Sleeve Notes
'There
are a handful of singers who sound
great singing just about anything.
Sam Cooke, Charlie Rich,
George
Jones - singers whose vocal
mastery could, one suspects,
transform the proverbial telephone
book
For fans of straight, no-frills
country music, Gene Watson has
always fallen into that category.
His rich, mellow voice is
magnificently expressive and
instantly recognisable. And
the two albums on this CD, drawn
from the most commercially
successful period of his career,
certainly capture Watson in his
prime. 'Love
in the Hot Afternoon' (1975),
his debut on US Capitol, followed
hot on the heels of his first
national hits, while 'Paper
Rosie' (1977) was another early
classic and the album that
introduced him to British audiences.
In keeping with his songs of blue
collar struggles and
disappointments, Gene had been
working the Texas country circuit
for more than a decade before his
first major breakthrough. He'd
also recorded a series of singles
for Wide World (who released a
Watson album in 1973) and Resco,
Texan labels run by Russ Reeder, an
important influence on Gene's early
career as his producer and manager.
It seems to have been the Resco
single 'Bad water' that first
alerted Capitol to Gene's potential.
The song was a Jackie DeShannon
composition originally recorded by
The Raelettes, Ray Charles' backing
singers. By the time Gene
signed to Capitol, 'Love
in the hot afternoon' was already available as
a Resco single and starting to make
waves in Texas, Louisiana &
neighbouring states. A Vince
Matthews-Kent Westberry ballad of
passion in a vividly evoked Southern
setting, it had previously been cut
by Jim Ed Brown and others.
But Reeder's sparse production, with
atmospheric steel guitar and fiddle
from Lloyd
Green and
Buddy
Spicher, highlighted Gene's
subtle vocal delivery, and
re-promoted as a Capitol release the
record climbed to No.3 on the US
country charts in 1975.
Gene had now clearly arrived, and
two more hit singles - 'Where love
begins' and 'You could know as much
about a stranger' - followed, before
the release of the 'Love in the Hot
Afternoon' album. The album
featured the three hits, as well as
the earlier Resco recordings 'Bad
water' and 'Through the eyes of
love'. Other high-spots
include the mid-tempo 'This just
ain't no good day for leaving', a
great song by one of Nashville's
finest writers, Dallas Frazier.
In 1982, another Frazier
composition, 'Fourteen carat mind',
would give Gene his first - and, to
date, only - No.1 hit.
The hits continued with the release
of Gene's second Capitol album, 'Because
You Believed in Me', in 1976.
The 'Paper
Rosie' album followed in 1977.
The title track, one of Watson's
most memorable recordings, was also
one of his biggest hits, though he
was initially sceptical about the
song's potential. Originally
recorded by the singer-songwriter
Dallas
Harms, it had already been a
major hit in Harms' native Canada.
Gene recorded the song at the
suggestion of a Capitol executive,
but was unhappy with the result.
Persuaded to give it another chance,
Gene agreed to another session and,
with a fresh approach, the song
worked.
Watson and Harms became good friends
and Gene later had hits with other
Harms compositions, including 'The
old man and his horn' and 'Cowboys
don't get lucky all the time'.
Gene doesn't write his own material,
but he's always chosen his songs
with care and has worked closely
with several other notable writers.
These include
Ray Griff,
who wrote the early hit 'Where love
begins'. On the 'Paper
Rosie' album, Griff also
contributed the standout tracks
'Don't look at me (in that tone of
voice)' and 'If the shoe fits, wear
it' (with the great opening line,
'You brush off the truth as if it
was salt on a table'). Other
key tracks on an album full of
strong material include covers of
Marty Robbins' 'You gave me a
mountain',
Porter
Wagoner's 'Tennessee sunshine'
and Dolly Parton's 'Most of all
why'.
'Paper
Rosie' has special significance
to British country fans as Gene's
first UK release. Two years
later, in June 1979, he undertook an
18-date British tour, playing at a
host of small venues, from the
Floral Pavilion in New Brighton to
the 7-11 Club in Kenton, Middlesex.
The tour is still regarded as one of
the most memorable by a visiting
American artist. Audiences
responded with wild enthusiasm to
Gene's honest, hard country
approach, and he gained a large
British following that has remained
loyal to him through the years.
Gene Watson's tenure with Capitol
came to an end in 1980. His
career seemed in decline but the
move to MCA gave it fresh impetus.
After four successful years he moved
on to Epic and then Warner Bros.
Throughout the 1980s Gene felt that,
while he was a regular on the
country charts, his records weren't
getting the promotion they deserved.
The lack of a CMA award certainly
suggests that Gene never quite hit
it off with the Nashville
establishment. Country acts
were crossing over onto the pop
charts, and the major companies were
looking for new, younger artists to
promote. Gene was unwilling to
compromise his music, and to his
credit he's not usually photographed
wearing a hat. His departure
from Warner Bros. was also
precipitated by an acrimonious legal
wrangle with his then manager,
Randy Travis' wife Lib Hatcher.
Since then Gene has recorded for
smaller, independent labels,
including Broadland, Step One and
RMG. The major commercial
success he enjoyed in the past has
eluded him, but he's retained his
musical integrity and, despite
health troubles, is still giving it
his best shot. The release in
2001 of a greatest hits compilation
on Universal was a reminder of past
glories, and also introduced Gene's
vocal genius to a new audience.
Now two of Gene's classic,
long-deleted early albums are
brought together on this CD,
offering another chance to enjoy the
company of one of country music's
greatest voices'.
Alan
Gardiner
September 2002
Overview
The
albums were presented as a special 2-on-1 single CD set,
complete with comprehensive liner notes, the original
artwork from the vinyl releases & full track details.
The original 'Love in the
Hot Afternoon' album was produced by Russ Reeder & Bob Webster in 1975,
and the Recording Engineer was Jim Williamson.
All tracks on the original 'Paper
Rosie' album were produced by Russ Reeder in 1977 with the
exception of the track indicated thus
*,
which was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster.
The original 'Paper
Rosie' album was recorded at Jack Clement Studios, Nashville,
Tennessee and the Recording Engineer was Jim Williams.
'Love
in the Hot Afternoon'
Capitol Records ST11443, 1975
Original Album Sleeve Notes
'Gene Watson is a home-grown Texan whose background is
pure country, and whose future is simply Superstardom.
He has played music ‘ever since I can remember’ and,
like the Country greats before him, has juggled working
days with nightly gigs in pursuit of that 'star in the
sky'.
A family man with a deep passion for life, he has
solidified his sound on his home turf by working the
road with Country greats the Wilburn Brothers, cutting
discs for local labels, moving on to territorial
stardom, emerging with several hit records in the
Houston area and, finally, a regular gig at the Dynasty
Club in that city.
His association with the people he has met along the way
have repeatedly distinguished themselves in long lasting
friendships and mutual respect. His initial road
experience with the Wilburn Brothers has never been
forgotten by them.
And when he approached Russ Reeder, then General Manager
of the Record Service Co. in Houston, in 1966, he began
a lasting friendship and business relationship that has
seen them through Gene’s recording debut in 1969 on Wide
World Records, subsequent recordings on Reeder’s Resco
label in 1972, and finally today in 1975 this fine album
for Capitol Records.
After hearing 'Love in the hot afternoon' for the first time, I immediately recognised the talent
that was there and wanted to have this gifted artist on
Capitol. When Gene and Russ proved more than eager, the
association was happily established, adding myself and
the whole of the Capitol family to that list of
friendships that have coloured Gene’s career.
This first album of Gene's on Capitol speaks for itself.
It is one of the finest presentations I have heard in my
years in the music business and, thankfully, it is
only a beginning for Gene and his inevitable climb to
Superstardom.
We at Capitol Records owe a debt of gratitude to radio
stations KENR, KIKK and KNUS in Houston for their part
in exposing the talents of Gene Watson, to Russ Reeder
for his guidance and care in developing those talents
and, of course, to Gene Watson himself, whose very
talents we speak of.
Welcome to Capitol Records,
Gene Watson, a fine artist, showman and of course...a
friend'.
Ed Keeley
National Country Field Manager
Capitol Records, Inc.
'Paper
Rosie'
Capitol Records ST11597, 1977
Original Album Sleeve Notes
'There is that particular something in the voice of Gene
Watson that reaches out and attracts almost every
listener. Whether its special warmth or extra
feeling, it has caused this talented Texan to emerge in
the past two years as one of the top new singers in
Country music.
It started with the album 'Love
in the Hot Afternoon' which contained three smash hit singles - the
title tune,
'Where love begins' and 'You could know as much about a
stranger'. He followed his initial success with
more of the same. With the release of his second
Capitol album, 'Because
You Believed in Me', his legions of fans just kept growing. That album
contained two more hits, the title song and 'Her body
couldn't keep you (off my mind)'.
Now Gene is exploring new themes and showing everyone he
has no limitations as a singer and total Country
entertainer. With this album he is once again
touching the hearts and souls of everyone who takes the
time to listen'.
'Love in the Hot Afternoon & Paper Rosie'
Hux Records 036 (2002)
Track Listing
1 'Love in
the hot afternoon'
•
Written by Kent Westberry & Vince Matthews (RIP)
Published by Jack Music Inc. / BMI
2
'Through the eyes of love'
Written by Jack Clement
Published by Jack Music Inc. / BMI
3
'Bad water'
Written by Jackie DeShannon, Holiday & Myers
Published by Unart Music Corporation / BMI
4
'Long enough to care'
Written by Bobby Sykes
Published by Sidewalk Productions / BMI
5
'Harvest time'
Written by Emerson, Moore & Dunham
Published by Golden Horn Music / ASCAP
6
'Where love begins'
Written by Ray Griff
Published by Blue Echo Music / ASCAP
7
'This just ain't no good day for leaving'
Written by Dallas Frazier & Sanger D. Shafer
Published by Acuff-Rose Publishing Inc. / BMI
8
'For the first time'
Written by Jessi Colter
Published by Baron Music Publishing Company / BMI
9
'You could know as much about a stranger'
••
Written by Nadine Bryant
Published by Hotel Publishing Company / ASCAP
10
'This is my year for Mexico'
Written by Vince Matthews (RIP)
Published by Jack Music Inc. / BMI
11
'Paper Rosie'
Written by Dallas Harms
Published by Doubleplay Music / Quality Music
12
'You gave me a mountain' •••
Written by Marty Robbins (RIP)
Published by Carlin Music Corporation
13
'If the shoe fits, wear it'
Written by Ray Griff
Published by Blue Echo Music / MCPS
14
'Tennessee sunshine'
Written by Porter Wagoner
Published by Carlin Music Corporation
15
'Desperation' *
Written by G. Simmons & G. Mabry
Published by Commercial Hurshel Music
16
'Til you can make it on your own'
Written by J. McBee & A.L. Owens
Published by Carlin Music Corporation
17
'Most of all why'
Written by Dolly Parton
Published by Carlin Music Corporation
18
'Just at dawn'
Written by B. Emerson & T. Hamilton
Published by Acuff-Rose Music Ltd.
19
'Don’t look at me (in that tone of voice)'
Written by Ray Griff
Published by Blue Echo Music / MCPS
20
'I’d settle for just crossing her mind'
Written by Jollie Hollie
Published by London Tree Music Ltd.
Tracks 1-10 © 1975 Capitol Records Inc.
Tracks 11-20 © 1977 Capitol Records Inc.
All tracks licensed courtesy of EMI Commercial Markets
Hux thanks: Alan Gardiner, Tony Byworth &
Caroline Cook
Photographs courtesy of Tony Byworth
Archive
'Love
in the Hot Afternoon & Paper Rosie'
