CMP Album Review: Memories to Burn

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' (Epic Records, 1985)
Country Music People Review, October 1985

This review by Bob Powell, which was published in the October 1985 issue of Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.

Album Review by Bob Powell
(***** out of 5)

'Gene Watson once said to me that if he was forced to record material he didn't like, he would refuse, and go back to repairing cars in Texas.  Well the body shops in Texas haven't got a new worker yet, but I bet Gene is just a little bit nervous after his last single on MCA, reaching only number 43, and more importantly, his first for Epic, achieving a very poor high of 24.

Sad because this is a very fine album, and the song in question 'Cold Summer Day In Georgia' is a very good song.  Maybe it should have been truer to life and called 'Cold Summer Day In Britain'.  Gene and his long-time band leader Larry Booth produced this album, and among the pickers, and another band member Larry's brother Tony Booth, once a rising star on Capitol Records.

As so often seems to be the case lately, Dave Kirby is here represented as a picker, and a writer with the title track no less, and 'Stranger In Our House Tonight', a nice if sad ballad.  Canadian Dallas Harms wrote Gene's initial biggie 'Paper Rosie', and he is represented here on 'Get Along Little Doggie', a rather clever song that incorporates the old cowboy ballad.

My two favourite songs though, are the ballad 'The Note' about a 'Dear John' letter, a sad song that is greatly complimented by another long-time member of the Farewell Party Band, Tiny Olson, on steel.

The other highlight to me is a much faster number composed by O.B. McClinton who I never rated as a vocalist, but he wrote a hell of a good song in 'The New York Times' about a recurring theme in Gene Watson songs, a departed lady.  Gene's got an excellent voice, the production is good and country, and the songs are of a very high quality.  All we need now is a hit'.

Bob Powel
Country Music People
October 1985

Gene Watson CMP Album Reviews Index