Johnny Paycheck is a big-voiced country singer, in the weeper tradition of George Jones, who has been saddled with almost insurmountable obstacles: To begin with, he looks like a Florida land developer rather than a C&W regular. He was born Donnie Young and was long managed by Aubrey Mayhew, who once tried to corner the market on JFK memorabilia. And, as Song & Dance Man illustrates, he's been burdened with unimaginative, overblown arrangements. Also, he's not a writer. Of the 11 cuts here, eight are by the C&W factory known as Foster-Rice; Troy Seals, Billy Sherrill, and Tom Jans figure in the rest. The strongest song, Jans's "Loving Arms," is marred by a sluggish arrangement. Country music is choked with singers who have not achieved their potential; Paycheck's voice suggests he deserves to. (RS 169)

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