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SUN Artists Still Going Strong

September 06, 2000 | Other
Fifty years after Sam Phillips founded the Memphis Recording Service, three of the artists he signed to his Sun Records label are still making an impact on the Top Country Albums chart.

Debuting last week at No. 26 is Elvis Presley's Time Life collection, "Elvis-Country." It's Presley's highest-charting album on this chart since "Guitar Man" peaked at No. 6 in 1981. "Country" extends Presley's chart span to 31 years and two months; "From Elvis in Memphis" debuted in the June 21, 1969, issue.


Just 12 places below Presley on the country albums chart is fellow Sun recording artist Johnny Cash. His "16 Biggest Hits" (Legacy/Columbia) rebounds to No. 38 in its 72nd chart week. Cash has the longest possible chart span, 36 years, seven months, and three weeks, dating back to the very first country albums chart, published Jan. 11, 1964. His very first appearance on this survey was also a greatest-hits collection, "Ring of Fire."


Completing the Sun triumvirate is Roy Orbison, who earns Pacesetter honors with his "16 Biggest Hits" (Legacy/Monument). In its 15th chart week, the collection bullets to No. 57. Orbison's country albums chart span is only 17 years, six months, and one week. His chart debut was in February 1983, with another collection of his greatest hits, on Fred Foster's Monument label.
Source:Elvis World Japan