Columbia CS-8853

Released   Original: August, 1963

Recorded  In Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville in July, 1958

                   In Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville in August, 1958

                   In Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville in August, 1958

                   In Radio Recorders, Hollywood in February, 1961

                   In Columbia Recording Studio, Hollywood in July, 1962

                   In Columbia Recording Studio, Hollywood in April, 1962

                   In Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville in June, 1962

                   In Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville in July, 1962

                   In Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville in August, 1962

Genre        Country

Length       Original: 33:36

Label         Columbia Records

Producer   Don Law, Frank Jones

The album is called "Best Of", but it's a bit misleading, as only a few of the songs had been previously issued by Johnny Cash. The title track "Ring of Fire" for example made it's first appearance on this album, and is also the single with most success from this album.

Track listing:

1. 1.Ring of Fire (June Carter, Merle Kilgore) - 2:38
   

2. 2.I'd Still Be There (Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton) - 2:34
   

3. 3.What Do I Care (Johnny Cash) - 2:07
   

4. 4.I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash, Ray Cash) - 2:35
   

5. 5.Forty Shades of Green (Johnny Cash) - 2:54
   

6. 6.Were You There When They Crucified My Lord (Traditional) - 3:56
   

7. 7.The Rebel - Johnny Yuma (Richard Markowitz, Andrew Fenady) - 1:52
   

8. 8.Bonanza (Jay Livingstone, Ray Evans) - 2:20
   

9. 9.The Big Battle (Johnny Cash) - 4:03
   

10. 10.Remember The Alamo (Jane Bowers) - 2:50
    

11. 11.Tennessee Flat Top Box (Johnny Cash) - 3:00
    

12. 12.Peace In The Valley (Thomas A. Dorsey) - 2:47
    

Personell:

1. •Johnny Cash - Guitar, Vocals
   

2. •The Carter Family - Backing Vocals
   

3. •Luther Perkins - Electric Guitar
   

4. •Jack Clement - Guitar
   

5. •Norman Blake - Guitar
   

6. •Marshall Grant - Bass
   

7. •Buddy Harman - Drums
   

8. •W.S. Holland - Drums
   

9. •Maybelle Carter - Autoharp
   

10. •Bill Purcell - Piano
    

11. •Bill Lathum - Banjo
    

12. •Karl Garvin - Trumpet
    

13. •Bill McElhiney - Trumpet
    

14. •Don Law - Producer
    

15. •Frank Jones - Producer
    

16. •Vic Anesini - Mastering
    

17. •Frank Bez - Photography
    

Charts

The LP contains many big hits (it is afterall the greatest hits..). Underneath you can see how the songs turned out on the billboards.

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

In addition to the hit singles, the whole album also did good at the billboards.

Year    Chart                    Position

1963    Country Albums         1

1963    Pop Albums              26