In 1958 he made the jump to [[Columbia Records]] where he remained until 1987. He recorded a series of concept albums in the 1960s ranging from several albums of [[Gospel music]] to albums about [[American history]] (''Ride This Train'' and ''Songs Of Our Soil''), [[blue collar]] workers (''Blood, Sweat, and Tears''), [[American Indian]]s (''Bitter Tears''), and novelty songs (''Everybody Loves a Nut''). He continued to hit with major hit singles during this period as well, with songs like "Ring of Fire". However his career ran into increasing trouble because of a spiraling drug problem. | In 1958 he made the jump to [[Columbia Records]] where he remained until 1987. He recorded a series of concept albums in the 1960s ranging from several albums of [[Gospel music]] to albums about [[American history]] (''Ride This Train'' and ''Songs Of Our Soil''), [[blue collar]] workers (''Blood, Sweat, and Tears''), [[American Indian]]s (''Bitter Tears''), and novelty songs (''Everybody Loves a Nut''). He continued to hit with major hit singles during this period as well, with songs like "Ring of Fire". However his career ran into increasing trouble because of a spiraling drug problem. |