OMMA Catalogue Number

OMMA-0051

Artist

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two

Title

Hey, Porter / Cry! Cry! Cry!

Release Details

Issued in 1955 by Sun Records as a 7-inch single (catalogue numbers U-150 / U-151). Pressed in the United States and made available as a commercial retail issue.

Edition & Variant Identification

First Press commercial edition, corresponding to the initial variant distinguished by characteristic Sun pushmarks.

Matrix & Pressing Data

Side A: u-150-45 72.

Side B: u-151-45 72.

Physical Description

A 7-inch vinyl single on black vinyl, housed without a sleeve and issued without inserts. Labels conform to the Sun Records house style of the mid-1950s. No additional packaging components accompany the present copy.

Factory-Origin Characteristics

Factory-origin characteristics include an off-center label and push marks typical of Sun Records pressings of the period.

Condition Report

The vinyl surface is in Near Mint condition, showing minimal handling and no visible marks, retaining a high gloss indicative of very limited play or contact. The labels are in Mint condition, clean and flawless, with no spindle wear, writing, stickers, or other markings. Overall, the present copy exhibits pristine preservation, with factory-issued label anomalies noted above.

Provenance

Provenance: Purchased from eBay seller “timepassages1776,” 1 November 2025,  by the Origins of Modern Music Archive.

Photomatching & Verification

Verification is supported by image documentation confirming label alignment, push marks, and other identifiable characteristics consistent with the item received.

Market Context & Historical Notes

As the first commercial single credited to Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Hey, Porter / Cry! Cry! Cry! represents the genesis of Cash’s recording career and the earliest articulation of the sparse “boom-chicka-boom” sound that would become synonymous with his work. Issued by Sun Records during its formative period, the single marks a critical moment in the development of midcentury American country and rockabilly, and first-press Sun variants—particularly with intact factory pushmarks—are widely regarded as foundational artifacts within Cash’s discographic history.

Canonical Status in OMMA

This release is recognized by the Origins of Modern Music Archive as the artist’s canonical debut.

References and Source Documentation

eBay transaction record (seller: timepassages1776, 1 November 2025).