The Advertiser” (UK) 16 October 2009
Recently I was discussing country music with a group of fans and the conversation turned to the “country outlaws”. There was much talk about Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and David Allan Coe but not one mention of Johnny Paycheck, for me the greatest outlaw of all. Paycheck, unlike Nelson and Jennings, did not change his style to become outlaw; he was born to be one. Unfortunately people generally only remember Ol’ Pay for two things; his 1977 smash hit on David Allan Coe’s “Take This Job And Shove It”, which inspired wildcat strikes all over America, and his shooting of a man in Ohio in 1985 for which he served two years in prison. Forgotten are his great hits and, more importantly, the passion of performance that put Johnny head and shoulders above his peers. Paycheck covered many aspects of life in his songs but always with the right (and right amount) emotion. With “Shove It”, originally a Coe novelty number, Johnny injected aggression tinged with relief making it a serious recording. He sang of gold diggers (“Slide Off Those Satin Sheets”), criminal life (“The Only Hell My Mother Ever Raised”), religious bigotry (“Outlaw’s Prayer”), drugs (“Cocaine Train”) and he could tell a tall story (“Colorado Cool-aid”). Whatever the theme, whatever the song, Paycheck was country to the core. Almost without exception his recordings were based on fiddle, steel guitar and honky tonk piano. From the beginning he was a rebel. By the time he was fifteen he was a hobo. He later joined the navy, where he spent two years in the brig for assaulting a senior officer, then moved to Nashville for George Jones and fronting the Jones Boys for four years, singing backup on the hits “The Race Is On”, “Love Bug” and “I’m A People”. Johnny was proficient on guitar, bass and steel. His first solo recordings were rockabilly, under the name of Donny Young, for Decca and then he recorded country for Mercury. He formed Little Darlin’ Records where he recorded some of his best work but Johnny’s bad habits and bad temper helped the company into bankruptcy. After a spell at the bottom Billy Sherrill gave him a helping hand and Paycheck became a star with Columbia who, after putting up with his erratic behaviour for a few years dropped him. It was then small label after small label until his death on 19 February 2003. A volatile temper, booze and drugs resulted in jail sentences, suspended sentences and fines for assault, attempted murder, rape and forgery, Johnny Paycheck was an outlaw in the true sense. With recordings like “Someone To Give My Love To”, “She’s All I Got”, “Me And The I.R.S.”, “A-11”, “Apartment Number 9” and “DOA (Drunk On Arrival)” Johnny Paycheck was the consummate country outlaw. Maybe one day Ol’ Pay will find his rightful place in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
The Advertiser” (UK) 23 October 2009
If you, like me, simply love to hear the Dobro, banjo, fiddle and guitar played just as God intended then I recommend you listen to Michael Martin Murphey’s “Buckaroo Blue Grass” (Rural Rhythm). Accompanying Murphey’s excellent vocal performances are a bunch of musicians who play like they wrote the book on country and, indeed, some did. Names like Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle), Charlie Cushman (banjo), Rob Ickles (Dobro) and Pat Flynn (guitar) are among 13 pickers adding their considerable talents to this project. All eleven songs were penned by Michael with several of them recorded with success by a variety of artists: John Denver (“Boy From The Country”), The Monkees (“What Am I Doing Hanging Round”) and Johnny Lee (“Cherokee Fiddle”). To hear them performed by the composer in a bluegrass setting is pure joy to a country boy’s heart. The two foot-stompers immediately grab the listener’s attention; “Fiddlin’ Man” and “Dancing In The Meadow”, the banjo, fiddle and guitar trio is truly amazing. Murphey also revives his 1975 hit “Carolina In The Pines” and includes “Close To The Land”, “Healing Spring”, “Lone Cowboy”, Lost River” and “Wild Bird”. Forget musical genres – this is simply great music! Listening to “Buckaroo Blue Grass” it is hard to believe that Michael turned 64 this year with a recording career that has exceeded 40 years and has produced 28 studio albums (plus 6 compilations). A real life cowboy from Dallas, Texas, Michael was originally a country rocker with the Trinity River Boys (with former Monkee Michael Nesmith), later with the Lewis And Clark Expedition, Murphey then pursued a solo career in “outlaw” country (who can forget “Geronimo’s Cadillac” from 1972 and “Cosmic Cowboy” the year after?) then, from 1986, a complete change of musical direction to become recognised as a leader in western music. Michael recorded no fewer than 9 “cowboy” albums for Warner Brothers. “Cowboy Songs” became the first million seller of the genre since Marty Robbins. He has amassed no fewer than 16 awards solely for western music, including 6 Western Heritage Awards. Michael was also commended by the U.S. President for his involvement in producing “John Wayne’s 100th Birthday Celebrations”. Murphey is also greatly respected for his writing. His songs have been covered by Flatt and Scruggs, Bobbie Gentry, Kenny Rogers (who recorded a full album of Murphey’s songs), The Monkees and John Denver. www.michaelmartinmurphey.com Thirty-one years ago today (23 October) Mother Maybelle Carter passed away at the age of sixty-nine. Maybelle was a member of the originally Carter Family from 1926 to 1941 when the group split. Maybelle then joined a new “Carter Family” with her daughters June, Helen and Anita and later was featured on the Johnny Cash show. Remember there are stars in the southern sky.