Johnny Cash – Ride This Train (1960)
Released in 1960, Ride This Train is one of Johnny Cash’s most ambitious and creatively innovative albums. Rather than a standard collection of songs, this record is a concept album built around spoken narratives and music, presented as a journey across America by train. Each track functions like a stop along the route, telling stories of people, places, history, and hardship.
This album marked a major artistic leap for Cash, showcasing not only his musical talent but also his skills as a narrator, historian, and storyteller. Ride This Train stands as one of the earliest examples of a fully realized concept album in country music and remains a cornerstone of Cash’s legacy.
Album Overview
Ride This Train blends folk, country, and spoken word into a cohesive narrative experience. Cash introduces each song with spoken commentary, setting the scene and providing historical or emotional context before the music begins. This format allows the listener to feel as though they are traveling alongside him, hearing stories from across the American landscape.
The album addresses themes such as injustice, war, poverty, migration, and resilience, often focusing on the struggles of everyday people. Its tone is serious, reflective, and compassionate, further solidifying Cash’s reputation as a voice for the marginalized and forgotten.
Album Credits
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Artist: Johnny Cash
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Album Title: Ride This Train
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Release Year: 1960
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Label: Columbia Records
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Producer: Don Law
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Genre: Country, Folk, Americana
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Format: Originally released on vinyl (LP), later reissued on CD and digital formats
Produced by Don Law, the album features a blend of traditional country instrumentation and narrative structure rarely heard in mainstream country albums at the time.
Tracklist
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Loading Coal
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Slow Rider
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Lumberjack
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Dorraine of Ponchartrain
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Going to Memphis
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When Papa Played the Dobro
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Boss Jack
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Old Doc Brown
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The L & N Don’t Stop Here Anymore
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The Rebel – Johnny Yuma
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Hot Rod Lincoln
Note: Some editions combine spoken introductions with musical tracks, and track titles may vary slightly between pressings.
Key Songs and Highlights
“Loading Coal” opens the album with a powerful depiction of labor and sacrifice, setting the tone for the journey that follows.
“Boss Jack” is a haunting narrative about exploitation and cruelty, illustrating Cash’s commitment to telling difficult stories about injustice and suffering.
“The L & N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” reflects on economic decline and lost opportunity, making it one of Cash’s most socially resonant songs.
“Hot Rod Lincoln” provides a moment of lighter storytelling, showing Cash’s versatility and sense of humor amid the album’s heavier themes.
Fun Facts and Trivia
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Early Concept Album: Ride This Train is widely regarded as one of the first fully realized concept albums in country music history.
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Narrative Format: Cash’s spoken introductions were inspired by his love of radio storytelling and folk tradition.
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American Geography: The album’s stories span multiple regions of the United States, reflecting Cash’s fascination with American history and working-class culture.
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Television Tie-In: “The Rebel – Johnny Yuma” was the theme song for the television series The Rebel, starring Nick Adams.
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Influence on Later Works: The album’s narrative style paved the way for later concept albums by Cash, including Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian (1964).
Download Johnny Cash Albums from Amazon
More Albums:
Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash With His Hot And Blue Guitar! (1957)
Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash Sings The Songs That Made Him Famous (1958)
Johnny Cash - The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1958)
Johnny Cash - Songs of Our Soil (1959)
Johnny Cash - Blood, Sweat and Tears (1963)
Johnny Cash - Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian (1964)
Johnny Cash - The Holy Land (1969)
Johnny Cash - The Johnny Cash Children's Album (1975)
