Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)

'Back In The Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)

'Back In The Fire' was released on Warner Bros. Records in 1988.

'Back In The Fire' discography information is presented on the Gene Watson Fan Site for educational purposes only and 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 and 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 and working with me for days on end, selecting and reviewing my music), and to Paul Worley and Nick Hunter and the entire staff at Warner Bros. Records (for being so warm and 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' (Epic Records, 1985), 'Starting New Memories' (Epic Records, 1986) and 'Honky Tonk Crazy' (Epic Records, 1987), the label began to devote their resources toward ‘younger’ artists.

As a result, Gene Watson 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 and 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’ (then) 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 Watson’s debut album for Warner Bros. Records, 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 on the Billboard country music singles chart, while three further singles were also released; 'Back In The Fire' (No.20, 1988), 'The Jukebox Played Along’ (No.25, 1988) and 'The Great Divide' (No.41, 1988)'.

'Back In The Fire' was produced by Paul Worley, Ed Seay and Gregg Brown.  The Production Assistant was Sharon Eaves.

'Back In The Fire' was recorded and mixed by Ed Seay with assistance from Mike Poole, Clarke Schleicher and Gary Paczosa.  Additional Engineering was undertaken by Clarke Schleicher.

'Back In The Fire' was recorded at Treasure Isle Recorders, with overdubs undertaken at The Money Pit.
'Back In The Fire' was mixed at Nightingale Studio and was recorded and mixed using Monster Cable.
Mastered at Georgetown | Masters by Denny Purcell.

'Back In The Fire' achieved a chart position of No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart in 1989.

'Back In The Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)

1 'Don't Waste It On The Blues'
Writers: Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver
Publishers: Wrensong Publishing Corp. / Miller's Daughter Music Corp. /
Love This Town Music ASCAP

2 'Dreams Of A Dreamer'
Writer: David H. 'Jug' Brown
Publishers: Mull-Ti-Hit Music Company BMI

Darrell McCall and The Tennessee Volunteers recorded 'Dreams Of A Dreamer' and included the track on 'Reunion' (BGM Records, 1986).

3 'Somewhere Over You'
Writers: Gene Watson, Dave Lindsey and Jim Rushing
Publishers: Hall-Clement Publications / Booth and Watson Music BMI /
Jack and Bill Music Co. / Little Will Music / Amanda-Lin Music
(c/o The Welk Music Group) ASCAP

'Back In The Fire' is unique in that it is the only album that features a song that Gene Watson had a hand in writing; 'Somewhere Over You' was co-written by Gene along with Jim Rushing and Dave Lindsey.

4 'Back In The Fire'
Writers: Rory Bourke and Mike Reid
Publishers: Jack & Bill Music Company / Songs De Burgo (c/o The Welk Music Group) / Lodge Hall Music Inc. ASCAP



Mike Reid recorded 'Back In The Fire' and included the track on 'Twilight Town' (Columbia Records, 1992).

Gene Watson re-recorded 'Back In The Fire' and included the track on 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).

Gene Watson re-recorded 'Back In The Fire' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).

5 'Ain't No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone'
Writers: Buddy Cannon and Luke Reed
Publishers: Buddy Cannon Music / Polygram Music Publishing Inc. ASCAP / Polygram Songs Inc. BMI

6 'The Great Divide'
Writers: John Lindley and Randy Travis
Publishers: Tennessee Hills Music BMI / Three Story Music ASCAP

7 'Just How Little I Know'
Writers: Wayland Patton and Jim Rushing
Publishers: Jack and Bill Music Co. / Amanda-Lin Music (c/o The Welk Music Group) ASCAP

8 'She Found The Key'
Writers: Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. Shafer
Publishers: Acuff-Rose Music Inc. BMI

Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) recorded 'She Found The Key' and included the track on 'The Classic Style of Lefty Frizzell' (ABC Records, 1975).

9 'The Jukebox Played Along'
Writers: Ken Bell and Charles Quillen
Publishers: Next o Ken Music / Ensign Music Corporation BMI / BMG Songs Inc. ASCAP

Gene Watson re-recorded 'The Jukebox Played Along' and included the track on 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).

10 'When A Fool Learns'
Writers: Steve Clark and Rick Peoples
Publishers: Intersong U.S.A. Inc. / Hide-A-Bone Music / Chappell and Company Inc. ASCAP

Gene Watson recorded James Dean Hicks' 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' and included the track 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.

Gene Watson's version of James Dean Hicks' 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' was not, however, included on 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).

Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 - Thursday 13 June 1996)

Keith Palmer recorded James Dean Hicks' 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' and included the track on 'Keith Palmer' (Epic Records, 1991)

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 here and here.

Read a CMP Review of Gene Watson's 'Back in the Fire'
The review, which was written by Craig Baguley, was published in the March 1989 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.

'Back In The Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)

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