CD Review

Have I been holding my breath in oblivion? Who can I blame for this gigantic injustice? Tell me why, two years after his death, I’m just finding out now that Johnny PayCheck (he started capitalizing the C in the 90’s) has the most bona fide credentials in the outlaw corner of the country music genre? In a nanosecond sponsored by Google I discovered that PayCheck spent time in the clink for shooting a man in the head in Ohio. Prior to that he was locked up for knocking out a naval officer. The man refused to pay taxes or settle for cheap cocaine. In today’s tame C&W scene wrought with metrosexualization, we’re impressed if Toby (“Let’s Talk about Me”) Keith can apply lip balm in a Ford Ranger’s tiny rearview mirror. PayCheck belongs in the same breath as Cash and Haggard, Nelson and Waylon- not forgotten, or thrown into today’s emasculated twang pack.

I’m embarrassed that it took a tribute album to grease the wheels of interest for me. Despite having sang the chorus of Mr. PayCheck’s biggest hit, “Take This Job and Shove It” to many an inept supervisor, co-worker, and even customers on occasion, more than a dozen times before I turned twenty- I never delved deeper into his canon. The man recorded 70 albums. No, that was not a typo.

Touch My Heart captures this ne’er-do-well cowboy’s most celebrated tunes- recorded by some of the finest talents from the Americana and roots rock genres. Producer Robbie Fulks assembled a band to back the likes of George Jones, Jeff Tweedy, and Jim Lauderdale. There’s not a weak link in this 16-song chain, however there are a few that have really impressed. Not only will you be frisking used record shops and discount bins for more PayCheck, you’ll be seeking out more from the fine folks enlisted to honor the man. Like Neko Case, who rips open Heart with a rendition of, “If I’m Going to Sink, I Might as well go to the Bottom” and Hank Williams III and Dave Alvin, who deliver nicely on “The Only Hell my Mama Ever Raised” and “11 Months 29 Days” respectively.