Sings the Ballads of the True West
Encyclopedia
Sings the Ballads of the True West is a conceptual
double album
and the twenty-first album released by country
singer Johnny Cash
, released on Columbia Records
in 1965 (see 1965 in music
). Covering twenty individual songs, the album, as its title suggests, contains various ballads and other songs on topics related to the history of the American Old West
. This includes Carl Perkins
' "The Ballad of Boot Hill
", "Streets of Laredo
", and the sole single from the album, "Mr. Garfield", describing the shock of the population after the assassination
of President
James Garfield
. One of the songs, "25 Minutes to Go
", would later be performed at Folsom Prison and appear on Cash's famous At Folsom Prison
recording in 1968. Sings the Ballads of the True West was re-issued in 2002 (see 2002 in music
) through Legacy Recordings
, with two bonus tracks, one of which is an instrumental version of a track available on the album.
have recorded a 6 song concept EP called My Name's Hardin, the title of which pokes fun at Bob Dylan
's misspelling of outlaw Wes Hardin's name on his 1967 release John Wesley Harding
and paying homage to Dylan's record and Johnny Cash
's double concept LP Sings the Ballads of the True West
. The EP is a biographical work exploring Wes Hardin's life and draws from Hardin's autobiography, Letters from Prison and an assortment of other biographical and relevant source material.
), Columbia released Mean as Hell, a single LP distillation of Sings the Ballads of the True West. It peaked at #4 on the top country albums chart. It has not been released on CD.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
and the twenty-first album released 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...
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 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 1965 (see 1965 in music
1965 in music
-Events:*January 4 – Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is sold to CBS for $13 million.*January 12 – Hullabaloo premieres on NBC. The first show included performances by The New Christy Minstrels, comedian Woody Allen, actress Joey Heatherton and a segment from London in which Brian Epstein...
). Covering twenty individual songs, the album, as its title suggests, contains various ballads and other songs on topics related to the history of the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
. This includes Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
' "The Ballad of Boot Hill
The Ballad of Boot Hill
The Ballad of Boot Hill is a 1959 song written by Carl Perkins which was recorded by Johnny Cash on Columbia Records. The song was released in 1959 on a Columbia EP by Johnny Cash who also released the song on his 1965 LP album Sings the Ballads of the True West. The song is about the 1881 Gunfight...
", "Streets of Laredo
Streets of Laredo (song)
"Streets of Laredo" , also known as the "Cowboy's Lament", is a famous American cowboy ballad in which a dying cowboy tells his story to a living one. Derived from the English folk song "The Unfortunate Lad", it has become a folk music standard, and as such has been performed, recorded and adapted...
", and the sole single from the album, "Mr. Garfield", describing the shock of the population after the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
James Garfield
James Garfield
James Abram Garfield served as the 20th President of the United States, after completing nine consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Garfield's accomplishments as President included a controversial resurgence of Presidential authority above Senatorial courtesy in executive...
. One of the songs, "25 Minutes to Go
25 Minutes to Go
"25 Minutes to Go" is a song performed by the Brothers Four in 1963 on the album Cross Country Concert. The song was written by Shel Silverstein.-Lyrics:The song is literally "gallows humor", as it is sung by a man awaiting his own execution by hanging...
", would later be performed at Folsom Prison and appear on Cash's famous At Folsom Prison
At Folsom Prison
At Folsom Prison is a live album by Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in May 1968. Since his 1955 song "Folsom Prison Blues", Cash had been interested in performing at a prison. His idea was put on hold until 1967, when personnel changes at Columbia Records put Bob Johnston in charge of...
recording in 1968. Sings the Ballads of the True West was re-issued in 2002 (see 2002 in music
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) through Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated...
, with two bonus tracks, one of which is an instrumental version of a track available on the album.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Johnny Cash; except where indicated- "Hiawatha's Vision" – 2:25
- "The Road to Kaintuck" (June Carter) – 2:43
- "The Shifting Whispering Sands, Part I" (Jack V.C. Gilbert, Mary Margaret Hadler) – 2:54
- "The Ballad of Boot HillThe Ballad of Boot HillThe Ballad of Boot Hill is a 1959 song written by Carl Perkins which was recorded by Johnny Cash on Columbia Records. The song was released in 1959 on a Columbia EP by Johnny Cash who also released the song on his 1965 LP album Sings the Ballads of the True West. The song is about the 1881 Gunfight...
" (Carl PerkinsCarl PerkinsCarl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
) – 3:48 - "I Ride an Old Paint" (Traditional) – 2:58
- "Hardin Wouldn't Run" – 4:19
- "Mr. Garfield" (Ramblin' Jack ElliottRamblin' Jack ElliottRamblin' Jack Elliott is an American folk singer and performer.-Life and career:Elliot Charles Adnopoz was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents in 1931. Elliott grew up inspired by the rodeos at Madison Square Garden, and wanted to be a cowboy...
) – 4:35 - "Streets of LaredoStreets of Laredo (song)"Streets of Laredo" , also known as the "Cowboy's Lament", is a famous American cowboy ballad in which a dying cowboy tells his story to a living one. Derived from the English folk song "The Unfortunate Lad", it has become a folk music standard, and as such has been performed, recorded and adapted...
" (Traditional) – 3:39 - "Johnny Reb" (Merle KilgoreMerle KilgoreWyatt Merle Kilgore was an American singer, songwriter, and manager.-Early life:Although born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Merle Kilgore was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the son of Wyatt and Gladys B. Kilgore...
) – 2:50 - "A Letter from Home" (Maybelle CarterMaybelle Carter"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
, Dearest Dean) – 2:35 - "Bury Me Not on the Lone PrairieBury Me Not on the Lone Prairie"Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie" is a cowboy folk song. Also known as "The Cowboy's Lament", "The Dying Cowboy" and "Bury Me Out on the Lone Prairie", the song is described as the most famous cowboy ballad...
" (Traditional) – 2:26 - "Mean as Hell" – 3:07
- "Sam HallSam Hall (song)“Sam Hall” is an old English folk song about a bitterly unrepentant criminal condemned to death . Prior to the mid 19th century it was called “Jack Hall”, after an infamous English thief, who was hanged in 1707 at Tyburn...
" (Tex RitterTex RitterWoodward Maurice Ritter , better known as Tex Ritter, was an American country music singer and movie actor popular from the mid-1930s into the 1960s, and the patriarch of the Ritter family in acting...
) – 3:15 - "25 Minutes to Go25 Minutes to Go"25 Minutes to Go" is a song performed by the Brothers Four in 1963 on the album Cross Country Concert. The song was written by Shel Silverstein.-Lyrics:The song is literally "gallows humor", as it is sung by a man awaiting his own execution by hanging...
" (Shel SilversteinShel SilversteinSheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein , was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books...
) – 3:14 - "The Blizzard" (Harlan HowardHarlan HowardHarlan Perry Howard was a prolific American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote a large number of popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists...
) – 3:53 - "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Jimmie Driftwood) – 3:57
- "Green Grow the LilacsGreen Grow the LilacsGreen Grow the Lilacs is a folk song of Irish origin that was popular in the United States during the mid-19th century.The song title is familiar as the source of a false etymology for the word gringo: the myth states that the Mexicans misheard U.S. troops singing "green grow" during the...
" (Traditional) – 2:47 - "Stampede" (Peter La FargePeter La FargePeter La Farge was a New York-based folksinger and songwriter of the 1950s and 1960s...
) – 4:01 - "The Shifting Whispering Sands, Part II" (Jack Gilbert, Mary Hadler) – 2:28
- "Reflections" – 2:58
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - vocals, guitar
- Luther PerkinsLuther PerkinsLuther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
- guitar - Norman BlakeNorman Blake (American musician)Norman Blake is an instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 50 years Blake has played in a number of folk and Country groups...
, 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...
- acoustic guitar - Bob JohnsonBob JohnsonBob Johnson may refer to:*Robert L. Johnson , founder of Black Entertainment Television*Bob Johnson , English guitarist*Bob Johnson *Dr. Bob Johnson aka Robert J. Johnson, U.S...
- 12-string guitar, flute, banjo, mandocello - Marshall GrantMarshall GrantMarshall Garnett Grant was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cash's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist Luther Perkins played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland...
- bass - W.S. Holland - drums
- Michael N. Kazak - drums
- Bill PursellBill PursellBill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist. He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player....
- piano, harpsichord - Charlie McCoyCharlie McCoyCharles "Charlie" Ray McCoy is an American musician noted for his harmonica playing. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums, including fourteen for Monument Records...
- harmonica - Mother Maybelle CarterMaybelle Carter"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
- autoharp - The Carter Family, The Statler BrothersStatler BrothersThe Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen...
- background vocals
Charts
Singles - Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Mr. Garfield" | Country Singles | 15 |
Modern Interpretations & Associations
Baltimore based creative folklore/music ensemble Television HillTelevision Hill
"Boldly distinguishable from the mass of Americana out there." -Wire MagazineTelevision Hill is an American folk-rock band from Baltimore, Maryland. They are heavily influenced by American folk music as well as many other traditional music forms...
have recorded a 6 song concept EP called My Name's Hardin, the title of which pokes fun at 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...
's misspelling of outlaw Wes Hardin's name on his 1967 release John Wesley Harding
John Wesley Harding (album)
John Wesley Harding is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's eighth studio album, released by Columbia Records in December 1967.Produced by Bob Johnston, the album marked Dylan's return to acoustic music and traditional roots, after three albums of electric rock music...
and paying homage to Dylan's record and 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...
's double concept LP Sings the Ballads of the True West
Sings the Ballads of the True West
Sings the Ballads of the True West is a conceptual double album and the twenty-first album released by country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1965 . Covering twenty individual songs, the album, as its title suggests, contains various ballads and other songs on topics related to...
. The EP is a biographical work exploring Wes Hardin's life and draws from Hardin's autobiography, Letters from Prison and an assortment of other biographical and relevant source material.
Mean as Hell
In March, 1966 (see 1966 in music1966 in music
-Events:*January 3 – Hullabaloo shows promotional videos of The Beatles songs "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work it Out".*January 8 – Shindig! airs for the last time on ABC, with musical guests the Kinks and the Who...
), Columbia released Mean as Hell, a single LP distillation of Sings the Ballads of the True West. It peaked at #4 on the top country albums chart. It has not been released on CD.
Track listing
- "The Shifting Whispering Sands"
- "I Ride an Old Paint"
- "The Road to Kaintuck"
- "A Letter from Home"
- "Mean as Hell"
- "25 Minutes to Go"
- "Mr. Garfield"
- "The Blizzard"
- "Streets of Laredo"
- "Sweet Betsy from Pike"
- "Stampede"
- "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie"
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Country Albums | 4 |