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Gene Watson Music

Gene Watson has been singing professionally since the late 1950s & has been a country music (album) recording artist since the late 1960s.

Gene Watson's contribution to the country music genre is immeasurable & it is here that you will find information about Gene's album releases between 1969 & the present day.

Gene Watson steps into a recording studio & takes his place behind the microphone.  His magnificent voice, strong lyrical content & impeccable musicianship combine, and magic happens.


'Back in the Fire' | Warner Bros. Records (1988)'Back in the Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)


The 'Back in the Fire' album was released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1988.

The 'Back in the Fire' album discography information is presented on this site for educational purposes only & no infringement of copyright is intended.
 


About 'Back in the Fire'...

Album Sleeve Notes
FROM GENE
'Very special thanks to Lib Hatcher for all her concern and encouragement.  Without her my career would have probably ended. She gave me a new 'beginning'.  I can't begin to thank her enough for everything.

Thanks to: Randy Travis (for remaining a friend for twelve years & for giving me my favourite song: 'The Great Divide'), Martha Sharp (for signing me to Warner Bros.), Gregg Brown (for taking time out of his busy schedule & working with me for days on end, selecting and reviewing my music), and to Paul Worley & Nick Hunter & the entire staff at Warner Bros. Records (for being so warm & enthusiastic).

It's the first time in my career that I've had people care so much.  This is a brand new start and career for Gene Watson'.


Special Thanks from Paul Worley to Fred Cameron for 'Hot Rod Mics'.


Overview
Following the release of three Gene Watson albums on Epic Records ('Memories to Burn', 'Starting New Memories' & 'Honky Tonk Crazy'), the label began to devote their resources toward ‘younger’ artists and, as a result, Gene didn’t seem to quite 'fit' the record label image. After a three-year absence from the Top 10, Gene’s disillusionment with his career grew & he seriously considered retirement.

It was during his heavy touring schedule with his Farewell Party Band that he began playing dates with a new, young artist called Randy Travis.  It was
Randy Travis’ manager, Lib Hatcher, who convinced Gene to stay in the business.  Lib began managing Gene (he signed a personal management/booking contract with her) and secured a recording contract for him with Warner Bros. Records.

'Back in the Fire', Gene’s debut album for the label, was released in the latter part of 1988.  The debut single from the album, 'Don't waste it on the blues', climbed to No.5, while three further singles were also released; 'Back in the fire' reached No.20, 'The jukebox played along’ reached No.25 & 'The great divide' climbed to No.41.


The 'Back in the Fire' album was produced by Paul Worley, Ed Seay & Gregg Brown.  The Production Assistant was Sharon Eaves.

The album was recorded & mixed by Ed Seay with assistance from Mike Poole, Clarke Schleicher & Gary Paczosa.  Additional Engineering was undertaken by Clarke Schleicher.

The album was recorded at Treasure Isle Recorders, with overdubs undertaken at The Money Pit.
The album was mixed at Nightingale Studio & was recorded & mixed using Monster Cable.
Mastered at Georgetown | Masters by Denny Purcell


The 'Back in the Fire' album achieved a chart position of Number 42 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart in 1989.


The 'Back in the Fire' album is unique in that it is the only album that features a song that Gene Watson had a hand in writing; 'Somewhere over you' (track indicated thus ••) was co-written by Gene along with Jim Rushing & Dave Lindsey.
 


'Back in the Fire' | Warner Bros. Records (1988)

'Back in the Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)


Track Listing

1 'Don't waste it on the blues'
Written by Sandy Ramos & Jerry Vandiver
Published by Wrensong Publishing Corp. / Miller's Daughter Music Corp. /
Love This Town Music ASCAP

2 'Dreams of a dreamer' •••
Written by David H. 'Jug' Brown
Published by Mull-Ti-Hit Music Company BMI

3 'Somewhere over you' ••
Written by Gene Watson, Dave Lindsey & Jim Rushing
Published by Hall-Clement Publications / Booth & Watson Music BMI /
Jack & Bill Music Co. / Little Will Music / Amanda-Lin Music
(c/o The Welk Music Group) ASCAP

4 'Back in the fire' 'Back in the fire' • *
Written by Rory Michael Bourke & Mike Reid
Published by Jack & Bill Music Company / Songs De Burgo (c/o The Welk Music Group) / Lodge Hall Music Inc. ASCAP

5 '
Ain't no fun to be alone in San Antone'
Written by Buddy Cannon & Luke Reed
Published by Buddy Cannon Music / Polygram Music Publishing Inc. ASCAP /
Polygram Songs Inc. BMI

6 'The great divide'
Written by John Lindley & Randy Travis
Published by Tennessee Hills Music BMI / Three Story Music ASCAP

7 'Just how little I know'
Written by Wayland Patton & Jim Rushing
Published by Jack and Bill Music Co. /
Amanda-Lin Music (c/o The Welk Music Group) ASCAP

8 'She found the key'
Written by Lefty Frizzell (RIP) & Sanger D. Shafer
Published by Acuff-Rose Music Inc. BMI

9 'The jukebox played along'
Written by Ken Bell & Charles Quillen
Published by Next o Ken Music / Ensign Music Corporation BMI /
BMG Songs Inc. ASCAP

10 'When a fool learns'
Written by Steve Clark & Rick Peoples
Published by Intersong U.S.A. Inc. / Hide-A-Bone Music /
Chappell & Company Inc. ASCAP


Musician Credits
Drums: Eddie Bayers & Steve Turner
Bass: Mike Brignardello
Electric Guitar: Steve Gibson, John Jorgenson, Paul Worley & Gregg Brown
Acoustic Guitar: Larry Byrom, Paul Worley, Jimmy Capps & Pete Wade
Piano: Dennis Burnside, Barry Beckett & Michael Rojas
Fiddle: Mark O'Connor
Steel: Sonny Garrish

 


Darrell McCall'Dreams of a dreamer' (track indicated thus •••) was originally recorded by Darrell McCall & the Tennessee Volunteers.

'Dream of a dreamer' was included on the Darrell McCall & Tennessee Volunteers 'Reunion' album, which was released on BGM Records (BGM 123186) in 1987.


'Gene Watson: Then & Now' | Koch Records Nashville (2005)Re-recorded versions of 'Back in the fire' & 'The jukebox played along' (tracks indicated thus ) can be found on the 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' album, which was released on Koch Records Nashville in June 2005.


Mike Reid'Back in the fire' (track indicated thus *) was co-written by Rory Michael Bourke & Mike Reid.

Mike Reid included the track 'Back in the fire' on his 'Twilight Town' album, which was released on Columbia Records (CK 48967) in 1992.


Keith Palmer'I picked a San Antonio rose' was recorded by Gene Watson & was included as the 'b' side of the 'Don't waste it on the blues' 45rpm vinyl single, which was released on Warner Bros. Records (27692) in 1989.

Please note: Gene's version of 'I picked a San Antonio rose' was not included on the 'Back in the fire' album.

Keith Palmer also recorded 'I picked a San Antonio rose' & included the track on his self-titled debut album, which was released on Epic Records (EK 48611) in 1991.  Sadly, Keith Palmer passed away on 13 June 1992 at the age of thirty-eight.

Please check out Marlene Slater's website - MKOC - (My Kind of Country) - where she has an online celebration of Keith Palmer.  Marlene Slater's MKOC website also includes a celebration of Gene Watson.

'Heartaches, Love & Stuff' | MCA Records (1984)Keith Palmer also wrote 'One hell of a heartache' (co-written with Janet White Demmans).  This track was included on Gene Watson's 'Heartaches, Love & Stuff' album, which was released on MCA Records in 1984.


'Back in the Fire' | Warner Bros. Records (1988) | CMP Album Review | March 1989You can read a review of Gene Watson's 'Back in the Fire' album here.  The review, which was written by Craig Baguley, was published in the March 1989 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.


Gene Watson's Albums...
Select the album of your choice from the list below

Gene Watson
Love in the Hot Afternoon
Because You Believed in Me
Paper Rosie
Beautiful Country
The Best of Gene Watson
Reflections
Should I Come Home
No One Will Ever Know
The Best of Gene Watson Volume 2
Between This Time & The Next Time
Old Loves Never Die
This Dream's on Me
Sometimes I Get Lucky
Heartaches, Love & Stuff
Little by Little
Texas Saturday Night
Memories to Burn
Greatest Hits
Starting New Memories
Honky Tonk Crazy
Back in the Fire
Gene Watson's Greatest Hits
At Last
In Other Words
Uncharted Mind
Best of Gene Watson
The Good Ole Days
Jesus is All I Need
A Way to Survive
Eighteen Greatest Hits
From the Heart
Ultimate Collection
Love in the Hot Afternoon & Paper Rosie
Gene Watson...Sings
The Gospel Side of Gene Watson
Gene Watson: Then & Now
Because You Believed in Me & Beautiful Country
Love in the Hot Afternoon
Gene Watson: At His Best
Gene Watson: Gospel at its Best
In a Perfect World