Home of the Blues

Rhino's single-disc compilation The Sun Years contains 18 highlights from Johnny Cash's early years, including nearly every one of his hits for the label (the only ones missing are minor singles or B-sides). During his time at Sun, Cash established his sound and these songs -- "Cry! Cry! Cry!," "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk the Line" -- remained the core of his repertoire throughout his entire career. Hit singles like "There You Go," "Guess Things Happen That Way," "Ballad of a Teenage Queen," and "Luther Played the Boogie" round out The Sun Years in an exemplary fashion. There might be more comprehensive collections of Cash's Sun recordings than The Sun Years, but this disc contains everything you need to know. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine