Gene Watson's 'Memories To Burn' (Epic Records, 1985)
'Memories To Burn'
Epic Records BFE 40076 (1985)
'Memories to Burn' was released on Epic Records in 1985.
'Memories To Burn' discography information is presented on the Gene Watson Fan Site for educational purposes only and no infringement of copyright is intended.
About 'Memories To Burn'...
Overview
'Memories To Burn', which was released on Epic Records in 1985, was Gene Watson's first full album of material for the label. Gene Watson joined the roster at Epic Records following very successful recording periods with Capitol Records (1975 - 1980) and MCA Records (1980 - 1985).
'Memories To Burn', which was co-produced by Gene Watson, along with Farewell Party Band stalwart Larry Booth (younger brother of Tony Booth), yielded three hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985/1986; 'Cold Summer Day In Georgia' (No.24, 1985), 'Memories To Burn' (No.5, 1986) and 'Carmen' (No.32, 1986).
Gene Watson's first album for Epic Records further showcased his extraordinary talent for selecting just the right song to record. The album also demonstrates Gene's respect for his fellow country music peers with the inclusion of cuts by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004), Dallas Harms, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Obie McClinton (Thursday 25 April 1940 - Wednesday 25 September 1987)'.
'Memories To Burn' was produced by Gene Watson and Larry Booth and was recorded at Hilltop Studios, Madison, Tennessee; the album was mixed by Gene Watson and Larry Booth (Recording Engineer: Randy Best).
'Memories To Burn' was mastered by M.C. Rather at Custom Mastering, Nashville.
'Memories To Burn' achieved a chart position of No.35 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart in 1985.
'Memories To Burn'
Epic Records BFE 40076 (1985)
1 'Memories To Burn'
Writers: Warren Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004)
Publishers: BMI / ASCAP
Leona Williams recorded 'Memories To Burn' and included the track on 'Honorary Texan' (Heart of Texas Records, 2003).
Gene Watson re-recorded 'Memories To Burn' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
2 'The Note'
Writers: Buck Moore and Michelle Ray
Publishers: Sixteen Stars Music / BMI
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998) recorded 'The Note' and included the track on 'Next to You' (Epic Records, 1989).
Doug Supernaw recorded 'The Note' and included the track on 'You Still Got Me' (Giant Records, 1995).
Daryle Singletary recorded 'The Note' and included the track on 'Ain't It the Truth' (Giant Records, 1998).
3 'Cold Summer Day In Georgia'
Writers: D. Knutson and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens
Publishers: BMI / ASCAP
'Cold Summer Day In Georgia' was included, for the first time on CD, on Gene Watson's 'Ultimate Collection' (Universal/Hip-O Records, 2001).
'Cold Summer Day In Georgia' features backing vocals from Leona Williams (Merle Haggard's ex-wife), along with exquisite guitar work from Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004).
Dave Kirby passed away on Saturday 17 April 2004 - he was 63 years old. Dave was a native of Brady, Texas where he was born on Sunday 10 July 1938, was a masterful songwriter and had the privilege of having twenty four of his compositions recorded by Gene Watson.
You can enjoy a celebration of Dave Kirby's life and country music achievements courtesy of the Heart of Texas Country Music Association.
4 'If I Painted A Picture'
Writers: L. Williams and C. Browder
Publishers: BMI / ASCAP
5 'I Want My Rib Back'
Writers: Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller
Publishers: BMI
'I Want My Rib Back', which was co-written by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller was recorded by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) in the early 1980s.
However, 'I Want My Rib Back' didn't see the light of day until after Keith Whitley's death, on Tuesday 9 May 1989. Keith's version of the song was included on 'Kentucky Bluebird' (RCA Records, 1991).
Kenny Chesney recorded 'I Want My Rib Back' and included the track on 'In My Wildest Dreams' (Capricorn Records, 1994).
Charlie Sizemore recorded 'I Want My Rib Back' and included the track on 'In My View' (Rebel Records, 1996).
6 'Carmen'
Writer: Steve Spurgin
Publishers: BMI
Gene Watson re-recorded 'Carmen' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
7 'Stranger In Our House Tonight'
Writer: Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004)
Publishers: ASCAP
8 'The New York Times'
Writer: Obie Burnett McClinton (Thursday 25 April 1940 - Wednesday 25 September 1987)
Publishers: ASCAP
Obie Burnett McClinton, who was born on Thursday 25 April 1940 in Senatobia, Mississippi was a singer and songwriter, and the second-youngest child born to Reverend G. A. McClinton, a clergyman and farmer who owned his own 700-acre ranch in Mississippi, not far from Memphis, Tennessee.
Obie listened to Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953) as a child thus sparking his initial interest in country music and subconsciously shaping his singing style. After high school, he ran away from home and headed for San Francisco. However, he only reached Memphis; while there, in a Beale Street shop, he bought his first guitar.
With his travel money gone, Obie returned home; he won a choir scholarship to Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi where he sang in the acappella choir. He graduated in 1966 after four years of study. Soon after, he was drafted into the Army, but as this didn't please him, he volunteered for the Air Force during December 1966.
While in the Armed Forces, Obie McClinton began winning service talent shows and, as a result, he spent a lot of time entertaining and writing rhythm and blues songs; this led to a writing contract from Fame Publishing Company in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Obie remained in the services for four years and after discharge, his original rhythm and blues songs became popular.
James Carr recorded 'Baby You Got Your Mind Messed Up and 'A Man Needs A Woman', Clarence Carter released 'Why You Can't Measure' and the great Otis Reading cut 'Keep Your Arms Around Me'. Although Obie tried to be an rhythm and blues singer, he was not successful.
While he was in the Air Force, a friend had introduced him to a Charley Pride album and this encouraged him to further his career. He wrote some country songs and then made a demo tape. One day in a hotel, he met an ex-deejay friend of his named Al Bell, who had since become a top executive for Stax Records and Obie played him his demo tape of country songs.
The result of this chance meeting was a recording contract which was signed on Tuesday 12 January 1971 and Obie became the first country music artist on the Stax Country record label, Enterprise Records.
Obie McClinton achieved seven Billboard chart hits on the label between 1972 and 1975, of which the most successful were 'Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You' (which reached the Billboard Top 40 in 1972) and 'My Whole World Is Falling Down' (which reached the Billboard Top 40 in 1973).
After Stax Records went out of business in 1975, Obie McClinton moved over to Mercury Records in 1976 and enjoyed a chart single with 'It's So Good Lovin' You'. For a number of years, Obie relied on his live work and in 1978 Epic Records signed him and released 'Hello, This Is Anna' and 'Natural Love', both of which achieved low chart positions.
In 1979, the song 'Soap' reached the Billboard Top 60. In 1980, Obie moved to Sunbird Records and had a moderate hit with 'Not Exactly Free', on which he was credited as 'The Chocolate Cowboy'.
George Jones recorded Obie McClinton's 'Ol' George Stopped Drinkin' Today' and included the track on 'Shine On' (Epic Records, 1983).
'Not Exactly Free' was Obie McClinton's last chart record until 1984, when he had a Billboard Top 70 single, 'Honky Tonk Tan', which appeared on the Moon Shine label.
In 1986, Obie McClinton became ill as a result of abdominal cancer; members of the country music community including Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire, Exile, Tom T. Hall, Ronnie McDowell, Buddy Killen, Ralph Emery, Billy Deaton, Kathy Mattea, Gatlin Brothers and Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002) rallied around and put on a star-studded benefit concert to help to defray his medical expenses.
'The Chocolate Cowboy', as he styled himself, was on an upward swing and he had just released a new TV marketed album called 'The Only One' (Epic Records, 1987), which Obie considered his best album yet.
In 1987, Obie McClinton was once more back on Epic Records with a hit single, 'Turn The Music On', a track from his highly acclaimed 'The Only One' album (Epic Records, 1987), which is considered by many to be his finest release.
Obie Burnett McClinton passed away on Wednesday 25 September 1987 after a year-long battle with abdominal cancer; his death was announced on (the Nashville Network) TNN's 'Nashville Now' show by Ralph Emery.
9 'Speak Of The Devil'
Writer: J. Ewtah
Publishers: ASCAP
10 'Get Along Little Doggie'
Writers: Mark La Forme and Dallas Harms
Publishers: CAPAC/PRO-CAN
Read a CMP review of Gene Watson's 'Memories to Burn'
The review, which was written by Bob Powell, was published in the October 1985 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.
'Memories To Burn'
Epic Records BFE 40076 (1985)
Musician Credits
Gene Watson's Farewell Party Band
Bass: Tony Booth
Steel Guitar: Chris 'Tiny' Olson
Lead Guitar: Daniel T. Rainwater
Lead and Rhythm Guitar: Norm Kastner
Rhythm Guitar: Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004)
Piano: Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 - Friday 14 August 2009)
Drums: Doug Boggs
Fiddle: Hubert 'Hoots' Hester
Background Vocals: Beckie Foster, Joy Gardner and Leona Williams
On Monday 9 May 2011, Hux Records in England released 'Memories to Burn', as a special 2-for-1 CD set, along with 'Starting New Memories' (Epic Records, 1986), in the UK and Ireland; the CD set was released worldwide on Tuesday 17 May 2011.