What Is Truth

Last updated
"What Is Truth"
What-Is-Truth-Cash.jpg
Single by Johnny Cash
B-side "Sing a Traveling Song"
ReleasedFebruary 1970
Genre
Length2:37
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Johnny Cash
Producer(s) Bob Johnston
Johnny Cash singles chronology
"Rock Island Line"
(1970)
"What Is Truth"
(1970)
"Sunday Morning Coming Down"
(1970)

"What Is Truth" is a song written and recorded by American country singer-songwriter Johnny Cash released in February 1970.

Contents

Background

Johnny Cash's recording is generally viewed as a protest song, a rarity in country music at the time; its criticism of the Vietnam War and the generation gap made the song a major crossover hit. Cash played this song in front of Richard Nixon in the White House on April 17, 1970. [3]

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles. It also became Cash's 12th top 40 single on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 19, and his second top 10 single on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number 4. [4] It also reached number one on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada, [5] and number 21 on the UK Singles Chart.

Chart (1970)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [6] 3
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 19
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening4
Canadian RPM Country Tracks1
Canadian RPM Top Singles9
U.K. Singles Chart [8] 21

Related Research Articles

"Someday We'll Be Together" is a song written by Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua. It was the last of twelve American number-one pop singles for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. Although it was released as the final Supremes song featuring Diana Ross, who left the group for a solo career in January 1970, it was recorded as Ross' first solo single and Supremes members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong do not sing on the recording. Both appear on the B-side, "He's My Sunny Boy".

"Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee and first released by Gwen McCrae in March 1972. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Every Woman</span> 1978 single by Chaka Khan

"I'm Every Woman" is a song by American singer Chaka Khan, released in September 1978 by Warner Bros. as her debut solo single from her first album, Chaka (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album, Masterjam, was released in late 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)</span>

"Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" is a song by American soul group the Delfonics, co-written by producer Thom Bell and lead singer William Hart. It was released as a single in 1969 on the Philly Groove record label and appeared on their self-titled third album the following year. The song reached number three on the Billboard R&B chart and number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Overseas, the song peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart in and number 81 in Australia. The Delfonics won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for the song in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Since I Don't Have You</span> 1958 song by the Skyliners

"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the Billboard Hot 100. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Highwaymen (country supergroup)</span> American country music supergroup

The Highwaymen were an American country music supergroup, composed of four of country music's biggest artists who pioneered the outlaw country subgenre: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Between 1985 and 1995, the group recorded three major label albums as The Highwaymen: two on Columbia Records and one for Liberty Records. Their Columbia works produced three chart singles, including the number one "Highwayman" in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's a Heartache</span> 1977 single by Bonnie Tyler

"'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 through RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and numerous European countries, and reached No. 3 in the US and No. 4 in the UK. Worldwide, "It's a Heartache" sold around six million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbra Streisand discography</span>

Barbra Streisand is an American actress and singer. Her discography consists of 118 singles, 36 studio albums, 12 compilations, 11 live albums, and 15 soundtracks. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Streisand is the second-best-selling female album artist in the United States with 68.5 million certified albums in the country, and a career total ranging from 150 to 200 million making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Will You Run To</span> 1987 single by Heart

"Who Will You Run To" is a song recorded by American rock band Heart. It was composed by Diane Warren and released as a single from Heart's ninth studio album, Bad Animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher</span> 1967 song performed by Jackie Wilson

"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" is an R&B song written by Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner, and Carl Smith. It was recorded by Jackie Wilson for his album Higher and Higher (1967), produced by Carl Davis, and became a Top 10 pop and number one R&B hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Da Doo Ron Ron</span> 1963 single by The Crystals

"Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. It first became a popular top five hit single for the American girl group the Crystals in 1963. American teen idol Shaun Cassidy recorded the song in 1977 and his version hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. There have also been many other cover versions of this song, including one by the songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich themselves, performing as the Raindrops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Lonesome Me</span> 1957 song by Don Gibson

"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart. Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love. The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suddenly (Billy Ocean song)</span> 1985 song by Billy Ocean

"Suddenly" is a song from 1985 co-written and performed by UK-based singer Billy Ocean. Co-written and produced by Keith Diamond, it is the title track to Ocean's 1984 breakthrough album.

"The Tip of My Fingers", also titled "The Tips of My Fingers", is a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Bill Anderson. First included on his 1962 album Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs, the song was a Top Ten country single for him in 1960.

"Rose Garden" is a song written in 1967 by American singer-songwriter Joe South. It was first recorded by Billy Joe Royal on his 1967 studio album Billy Joe Royal Featuring "Hush". Versions by South himself and Dobie Gray appeared shortly after the original. Gray's version became a minor hit in North America in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honey Come Back (song)</span> 1970 Glen Campbell single

"Honey Come Back" is a song written by Jimmy Webb, and recorded by the American country music artist Glen Campbell. It would become a major hit for him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blistered</span> 1969 single by Johnny Cash

"Blistered" is a song recorded by American country music artist Johnny Cash. It was released in October 1969 as the first single from his album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash. The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also reached #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. The song was written by Billy Ed Wheeler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Cash singles discography</span>

The Johnny Cash discography chronicles the output of American singer Johnny Cash. His lengthy career, spanning 1954 to 2003, saw the release of 91 albums and 170 singles on several record labels. Over the years, Cash also collaborated with many of the industry's most notable artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Anderson singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country music artist Lynn Anderson contains 72 singles, three promotional singles, one charting B-side, two music videos and nine other song appearances. She signed her first recording contract with Chart Records in 1966. The following year, her single "Ride, Ride, Ride" debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Also in 1967, her single "If I Kiss You " became her first major hit when it reached number five on the country singles chart. Anderson had a series of hits that reached the top ten and 20 during the 1960s including "Promises, Promises" (1969), "No Another Time" (1968), "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1968) and "That's a No No" (1969).

"No Love at All" is a song written by Johnny Christopher and Wayne C. Thompson. It was recorded by American country music artist Lynn Anderson and released as a single in June 1970 via Columbia Records.

References

  1. "Man in Black: Johnny Cash's 10 Best Songs". Taste of Country. February 26, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  2. "10 Protest Songs of Johnny Cash". Protest Music Hall of Fame. January 9, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  3. "A Country Evening in the East Room". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  4. "Johnny Cash singles". Allmusic . Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  5. "RPM Country Singles for June 6, 1970". RPM . Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  6. "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 24, 2022.