Top 10 Best Johnny Cash Albums

During his prolific music career, country legend Johnny Cash recorded some 55 studio albums, 6 live albums, and 84 compilations albums. The Johnny Cash albums listed below represent the 10 best Johnny Cash albums in my opinion. They come from different stages of his performing life, but all seem to capture the essence of the man. Johnny Cash had different backing bands, tried different approaches and went through some turbulent periods in his personal life, but somehow he never lost touch with who he was, both as a creative artist and as a human being.

I myself have been listening to Johnny Cash for as long as I can remember, having been brought up on his music by my father, who was a huge Johnny Cash fan. In 1994 I finally got to see Johnny Cash live at the Glastonbury Festival in England, just after he got together with Rick Rubin and produced one of his best albums. Not many years later, Johnny Cash passed away.  Here are my top 10 Johnny Cash albums.

Having brought his previous drug problems under control, Johnny Cash was at his peak when he recorded "At Folsom Prison", one of the best Johnny Cash albums, in 1968. The album bristles with energy and attitude as well as great, great music from Johnny Cash and his band (Carl Perkins and The Tennessee Three), and features many classics, including a live version of "Folsom Prison Blues", and “Jackson”, sung as a duet with his soon to be wife, June Carter.

The second great prison recording by Johnny Cash to feature in my top 10, featuring his classic late 60s backing band. Notable tracks include “Wanted Man” and “A Boy Named Sue”. The concert was also filmed by Britain’s Granada T.V.

After a fallow period and a fall out with his record company, Johnny Cash got together with Rick Rubin, stripped his sound down to a voice and a guitar, and put out one of the best albums of all time. Includes the tracks, “Tennessee stud” and "Deliah’s Gone”.

Another of Johnny Cash’s collaborations with Rick Rubin and the last album of his to be released during his lifetime. Features the Johnny Cash’s deeply moving version of the Nine Inch Nails song, “Hurt”, which has to feature in any Johnny Cash top 10.

Johnny Cash at his youngest and rawest. He managed to secure a recording contract after he won Sam Philips over with his youthful frenetic style. Features the early hits, "Hey Porter" and "Cry! Cry! Cry!". The best Johnny Cash album of his early recordings.

Some of Johnny Cash’s strongest songs were duets with June Carter and this album consists entirely of these. Features the songs, “Jackson” and “Long Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man”. Cash and Carter married seven months after they recorded this album.

A supergroup formed by Johnny Cash and his old friends and fellow 'outlaws', Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. This was their first and best album, the later ones never quite recaptured the magic, but this one’s a classic.

Brought out to coincide with Johnny Cash’s 70^th birthday in 2002, this double compilation album focuses mainly on Johnny Cash’s Columbia and Sun material and includes 2 tracks previously unreleased. Not to be confused with the 1996 treble album of the same name.

Timed to coincide with the biopic, I Walk The Line, this is the first Johnny Cash greatest hits compilation to feature tracks from the American Recordings period, as well as covering some of the classic Columbia and Sun tracks. The cover shows a heavy-coated Johnny Cash walking the highway alone with his guitar. A must-have compitalion.

Originally released in 1959, but re-released in 2002 to celebrate Johnny Cash’s 70^th birthday with 6 bonus tracks. Features the Johnny Cash classic songs, “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town” and “I Still Miss Someone.”

Johnny Cash: "Hurt" - The Story Behind The Video

The Top Ten Best Johnny Cash Songs

Classic Concerts: Johnny Cash at Glastonbury Festival 1994

The Death of Johnny Cash