
- Vocals, Guitar - Rick Yancey, Danny Hogan - Background Vocals
- Al CaseyAl Casey (rock & roll guitarist)Alvin W. Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States...
, J.R. Cobb, Jerry Shook, Reggie Young - Guitar - Marty StuartMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
- Guitar, Mandolin - Ralph Mooney - Steel Guitar
- Larry Butler, Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood - Keyboards
- Gene Chrisman - Drums
- Jimmy Tittle - Bass
- Mike Leech - Bass, Arranger
- The A-Strings - Strings
- Ace CannonAce CannonJohn "Ace" Cannon is an American tenor and alto saxophonist. He played and toured with Hi Records stablemate Bill Black’s Combo, and started a solo career with his record "Tuff" in 1961, using the Black combo as his backing group. "Tuff" hit #17 on the U.S...
, Dennis Good, Wayne Jackson - Horn - Mickey RaphaelMickey RaphaelMichael Siegfried "Mickey" Raphael is a professional harmonica player, best known for his work with Willie Nelson. He has recorded with Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Mötley Crüe, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Chesney, U2 and Neil Young.Raphael's style is mostly second...
- Harp
Additional personnel
- Chips MomanChips MomanLincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman is an American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas, and Merrilee Rush, as well as guiding the career of the Box Tops in Memphis, Tennessee during the 1960s...
- Producer, Engineer - David Cherry - Engineer
- Steve Hoffman - Mastering
- Bill Johnson - Art Director
- Mike Ragogna - Reissue Director
- Murray Brenman - Reissue Design
- Kevin Gray - CD Preparation
Album
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 13 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
||
| 1986 | "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" | 35 | 40 |
| "The Ballad of Forty Dollars" | — | 50 |