Lovers and Losers
| Lovers and Losers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Studios | Columbia Recording Studio (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 27:26 | |||
| Label | Epic Records | |||
| Producer | Billy Sherrill | |||
| Johnny Paycheck chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Lovers and Losers | ||||
| ||||
Lovers and Losers is the twenty-second studio album by American country music artist Johnny Paycheck. The album was released in March 1982, via Epic Records, his last studio album with the record label. It was produced by Billy Sherrill.[1][2]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Santa Barbara News and Review |   [2] |
Lovers and Losers received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. Bill Robertson of The StarPhoenix called it a return to "the fold of the drinkers and the forgiven," describing the songs as consistent, if not groundbreaking, and noting that "these tunes just maintain the standards."[3] Jim McNulty of the Edmonton Journal agreed that the album worked well as a country release, but found some of the lyrics tired and formulaic, writing that Paycheck "has covered some of this ground once too often."[4]
Christopher Evans of the Orlando Sentinel criticized the lyrics as "trite" and the humor as ineffective, suggesting Paycheck had run out of creative options.[5] Patti Fanning of The Boston Globe viewed the album as a thoughtful recalibration: "a tamer, more sedate Paycheck looking back at the wilder times with a hard-won comprehension of the value of loyalty and love."[1]
The Santa Barbara News and Review praised the record for returning to Paycheck's "old fashioned cryin' and dyin'" roots and awarded it four our of five stars, highlighting tracks like "D.O.A. (Drunk on Arrival)," "Loser of the Year," and "She Got the Gold Mine (I Got the Shaft)" as the album's strongest cuts.[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "D.O.A. (Drunk on Arrival)" |
| 2:39 |
| 2. | "We've All Gone Crazy" |
| 3:08 |
| 3. | "Gonna Get Right (And Do Somethin' Wrong)" |
| 2:13 |
| 4. | "Award to an Angel" | 2:36 | |
| 5. | "You're the Only Song I Sing Today" |
| 3:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Highlight of '81" |
| 3:12 |
| 2. | "Sharon Rae" | Johnny Paycheck | 2:31 |
| 3. | "Loser of the Year" |
| 2:42 |
| 4. | "No Way Out" | Paycheck | 2:14 |
| 5. | "She Got the Gold Mine (I Got the Shaft)" | Tim DuBois | 2:54 |
| Total length: | 27:26 | ||
References
- 1 2 Fanning, Patti (August 5, 1982). "Johnny Paycheck, Lovers and Losers, Epic". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 66. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- 1 2 3 David, M. (May 13, 1982). "Lovers and Losers, Johnny Paycheck (Epic)". Santa Barbara News and Review. Santa Barbara, California. p. 24. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ↑ Robertson, Bill (May 8, 1982). "Johnny Paycheck". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. p. 8. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ↑ McNulty, Jim (May 27, 1982). "Lovers and Losers, Johnny Paycheck, Epic". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta. p. C4. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ↑ Evans, Christopher (July 16, 1982). "Johnny Paycheck loses with gimmicky numbers". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D3. Retrieved July 31, 2025.