If I'm Gonna Sink (I Might As Well Go To The Bottom)
You Tell Me Your Troubles
The Late And Great Me
Coveted, rare and brilliant, Johnny Paycheck's 1960s recordings for the Little Darlin' label are sometimes dangerous, sometimes stunningly beautiful, oftentimes both. Paycheck was the real deal, life and the recording stud... more »io revealed a man tortured and talented beyond compare. Maverick producer Aubrey Mayhew discovered him sleeping it off under a bridge in Nashville, dusted Paycheck off and began the astounding story contained herein. Apocalyptic visions, murder/suicides, delirium, insanity and an awful lot of drinking - such was the haunting darkness that followed Johnny. 29 tracks remastered from the original master tapes with exclusive scholarly liner notes and rare photos. Most tracks make their first official appearance on CD.« less
Coveted, rare and brilliant, Johnny Paycheck's 1960s recordings for the Little Darlin' label are sometimes dangerous, sometimes stunningly beautiful, oftentimes both. Paycheck was the real deal, life and the recording studio revealed a man tortured and talented beyond compare. Maverick producer Aubrey Mayhew discovered him sleeping it off under a bridge in Nashville, dusted Paycheck off and began the astounding story contained herein. Apocalyptic visions, murder/suicides, delirium, insanity and an awful lot of drinking - such was the haunting darkness that followed Johnny. 29 tracks remastered from the original master tapes with exclusive scholarly liner notes and rare photos. Most tracks make their first official appearance on CD.
CD Reviews
DAVID LYNCH OF HONKY TONK
K. H. Orton | New York, NY USA | 09/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Johnny Paycheck was many things. Hellraiser extraordinare. An almost been. A has been. A side man. A bum & one hit wonder. A man of many names & musical hats: Donald Lytle, Donny Young...Bassist, guitarist, pedal steel player, songwriter, singer...And definitely not someone you would want to meet if he were on a bender. Troubled soul that he was, there was far more to him than "Take This Job & Shove It".
Pretty much the standard rule for Paycheck is to avoid anything with a beard on it. For Country connoisseurs, his Little Darlin'recordings in the mid to late 60's are the stuff of legend. Long out of print & rare, they're finally getting proper cd release.
While, most of Paycheck's Little Darlin' output failed to chart, there's no denying its influence & originality. This is what all the fuss was about.
This is the darkest, most menacing, spookiest Honky Tonk you're ever likely to hear. Tales of murder, suicide, Apocalyptic doom & madness go far beyond the usual drinking & adultery fare. A straightjacketed stagger beyond the "Pint Of No Return".
Things kick off with "A Mighty Thin Line Between Love & Hate" and its ominous, distorted pedal steel. Songs like "The Cave", "You'll Recover In Time" & "Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill" live up to their titles like a down & out heavy weight champ, shadow boxing with his demons in the gutter.
Despite all the mayhem of the subject matter, things rarely fall into self parody. There's a tortured sincerity in Paycheck's baritone that never lets the melodrama slip into kitch or camp.
If David Lynch & noir novelist Jim Thompson made a film, this is what it would sound like. For Honky Tonk & true Country fans, this collection is essential listening."
This Paycheck is the real deal
Just Me | USA | 05/17/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I already wrote a review for Johnny Paycheck's "The Real Mr. Heartache: The Little Darlin' Years" album. It was one of the first and best Little Darling Paycheck releases. Instead of going on telling you how much of a genius Paycheck was, I just wanted to come on and tell you that if you buy two Paycheck Albums, this one and The Real Mr. Heartache ARE the best ones to get.
This album has 18 songs that that THE REAL MR HEARTACHE doesn't have on it and they are the following:
-I'm A Coward
-Pride Covered Ears
-(What's Gonna Happen To) The Little Folks
-Basin Street Mama
-The Loser
-Nowhere To Run
-Don't Tell My Wife
-Two Candles, One Dinner And A Bottle
-Then Love Dies
-Where All Good Daddies Go
-There's No Easy Way To Die
-The Johnsons Of Turkey Ridge
-Down At The Corner At A Bar Called Kelly's
-Problem Solvin' Doctor
-The Pint Of No Return
-I've Got Wine On My Mind
-Honky Tonks And Slow Sad Music
-You Tell Me Your Troubles
Now that said, THE REAL MR HEARTACHE has 13 songs that this one doesn't have and they are very much needed and probably some of his best songs. So it's worth buying both albums even if some are repeats of each other. Neither one are definitive but together they make as close to a Little Darling Greatest hits package that you can get!!!
-Don't Start Countin' on Me
-Girl They Talk About
- A-11
-Real Mr. Heartache
-I'm Barely Hangin' on to Me
-Lovin' Machine
-Big Town Baby
-Hang on Sally
-Apartment #9
-Motel Time Again
-Jukebox Charlie
-Touch My Heart
-My Baby Don't Love Me Anymore
I hope my review was informative.
-jw"
Johnny Paycheck! What more can you say???
Brandon T. West | 01/24/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is very hardcore. If you love the new stupid pre-fab crap. Then do not buy this. This is very real. Rubber Room Honky Tonk at its BEST. Johnny Paycheck was and is the best artist to ever write, perform. He is very much so under rated. I tell you all to whom may read this. I can't describe the feeling I got and still get when listening to this. Please all fans of real country music. Please remember where it all came from. Kenny Chesny isnt country. Raskel Flatts sure isnt. Just take the time to get back to where it all came from. You wont regret it...
"
Little Darlin Sides..Paycheck's Elite
R. Webb | u.s.a. | 11/13/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Country? This is Paycheck country at his very best. The early Little Darlin' years before the days of Take This Job And Shove It and Old Violin. It's amazing Johnny never really hit stardom in the beginning,his style was his own and really nobody could touch him. There were hits like A-11,Apartment no.9,Lovin' Machine,etc.. Paycheck never quite made an impact until the album "Take This Job And Shove It",the Epic years. Here is a 29 track compilation displaying some of Johnny's best early cuts,when you listen, hear the pureness of the voice of honky-tonk, sort of like a country opera singer. If you can find "The Real Mr. Heartache" disc at a reasonable price,go for that over this "Nowhere To Run" recording,there is one or two klunkers on here and the audio is not as good. Johnny Paycheck, David Lynch?,what an odd erelevent comparison."
Paycheck At His Best
J. Robson | Middleton, WI | 02/05/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good CD.It really shows he is a lot more than just Take This Job and shove It."
Track Listings (29) - Disc #1