Gene Watson: CMP Album Reviews
Gene Watson has been singing professionally since the late 1950s & has been
a country music (album) recording artist since the late 1960s.
Gene Watson steps into a recording studio and, like a great chef, uses the
perfect ingredients to create an aural feast. When Gene Watson takes a step
behind the microphone, magic happens.
Gene Watson's contribution to the country music genre is immeasurable and it
is here that you have an opportunity to read a CMP review of Gene Watson's
'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), as published in the
March 1989
issue of Country Music People.
Country Music People is the United Kingdom's No. 1 Award Winning Country
Music Magazine, and was the recipient of the Country Music Association's
2003 Wesley Rose International Achievement Award.
Country Music People was first published in 1970 and protects its integrity
fiercely. The magazine has always brought its readers detailed, honest
record reviews untainted by advertising considerations, as well as genuine
interviews with country stars that are not faked from interview discs sent
out by publicists and record labels.
Country Music People have
long ago nailed its colours to the mast where Gene Watson is concerned.
The magazine has rigorously championed Gene's cause down through the years
and have published a number of reviews of his album releases.
All reviews have been reproduced with the kind permission
of Country Music People.
'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)
This CMP review by Craig Baguley, which was published in the March 1989 issue of
Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the
publishers.
Album Review by Craig Baguley
(**** out of 5)
'It's certainly good to see Gene Watson back on record again. A man who has
always remained faithful to his country roots, totally unwilling to
compromise the music he loves, Gene has had a bit of a hiatus since leaving
CBS last year and his presence has been sorely missed.
Now signed for management with Lib Hatcher (she of
Randy Travis), his
resurrection on Warner Bros. is a fine piece of work produced by Paul
Worley. Leading off with his current single biggie, 'Don't waste it on the
blues', a swing-influenced mid-pacer that features jaunty fiddle from
Mark
O'Connor, Gene works his way through a selection of varying tempoed numbers
that prove honky tonk country ain't dead by a long chalk.
'Dreams of a dreamer' is straight off a true grit Texas dance floor (and
almost matches my favourite Darrell McCall
version of the song) with its
typical nick-nick lead off fiddle while western swing is well served by
Buddy Cannon's 'Ain't no fun to be alone in San Antone'.
Slow pacers include a good version indeed of the
Randy Travis
co-written weepie, 'The great divide', with a plaintive Gene expressing his sorrow over
love's parting of the ways. The break-up theme is continued with 'Somewhere
over you' but this time the man's feeling a bit better about the new life
ahead.
'Just how little I know' is a little on the funky side with Pop telling son
that on the road of life 'the longer I live, the more I learn just how
little I know'. Fiddle lead-off tells us we're in for a solid country
rendition of Lefty Frizzell's 'She found the key' and this country shuffler
in no way disappoints.
The medium tempoed cryin'-in-my-beer 'The jukebox played along' leads into
the soft, meaningful vocalising of the ballad, 'When a fool learns', to
finish off a very tasty set from one of the best country melodists around'.
Craig Baguley
Country Music People
March 1989
