Everybody's Got a Family... Meet Mine
Everybody's Got a Family... Meet Mine is the twentieth studio album by American country music artist Johnny Paycheck. The album was released in December 1979, via Epic Records. It was produced by Billy Sherrill. Background and recordingFollowing the commercial success of Take This Job and Shove It, Epic Records and producer Billy Sherrill sought to cement Paycheck's status as a leading outlaw country figure. The album's cover features Paycheck alongside his gritty band and road crew, underscoring the "family" theme suggested by the title.[1] While the image celebrates his offstage entourage, the album's actual recording leans heavily on Nashville studio veterans like Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Pete Wade, and Reggie Young, alongside standout contributions from harmonica player P. T. Gazell and steel guitar player Jim Murphy.[2] The music draws heavily from honky-tonk, rockabilly, and bluegrass influences, presented with Paycheck's now-familiar blend of irony, aggression, and raw vocal charisma. Notably, Paycheck wrote or co-wrote several of the album's songs, including the lead single, "(Stay Away From) the Cocaine Train." ThemesThe album opens with "(Stay Away From) the Cocaine Train," a cautionary tale that reaffirms Paycheck's talent for mixing personal warning with outlaw bravado.[2][3][4] Other standout tracks include "Drinkin' and Drivin'" and "Fifteen Beers," both of which revisit Paycheck's struggles with alcohol through barstool narratives that veer between comedy and tragedy.[2] "Ragged Old Truck" presents a symbolic ode to Paycheck's rough-edged persona, portrayed as a dusty pickup clinging to life and liberty.[2][4] Paycheck adds a touch of comic vulgarity with "I Never Met a Girl I Didn't Like," and the ballad "Save Your Heart for Me" leans more sentimental, though critics were divided on its sincerity.[2][3] The album's high point is commonly seen as "Billy Bardo," a haunting tale about a narcotics agent told in the singsong cadence of a nursey rhyme, culminating in a sudden burst of violence. Critics praised it as one of Paycheck's darkest and most effective storytelling songs.[1] The album closes with a rollicking rendition of the bluegrass standard "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms," featuring a harmonica cameo from Terry McMillan.[2][3] Critical reception
Critical reception to Everybody's Got a Family... Meet Mine was generally positive, though opinions diverged on its substance. AllMusic's Eugene Chadbourne noted that while the album has its moments, especially "Billy Bardo," it sometimes leans too heavily on outlaw clichés and lacks the narrative cohesion of Paycheck's stronger material.[1] He described the outlaw persona as beginning to feel like a "greasy imitation of itself."[1] In contrast, the Houston Chronicle awarded the album a perfect 5/5 rating, calling it "some of the better country albums being made today," praising its Saturday-night energy and strong lineup of tracks.[3] The Richmond Times-Dispatch echoed these sentiments, admiring Paycheck's ability to craft relatable barroom anthems while acknowledging the "salty" lyrical content and occasional lapses into overindulgence.[2] Bob Claypool of the Houston Post described as "hard as nails" and commended Paycheck's ability to make low-life tales believable, noting that songs like "Who Was That Man That Beats Me So" are among the most powerful country storytelling tracks of the year.[4] Track listing
Personnel
Charts
References
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