Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash

Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash is the sixteenth album by singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1963 (see 1963 in music). This album collects tracks from singles and an EP released between 1959 and 1963, Cash's first years on the Columbia label, and marked the first release of these tracks in LP format, with the exception of "I Still Miss Someone," which had previously appeared on the 1958 album The Fabulous Johnny Cash. "Ring of Fire", one of Cash's most famous tracks, made its first LP appearance here. Ring of Fire was the first #1 album when Billboard debuted their Country Album Chart on January 11, 1964. Certified Gold on February 11, 1965 by the RIAA, it earned him his first Gold LP. It stands as the only Columbia "greatest hits" collection to be included in the Johnny Cash: The Complete Columbia Album Collection box set.

Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash
Compilation album by
ReleasedJuly 8, 1963
RecordedJuly 24, 1958–March 25, 1963
Genre
Length33:36
LabelColumbia
Producer
Johnny Cash chronology
Blood, Sweat and Tears
(1963)
Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash
(1963)
The Christmas Spirit
(1963)
Singles from Ring of Fire: The Best of Jonny Cash
  1. "What Do I Care"
    Released: September 15, 1958
  2. "The Rebel – Johnny Yuma"
    Released: April 3, 1961
  3. "Tennessee Flat Top Box"
    Released: October 6, 1961
  4. "The Big Battle"
    Released: February 2, 1962
  5. "Bonanza!"
    Released: July 20, 1962
  6. "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (for Me)"
    Released: November 2, 1962
  7. "Ring of Fire"
    Released: April 19, 1963
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Ring of Fire"June Carter, Merle KilgoreSingle A-side (Apr. 1963)2:38
2."I'd Still Be There"Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton"Ring of Fire" B-side (Apr. 1963)2:34
3."What Do I Care"Cash"All Over Again" B-side (Sep. 1958)2:07
4."I Still Miss Someone"Cash, Roy Cash"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" B-side (Dec. 1958)2:35
5."Forty Shades of Green"Cash"The Rebel – Johnny Yuma" B-side (Apr. 1961)2:54
6."Were You There When They Crucified My Lord"Traditional, The Carter Family"Peace in the Valley" B-side (Oct. 1962)3:56
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."The Rebel – Johnny Yuma"Richard Markowitz, Andrew FenadyJohnny Cash Sings "The Rebel – Johnny Yuma" - EP (Oct. 1959)1:52
2."Bonanza"Jay Livingston, Ray EvansSingle A-side (Aug. 1962)2:20
3."The Big Battle"CashSingle A-side (Feb. 1962)4:03
4."Remember the Alamo"Jane BowersJohnny Cash Sings "The Rebel – Johnny Yuma" - EP (Oct. 1959)2:50
5."Tennessee Flat Top Box"CashSingle A-side (Sep. 1961)3:00
6."Peace in the Valley"Thomas A. DorseySingle A-side (Oct. 1962)2:47

Personnel

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Additional personnel

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  • Produced By: Don Law and Frank Jones
  • Reissue Producer: Bob Irwin
  • Digitally Remastered for CD by: Vic Anesini, Sony Music Studios, NY
  • Cover Photo: Frank Bez
  • Liner Notes: Joe Goldberg

Charts

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Album - Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1963 Country Albums 1
1963 Pop Albums 26

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1961 "The Rebel – Johnny Yuma" Country Singles 24
1961 "Tennessee Flat Top Box" Country Singles 11
1961 "Tennessee Flat Top Box" Pop Singles 84
1962 "The Big Battle" Country Singles 24
1962 "Bonanza" Pop Singles 94
1963 "What Do I Care" Country Singles 7
1963 "What Do I Care" Pop Singles 52
1963 "Ring of Fire" Country Singles 1
1963 "Ring of Fire" Pop Singles 17
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