Johnny Cash - Class of '55: Homecoming (1986) | Album Review

Johnny Cash - Class of '55: Homecoming (1986)

Johnny Cash – Class of ’55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming (1986) — Complete Album Guide

Class of ’55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming is a legendary collaborative studio album featuring Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. Released on May 26, 1986, by America/Smash Records — a subsidiary of PolyGram — this record brought together four of the most influential figures in the early history of American country, rockabilly, and rock & roll music.

The album isn’t just a reunion; it’s a celebration and tribute to the roots of rock & roll — especially the Sun Records era of the 1950s when Cash and his collaborators first burst onto the music scene alongside Elvis Presley.

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📀 Album Overview

• Album Title: Class of ’55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming

• Main Artists: Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis & Carl Perkins

• Release Date: May 26, 1986

• Label: America/Smash (PolyGram)

• Producer: Chips Moman

• Recorded: September 17–20, 1985 at Sun Studio and American Sound Studios, Memphis, Tennessee

• Genre: Country, Rockabilly, Rock & Roll, Gospel

• Length: Approx. 37:14

This album marked Cash’s first release after leaving Columbia Records, beginning his tenure with Mercury‑affiliated America/Smash, and reuniting him with fellow Sun Records alumni — a deeply symbolic and musically rich gathering.

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🎵 Tracklist

Here is the full tracklist from Class of ’55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming:

1. Birth of Rock and Roll

2. Sixteen Candles

3. Class of ’55

4. Waymore’s Blues

5. We Remember the King

6. Coming Home

7. Rock and Roll (Fais‑Do‑Do)

8. Keep My Motor Running

9. I Will Rock and Roll with You

10. Big Train (From Memphis)

This powerful set combines original material with rock & roll classics and heartfelt tributes — underlining the shared musical journey of these four legends.

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🎸 Album Credits & Personnel

Class of ’55 stands out not only for its high‑profile vocals but also for its talented musicians and collaborators who helped shape its timeless sound.

Primary Vocalists & Artists:

• Johnny Cash — vocals, rhythm guitar

• Roy Orbison — vocals, acoustic guitar

• Jerry Lee Lewis — vocals, piano

• Carl Perkins — vocals, rhythm & lead guitar

Supporting Musicians:

• Jack Clement — backing vocals, guitar

• Marty Stuart — backing vocals, guitar

• Reggie Young, Bob Wootton, Kenny Lovelace, J.R. Cobb — guitars

• Memphis Strings — strings

• Ace Cannon, Wayne Jackson, Jack Hale Jr., Bob Lewin — horns

• Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood — keyboards

• Mike Leech, Bob Moore — bass

• Gene Chrisman, WS Holland, Buddy Harman — drums

• Supporting backing vocals include Toni Wine, Paul Davis, Dan Penn, Rebecca Evans, and Reba Russell.

Special Guest Vocals (on “Big Train (From Memphis)”):

• Sam Phillips, June Carter Cash, John Fogerty, Dave Edmunds, Ricky Nelson, The Judds — contributing vocals on this sprawling finale.

Production Team:

• Producer: Chips Moman

• Studios: Sun Studio & American Sound Studios, Memphis, TN

This lineup blends country, rockabilly, and rock & roll royalty with seasoned session players, giving the album a retro‑yet‑refined feel.

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🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia

🎸 Sun Records Reunion: Class of ’55 reunited four of Sun Records’ earliest stars — Cash, Orbison, Lewis, and Perkins — decades after they helped define rock & roll and rockabilly in the mid‑1950s.

👑 Tribute to the King: The album pays homage to Elvis Presley, a contemporary of the four artists whose rise at Sun Records helped revolutionize popular music.

🎤 Grammy‑Winning Spoken Word: The interviews from the recording sessions — capturing conversations among the artists — won the 1986 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album, an unusual but meaningful recognition of this historic collaboration.

🚂 Star‑Studded Finale: The final track, Big Train (From Memphis), features a chorus of guest vocalists including John Fogerty, June Carter Cash, Ricky Nelson, Dave Edmunds, and The Judds — symbolizing the legacy and influence of the original Sun Records generation.

📀 First Mercury Project: This record became Johnny Cash’s first release under the Mercury‑affiliated America/Smash label, marking the start of a new chapter after his long tenure at Columbia Records.

💿 Recorded at Historic Studios: Sessions took place at the fabled Sun Studio — birthplace of many early rock & roll classics — and American Sound Studios, grounding the album in musical history. 

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