Leon Payne


The blind Texan Leon Payne (1917-1969) is probably best remembered today as the songwriter who penned all-time classics like "I Love You Because" and "You've Still Got A Place In My Heart," as well as two songs best known through Hank Williams' recorded versions, "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me" and "Lost Highway." He wrote hundreds of others, too, but he was also a vital and versatile,e performer who recorded prolifically from 1941 through the 1960s. He gained only mid-level stardom nationwide, though he remained a popular performer in his native Southwest until his death. Payne recorded for such labels as Bluebird, Bullet, Decca, Starday, 'D,' and TNT, but it was during his mid-career stint at Capitol from 1949-1953 that he reached his peak and produced his most enduring music, from his classic, chart-topping first release "I Love You Because" to minor hits like "I'm A Lone Wolf," and under appreciated sides like "I Miss That Gal," "If I could Live My Live Over," and "Poke Salad Greens." Collected here are the best of his Capitol years, including all of the above, and other memorable tracks, like "I Hate To Leave You," "A Link In The Chain Of Broken Hearts," "Mailman," and "Weeping Willow," as well as several unissued sides - 30 tracks in all.

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