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 review of Gene Watson's 'Honky
Tonk Crazy' (Epic Records, 1987), as published in the
June 1987
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.
'Honky Tonk Crazy' (Epic Records, 1987)
This CMP review by Bob Powel, which was published in the June 1987 issue of
Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the
publishers.
Album Review by Bob Powel
(***** out of 5)
'I hope that there is a big hit on this album as Gene's three singles of
1986 only managed a high of 29, and that is simply not good enough for a
major label. He's pinning his hopes on the title track 'Honky tonk crazy',
a new song that Harlan Howard wrote with Ron Peterson. That to me is one of
the highlights of a very good album, as is the final song that Harlan also
wrote, but some three decades or so earlier, 'You took her off my hands' on
which Harlan had as the co-writer the legendary and late Skeets McDonald.
Pretty much the same high quality fare from Gene this, with another
highlight being a really beautiful 'broken heart' song 'I didn't think of
you at all'. Although Texas based, Gene records in Nashville, and here is
joined by the likes of newer pickers such as
Mark O'Connor
(fiddle) and
Terry McMillan (harmonica) as well as the old pros Weldon Myrick (steel),
Kenny Malone (drums), Jerry Kennedy (guitar), Henry Strzelecki (bass) and
Pig Robbins (piano).
Billy Sherrill did the neat production job, and let's hope that there is a
whopper in here, so Gene can release many more fine albums such as this'.
Bob Powel
Country Music People
June 1987
