Rock and Roll Ruby
Rock'n'Roll Ruby is a rockabilly song written by Johnny Cash , the most famous version of which was written by rockabilly musician Warren Smith .
history
Photo of Smith
In February 1956, Warren Smith, Johnny Cash, and Sam Phillips , owners of Sun Records in Memphis , Tennessee, met at the Cotton Club. At the time, Smith played in the country band Snearly Ranch Boys , who played the country ballad I'd Rather Be Safe Than Sorry for Sam Phillips . Phillips wanted more song material from the group. Johnny Cash, also under contract with Sun, had meanwhile written the track Rock'n'Roll Ruby , which he had recorded as a demonstration band in 1955 in the studio of the radio station KWEM in West Memphis , Arkansas . Cash gave the tape to Smith so he could hear the song.
On February 5, 1956, Smith and the Snearly Ranch Boys returned to the Sun Studio to record their first session. Also present were Sam Phillips and Johnny Cash, who provided support with the implementation of Rock'n'Roll Ruby . After a few attempts, the master tape was recorded with the line-up Warren Smith (vocals / guitar), Buddy Holobaugh (guitar), Smokey Joe Baugh ( piano ), Jan Ledbetter (bass) and Johnny Bernero ( drums ).
Success of the single
Phillips released his production Rock'n'Roll Ruby together with I'd Rather Be Safe Then Sorry on March 25, 1956 (Sun # 239). Billboard wrote in its issue: "Another Sun candidate for rock 'n' roll - country and western stardom" and added: "Smith sells Rock 'n' Ruby with sock showmanship and a strong, driving beat." On May 26, 1956 the single topped the Memphis charts and also stormed the Charlotte charts. Although Billboard predicted the song would soon hit the national music charts, it failed to achieve national success. With 68,000 copies sold, Rock'n'Roll Ruby Warren Smith got off to a promising start.
Alternative theory of origin
Warren Smith later said in an interview that Rock'n'Roll Ruby was actually written by George Jones and that Johnny Cash bought the song for $ 40. Due to Cash's tour of the southern states at the end of 1955, this would have been possible with occasional joint appearances, but the question arises as to why Cash was then present when the song was recorded. If he only bought the song from Jones, he would hardly have had a clear idea of the musical implementation.
Cover versions
1950s
In the year the Warren Smith single was released, the track was covered several times. On May 26, RCA released Victor Dave Burton's version, a week earlier Decca Records released Johnny Carroll's debut single; on the A-side was Rock'n'Roll Ruby . Also in May, Buddy Merrill played a version on Coral Records . During the 1950s, many other performers took up the title. Johnny Cash himself rarely played the song. Live recordings from his early years do not exist or at least are not known. In 1981 Cash played the song on the "Rockabilly Reunion" in the Netherlands.
More covers
Over the years, rock and roll Ruby has become a standard in the rockabilly scene. There are covers by Jerry Lee Lewis (September 1957), Sonny Burgess (1964), Mark Knopfler along with Sun artists such as Scotty Moore and WS Holland , Sleepy LaBeef , Art Adams , Brian Setzer , Charlie Feathers and more. In 2005, the title was also played in the cash biopic Walk the Line by cash actor Joaquin Phoenix . Dan John Miller on guitar (as Luther Perkins ), Larry Bagby on bass (as Marshall Grant ) and Clay Steakley on drums (as WS Holland) served as background musicians . This version can also be found on the soundtrack of the same name . Warren Smith recorded the song again in the course of the rockabilly revival in the late 1970s and released it on an album.
Sources and web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rockabilly Hall of Fame - Warren Smith Biography
- ^ Adam Komorowski: Classic Rockabilly Liner Notes, p. 12; Proper records
- ^ RCS Discography
- ^ RCS Discography
- ^ RCS Discography
- ↑ u2start.com. Johnny Cash - 1981-04-19 - Rotterdam (Soundboard)