Search - Johnny Paycheck :: On His Way

Stellar

Jess | Coal Country, PA | 11/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will be in the minority here, but I believe this is by far the finest Johnny Paycheck album released; and it was done by "Little Darlin' Records". This is the beginning of Johnny Paycheck as we know him; before his "...Shove It" novelty song, and before the IRS debacle. This is just solid honky tonk, beer drinking, hard core country music. You will recognize the voice immediately, as it has not changed; and despite the material or subject matter covered in the songs, his style has change very little. Besideds his first big hit (a Buck Owens hit) "A-11", there are 14 other fine songs included, such as "The Meanest Jukebox", "The Wheels Fell off the Wagon" (perhaps the finest song here), and "Dont Tell My Wife". Folks, if you are an unabashed true hardcore country fan, this CD is for you; and I can promise that you will wear it out. It is too bad that this collection was not re-released in his heyday of the mid-'70's."

Real Old-Time Country

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 08/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My knowledge of the music of Johnny Paycheck covers only part of his rebel period when he came out with such entertaining songs as "Take This Job and Shove It" and "Me and the IRS". Not great music, but they resonated with the times and with my rebellious spirit so I always enjoy hearing them. I hadn't thought of Paycheck for years until I saw this CD given high praise in a recent issue of an English music magazine. So I decided to take a chance on it.

Well, if you are a fan of real old-time country music, then this CD should be for you. There is none of the pseudo-country and country-lite that pervades and dominates the Nashville scene today. This is hard-core, unadulterated country dance music that should delight fans disappointed with the direction of modern country music. Need a modern comparison? Lyrically and attitudinally, Junior Brown is about the closest match since many of the songs on On His Way show a knack for the corny metaphor and innuendo of which Brown seems so fond.

The music is pretty basic and formulaic, yet it is played with a virtuoso skill that will tempt even the most flat-footed to get up and dance. Subject matter is stereotypically country: failed romance, drinking , and automobiles. No prison or train songs, though.

My favorites are A-11, Heartbreak TN, Help Me Hank I'm Falling, Don't Tell My Wife, The Wheels Fell Off The Wagon,and The Little Folks. The Lovin' Machine is the corniest and the writer's device of likening as sleek car to a beautiful woman is one that has been copied with gusto today by the aforementioned Junior Brown.

On His Way is not something that will be in my regular rotation, but when I am in the mood for some unvarnished, foot-tapping country music, this will be near the top of the heap. If the traditional style is your bliss, then you should enjoy this too. Check it out!"

Little Darlin',Paycheck's Pure Gold

R. Webb | u.s.a. | 06/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well on his way is right,the Little Darlin' recording's are the very best for Johnny Paycheck, this being the 2nd cd of the Koch series. If you listen to Paycheck's voice in these early recording's you hear a purity that gradually disappeared in the later Epic years, although the Epic album, Take This Job and Shove It, was a milestone for Paycheck. You can detect this purity in the first three song's of this Koch cd on the opening song, I'd Rather Be Your Fool, or the standard A-11, and for the ballad side, Where In The World. So,if you like pure country with grinding steel and winding fiddle along with Paycheck's pure baritone voice,this is a must. Like I've said before with the right management and direction Johnny Paycheck could've stood above the rest. (If you like this cd,I would highly recommend the Bear Family import,Shakin' The Blues,loaded with twenty nine early recording's of Johnny Paycheck also available at Amazon.)"