’The Early Years’ was a revelation to anyone who thought that Johnny Horton’s career began on Columbia in 1956 with Honky Tonk Man. Johnny Horton had not only been recording since 1951, but had constantly reinvented his music as he made his way through the business. Here are all the early western-influenced sides for Cormac and Abbott, plus the incredible Mercury recordings cut in Dallas, Nashville, and Shreveport between 1952 and 1955. All the early demo’s are here, plus the 1950s overdubs for Dot and Briar Records, plus three previously unissued performances, including his version of Shotgun Boogie. You don’t really know Johnny Horton until you’ve heard him do the original All For The Love Of A Girl or songs like Coal Smoke Valve Oil And Steam, Smokey Joe’s Barbecue, Rhythm In My Baby’s Walk, First Train Heading South, Tennessee Jive, The Train With The Rhumba Beat, and The Devil Made A Masterpiece. As a special bonus we have added Rudy Thacker’s 1961 tribute, Ballad Of Johnny Horton.

CD1) Abbott Recordings CD2) Mercury Recordings CD3) Demos CD4) Overdubs