CMP Album Reviews: Memories to Burn & Starting New Memories

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 reviews of Gene Watson's albums, as published in 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.

'Memories to Burn & Starting New Memories' (Hux Records, 2011)
Country Music People Review, June 2011

This CMP review by Duncan Warwick, which was published in the June 2011 issue of Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.

Album Review by Duncan Warwick
(**** out of 5)

'As Hux continue to make the Gene Watson catalogue available on CD for the first time, we have a two-fer of 'Memories to Burn' from 1985 and 'Starting New Memories' from 1986, both from a relatively brief spell at Epic.

Most likely brief as neither of these albums achieved the kind of success that one might associate with Gene Watson around that time - 'Memories to Burn' peaked at No.35 and 'Starting New Memories' reached No.49.

Singles were also not as successful as they should have been, with the first single from 'Memories to Burn' - 'Cold Summer Day In Georgia' - managing a high of No.24 on the Billboard chart.

With hindsight, maybe they should have released 'The Note'.  In my mind, it's a classic, and it wasn't until I was checking some facts for this review that I realised only Daryle Singletary has charted the song.  Doug Supernaw also did a pretty good version.  Another great track is 'Stranger In Our House Tonight', a beautiful waltz perfectly suited to Gene's style but that was never a single either.

However, 'Memories To Burn', the second single, did rather better, peaking at No.5, but surprisingly, another classic song, 'Carmen', could only manage No.32.  I've got a feeling the song went on to become something of a line-dance favourite, but there is no denying that its Mexican flavour is irresistible.

Another song which has been covered by several artists is 'I Want My Rib Back'.  It still raises a smile every time I hear the line 'I won't let evolution make a monkey out of me', but I can't say it is a song I've ever particularly liked, and here there is just a bit too much input from the backing singers making it a bit twee.

'Starting New Memories' did less well single-wise, with two released.  Unbelievably, the stone country 'Bottle Of Tears' ('I battled my way to the top and I bottled my way to the bottom') only made it to No.50, whilst the jaunty two-stepper 'Everything I Used To Do' managed a chart high of No.29.  A terrific song about how the singer is doing everything he used to do (smoking, drinking) 'except loving you'.

Aside from the singles, there are some fabulous songs tucked away on these albums.  The shuffle, 'I Saved Your Place', I really enjoyed, and 'Speak Of The Devil' is pure Gene Watson and deserving of classic status.  Another highlight is 'Almost Like Having You Here'.  Wonderful song with the great line 'It feels so bad when you leave me alone, it's almost like having you here'.

I'd quite happily let Gene Watson sing me the Houston telephone directory, and I welcome these albums by one of my all-time favourite singers into my collection with open arms, but to be fair, they are not quite as essential as the earlier Hux releases'.

Duncan Warwick
Country Music People
June 2011

Gene Watson CMP Album Reviews Index