Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town
Encyclopedia
Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town is an album
by American
country
singer Johnny Cash
, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music
), and his first for Mercury Records
. It was re-released in 2003, paired with Boom Chicka Boom
on a single CD
. "Sixteen Tons
" was previously a hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford
, "The Big Light" is an Elvis Costello
song from his album King of America
, released the previous year and "Let Him Roll" is from Guy Clark
's debut, Old No. 1
. The album reached No. 36 on the country charts, while the only released single, "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town", peaked at No. 43.
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 American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
singer 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...
, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
), and his first for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. It was re-released in 2003, paired with Boom Chicka Boom
Boom Chicka Boom
Boom Chicka Boom is an album by American country music icon Johnny Cash, released in 1990 on Mercury Records. The title refers to the sound that Cash's backing band, the Tennessee Three were said to produce...
on a single CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. "Sixteen Tons
Sixteen Tons
"Sixteen Tons" is a song about the life of a coal miner, first recorded in 1946 by American country singer Merle Travis and released on his box set album Folk Songs of the Hills the following year...
" was previously a hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Ernest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres...
, "The Big Light" is an Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
song from his album King of America
King of America
King of America is the tenth studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1986 in the United Kingdom as F-Beat ZL 70946, and in the United States as Columbia JC 40173. It was billed as by "The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates" in the UK...
, released the previous year and "Let Him Roll" is from Guy Clark
Guy Clark
Guy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
's debut, Old No. 1
Old No. 1
Old No. 1 is the highly influential 1975 debut album by Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark.The cover of the original LP featured a painting by Susanna Clark and liner notes by Jerry Jeff Walker. It was reissued on CD by Sugar Hill. Both Old No. 1 and Texas Cookin were re-issued on CD on the Camden...
. The album reached No. 36 on the country charts, while the only released single, "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town", peaked at No. 43.
Track listing
- "The Big Light" (Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
) – 2:41 - "Ballad of Barbara" (Cash) – 4:21
- "I'd Rather Have You" (Cash) – 3:11
- "Let Him Roll" (Guy ClarkGuy ClarkGuy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
) – 4:29 - "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" (Bobby BraddockBobby BraddockRobert Valentine Braddock is an American country music songwriter and record producer. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Braddock has contributed numerous hit songs during more than 40 years in the industry, including 13 number-one hit...
, Charlie Williams) – 3:24- With 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...
- With Waylon Jennings
- "Sixteen TonsSixteen Tons"Sixteen Tons" is a song about the life of a coal miner, first recorded in 1946 by American country singer Merle Travis and released on his box set album Folk Songs of the Hills the following year...
" (Merle TravisMerle TravisMerle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
) – 2:46 - "Letters from Home" (J.C. Crowley, Jack Wesley Routh) – 3:21
- "W. Lee O'DanielW. Lee O'DanielWilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, , was a conservative Democratic Party politician from Texas, who came to prominence by hosting a popular radio program. Known for his populist appeal, Pappy O'Daniel was the governor of Texas and later its junior U.S. Senator. He is also the only person ever to have...
and the Light Crust DoughboysLight Crust DoughboysThe Light Crust Doughboys is a quintessential American Western swing band from Texas organized in 1931 by the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company in Saginaw, Texas. The band achieved its peak popularity in the few years leading up to World War II...
" (James Talley) – 2:46 - "Heavy Metal (Don't Mean Rock and Roll to Me)" (Clark, Jim McBride) – 2:50
- "My Ship Will Sail" (Allen ReynoldsAllen ReynoldsAllen Reynolds is an American record producer and songwriter who works primarily in the country music field.Reynolds was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas and started writing songs during his college years...
) – 2:46
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 on "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" - Jim Soldi, 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...
, Pete Wade, Bob Wootton, Joey MiskulinJoey MiskulinJoseph M. Miskulin is a hall of fame accordionist and producer of Grammy Award-winning music albums. In a music career spanning more than four decades, Joey Miskulin has collaborated with a range of artists including Paul McCartney, John Denver, Ricky Skaggs, Andy Williams, Ricky Van Shelton,...
: lead guitar - Jack ClementJack ClementJack Henderson Clement is an American singer, songwriter, and a record and film producer.Raised and educated in Memphis, Jack Clement was performing at an early age...
, Marty Stuart, Jim Soldi, Mike Elliot: acoustic guitar - Marty Stuart: mandolin
- Jimmy Tittle, Joe Allen, Michael Rhodes: electric bass
- Roy Huskey, Jr.Roy Huskey, Jr.Roy Milton Huskey was a prominent American upright bass player in country music from Nashville, Tennessee. Huskey performed alongside musicians such as Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, George Jones, Steve Earle, Doc Watson and many others...
, Joey Miskulin: acoustic bass - W.S. "Fluke" Holland: drums
- Kenny MaloneKenny MaloneKenny Malone is an American drummer/percussionist from Nashville, Tennessee. He has been, since the 1970s, and continues to be a prominent session musician in folk, country and many other acoustic-based genres.-References:...
: percussion - Jack Hale Jr., Bob Lewin, Jay Patten: horns
- Earl Poole Ball, Chalres Cochrane: piano
- Charles Cochrane, Jack Hale Jr., Bob Lewin, Joey Miskulin: other keyboards
- Lloyd GreenLloyd GreenLloyd Green is an American steel guitarist. Green is most notable for his session work, having played on records with artists such as Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Lynn Anderson, Don Williams, Paul McCartney, Charley Pride and many others.-Early life:Lloyd Green was born on October 4, 1937 in Leaf,...
: steel guitar - Stuart DuncanStuart DuncanStuart Duncan is a bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Born in Quantico, Virginia and raised in Santa Paula, California, where he played in the school band, he has been a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band since 1985, and is a much-in-demand session musician...
, Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
, Vassar ClementsVassar ClementsVassar Clements was a Grammy Award- winning American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and bluegrass along with roots also in country and other musical...
: fiddle - Jack Clement: dobro, Jews harp, kazoo
- Paco: harmonmica
- June Carter and The Carter Family (June Carter Cash, Helen CarterHelen CarterHelen Myrl Carter was an American country music singer. The eldest daughter of Maybelle Carter, she performed with her mother and her younger sisters, June Carter and Anita Carter, as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters, a pioneering all female country/folk music group...
, Anita CarterAnita CarterIna Anita Carter , the youngest daughter of Ezra and Mother Maybelle Carter, was a versatile American singer who experimented with several different types of music and played stand-up bass with her sisters Helen Carter and June Carter Cash as The Carter Sisters...
, Carlene CarterCarlene CarterCarlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith....
), Marty Stuart, Cinday Cash-Stuart, Waylon Jennings, Jim Soldi, Jimmy Tittle, Bernard Peyton, Joey Miskulin: singers - Charlie Williams: Announcer voice on "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town"
Additional Personnel
- Produced By: Jack Clement
- Assistant Producer: David Ferguson
- Recorded at The Cowboy Arms Hotel and Recording Spa
- Engineers: Rich Adler (Chief Engineer and Technical Director) and David Ferguson
- Mixing Engineers: Dave Ferguson (all except "Heavy Metal...") and Rich Adler ("Heavy Metal...")
- Executive Produce: Joey Miskulin
- Mastering: Glenn Meadows/Masterfonics
- Production Manager: Coley Coleman
- Linear Notes: John Lomax III
- Eyes Courtesy: Dr. Marie Kelly and Dr. Burkett Nelson
- Photography: Slick Lawson
- Art Design: Virginia Team
- Design: Jerry Joyner/Joe Rogers
Album
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 36 |
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... |
||
| 1987 | "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" | 43 |
| "Sixteen Tons" | — | |
| "Let Him Roll" | — | |
| "W. Lee O'Daniel (And the Light Crust Doughboys)" | 72 | |