William Elliott Whitmore → Johnny Cash

William Elliott Whitmore sings Harlan Howard's "Busted." Which act had it on record before him, ahead of Ray Charles and Waylon Jennings?Johnny Cashlearned

Johnny Cash

Busted · 1962 · via William Elliott Whitmore

Harlan Howard wrote it, Cash put it out in 1962, and then Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings and even Nazareth all took a turn. Whitmore is just the latest guy to walk this one home broke.

William Elliott Whitmore covered "Five Feet High and Rising" on a 2011 release. Who wrote the song and put out the first recording of it?Johnny Cashlearned

Johnny Cash

Five Feet High and Rising · 1959 · via William Elliott Whitmore

Whitmore borrowed this one from Johnny Cash, who wrote it and first released it in 1959. Lee Hazlewood took his own turn at it later, so once you've heard the source, there's another door down the hall.