Gene Watson: Hux Records Profile
London, England-based Hux Records
was launched in 1998 and, since then, has built an enviable reputation as
specialists in releasing classic archive recordings. All of their
titles include material which has never been available on CD before now; in
fact, most Hux recordings have never been available before in any form.
Several albums are comprised of previously unreleased BBC recordings (such
as Peel Sessions & Radio 1 Concerts). Hux Records
have reissued many classic albums & added bonus tracks where available.
Brian O'Reilly
& those enterprising folks at Hux Records
work directly with each featured artist wherever possible & they often
assist with the studio mastering, artwork & packaging.
Hux Records'
CD booklets include informative liner notes & full recording details, along
with artist photographs.
Hux Records
are always looking for good ideas for possible album reissues. So if
you have any interesting suggestions, then please get in touch via their
website contact page.
If your suggestion results in the release of an album, Hux Records
will be happy to send you a bunch of CDs from their extensive catalogue.
The Hux Records
website is regularly updated with
album release information;
it also includes their catalogue, audio clips, biographies & an
order form.
Since 2002,
Hux Records
have served the music career of Gene Watson extremely
well; they have released three outstanding
'2-for-1' albums (with a fourth outstanding
release due in May 2011):
'Love in the Hot
Afternoon/Paper Rosie' (Hux Records, 2002)
Released as
HUX036
on
Tuesday 3 September 2002
'Because You Believed in
Me/Beautiful Country' (Hux Records, 2005)
Released as
HUX 072
on Monday 26 September
2005
'Reflections/Should I
Come Home' (Hux Records, 2009)
Released as
HUX 101 on Monday 26 January 2009
'Memories
to Burn/Starting New Memories' (Hux Records, 2011)
Released as HUX124 (in the UK &
Ireland) on Monday 9 May 2011 & (worldwide) on Tuesday 17 May 2011
Hux Records
have also celebrated other
major country music artists, with fine
re-issues of their material, including Billie Jo Spears, Stoney Edwards,
Tom T. Hall,
Connie
Smith, Clint Black, Charlie
Louvin, Faron Young, Ed Bruce
& Cal Smith.
Billie Jo Spears: 'Mr. Walker, It's All Over/Just
Singing' (Hux Records, 2003)
Released as
HUX 044 on Monday 29 September
2003
'Billie Jo Spears achieved several big country hits during the 1970s
(including 'Blanket on the ground' & 'What I've got in mind') thanks to a
sultry, bluesy voice that made her a perfect torch balladeer.
She also enjoyed great success in the States with songs like 'Mr. Walker,
it's all over', which gave her a Billboard No.4 hit and is now revived in
this packaging of her two early LPs. These two albums (originally
released in 1969 & 1972) represent the birth of Billie Jo's career.
Both titles have been digitally re-mastered and are now released on CD for
the first time.
The accompanying 8-page booklet features extensive liner notes, including
the sleeve notes from the original LPs and rare photographs'.
Stoney Edwards: 'Stoney Edwards/She's My
Rock' (Hux Records, 2005)
Released as
HUX 069 on Monday 25 July 2005
'Stoney Edwards' soulful honky-tonk sound has always had a devoted following
and he is rightly revered as one of the great country artists. After
his early chart success in 1971, he continued his recording career right up
to 1990.
In 1971, Stoney's debut single, the heart-wrenching true life tale, ‘Two
dollar toy', became the first of fifteen chart entries for the singer.
Stoney's fourth single a year later, ‘She's my rock', was his biggest ever
chart success, breaching the Top 20.
Both of these tracks are included on this CD, which is chock full of superb
country music, including the heartfelt ‘Daddy did his best', later cut by
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Also
featured here are the much recorded breezy shuffle ‘I don't believe I'll
fall in love today', as well as Stoney's own material such as the whimsical
‘Fishin' song' and the tell-it-like-it-is ‘You can't call yourself country'.
This CD brings together two of the finest albums by Stoney Edwards,
originally released in 1971 and 1973 on the Capitol Records label.
Both titles have now been digitally re-mastered and are released on CD for
the first time. The accompanying 8-page booklet includes extensive
liner notes & rare photographs'.
Tom T. Hall: 'In
Search
of a Song/The Rhymer & Other Five & Dimers' (Hux
Records, 2005)
Released as
HUX 071 on Monday 26 September 2005
'Tom T. Hall became known as ‘The Storyteller' for his brilliantly realised
tales of small-town America. His songs are three-minute snapshots of
ordinary people's lives, written with exceptional wit, insight and humanity.
Many musicians have covered his songs (most notably Jeannie C. Riley with
the 1968 hit, ‘Harper Valley P.T.A.') and he also has racked up several solo
hits.
Between 1971 and 1976, he had six No.1 country hits, including his classic,
‘The year that Clayton Delaney died', which is included.
This CD pairs two of his best albums: 1971's 'In Search of a Song' (rightly
regarded as his masterpiece) and 'The Rhymer And Other Five And Dimers' from
1973.
Both of these LPs are now released here on CD for the first time'.
Connie Smith: 'Connie Smith/Cute 'n'
Country' (Hux Records, 2006)
Released as
HUX 076
on Monday 27 March 2006
'Connie Smith's first two LPs were originally released in 1965 and are now
reissued together on one CD for the first time. Her debut album,
included on this CD, was recently given a 5-Star rating by ‘All Music
Guide', who said the LP 'features her blowing through the Nashville Sound
production like a down-home Streisand fronting The Lennon Sisters'.
This new CD includes Connie's debut single, ‘Once a day', which hit the top
of the country charts, reigning as No.1 for eight weeks. Smith's
follow-up, ‘Then and only then', also featured, reached No.4 in the charts.
Connie Smith became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1965. She
continues to perform with the Opry and in 1998 returned with her first album
in many years.
This ‘2-on-1' CD includes the original artwork and sleeve notes from both
original LPs, along with rare photographs and new, updated liner notes'.
Clint Black: 'Killin' Time/Put Yourself in
My Shoes' (Hux Records, 2006)
Released as
HUX 080 on Monday 9 October 2006
'Clint Black is a country music traditionalist from Texas and was one of the
first artists to kick-start the mass-market popularity of country in the
1990s.
This CD pairs Clint Black's classic debut LP, 'Killin' Time', with its
impressive follow-up, 'Put Yourself in My Shoes'.
Tom T. Hall: 'We All Got Together And.../The Storyteller' (Hux
Records, 2007)
Released as
HUX 091 on Monday 28 May 2007
'Tom T. Hall is known as a classic country music singer/songwriter, with a
keen eye for detail and a knack for narrative. The composer of eleven
No.1 hits, he has written songs for dozens of country stars, including
Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn,
Waylon Jennings & Alan Jackson.
Very early on in his career, Hall picked up the sobriquet of 'The
Storyteller', and the title 'The Storyteller' was used for one of two albums
that Mercury released in 1972, the other being 'We All Got Together And…'.
Both of these albums registered on the upper reaches of the country music
chart in 1972.
Over the following decades, Tom T. Hall went on to release several more
great albums. But it is his work in the 1970s for which Hall will
always be remembered, and it doesn't come any better than the two albums
presented on this CD.
Now digitally re-mastered, these two exemplary albums are now reissued
together on one CD for the first time. Included here is the country
No.1 song, ‘Old dogs, children and watermelon wine', considered by many fans
to be Hall's finest recording'.
Charlie Louvin: 'Less and Less & I Don't Love You Anymore/Lonesome is Me' (Hux
Records, 2009)
Released as
HUX 099 on
Monday 26 January 2009
'From the mid-1950s until the early 1960s, The Louvin Brothers, comprising
Charlie and his brother Ira, became one of the most prestigious and
influential bluegrass acts of all time. They developed a sound that
was to later influence and inspire many others including (especially) The
Everly Brothers and such seminal country rock performers as The Byrds and
Gram Parsons. The duo separated in 1963 and both went on to pursue
solo careers.
In 1964, Charlie Louvin released his first solo album. As was the
fashion of the day, the album was named after two chart successes, 'Less and
Less' & 'I Don't Love You Anymore'. Charlie's second album, 'Lonesome
is Me', followed in 1966.
Louvin's music had now become smoother and more 'mainstream Nashville' than
his erstwhile raw 'mountainy' style, although a plaintive bluegrass
undertone is never too far from the surface in his vocal delivery.
Both albums have now been digitally re-mastered and are released on CD for
the first time. The accompanying 12-page booklet includes extensive
liner notes, photographs and full lyrics to all of the featured tracks.
Today, Louvin continues to be involved in recording projects, often in
esteemed company which has included George Jones,
Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Charlie Daniels. 2007
saw the release of his latest new album, which reprised his classic material
and was recorded with rock and country stars such as
Tom T. Hall, Elvis Costello and
Marty Stuart as well as members from
alt-country ensembles such as Wilco and Lambchop'.
Faron Young: 'Here's Faron Young/Occasional Wife' (Hux Records, 2009)
Released as
HUX 105 on Monday 27 April 2009
'Two original Faron Young LPs, first released in 1968 & 1970, now digitally
re-mastered and reissued on CD for the first time.
Faron Young had one of the longest-running and most popular careers in
country music history. Emerging in the early 1950s, Young continued
making great music through until the early 1990s.
This CD is comprised of two first rate albums; 'Here's Faron Young' from
1968 and 'Occasional Wife' from 1970. Both LPs showcase Faron's
recordings from a time when he was at the very height of his career, where
his individual trademark tremulous tenor vocals were never better.
The album 'Here's Faron Young' includes two country music hits - 'She went a
little bit farther' & 'I just came to get my baby'. The 'Occasional
Wife' LP also produced two hit singles - 'If I ever fall in love (with a
honky tonk girl)' and the title track, 'Occasional wife'.
Both albums on this disc have now been digitally re-mastered and are
reissued here together on CD for the first time. The accompanying
12-page booklet includes photographs, liner notes and full lyrics to all of
the featured tracks'.
Ed Bruce: 'The Tennessean/Cowboys and Dreamers' (Hux Records, 2009)
Released as
HUX 106 on Monday 27 April 2009
'Two stunning LPs from one of the original Sun Records artists, and the
composer of the classic country hit, 'Mammas, don't let your babies grow up
to be cowboys'.
Ed Bruce was one of the original Sun Records artists, and released his first
records at the age of just seventeen. He subsequently enjoyed a long
and successful musical career, and his résumé contains no less than eight
BMI Award winning songs.
His legendary composition, 'Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be
cowboys', became an enormous success for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson,
when they recorded it as a duo in 1977.
The two Ed Bruce albums on this CD were originally released in 1977 & 1978.
They have now been digitally re-mastered and are reissued together on CD for
the first time.
These two LPs contain some truly outstanding and memorable country music,
performed in Ed's rich and resonant baritone, supported by the cream of
Nashville musicians and with first rate production from Buddy Killen.
Included here is Ed's signature tune, 'When I die, just let me go to Texas'.
This song was later a huge hit for Tanya Tucker, who re-titled it, 'Texas
(when I die)'.
The accompanying 12-page booklet includes photographs, liner notes and full
lyrics to all of the featured tracks'.
Cal Smith: 'The Best of Cal Smith' (Hux Records, 2009)
Released as
HUX 110 on Monday 7 December 2009
'Singer Cal Smith is the possessor of a warm, comforting baritone who had a
significant presence in the US country music market, especially during the
1970s. This sixteen track compilation covers his MCA years from 1973
to 1978, his best and most successful period.
As a member of Ernest Tubb's band during the 1960s, Smith's big break came
when Tubb helped to get him a solo record deal of his own in 1966, with Kapp
Records. From 1967 to 1970, Smith had eight chart singles on the Kapp
label.
In 1970, Smith signed with MCA Records, and embarked on his most successful
period, which included his first No.1 hit: 'The Lord knows I'm drinking'.
Smith's next No.1 single, 'Country bumpkin', became his career record and
signature song, and was a perennial favourite for years to come. It
was also voted the Country Music Association's 'Song Of The Year' in 1974.
His third No.1, 'It's time to pay the fiddler', established Smith as a firm
favourite amongst fans of pure country music.
All three of these No.1 hits are included here on this 'Best of'
compilation. Many of these songs are now released on CD for the first
time.
This CD compilation has been digitally re-mastered by Ron Geesin. The
booklet includes extensive liner notes, photographs and full lyrics to every
track'.
Marty Robbins: 'Have I Told You Lately That I Love
You?/I've Got a Woman's Love' (Hux Records, 2010)
Released as HUX112
on Tuesday 9 March 2010
'In the history of country music, no artist has ever had a more
stylistically diverse career than Marty Robbins. Robbins was never
content to remain just a country singer, and performed successfully in a
dazzling array of styles during more than thirty years in the business.
In 1959, he became the first country music star to be awarded a Grammy, for
his classic country hit 'El Paso', and the success of this song established
Robbins once and for all. In 1970, the Academy Of Country Music voted
him their 'Man of the Decade'.
This CD features two of Marty's LPs which were originally released on
Columbia Records in 1972 & 1974. They are now reissued on CD for the
first time. Included are several Robbins' originals, as well as some
of his exquisite interpretations of standards.
The accompanying booklet includes extensive liner notes, rare photographs
and full lyrics to every featured track'.
Marty Robbins: 'I'm Walk Alone/It's A Sin' (Hux Records, 2010)
Released as HUX116
on Monday 25 October 2010
'Marty Robbins was a consummate all-round entertainer. Cowboy singer,
rock 'n 'roller, pop balladeer; he featured elements of bluegrass, Mexican,
Hawaiian, Caribbean, jazzy pop standards and country tearjerkers into his
varied repertoire. A prolific songwriter, he was one of country
music's first successful album artists and maintained a prolific presence in
this area.
In 1959, he became the first country music star to be awarded a Grammy, for
his classic country hit ‘El Paso', and the success of this song established
Robbins once and for all. In 1970, the Academy Of Country Music voted
him their ‘Man of the Decade'.
In 1982, just two months before he died, Marty Robbins was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a huge favourite of rockers from
the Grateful Dead to The Clash, and Elvis Presley made Marty's 'You
gave me a mountain' a 1970s standard.
In 2006, The Who's 'Endless Wire' album included the song, 'God Speaks of
Marty Robbins'. Merle Haggard has often talked of his wish to record
his own tribute album to Marty Robbins.
The two LPs featured were originally released on the Columbia label in 1968
& 1969. The title song, 'I walk alone' became Marty's 13th No.1
country hit and led to him recording his follow up album in the same style,
and again featuring him playing piano.
These two original LPs have now been digitally re-mastered from the original
production tapes and are reissued on CD for the first time. The
accompanying 12-page booklet includes extensive liner notes by
Maverick Magazine editor Alan
Cackett, plus full lyrics to all of the featured tracks'.
Johnny Paycheck: 'Someone To Give My Love To/Somebody Loves Me' (Hux Records, 2010)
Released as
HUX117
on Monday 25 October 2010
'In a recent article for
Country Music People magazine, the editor Craig Baguley called Johnny
Paycheck 'the greatest singer country music has ever produced', and went on
to opine that George Jones owes his vocal
styling to Paycheck.
Born in 1938, Paycheck showed an early interest in country music and took up
the guitar at the age of six. As a teenager, he hitchhiked around the
country, singing in bars. Eventually, he enlisted in the navy where,
after a fight with a senior officer, he landed up to two years in the brig.
This was typical of Paycheck's anti-authority attitude which stayed with him
throughout a notorious roller-coaster lifetime of highs and lows involving
drink, drugs, barroom brawls and prison sentences (in 1977, Paycheck's
career single and blue collar anthem, 'Take this job and shove it', inspired
one-man wildcat strikes all over America).
After travelling to Nashville in 1958, Paycheck performed in the bands of
Porter Wagoner, Faron Young, Ray Price and
George Jones, before launching his own solo
career.
In 1972, at the height of his success, Epic Records released two Paycheck
albums - 'Someone To Give My Love To' and 'Somebody Loves Me'. Both
titles have now been digitally re-mastered and are reissued on CD now for
the first time.
The accompanying 12-page booklet includes extensive liner notes, photographs
and full lyrics to every featured track'.
Johnny Rodriguez: 'Introducing/All I Ever Meant To Do Was Sing' (Hux Records, 2010)
Released as HUX118
on Monday 25 October 2010
'In the 1970s, Johnny Rodriguez brought a sudden and unexpected exotic
Hispanic dash and sexiness to country music. Rodriguez would introduce
whole verses sung completely in Spanish to his records, to a completely
unprepared yet delighted country music audience.
Rodriguez was discovered by Tom T. Hall in
1971. Hall was looking for a replacement guitarist for his road band
The Storytellers, and gave Rodriguez the job, as well as his own solo spot.
Eventually, Rodriguez' success began to eclipse that of
Tom T. Hall's.
In 1972, Johnny Rodriguez debuted on the country chart with the superlative
'Pass me by (if you're only passing through)', making him the first Hispanic
artist to make Billboard's Top 40 country listings. The single climbed
into the Top Ten and turned out to be the first of fourteen consecutive
Rodriguez singles to do so. His next two singles, 'Ridin' my thumb to
Mexico' and 'You always come back (to hurting me)', both hit No.1.
'You always come back (to hurting me)', which was also his first foray on to
the Billboard pop charts, was a Rodriguez co-write with his boss and mentor
Tom T. Hall.
Rodriguez' debut album, 'Introducing Johnny Rodriguez', was released in
1973. This was quickly followed in the same year by 'All I Ever Meant
To Do Was Sing'. Both titles have now been digitally re-mastered and
are reissued on CD now for the first time.
The accompanying 12-page booklet includes extensive liner notes, photographs
and full lyrics to every featured track'.
Cal Smith: 'My Kind of Country/I Just Came Home To Count The Memories' (Hux
Records, 2010)
Released as HUX120
on
Monday 25 October 2010
'Country singer Cal Smith originally emerged from Ernest Tubbs' band and
later went on to enjoy several hits of his own from the late 1960s and on
into the 1970s.
Cal Smith's warm, comforting baritone ensured he had a significant presence
in the US country music market, especially during the 1970s.
Now reissued for the first time on CD, this '2-on-1' features two of his
greatest LPs, which were originally released on the MCA label in 1975 &
1977.
Cal Smith's last hit on the US country chart was 'I just came home to count
the memories', in 1977, which is the title track of the second album
featured.
This Hux compilation has been digitally re-mastered by Ron Geesin. The
booklet includes extensive liner notes, photographs and full lyrics to every
track'.
Gene Watson: 'Memories
to Burn/Starting New Memories' (Hux
Records, 2011)
Released as HUX124 (in the UK & Ireland) on
Monday 9 May 2011 & (worldwide) on Tuesday 17 May 2011
'Gene Watson is one of country music's all-time finest singers and
performers, right up there with George Jones,
Merle Haggard & Charley Pride as a classic interpreter of traditional
country music.
The two albums on this CD were originally released on Epic Records in 1985 &
1986. They have now been re-mastered and are reissued on CD for the first
time.
Upon their original release, each one of these LPs yielded 3 hit singles. 'Cold
Summer day in Georgia', 'Memories
to burn' and 'Carmen' were all hits from
the first LP.
The second LP produced hit singles
in 'Bottle of tears', 'Everything
I used to do' & 'Starting new
memories today'.
The accompanying 12-page booklet includes extensive liner notes, photographs
& complete lyrics to every featured track'.
Kitty Wells: 'Country Hit Parade/Winner of Your Heart' (Hux Records, 2011)
Released as HUX125 on
Monday 27 June 2011
'Kitty Wells broke down the doors for female
country singers, paving the way for artists like Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette
& Loretta Lynn. After a string of hits from the 1950s to the early
1970s, earning her the title 'Queen of Country Music', Kitty Wells was
inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974. She later won a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, in 1991.
This '2-on-1' compilation combines Kitty's first two Decca LPs, originally
released in 1956 & 1957 and now reissued on CD together for the first time.
Featured are eight Top 10 country hit singles, including the classic 'It
wasn't God who made honky tonk angels'.
The accompanying booklet includes photographs, liner notes & full lyrics to
every
featured track.
This timely reissue coincides with the release of Laura Cantrell's new album
of Kitty Wells cover versions, 'Kitty Wells Dresses: Songs of the Queen of
Country Music' (Diesel Only Records, US and Spit & Polish Records, UK)'.
Webb Pierce: 'Fallen Angel/Cross Country' (Hux Records, 2011)
Released as HUX126 on
Monday 27 June 2011
'Webb Pierce was one of the most popular honky tonk
vocalists of the 1950s, racking up more No.1 hits than similar artists like
Hank Williams, Eddy Arnold, Lefty Frizzell & Ernest Tubb.
In the early 1950s, every single he released hit the Top 10, with a total of
ten reaching the No.1 spot. In fact, Webb's career stands as one of the most
successful in the history of country music.
Now reissued on CD for the first time, these two LPs were originally
released in the early 1960s, when Pierce was a potent chart force in country
music. Included here is 'Drifting Texas Sands', which Bob Dylan selected for
the 'Texas' theme of his radio show.
The accompanying booklet includes photographs, liner notes & full lyrics to
every featured track'.
Hux Records are always looking for good ideas for possible album re-issues,
so if you have any interesting (Gene Watson re-issue) suggestions please get
in touch via the Hux Records Contact Page.
