Greatest! (Remaster)

First released by Sam Phillips' Sun Records label in 1959 after Johnny Cash had departed for Columbia Records the previous year, GREATEST! features no less than five country and pop hits, some recorded up to three years previously. Cherry-picking from his star's extensive back catalog, Phillips assembled one of Cash's strongest song collections to date, including the singer's tribute to his faithful guitar-picking sidekick, Luther Perkins, in "Luther Played the Boogie," label-mate Charlie Rich's rueful "Thanks a Lot," and the rollicking "Katy Too." GREATEST! is Johnny Cash at his early, primal finest, never sounding better than on the freewheeling "Get Rhythm," with its bubbling guitar accompaniment. Four bonus tracks include Hank Williams's "Hey Good Lookin'" and a wonderfully atmospheric, if rough-sounding, rockabilly classic in "Rock and Roll Ruby."