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
'Gene Watson...Sings' (Intersound
Records, 2003), as published in the
December 2003
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.
'Gene Watson...Sings' (Intersound Records, 2003)
This CMP review by Craig Baguley, which was published in the December 2003 issue
of Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the
publishers.
Album Review by Craig Baguley
(****½ out of 5)
'I was long-neckin' with the boys at the local hot spot', sings Gene Watson
as he kicks off this, his finest album in years. And even though he
indulges himself with a touch of country croonin' on the standard, 'What a
difference a day makes', 'Sings' is proof positive once again that Watson
could never be anything but country.
The Texan born vocalist has been mesmerising audiences for 30 years although
his commercial glory days faded away in the mid 80s after a boom period that
added such mighty cuts as 'Where love begins', 'I don't need a thing at
all', Nothing sure looked good on you', 'Fourteen carat mind' and, of
course, 'Farewell party', to the catalogue of classic recordings in country
music.
Where the combination of Gene Watson, singer, and Ray Griff, writer, created
magic in the 70s, now that of Watson and song-writing genius Bill Anderson
does the same with two meticulous ballads. In the break-up song, 'Make sure
you got it all', a co-write with Steve Wariner, Gene tells his ex to take
everything with her when she leaves, begging her to 'take my heart, take my
soul, just leave the floor here to catch me when I fall'. A faultless lyric
wrapped up in a faultless performance.
Similarly cheerless is Anderson and Sharon Vaughn's 'When a man can't get a
woman off his mind' with a desperate Watson driven to sweaty, sleepless
nights while the lady he loves is out enjoying herself with someone else.
Another fine country writer who provides a brace of songs is
Billy Yates,
with Gene covering his ironic tale of alcohol, tragedy and redemption,
'Flowers', and 'Hold me' in which the danger of drink is cleverly assayed by
singing the song from the point of a view of a bottle outlining its role as
a comforter.
Moving up a gear in pace, 'New woman' turns the tables on Gene as a man
happy to divorce his wife, only to see her enter his favourite watering hole
looking a stunner and chatting up his mates: 'it's a hell of a time for me
to be her ex old man', he moans to himself. 'The coast of Texas'
delightfully two-tempos between a sunny south-of-the-border rhythm and a
straight-to-the-floor Texas shuffle.
Musicians include steel player Sonny Garrish, fiddlers Rob Hajacos and
Aubrey Haynie, and solid rock pianist Pig Robbins, whose presence indicates
these recordings were laid down at least three years ago. No matter,
though, that we've had to wait a while - Gene Watson is a true great and we
should be thankful he's still putting albums out when many of his fellow
veterans are being passed by'.
Craig Baguley
Country Music People
December 2003
