Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar

Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar is the debut album of rock and roll and country music pioneer Johnny Cash, released on October 11, 1957. The album includes four of his biggest hits: “I Walk the Line”, “Cry! Cry! Cry!”, “So Doggone Lonesome” and “Folsom Prison Blues”. This one was also the first LP ever released by Sun Records label.

In 1955, when Cash first auditioned for being signed under the label, he failed to impress its founder Sam Philips after presenting himself as a gospel singer. Cash was told to come back with a more commercial sound, as gospel wouldn’t sell. He returned with the songs “Hey Porter!” and “Cry! Cry! Cry!” and subsequently released them as his debut singles on Sun Records in July 1955. He was backed by Luther Perkins on guitar and Marshall Grant on bass.

This scene was also included on the movie “Walk The Line” (although the song he plays there is not the correct one):

“Cry! Cry! Cry!” became a commercial success, entering the country charts at number fourteen. This is when the story of Johnny Cash begins.