Gene Watson's 'Reflections and Should I Come Home' (Hux Records, 2009)
'Reflections and Should I Come Home'
Hux Records HUX 101 (2009)
'Reflections and Should I Come Home' was released on Hux Records on Tuesday 27 January 2009.
'Reflections and Should I Come Home' discography information is presented on the Gene Watson Site for educational purposes only and no infringement of copyright is intended.
About 'Reflections and Should I Come Home'...
Overview
'In 2002 Hux Records issued a two album release (popularly known as 'twofers') of country singer Gene Watson's Capitol releases from the 1970s, 'Love in the Hot Afternoon', coupled with 'Paper Rosie'. This proved so successful that the exercise was repeated in 2005 with 'Because You Believed in Me' and 'Beautiful Country'.
These releases had a twofold effect; they made classic country albums finally available on CD for the first time and also introduced a new audience to one of the most exceptional country singers of the genre. Gene Watson was once cited by George Jones - almost certainly the greatest country artist that the world has known - as his favourite country ballad singer, while Grand Ole Opry veteran and country superstar, the late Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007), once described Watson as 'a singer's singer'.
It is clear, when listening to Gene Watson, what Jones and Wagoner heard in Watson. Watson is particularly powerful on ballad material; his expressive and heartfelt delivery, with its slightly anxious vibrato, engages the listener from the moment he starts to sing, although he is equally at home whooping it up on any number of rocking honky tonk shuffles and sawdust kickers.
Gene Watson was born in Palestine, Texas on October 11 in 1943. In the early sixties he moved to Houston where he performed in local clubs, most notably the Dynasty, with his brothers and cousins. Cutting a few records for local labels did not yield any great success and it was not until 1975 that he first became known to the record buying public when he appeared on the Billboard country charts for the first time, albeit in a small way, peaking at 87, with 'Bad Water'. The song, first recorded by rock act The Raelettes, was on the Resco Records label which had been formed by Watson and local businessman Russ Reeder, as was its follow-up, the erotic and torrid 'Love In The Hot Afternoon'.
Despite its then controversial lyric and sensuously charged atmosphere, it still managed to get airplay on country radio, at the time notorious for its conservatism, and was actually picked up by a major label, Capitol Records no less. Commenting on the record years later in an article with Craig Baguley for Country Music People magazine, Watson remembered '...back then it was kinda racy to be played on the radio. A lot of people that recorded it before I did - it was recorded I think seven times before - they would change it lyrically. And I decided to record it exactly the way it was written, and I did, and the rest is history'. It was with Capitol that Watson was to stay and enjoy the most fruitful period of his career, charting with the imprint no less than seventeen times until 1980, at which time he left the label due to business difficulties. As Watson recalls, 'they (Capitol) wanted me to alter the contract in various intricate ways...they flew me to Hollywood and tried to negotiate a contract with me. It didn't work'.
The next label for Watson was MCA Records, where he maintained his chart momentum and subsequently cut sides for Epic and latterly with Warner Brothers. This took Watson into the 1990s although this decade was the last to see him charting, ending his chart appearances on independent labels, Broadland and Step One.
Although he ceased to be a chart contender, Gene Watson has been far from inactive in the 2000s, touring constantly both in the USA and abroad - he is particularly popular in Ireland - and continues to make albums of the highest calibre. In 2007 he recorded 'In a Perfect World', for Shanachie, a duet album that many considered one of the finest releases of the year, with singers Lee Ann Womack, Vince Gill, Connie Smith, Rhonda Vincent, Mark Chesnutt and Joe Nichols all lining up, eager to appear with the great man.
Following the success of its two reissue packages, Hux Records has continued to mine the rich seam of Gene Watson's back catalogue and have now chronologically released the next two albums, 'Reflections' from 1978 and 'Should I Come Home' from 1979 in one package. These albums maintain the superlative standard set by their predecessors, arguably even surpassing them in terms of material and performances evidenced in the opening cut of the 'Reflections' album, 'One Sided Conversation'. This dark, atmospheric ballad which peaked at #8, brilliantly yet heartbreakingly documents a failing loveless relationship. In a thrilling and emotional bridge the song reaches an awe inspiring climax in a passionate, almost abandoned vocal performance from Watson.
The follow-up, 'Farewell Party', was even more successful, reaching #5 in early 1979. An older song, this was one of Watson's key singles even naming his touring band the Farewell Party Band after it. Despite its length (it gave DJs time to go to the bathroom', quips Watson these days) and its doom-laden themes of death and burial plus a bitterly ironic lyric: '...when my friends gather 'round at my farewell party/won't you pretend you loved me', it savagely runs, it continued Watson's successful chart run. Talking to Country Music People, Watson noted, 'nobody else wanted me to record that song. We had fifteen minutes left at the recording session. I remember it like it was yesterday. I said, well we don't have fifteen minutes to waste and I really want to record this song. Harold Bradley was the leader on the recording session. I got a guitar and went through the song and they copied down the chord charts. We got on the headphones, rode it once to make sure the chords were right and then rolled the tape. What you hear on the radio, that's the first take. We cut it in fifteen minutes'.
The subsequent single, 'Pick The Wildwood Flower', a top 5 entry, was much lighter in texture and feel and is a genial semi-biographical tale about an itinerant musician and a kind of precursor to the song 'Guitar Man'. Note fine rhythmic Pig Robbins piano fills and sawing fiddles from Buddy Spicher and Tommy Williams. This was one of an astonishing eight songs on this double collection of songs written by Joe Allen, a Nashville session bass player and consummate song-writer. In fact it was a Joe Allen song, 'Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)', that was Watson's next single and the opening track of the next album, 'Should I Come Home', in 1979. Another huge hit, peaking at #3 on the country charts, this is a deceptively relaxed swinger which has an edgy subtext dealing with a man's failing grip on sanity implied in the title and brought home powerfully in the lyric: 'lately I hear voices more and more'.
'Nothing Sure Looked Good On You' (written by Jim Rushing) gave Watson his first chart entry of the 80s, reaching #4 on the charts. This is a supremely cool mid-pacer with a theme much used in country songs (though seldom better than here), that of an ex-lover moving on to a better class of living with someone else but at the sake of true love and genuine feelings and emotions.
Watson returned to the writing of Joe Allen for the last of the three singles from the 'Should I Come Home' album, 'Bedroom Ballad', a soft and tender love song with a sexy, nocturnal subject matter, beautifully and sympathetically delivered by Watson.
Although these two albums yielded six A-sides, there is much else to be enjoyed in this collection such as the rousing and wittily written 'The Beer At Dorsey's Bar', (the B-side of 'Nothing Sure Looked Good On You'), '...our love is colder than the beer at Dorsey's Bar'). Also worth noting is a stunning rendition of Hank Williams' classic 'I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)', a funky country rocker in 'That Evil Child', written by Wayne ('The Letter') Carson, and a wispy, folk-tinged 'Circle Driveway', another Joe Allen song.
It is hard to think of too many major country artists that have been as consistently good while still maintaining their country roots as Gene Watson. This artist has been singing professionally since the late 1950s and making superb country records for nearly forty years.
Watson, who overcame colon cancer first diagnosed in 2000, is still active today and his current touring schedule is as heavy as it has always been. These two albums together provide a historic snapshot of some of the greatest country music ever committed to disc'.
Jon Philibert
Country Music People
'Reflections and Should I Come Home'
Hux Records HUX 101 (2009)
1 'One Sided Conversation'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Joe Allen Music Inc. / BMI
Gene Watson re-recorded 'One Sided Conversation' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
2 'Take Off Them Shoes'
Writers: Joe Dougherty and Tom Ghent
Publishers: Treaty of Ghent Publishing / ASCAP
'Take Off Them Shoes' features Jordanaires (Louis Nunley, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins and Neal Matthews) on background vocals.
3 'Farewell Party'
Writer: Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 - Thursday 26 July 2007)
Publishers: Western Hills Music Inc. / BMI
Alan Jackson recorded Lawton Williams' 'Farewell Party' and included the track on (his country 'covers' album) 'Under the Influence' (Arista Records, 1999).
Joe Nichols Lawton Williams' recorded 'Farewell Party' and included the track on ‘Revelation’ (Universal South Records, 2004).
Gene Watson re-recorded Lawton Williams' 'Farewell Party' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out recorded Lawton Williams' 'Farewell Party' and included the track on 'Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed' (Cracker Barrel, 2012).
4 'Let's Give It Up Or Get It On'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Joe Allen Music Inc. / BMI
5 'For The Memories'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
6 'I Wonder How It Is In Colorado'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
'I Wonder How It Is In Colorado' features Jordanaires (Louis Nunley, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins and Neal Matthews) on background vocals.
Gene Watson re-recorded 'I Wonder How It Is In Colorado' and included the track on 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).
7 'Pick The Wildwood Flower'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
Gene Watson re-recorded 'Pick The Wildwood Flower' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
8 'I Know What It's Like In Her Arms'
Writer: Lola Jean Dillon
Publishers: Coal Miners Music Inc. / BMI
9 'Mama Sold Roses'
Writer: Dallas Harms
Publishers: Double Play Music / BMI
'Mama Sold Roses' features Jordanaires (Louis Nunley, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins and Neal Matthews) on background vocals.
10 'I Don't Know How To Tell Her (She Don't Love Me Anymore)'
Writers: B. Fischer and Sonny Throckmorton
Publishers: Starburst Music / Tree Publishing Company Inc. / ASCAP / BMI
'I Don't Know How To Tell Her (She Don't Love Me Anymore)' features Nashville Edition, with Janie Fricke on background vocals.
11 'Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
Features Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Jeanine Walker and Hurshel Wiginton
Joe Nichols recorded 'Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)' and included the track on 'Joe Nichols III' (Universal South Records, 2005).
Gene Watson re-recorded 'Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
12 'I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)'
Writer: Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursdays 1 January 1953)
Publishers: Fred Rose Music Inc. / BMI
Features 'The Nashville Edition' (Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Wendellyn Suits and Hurshel Wiginton)
Gene Watson's version of Hank Williams' 'I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)' was also included on 'Hank Williams Tribute' (EMI Records, 1992); the album was reviewed by Craig Baguley in the March 1993 issue of Country Music People and you can read the review here.
Hank Williams' version of 'I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)' reached No.2 on the American country music singles chart in 1951.
13 'Nothing Sure Looked Good On You'
Writer: Jim Rushing
Publishers: Coal Miners Music, Inc. / BMI
Features Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Jeanine Walker and Hurshel Wiginton
Doug Supernaw recorded 'Nothing Sure Looked Good On You' (written by Jim Rushing) and included the track on 'Fadin' Renegade' (Tack Records, 1999).
Gene Watson re-recorded 'Nothing Sure Looked Good On You' (written by Jim Rushing) and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
14 'That Evil Child'
Writer: Wayne Carson
Publishers: Screen Gems - EMI Music Inc. / BMI
Features The Sound 70 Singers (Ronald Drake, Beckie Foster, Allen Henson and Laverna Moore)
15 'Circle Driveway'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Joe Allen Music / BMI
Features 'The Nashville Edition' (Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Wendellyn Suits and Hurshel Wiginton)
Don Williams recorded 'Circle Driveway' and included the track on 'Portrait' (MCA Records, 1979).
Ray Price recorded 'Circle Driveway' and included the track on 'Town & Country' (Dimension Records, 1981).
16 'The Heart Of A Clown'
Writers: S. Nelson, J. Rollins and F. Kane
Publishers: Rightsong Music, Inc. / BMI
Features 'The Nashville Edition' (Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Wendellyn Suits and Hurshel Wiginton)
Sammi Smith (Thursday 5 August 1943 - Saturday 12 February 2005) recorded 'The Heart Of A Clown' and included the track on 'Today I Started Loving You Again' (Mega Records, 1975).
Willie Nelson recorded 'The Heart Of A Clown' and included the track on 'Moonlight Becomes You' (Justice Records, 1993).
17 'After The Party'
Writer: Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 - Friday 14 August 2009)
Publishers: Little Ann Music / BMI
Features 'The Nashville Edition' (Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Wendellyn Suits and Hurshel Wiginton)
18 'The Beer At Dorsey's Bar'
Writers: R. Lane and D. Morrison
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
Features The Sound 70 Singers (Ronald Drake, Beckie Foster, Allen Henson and Laverna Moore)
19 'Bedroom Ballad'
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
Features Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Jeanine Walker and Hurshel Wiginton
Gene Watson re-recorded 'Bedroom Ballad' and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
20 'Beautiful You'
Writer: Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 - Friday 14 August 2009)
Publishers: Little Ann Music / BMI
Read a CMP review of Gene Watson's 'Reflections and Should I Come Home'
The review, which was written by Duncan Warwick, was published in the March 2009 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.
'Reflections and Should I Come Home'
Hux Records HUX 101 (2009)