Silver is the 25th anniversary studio album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1979. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" peaked at #2 on the singles chart; the two other singles, "Bull Rider" and "I'll Say It's True" (with George Jones on background vocals), had reached #66 and #42, respectively. Recordings of "Cocaine Blues" had previously appeared on At Folsom Prison and Now, There Was a Song!, under the title "Transfusion Blues" on the latter. The album was produced by Brian Ahern, who controversially introduced digital elements into the songs to the disapproval of some listeners. This is the last album that featured bassist Marshall Grant, longtime Cash collaborator in Tennessee Two. He departed from Cash's band the following year.
Silver was re-released in 2002 through Legacy Recordings, with remakes of two early Cash songs, "I Still Miss Someone" and "I Got Stripes," as bonus tracks; both are duets with George Jones.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone wrote: "Silver boasts the strongest song selection of any Cash disc in probably a decade. Born-againers will be disappointed to learn that there are absolutely no born-again tunes. Instead, the singer seems to add extra relish to his rerecording of 'Cocaine Blues'."
Track listing
Personnel Johnny Cash - vocals, acoustic guitar Marshall Grant - bass W.S. Holland - drums Bob Wootton - electric guitar Jack Routh, Jerry Hensley - electric guitar, acoustic guitar Jack Clement - acoustic guitar Brian Ahern - acoustic guitar, Earthwood bass, 6-string bass, percussion Earl Ball, Charles Cochran - piano Jack Hale, Bob Lewin - trumpet Ricky Skaggs - fiddle Bob Johnson - mandocello Mark Morris - percussion Alisa Jones - Hammer dulcimer George Jones – backing vocals on “I’ll Say It’s True”, lead vocals on 2002 bonus tracks “I Still Miss Someone” and “I Got Stripes” Jack Wesley Routh, June Carter Cash, Helen Carter, Anita Carter, Jan Howard - backing vocals
Production Original recording produced by: Brian Ahern Recorded at Jack Clement Recording Studio and Enactroc Studios Engineers: Billy Sherrill & Harold Lee, Brian Ahern and Donivan Cowart Produced for reissue by: Al Quaglieri Mastered by: Seth Roster at Sony Music Studios, New York Tracks 11 and 12 Mixed by: Chris Theis at Sony Music Studios, New York Legacy A&R: Steve Berkowitz Project Designer: John Jackson A&R Coordinator: Darren Salmieri Art Direction: Howard Fritzson Design: Randall Martin Photography: Urve Kuusik/Sony Music Archives, spine sheet: Norman Seeff (from original LP) Packaging Manager: John Christiana
Charts Album - Billboard (United States) YearChartPosition1979Country Albums28
Singles - Billboard (United States) YearSingleChartPosition1979"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky"Country Singles21979"I'll Say It's True"Country Singles421980"Bull Rider"Country Singles66
References
External links Luma Electronic entry on Silver