Gene Watson Discography
'Memories to Burn'
Epic Records BFE 40076
(1985)
'Memories to Burn' was released on the Epic Records label in 1985.
'Memories to Burn' discography information is presented on this site for
educational purposes only & 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 joined the roster
at Epic Records following very successful recording periods with Capitol
Records (1975-1980) & MCA Records (1980-1985).
'Memories to Burn', which was co-produced by Gene
Watson along with Farewell Party
Band stalwart Larry Booth (Tony Booth's younger
brother), yielded three hit singles on the country music
charts in the USA in 1985/1986; 'Cold summer day in Georgia' reached No.24
on the Billboard country music singles chart
in 1985, while 'Memories to burn' & 'Carmen' reached No.5 & No.32
respectively in 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,
Dallas Harms,
Keith Whitley & Obie McClinton.
'Memories to Burn' was produced by Gene Watson & Larry Booth
'Memories to Burn' was recorded at Hilltop Studios, Madison, Tennessee where
the album was mixed by Gene Watson & 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'
Written by Warren Robb & Dave Kirby
Published by BMI / ASCAP
Leona Williams
recorded 'Memories to burn' & included the track on 'Honorary Texan'
(Heart of Texas Records, 2003)
2 'The note'
Written by Buck Moore &
Michelle Ray
Published by Sixteen Stars Music / BMI
Tammy Wynette recorded
'The note'
& included the track on 'Next to You' (Epic Records, 1989)
Doug Supernaw recorded
'The note'
& included the track on 'You Still Got Me' (Giant Records, 1995)
Daryle Singletary recorded 'The note'
& included the track on 'Ain't it the
Truth' (Giant Records, 1998)
3 'Cold summer day in Georgia'
Written by D. Knutson & Arthur Leo 'Doodles' Owens
Published by BMI / ASCAP
'Cold summer day in Georgia' was included, for the first time on CD, on
'Ultimate Collection' (Universal/Hip-O Records, 2001)
'Cold summer day in Georgia' features backing vocals from
Leona Williams
(the
ex-wife of Merle Haggard), along
with exquisite guitar work from
Dave Kirby
Dave Kirby passed away on
Saturday 17 April 2004
- he was 63. Dave, a
native of Brady in Texas, where he was born on Sunday
10 July 1938, was a masterful
songwriter & had the privilege of having twenty four of his compositions
recorded by Gene Watson.
You can enjoy a celebration of Dave Kirby's life & country music
achievements courtesy of the
Heart of Texas Country Music Association.
4 'If I painted a picture'
Written by L. Williams & C. Browder
Published by BMI / ASCAP
5 'I want my rib back'
Written by
Keith Whitley & Fred Koller
Published by BMI
'I want my rib back'
was co-written by
Keith Whitley &
Fred Koller
& was recorded by
Keith in the early 1980s.
However, the track didn't see the light of day until after Keith Whitley's
death (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' & included the track on 'In My Wildest Dreams' (Capricorn Records, 1994)
Charlie Sizemore recorded 'I want my rib back' &
included the track on 'In My View' (Rebel Records, 1996)
6 'Carmen'
Written by
Steve Spurgin
Published by BMI
7 'Stranger
in our house tonight'
Written by Dave Kirby
Published by ASCAP
8 'The New York times'
Written by Obie Burnett McClinton
(Thursday
25 April 1940 -
Wednesday 25 September 1987)
Published by ASCAP
Obie Burnett McClinton, who was born on Thursday 25 April 1940 in Senatobia, Mississippi was a
black country music singer & songwriter, the second-youngest child born to
Reverend G. A. McClinton, a clergyman & farmer who owned his own 700-acre
ranch in Mississippi, not far from Memphis, Tennessee.
Obie listened to Hank Williams as a child thus sparking his initial interest
in country music & subconsciously shaping his singing style. After
high school, he ran away from home & 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, he began winning service talent shows and, as a
result, he spent a lot of time entertaining & writing rhythm & blues &
songs; this led to a writing contract from Fame Publishing Company in Muscle
Shoals, Alabama. Obie remained in the services for four years & after
discharge, his original rhythm & blues songs became popular.
James Carr recorded 'Baby you got your mind messed up & 'A man needs a
woman', Clarence Carter released 'Why you can't measure' & the great Otis
Reading cut 'Keep your arms around me'. Although Obie tried to be an
rhythm & blues singer, he was not successful.
While he was in the Air Force, a friend had introduced him to a Charley
Pride album & this encouraged him to further his career. He wrote some
country songs & 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 & 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 & Obie became the first country music artist on
the Stax Country record label, Enterprise.
Obie achieved seven chart hits on the label between 1972 & 1975, of which
the most successful were 'Don't let the green grass fool you' ( which
reached the Top 40 in 1972) & 'My whole world is falling down (which reached
the Top 40 in 1973).
After Stax Records went out of business in 1975, Obie moved over to Mercury
Records in 1976 & enjoyed a chart single with 'It's so good lovin' you'.
For a number of years, Obie relied on his live work & in 1978 Epic Records
signed him & released 'Hello, this is Anna' & 'Natural love', both of which
achieved low chart positions.
In 1979, the song 'Soap' reached the Top 60. In 1980, Obie moved to
Sunbird Records & 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' & included the track on
'Shine On' (Epic Records, 1983)
'Not exactly free' was Obie's last chart record
until 1984, when he had a Top 70 single, 'Honky tonk tan', which appeared on
the Moon Shine label.
In 1986, Obie 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, the Gatlin Brothers &
Waylon Jennings
rallied around & 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, 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'
Written by J. Ewtah
Published by ASCAP
10 'Get along little doggie'
Written by Mark La Forme & Dallas Harms
Published by CAPAC/PRO-CAN
You can read a CMP review of Gene Watson's 'Memories to Burn'
here. 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 & Rhythm Guitar: Norm Kastner
Rhythm Guitar: Dave Kirby
Piano: Joe Eddie Gough
Drums: Doug Boggs
Fiddle: Hubert 'Hoots' Hester
Background Vocals: Beckie Foster, Joy Gardner &
Leona Williams
'Memories to Burn' was released by
Hux Records
(London, England), as a special
2-on-1 CD
set, along with
'Starting New Memories' (Epic
Records, 1986), in the UK & Ireland, on Monday 9 May 2011; the CD set
was released worldwide on Tuesday 17 May 2011
