← Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
"Join Buzz Knight and John Paycheck on a Walk Through Family, Music History and the Journey of Authenticity" Encore Musician Interview
00:34:40
Loading summary
Transcript82 lines
- [00:01]
Buzz Knight
Taking a Walk welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast. I'm Buzz Knight and we're closing out our Valentine's Week celebration with love songs and heartbreak stories. And today we're exploring love, loss and legacy through a truly unique perspective. Today's guest is John Paycheck, son of the legendary country outlaw Johnny Paycheck and a man who carries forward a remarkable musical heritage while forging his own path. John offers an intimate look into what it's like growing up as the son of one of country music's most complex and talented figures, a man whose songs about heartbreak, longing and lost love weren't just performances, but reflections of a turbulent life. Johnny Paycheck's catalog is filled with some of the most raw and honest relationship songs in country music from She's All I Got to Slide off your satin Sheets, songs that expose the messy, painful reality of love and loss. But John Paycheck Story is also about a different kind of love. The complicated love between a father and son, the love it takes to understand someone's demons while honoring their gifts, and the love required to preserve a legacy while living your own life. This Valentine's week, we are reminded that love takes many forms, and sometimes the most profound love stories are about family. Coming up next on Taking a Walk.
- [01:28]
Ad Voice 1
John Paycheck this is an iHeart podcast.
- [01:32]
Ad Voice 2
Guaranteed Human support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comdisclosures Pro drivers.
- [02:37]
Ad Voice 3
Live for race day but for small business owners, every day is race day. That's why going pro with Lenovo Pro matters one on one advice IT solutions and customized hardware powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. Keep your business on the right track. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro. Sign up for free@lenovo.com Pro.
- [03:06]
Ad Voice 1
Ready to feel healthy this year? Find everything you need at loseweightnow.co. orderly meds gives you access to proven GLP1 medications at a lower cost, backed by real medical professionals. And yes, they ship in discreet private packaging because it's nobody's business how you're improving yourself and your journey deserves dignity, privacy and confidence. Get started today @loseweightnow.co. individual results may vary. Visit loseweightnow.co and get started today. That's loseweightnow co Lowe's get up to.
- [03:38]
Ad Voice 2
35% off select major appliances plus members get free delivery, install and more when.
- [03:44]
John Paycheck
You spend $2,500 on select major appliances Lowes we help you save valid through.
- [03:50]
Ad Voice 2
225 while supplies last selection varies by location. Excludes Massachusetts, Maryland, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Florida. Loyalty programs subject to terms and conditions. Visit lowe's.com terms for details.
- [04:00]
John Paycheck
Subject to change.
- [04:01]
Ad Voice 2
Visit your nearby Lowe's on Colorado street in Kennewick.
- [04:09]
Interviewer
Taking a Walk well, John Paycheck, welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast.
- [04:14]
John Paycheck
Thank you for having me.
- [04:16]
Interviewer
So since we do call this podcast Taking a Walk, I wanted to ask you if you could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, somebody involved with music, but doesn't have to be up to you, who would it be and where would you take a walk with them?
- [04:35]
John Paycheck
John Boy, I'll tell you, that's an interesting one because I've got so many facets to my life. There'd be people in the military, like people from history. That would be interesting. But since we're talking about music, I gotta say this is gonna be probably a ridiculous. Well, not a ridiculous answer, but a lame answer, I guess. But it probably would be my dad again. And the reason being is I wasn't in music when he was alive and I learned a lot from him. But there are so many questions I have now and things that I would like to talk to him about now that would be. That would be really cool is to be able to just walk with him one more time and talk with him, ask him all these questions and things that I have now. You know, and that's also kind of a. I guess that's kind of a rite of passage too as an adult, you know, you lose your parents eventually and you, you Have a lot of things you wish you would have asked and said and done. But you know, now we're here and you're. You're an orphan once again. But yeah, no, it's that, that I think that would probably be. That's the first person that came to mind.
- [05:49]
Interviewer
John. There's nothing lame about it and I sometimes try to guess in my own head what the individual might answer.
- [05:58]
John Paycheck
Yeah.
- [05:59]
Interviewer
So it's your answer, it's your life and it's your pop. So nothing lame about it, sir.
- [06:10]
John Paycheck
It'd be interesting if somebody living. That would be interesting. It would probably be. I'd love to talk because I admire how he does business and how he has managed his life. Is George Strait. That would be somebody I would like to talk to about just how they've done things and why they've done things a certain way as far as just managing. Well, heck, managing their life and everything too, because. Yeah, I, I admire the way he's kept on the good side of things as far as I can see. You know what I mean? And he's been very, very responsible. Just seems like a down to earth, really, really good person. So. Yeah.
- [06:50]
Interviewer
And has figured out too, in an ever changing ecosystem how to, you know, stay true to his core, but also how to, you know, evolve as well.
- [07:01]
John Paycheck
Yeah, 100. Yeah, he really has.
- [07:05]
Interviewer
So talk about your military history and. And then maybe bring it full circle into some of what that has taught you to this day around being an artist.
- [07:20]
John Paycheck
Yeah, well, I started out really in the fire service as a firefighter and that was my first experience with an organization with that military feel. Right. Went in after a while I got that calling to go serve and kind of stemmed from my grandfather really. But that greatest generation, it was 9, 11, kind of tipped it off for me to finally just push the button and go and. Yeah, served. Started out with a heavy armor unit with Abrams tanks. Was there for a short while, then commissioned, became commissioned officer and went into aviation. Well, intelligence first, then aviation, then intelligence aviation and then finally ended up with where I'm at now, which is back in intelligence but flew Blackhawks, was with an assault unit. Flew Kiowa warrior, flew the C12, which is a fixed wing aircraft. King Air. It's a King Air. Two props and everything. Going out looking at, doing circles and looking at bad guys and tell them where the. Telling the good guys where the bad guys are, all that kind of stuff. Collecting information at all. How did it get back to music? Well, I had gotten to a point where the. It's A regimented life to a degree within the Army. And it's. It's. You're told what to do, but you're also doing things on your own as well. And there's some creativity there, but it's not the same type of creativity. It's not artistic creativity. And I miss that. I had gone to an opening at the Country Music hall of Fame, and it was an outlaw exhibit they were doing, and had met up with a bunch of people that I hadn't seen in a long time. Shooter Jennings was one of them. Tyler Coe met up with them afterwards, was talking with them, and I missed that camaraderie, that type of camaraderie. I missed the music business. Not the business, but more the art. And, yeah, it kind of steered me back to doing this. And here I am back to doing music and back to touring and creating. Creating albums and everything else, which, yeah, it's been fun. It's been interesting. And we're trying to make a run of it as far as. As far as we can, I guess.
- [09:52]
Interviewer
When you talk to somebody like a Shooter Jennings, who obviously, like you, comes from a. A household that was a music household. Any similarities to his journey to yours as you have gotten to know him?
- [10:08]
John Paycheck
Yo, yeah, me and Shooter, we have. There's a lot of similarities, honestly. I mean, I remember being around him when I was much, much younger. We were both young. But, yeah, I mean, your parents are gone all the time. You kind of learn to grow up a little earlier than most. I'm from that generation too, where we were, you know, latchkey kids, so a lot of us grew up a little quicker than most. So there's that. But, yeah, no, we. There's some chaos in the household, too, that we all have that's similar. Me and Tyler have a lot of similarities as well. Growing up just with some of the craziness. Waylon didn't. Didn't stray too far from. From acting like a country singer. And dad did. Dad kind of went off. Kind of thought he was a pirate there for a little while, you know, doing just ridiculous things, but it was just part of that time and who they were in the business and everything else. But, yeah, I mean, there were times when bills didn't get paid at home and you didn't have electricity and. Or you didn't, you know, or, you know, I. Dad didn't come home because he was, you know, out roaring. But things. Things happen. It just is what it is. And, yeah. Yeah, you grow up with it and. Yeah. Learn to accept it. But me and. Me and Tyler probably a little more similar. Me and Shooter, as far as the music stuff and being around, you know, famous people and all that. Yeah, we got that in common. Yeah. And it's comforting, too, to be around somebody who gets it. You know, there's a. There's a club, I guess you could call it. Of us that. That's just. We all identify really well and understand how. How each other. I will say this. There is a little bit. There are some. There's. There's. There's that culture and then there's two other types of cultures within this, within the music business. And then when you have the ultra, ultra, ultra famous types and they were making millions of dollars, that family is going to be a little bit different than the ones that were going through hard times and lost everything. And, you know, so there's. There's a little bit of difference there, but not much. Not much.
- [12:28]
Interviewer
So growing up as the son of Johnny Paycheck, that. Can you describe the earliest memories of music in your. In your household with?
- [12:38]
John Paycheck
The earliest one I remember was. I was. Heck, I was in. Like. I wasn't even in kindergarten yet, actually. Even before that, though, I actually thought about this before that. I remember when I was just a little one, being on the road and being on a tour bus and things like that, that definitely kind of started shaping my view of the world a little bit. But as far as music, it's funny because you don't realize that your parents are famous until way later in life, and you don't realize just how influential or how creative they were because they were just dad, you know, it was. That was dad. That was Dad's job. That's what he did. It was. You know, you kind of thought at one point you think, everybody does this, but it's. Yeah, it becomes very evident later that that's. That's. Oh, no, he was. He was actually unique, you know, But I remember when I was a little one just going in and playing his guitar and playing with it and, you know, learning about it and things like that from very, very young age, even before I was even in, like, kindergarten. So, yeah, music was always, always around the house and dad was always either writing or, you know, resting. So it was pretty much the way it was.
- [14:05]
Interviewer
Because your dad was on the road a ton, wasn't he?
- [14:08]
John Paycheck
Oh, yeah, that was. That was pretty much what he lit. He lived for touring and being out in front of a crowd and entertaining. So it was also how he made an income. Right. Mom didn't Work. She was a stay at home mom, so. Or an entertainer's wife. But yeah, he was, he was always on the road, always touring. So.
- [14:28]
Interviewer
Yeah, so the pressure of living up to being the. Might as well just get with it, right? Being the, the, the son of a, a famous performer. How have you dealt with that through your life?
- [14:47]
John Paycheck
Well, didn't affect really much in the fire service or in the, in the military, besides some ribbing and, you know, just people being, you know, kind of like, whoa. Really? That's, that's who your dad is? Like, yeah, yeah, that's, that's it. And off we go, you know, just doing whatever we do. Now, coming back to music, I've had some critics that have been a little harsh. Oh, he's not like his father. And it's like, well, no, no kidding, I'm not my father. I was like. And for that critic who was writing those comments, by the way, you're not Shakespeare either. So, I mean, what are you gonna do? You know, it's like, so, you know, comparing me to someone that is, was so, so influential and such a great writer and everything else, it's kind of, it's a fool's errand. It doesn't make sense. It's, you know, I stand on my own merits and what I do. So judge me for, you know, the people that I am, my peers now. Which would make sense because, you know, who's judging anybody against like George Jones or, or, you know, Johnny Paycheck or Whalen or anybody that's kind of foolish and, and for as great as they were, they were also just human as well, and they were just doing what they could, you know, so there's plenty of great singers and entertainers out there. As far as me, I don't. It got to me a little bit in the beginning and the main concern I had was not wanting to let my family down. My family's name, my legacy and all that stuff. I didn't want to disappoint anybody, especially my mom, who was around when I started out. But, you know, as I got more into it, you know, and she, my mom was very critical. So, yeah, she would have let me know right away. It's like, oh, this ain't for you. If I, if it was, you know, if that was the case, she never, never by any chance would, would lie to me about anything like that. And she was, she was pleasantly surprised and said no, you know, because I didn't sing around them. I didn't, you know, I played instruments, things like that. And they all thought I was. My mom and dad thought I was a good musician, but, you know, I never, I just never sang around them. I sang in some choirs and things like that, but never like anything, a solo. So they never really got a chance to hear me do that until, you know, until I did this. And mom was surprised. She, she was happy with it. And you know, her biggest advice to me was, she's like, well, your name will get you in the door. She's like, you got to be able to stay in the room. So she's like, you can't back down. You have to keep working at this and keep, keep crafting it. She's like. But she's like, I think you'll do fine. So, yeah, as far as everyone else, it doesn't really matter. You know, it's like, it's okay. People have their opinions. People want me to. I don't like being viewed as a tribute act and I, I absolutely refuse to be a tribute act. I've only this year started putting a few songs of Dads in the, in the show because I start feeling bad because people want to hear some of his stuff. So I'm like, okay, fine, I'll do some of his songs too. And that only came actually after talking with Ned Ledoux and his manager about how us as children really have the most right to be able to sing our parents songs. And I was like, well, that's a. Kind of a good point. Didn't really think of it that way. And, and you know, it's kind of up to us to keep that going, you know, because I mean, if you think about it, if the, if the, the Cash family, you know, of all them, if they never would have done any, kept that music going, then it would have, it would have faded. Right? So I don't know. Yeah, it's, it's an interesting thing being compared, but yeah, who cares? People are going to do what they're going to do.
- [18:49]
Interviewer
Right on.
- [18:50]
Ad Voice 2
We'll be right back with more of the Taking a Walk podcast. Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI, it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers, growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures there's.
- [19:57]
Ad Voice 3
No championship league for small business owners, but if there was, you'd be at the top of the standings because going pro with Lenovo Pro means you've got the winning formation. One on one advice, IT solutions and customized hardware powered by Intel Core Ultra processors help you stay ahead of the competition. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro Sign up for free at lenovo.compro Lenovo Lenovo New Year New you begin at loseweightnow co and make this the year you finally feel in control. With orderly meds access proven GLP1 tirzepatide starting as low as $149 a month, it's simple, doctor guided and delivered right to your home so you can finally focus on feeling healthier and more confident. Get started today@loseweightnow.co. individual results may vary. Visit loseweightnow co and get started today.
- [20:55]
John Paycheck
That's loseweightnow co. Hey, this is US.
- [20:58]
Ad Voice 1
Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis Woodhull and.
- [21:00]
Ad Voice 3
I'm US Paralympic gold medalist Hunter Woodhull.
- [21:03]
Ad Voice 1
As athletes, our lives are about having.
- [21:04]
Ad Voice 3
A clear path and a team that you can absolutely trust.
- [21:08]
John Paycheck
So when it came to getting the.
- [21:09]
Ad Voice 1
Best mortgage, we chose PennyMac. PennyMac is proud to be the official mortgage provider of Team USA and you.
- [21:16]
Ad Voice 3
Learn more at pennymac.com pennymac loan services.
- [21:19]
Ad Voice 2
Llc/Housing lender nmls id 35953 licensed by.
- [21:22]
John Paycheck
The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act.
- [21:25]
Ad Voice 2
Conditions and restrictions may apply. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk podcast.
- [21:33]
Interviewer
So you had a unique perspective being a runner to a guitar tech and kind of getting a sense of the behind the scenes aspect of touring and the music business that must, to this day still shape you as you have an appreciation that's unique for those that are working on your behalf around you.
- [21:57]
John Paycheck
Yeah, yeah. No, it's, it's funny, you know, you'll get other artists who. They'll look at you and be like, well, you need to pay your dues. And it's like, man, I've been paying my dues. Before you were even in the business. It's like, I was. I was. I was a guitar tech. I was roadie, and dad didn't show favoritism. I got treated just like anybody else in the band. So, yeah, it. It has shaped the way that. Has shaped the way I treat my band, but it also. What has shaped it is, you know, being a military leader as well. It's first and foremost in priority that we take care of our soldiers and we take care of our people. So there have been a few gigs where I've walked away with nothing because I made sure the band's paid. I make sure that they have hotel rooms, I make sure that they're taken care of, that they get per diem on the days off and things like that. Because, you know, I mean, they're the ones that help you get where you're going, you know, without the band. I mean, yeah, I could go out and do solo acts and just play acoustic guitar, but there's so much more energy, and so it's so much more fun. And for. For me and for the listener to have that. That big band there, it's the same reason why I won't compromise. And I don't like not having a steel guitar and not having a fiddle. I want both of those in. In my music. Right. So it just. It adds so much more. It's. It's. It's important to me, so. And taking care of everybody. I couldn't do this. I couldn't live with myself if I were to not do that. It's just. Yeah, and dad did that, too. Dad always took care of the band. He always made sure everybody was always taken care of. I learned from that as well. I. The man would have gave the shirt off his back for others, and he did at times. So that shaped it. The military shaped it. Yeah, that's just how I run things.
- [23:52]
Interviewer
Who are some of those other visionaries or artists, obviously, aside from. From your father you mentioned, you know, like Tyler. But who are some of the other folks that you really look at today and admire?
- [24:08]
John Paycheck
Yeah, well, definitely, like I said, George Strait, I really like the way he has managed his career and what he's done. I look kind of back to, you know, Roy Rogers. That might sound odd, but he was. He had a lot of unique and cool ideas and the way he did things and I know he. A lot of it was the movie career too. Got that. But yeah, I liked, I liked his honesty and how he, how he just, you know, kept to the cowboy code and all that. It was, it hit him and Dale, really, really cool, cool people.
- [24:43]
Interviewer
Well, you, you earlier referenced the Cash family, so I would assume within the.
- [24:49]
John Paycheck
Cash family there's somebody, definitely the Cash family. The way they've kept everything alive and going and have kept their, their father's legacy a lot alive and flourishing is something that I admire. I think that's. It's a good thing. I know it's a business thing and some people will say, well, yeah, it's about keeping the money going. But it's. I'm telling you, for a lot of us, it isn't about keeping money going. It is about keeping their memory alive. And it's about wanting to make sure that future generations can hear that music and appreciate it. Right. It's the same reason why I keep hoping, I keep hoping dad will make it into the hall of fame because Music hall of fame and, and get there. He should get there on his merits, not for the couple. The crazy things that he did, right, he did some goofy things. We got all that. But he did so much that people just, I don't think, realize within the history of country music and affected other artists from Ray Price, George Jones and up and through, you know, even modern day artists like Tracy Bird. So, I mean, modern. I guess he's not modern anymore, is he? But anyway, modern for me, 90s guy. But yeah, it's. Those are some of the ones, you know, that affect the way I do things and how I view things. Heck, Danny Shirley from Confederate Railroad, he. He's another one that's kind of started to, you know, gear my focus my career and move my career a little bit just because of me and him talking and him, you know, offering advice and things like that. He was the first one to really. For a working act that's still out there. He was one of the first ones that ever called me up and was just asking like, hey, how you doing? And how are things going? And so you're taking on music and, you know, how's that going? And just, just offering friendly advice and he's, you know, not asking for nothing, just. Just being friendly. So that's another good thing about the country music industry as well. The country music business. Business industry. I don't know what, how to say. Community, whatever. The community. Sure. Yeah, exactly. It's. It's small really, in the, in the grand scheme of things, it's small and, you know, a lot of the players in this business are very friendly and good people and are willing to help. You know, it's not as cutthroat as you might think. When you get into the business pieces of it with the actual business people, it can be, but even then, there's, There's. There's a lot of really good people in this business.
- [27:30]
Interviewer
I'm shocked at what you said earlier. I did not realize that your dad is not in the Country Music hall of Fame.
- [27:37]
John Paycheck
Yeah, his memorabilia's in the museum. The shove a guitar and some things, and I know they've got some things in archive as well, but he has not been inducted. And yeah, it's a shame, but I'm told that every year he comes up on the ballot and he gets close. So hopefully one year he'll. He'll. He'll make it in.
- [28:01]
Interviewer
How do you think he would view that information or that he is viewing this. That information as we speak?
- [28:08]
John Paycheck
I don't know if he would care. He. He. He just, you know, those things are nice. But what really, really honestly meant something to him was being able to go out there and sing and perform. And that didn't affect that. So he. I'll tell you what he loved. He loved being a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was so thrilled that night when he got inducted and he was so happy to be able to say he was a member of the Grand Ole Opry, which, you know, the 20 years before that he didn't care for the Opry and it was an institution and all this other stuff and. But I mean, the 70s were different, right? So, yeah, his view as he got more mature and wised up and then also got clean changed. So, yeah, he realized, I mean, what a great institution the Grand Ole Opry is. I know they've got. There's some turmoil around it with other. Other artists and things like that, but I mean, overall, yeah, the Grand Ole Opry is an amazing institution.
- [29:09]
Interviewer
So congrats on the. The new album, More Days Behind. First of all, you. You co wrote much of it with or all of it with, with Scott. Gabby, what was that writing process like for that project?
- [29:27]
John Paycheck
So on the first album, on this album, on the next one, one after that, I write most everything or co writes every co write everything. And me and Scott. Me and Scott have known each other for a long time, since we were kids and we actually had a heavy metal band together when we were kids, so. So we've known Each other quite a while. And writing with him is just really, really easy. We all sit down and, you know, depending on what we're going to write, we may have some whiskey with us, or we may just sit there with a soda. Depends on. Depends on what we're writing. And yeah, we'll. We'll just start pitching stuff back and forth and go. Go from there. That's. That's really kind of how simple it is. But the idea for the album is a little more. Little more complex because what I'll do is, you know, I'll say, well, for this album, I want 12 songs and I'll start drafting out a skeleton. Almost like if I'm writing a book where it's like, I want this chapter to be about this and this to be about this. That's. That's kind of how I do with writing an album where I'll say, well, I want to. Want a love ballad. I want a. A rodeo song. I want this, I want that. And we'll go through it that way. And one thing is, I always. I like Western history, American west history. So I usually try to have at least one song that touches on a. A figure from that time, somebody that I find interesting and maybe nobody's heard about. And I do that. But yeah, and this one, we had a murder ballad, which was something unique for me. A little worried about putting that out, but it turned out okay. Yeah, so, yeah, that. That's kind of how the writing. Writing works. We lock ourselves away for a couple months and come out with a. Come out with an album full of songs. I mean, and we're writing all the time, especially when we're on the road. He's also my rhythm guitarist in the band, and we. We may be sitting on the bus and come up with an idea, and we'll sit back there and try to strum through it and figure out the. The basic form of it and. And get something. Get something down. But, yeah, it happens all throughout the year. But yeah, there's definitely a process. A little bit. A little bit of a process there when we start getting close to album time.
- [31:50]
Interviewer
You mentioned George Strait earlier and you cover when did you stop loving me for the album. Talk about what that song means to you.
- [32:00]
John Paycheck
Well, it was. It was definitely. It was cool doing that. And George Jones covered it as well. He did it after. After. Straight did it. Didn't do as well for George, but. George Jones. But yeah, that one was off of. It was in the movie, too, that George did, and that's where I First heard it and, man, I've always. Just, like I said, I've always loved George's music. And it was. It was neat to be able to. And intimidating. Neat and intimidating to do something that he did and try to try to make it at least close to as good. And definitely not as good, but it close to as good. And hopefully. Hopefully somebody has in his camp has went, huh, Paycheck's kid covered your song. And he got a chuckle out of it, maybe. I don't know. So.
- [33:00]
Interviewer
Oh, I'm sure he'll hear about it. Yeah, no doubt.
- [33:04]
John Paycheck
I mean, he covered Dad's old violin and he would play it in the shows and everything. And I remember when his people contacted me about that, they're like, hey, we need the rights to be able to do this. I was like, oh, most definitely. Sure. And he did a good job with that. He was probably one of the few. That song is really important to my family because it was dad's funeral song. And there's very few people that have sang it that I. I like the way they sing it. I didn't mind the way he sang it, so.
- [33:32]
Interviewer
Have you heard George Straits version of the. The Tom Petty song you Wreck Me?
- [33:39]
John Paycheck
Yeah, I saw. We saw him at. In. We were at. Me and my wife were at National Finals Rodeo this year in Vegas, and we saw that. We saw the show in Vegas and that's where I heard him sing it. I was just like, man, that's really cool. It was really neat.
- [33:54]
Interviewer
What a version that is. My God, talk about some of the other songs you want to highlight from the album.
- [34:02]
John Paycheck
Well, I'm real proud right now, especially of Foolish Ways, that one I wrote from the perspective of somebody who is either in depression, suffering from depression badly, or is possibly an addiction. It's from that perspective where you just don't really believe what people are telling you, that things don't feel like they're gonna get better and you understand what people think, but there's not much you can do about it. It's that feeling, and I've been there, so I get it, trust me. But we released the new video on that one this beginning of the month, and we also were donating the money. Any. Any of the royalties I make off of it this month and everything. We're going to the American association for Health and Wellness. Yeah. So, yeah, we're. We're doing that, but real proud of that song. I like that song. I thought. I thought it came out okay. I also like More Days Behind, More Days behind is fun and it's a title track, but it's, it's fun because it is a kind of an awakening of, you know, hey, I've lived this long. There are more days behind me than there are in front of me now. And it's like I never really thought of that until just now. And it kind of just talks about, you know, you need to kind of appreciate what you got and try to make the best of what. What's left and what are you gonna do with it, you know, so that's, that's, that's what that song's about. It's got a happy vibe and tone to it. So it's not depressing. It's. It's more of a. It's like, okay, well, why be depressed about it? This is just where you're at. So, you know, we're all doing the same thing. So. So yeah, those two tracks I like real well. The murder ballad's pretty good, but again, it's not an actual. It's. It's a made up story. So everybody, this is not something I think about doing. It's, it's, it's. It's a good song though. It's a good story. We wrote it kind of like a. We listened to some. Oh, the podcast or not podcast, the, the. The true crime shows and stuff. We were listening to some of that and that's where we got some of the ideas. And we're like, man, this is. It'd be kind of interesting to write a song this way. Like a, like a true crime story. And at. That's. That's what we were attempting. It came out good. Came out good. It's. It's a little, A little shocking towards the end, but. Yeah, that's an interesting one too. White Lights was good. Let me bring up that one too. White Lights, I like that one. That's my only trucking song right now. And I like, I like, I like trucking songs, but I took that one as a, A trucker kind of running away from a bad relationship type type thing. And yeah, it turned out. It turned out good too. So all of this is thanks to Bill McDermott. He's my producer there in Nashville. And it's all thanks to him and the session musicians and everything else because, yeah, without them, none of this would come out the way we, we have it. It's. It comes out great. So.
- [37:15]
Interviewer
And coming to a city near you also, you'll be hitting the road.
- [37:19]
John Paycheck
Yeah, no, we, we're all over the place right now. Well, we've slowed down here for this month, try to catch our breath after we were just out in New Mexico. But yeah, we're we're gonna be a lot of Texas dates. All my dates and everything are up on my bands in town and on my website and@johnpaycheck.com it's yeah, easy easy to find. But yeah, yeah, it's, it's been a nice response this year. We're getting, getting more dates and building as we go here. Hopefully, you know, it just keeps building and. Yeah, well, I want to get to this medium level of success where I can, you know, take care of the band and everybody and we're, we're all making, you know, an okay wage and able to get our music out there to everybody and have good time.
- [38:10]
Interviewer
So goals for the next chapter of your your career, both in the studio and on the road.
- [38:17]
John Paycheck
Yeah, we're gonna start right we're started writing already, but we're gonna start writing for the next album because there'll be another one next year. I'm trying to do one every other year. I was trying to do one every year but that time schedule gets really cramped. So we're doing one every other year. I want to at least do three more albums for a total of five and then we'll kind of reevaluate what we're doing at that point. But yeah, another album next year. Touring. We're just trying to keep building on that every year. I tour from May till about mid November every year and the rest that time there. I want my band and everybody to go home and be with families and spend time for the holidays and not have to think about when am I coming off the road, when I'm going to go back on the road.
- [39:06]
Interviewer
Well, John, congrats on more days behind. Thank you so much for the service that well you and your wife really give to our country. And thank you for the music that you give us as well. Really appreciate you taking the time to be on Taking a Walk.
- [39:26]
John Paycheck
No, thank you for having me.
- [39:29]
Ad Voice 2
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and followers us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:47]
Ad Voice 3
There's no championship league for small business owners, but if there was, you'd be at the top of the standings because going pro with Lenovo Pro means you've got the winning formation. One on one advice IT solutions and customized hardware powered Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors help you stay ahead of the competition. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro Sign up for free@lenovo.com Pro.
- [40:18]
Ad Voice 1
At cvs, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location. Sometimes all we want is more of the same. Like another round of golf played from a channel with 247 coverage, another look at the garden and the deer as they pick their way through it, another Taco Tuesday followed by a Whatever's in the Fridge Wednesday. And to get more of the same, all we need is a little help with adaptable care plans from qualified, compassionate caregivers matched to your family's needs. Home Instead can help you and your passions stay home no matter what's on your horizon. Visit Home Instead online for a better what's next? Wasn't that delicious?
- [41:24]
John Paycheck
So good. Your bill, ladies. You got it. No, I got it.
- [41:29]
Ad Voice 1
Seriously, I insist.
- [41:30]
John Paycheck
I insisted first.
- [41:32]
Ad Voice 1
Don't be silly. You know, be silly.
- [41:34]
Interviewer
People with the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Okay.
- [41:41]
Ad Voice 1
Rock, paper, scissors for it.
- [41:42]
John Paycheck
Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot. No.
- [41:46]
Interviewer
The Wells Fargo ActiveCash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.comActiveCash terms apply.
- [41:52]
Ad Voice 1
This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.