Outlaw Country Music Pioneer Johnny PayCheck’s Album Jukebox Charlie (And Other Songs That Make The Jukebox Play) Celebrates 58th Release Anniversary In July

[Jukebox Charlie art | Download JPG]

Album peaked at # 10 on Billboard’s Top Country Album chart; “Motel Time Again” peaked at #13 & “Juke Box Charlie“ peaked at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart

PayCheck’s 5th studio album, with several songs co-written and produced by Aubrey Mayhew for Little Darlin’ Records

Media Assets: jwamedia.com/Johnny-PayCheck

“…fine, tough, and lean…”
– Thom Jurek, All Music

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 01, 2025) — Outlaw country pioneer and singer-songwriter Johnny PayCheck’s 5th studio album, Jukebox Charlie (And Other Songs That Make The Jukebox Play), celebrates its 58th release anniversary in July. The 1967 album, which peaked at #10 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart was recorded for Little Darlin’ Records and was widely considered as one of PayCheck’s pioneering recorded efforts that would help spawn the outlaw country movement in the 1970’s. Producer Aubrey Mayhew (Jeannie C. Reilly, Bobby Helms, Johnny Mathis), who produced the vast majority of PayCheck’s catalog at Little Darlin’ Records also has several co-writes on the album.

Songs like Bobby Bare’s “Motel Time Again” which peaked at #13 & PayCheck & Mayhew’s self-written “Juke Box Charlie“ which peaked at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, found mainstream success and would also be re-released on several of PayCheck’s Greatest Hits compilation albums over the years. One song on the album that co-written between PayCheck and Bobby Austin, “Apartment #9,” won ACM’s Song Of The Year award in 1966 and would also inevitably become one of Tammy Wynette’s breakout songs that she released in 1966 on her debut album.

Jukebox Charlie (And Other Songs That Make The Jukebox Play) Track Listing & Songwriters:
A1. Jukebox Charlie (Johnny PayCheck, Aubrey Mayhew)
A2. Touch My Heart (Johnny PayCheck, Aubrey Mayhew)
A3. Just Between You And Me (Jack Clement)
A4. Down At Kelly’s (Johnny PayCheck, Aubrey Mayhew, Mickey McGivern)
A5. You Can Hear A Teardrop
A6. Meanest Jukebox In Town (Johnny PayCheck, Aubrey Mayhew)
A7. My Baby Don’t Love Me Anymore (Johnny PayCheck, Aubrey Mayhew)
B1. Apartment #9 (Johnny PayCheck, Bobby Austin)
B2. Motel Time Again (Bobby Bare)
B3. I Never Had The One That I Wanted (Claude Gray, Jimmy Louis, Sheb Wooley)
B4. Big Brother (Jack Clement, Allen Reynolds, Dickey Lee)
B5. Or Is It Love (Ray Buzzeo)
B6. Then Love Dies (Johnny PayCheck, Aubrey Mayhew)
B7. Malinche

About Johnny PayCheck:
Johnny PayCheck is considered by many within the country music industry and arts to be one of the founders of the outlaw country music movement during the 70’s. That said, his soulful sound and phrasing made him a legend amongst the honky-tonk crowd and his peers. Even to this day new fans are discovering the depth of his musical talent far exceeds “Shove it”. His musical career spanned over 40 years and included a massive catalog of songs and performances. His career was stained by his outrageous behavior at times, to the point that one music executive asserted they would make sure no one ever knew who Johnny PayCheck was in country music after a heated label meeting went off the rails. 

His life after his mistakes proved to be one that showed he had learned some hard lessons and did his best to repair the damage which did earn him a home at the Grand Ole Opry and at Sony Music. A true honky-tonk legend, an outlaw musician, a constant reminder to pick yourself up after being knocked down and a husband and father which few saw outside his true friends and family. Johnny PayCheck was a side man that outshined many of his counterparts at times but could never get out of his own life lessons till it was too late in his life.  

Present day you won’t find much said about Johnny PayCheck in the country music history books or historical documentaries. You won’t find a big exhibit honoring him in Nashville. You must look close to find where his mark was made on country music. His brass placard still hangs backstage at the Opry. You can find autographed pictures still remaining at Tootsies and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. You can find his “Shove It” guitar at the Country Music Hall of Fame along with a few of his gold records. For the most part though, it is the fans who keep his music and memory alive while an industry still profits from the entertainer they would rather forget.  

His peers would come from backstage and stand in silence just to hear him sing “Old Violin.” Today those same peers will tell you how they loved him and how he was an amazing vocalist and writer. It is an industry that has forgotten, not the fans or the musicians he worked alongside. Some leave him out of the pages of history due to his controversial missteps, others don’t know his history even though his name reappears constantly alongside his peers that were more careful with their careers, but Johnny PayCheck is still a musical force to take notice of even today.

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