Johnny Paycheck

The Outlaw Life

Johnny Paycheck was one of the most successful yet troubled country music stars of his era. Born Donald Lytle in 1938 in Greenfield, Ohio, he took on the stage name Johnny Paycheck in the late 1950s when he embarked on a career in country music.

Paycheck got his start playing guitar and bass in the backing bands of major stars like Porter Wagoner and George Jones. He soon began writing his own songs and released his debut single in 1965, kicking off his recording career. Over the next several decades, Paycheck would achieve over 30 top ten country hits, including his best known song “Take This Job and Shove It” in 1977. His hard-edged, working class image struck a chord with country fans and made him a leading voice in the “outlaw country” movement.

Paycheck’s personal life was marked by turmoil, however. He struggled with alcohol and drug abuse, leading to arrests and jail time that derailed his career on multiple occasions. His marriages also ended in divorce due to his issues with substance abuse. However, Paycheck’s raw, personal songwriting touched on these troubles and made him relatable to many listeners.

Though Johnny Paycheck passed away in 2003, his hard-living persona and signature tunes like “Take This Job and Shove It” remain country music staples. His tough yet vulnerable songwriting served as a bridge from the old honky-tonk era to the renegade outlaw movement, leaving behind an enduring legacy.

Discography

Albums

Mr. Lovemaker (1973)
I'm a Survivor (1996)
Take This Job and Shove It (1977)
11 Months and 29 Days (1976-10)
Country Soul (1968-05)
Everybody's Got a Family...Meet Mine (1979-12)
Paycheck ()
Armed and Crazy (1978)
Bars, Booze & Blondes (1979)
Modern Times (1987)
Slide Off Your Satin Sheets (1977)
Sings George Jones (1996)
Song & Dance Man (1973-12)
Lovers And Losers (1982-03-19)
Jukebox Charlie (1967)
Loving You Beats All I've Ever Seen (1975)
Double Trouble (1980)
Wherever You Are (1969)
She's All I Got (1971)
Gospeltime "In My Fashion" (1967)
Mr. Hag Told My Story (1981)
Someone to Give My Love To (1972-05)
Tribute to George Jones (2002-06-18)

Singles

I'm The Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised) (1977)
Right Back Where We Parted / The Way Things Were Going (1966)
I Can’t Hold Myself in Line (1981)
(It Won’t Be Long) and I’ll Be Hating You / Fool’s Hall of Fame (1968-03)