Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!

Cash auditioned for a place on the music label Sun Records in 1955, but 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 single on Sun Records in July 1955. On the recording, he was backed by Luther Perkins on guitar and Marshall Grant on bass, dubbed "The Tennessee Two" by Philips. ("Hey Porter" was not included on the original Sun album, but was included in later reissues by other labels.)

"Cry! Cry! Cry!" became a commercial success, entering the country charts at number fourteen.

His second single, "Folsom Prison Blues", was released in December 1955 and reached the country Top Five in early 1956.

His final single on With His Hot and Blue Guitar, "I Walk the Line", continued his success, reaching number one on the country charts and staying there for six weeks, eventually crossing over into the pop Top 20.[4]

All tracks are written by Johnny Cash, except where noted.

Note that on the Varese CD reissue, "Country Boy" is not the original "full band" version from the LP, but rather an acoustic version with just Cash and his guitar which is the demo version, but the "full band" version is available on iTunes. "Country Boy" was re-recorded for his 1996 album Unchained during his American Recordings period.

See Johnny Cash: The Complete Columbia Album Collection for the track listing of the extended edition included in the 2012 box set.

• Johnny Cash - Main Performer, Vocals and acoustic guitar

THE TENNESSEE TWO

• Luther Perkins - Electric Guitar
• Marshall Grant - Bass

TECHNICAL CREW

• Sam Phillips - Producer
• Cary E. Mansfield - Reissue Producer
• Bill Dahl - Liner Notes, Reissue Producer
• Dan Hersch - Digital Remastering
• Bill Pitzonka - Art Direction

Singles - Billboard (North America)