The dynamic Uncle Flakey recently sent me a CD with twenty (count ’em!) versions of Ring of Fire. I just had to share a few.

And don’t forget that Johnny Cash’s version of “Ring of Fire” was a cover. June Carter was married to somebody else and madly in love with the Man In Black when she wrote the song. It was first recorded by her sister Anita Carter in 1962. Then Johnny called in the mariachis and recorded his own version in 1963.

Ray Charles “Ring of Fire”
Smooth. Really smooth.

Social Distortion “Ring of Fire
They find the aggression in the song that Brother Ray somehow missed.

Wall of Voodoo “Ring of Fire”
This version has always sounded vaguely disturbing to me. Much more typical of what they sounded like than “Mexican Radio.”

Frank Zappa “Ring of Fire”
FZ had his band learn “Ring of Fire” so they could perform it with Johnny Cash, who happened to be in the same town that night. Unfortunately Johnny’s wife (June Carter Cash) got sick and he couldn’t make it to the show. They played the song anyway, but I really wish Johnny could have been there.

Dick Dale and his Del-Tones “Ring of Fire”
Dick Dale goes country? Johnny Cash goes surfing? A rare vocal from Mr. Dale.

Eric Burdon and the Animals “Ring of Fire”
Once again I have to ask, who told him that this was a good idea?