Double Trouble (George Jones and Johnny Paycheck album)

Background

Double Trouble remains the "oddest" album George Jones ever recorded. The singer was enjoying the attention of hip rock & rollers, thanks to a glowing article in Rolling Stone, and it appears that this album was an attempt on the part of Epic and producer Billy Sherrill to take advantage of the crossover potential. Enlisting Paycheck, who had played bass for Jones as part of the Jones Boys in the 1960s and had scored numerous hits throughout the 1970s, the album consists of mostly covers of 1950s rock and roll but with Sherrill's heavy handed production and a chorus of female backing singers. The title was more than appropriate, considering that Paycheck and Jones in particular were at their raging, hell-raising worst. Critics panned the album but with the passing of time there is a bizarre fascination in hearing them so completely unhinged. As Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic observes, "The pair sound as if they were on one of their notorious drinking and drugging binges, making jokes with each other throughout every song (except the closing "You Better Move On") and singing without regard for key."

Reception

Double Trouble would be Jones and Paycheck's only duet album. Although the album stalled on the Billboard charts at number 45, the Chuck Berry song "Maybellene" would make the top ten, peaking at number 7. "You Can have Her" and the impressive "You Better Move On" were also minor hits. AllMusic calls it "easily the worst album George Jones ever recorded."

Personnel