Overview
The 'Memories to
Burn' album, 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).
The
'Memories to Burn' album, which was co-produced by Gene along with
Farewell Party Band stalwart Larry Booth, yielded three hit singles on
the country music charts in the USA in 1985/1986; 'Cold summer day in
Georgia' reached No.24 in 1985, while 'Memories to Burn' & 'Carmen'
reached No.5 & No.32 respectively in 1986.
Gene'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
(RIP), Dallas Harms,
Keith Whitley (RIP) & Obie McClinton (RIP).
The 'Memories to Burn'
album includes 'Cold
summer day in Georgia’, a track which features backing vocals
from Leona Williams (the
ex-wife of Merle
Haggard), along with the exquisite
guitar work of Dave Kirby (RIP).
Leona Williams recorded
'Memories to burn' & included the track on her 'Honorary Texan'
album, which was released on
Heart of Texas Records
(catalogue number 104) in 2003.
Sadly, Dave Kirby passed away on 17 April in 2004 at the age of
63. Dave, a native of Brady in Texas, where he was born on
10 July 1938, was a
masterful songwriter and had the privilege of having twenty four of his
compositions recorded by Gene Watson.
The
'Memories to Burn' album was produced by Gene Watson & Larry Booth.
The 'Memories to Burn' album was recorded at Hilltop Studios, Madison,
Tennessee where the album was mixed by Gene Watson & Larry Booth and
where the Recording Engineer was Randy Best.
The 'Memories to Burn' album was mastered by M.C. Rather at Custom
Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee.
The 'Memories to Burn' album achieved a chart position of Number
35 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart in 1985.
'Memories to Burn'
Epic Records BFE40076 (1985)
Track Listing
1 'Memories
to burn'
Written by
Warren Robb &
Dave Kirby
(RIP)
Published by
BMI / ASCAP
2 'The note' •
Written by B.
Moore and M. Ray
Published by
BMI
3
'Cold summer day in Georgia'
••
Written by D. Knutson &
Arthur Leo 'Doodles'
Owens (RIP)
Published by
BMI / ASCAP
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
(RIP) & Fred
Koller
Published by
BMI
6
'Carmen'
Written by Steve Spurgin
Published by
BMI
7
'Stranger in our house tonight'
Written by
Dave Kirby
(RIP)
Published by
ASCAP
8
'The New York times'
Written by
Obie Burnett
McClinton (RIP)
Published by
ASCAP
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
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 (RIP)
Piano:
Joe Eddie Gough
Drums:
Doug Boggs
Fiddle:
Hubert 'Hoots' Hester
Background Vocals:
Beckie Foster, Joy Gardner & Leona
Williams
'The note' (track indicated thus
•)
was also recorded by
Daryle Singletary and was included on his 'Ain't
it the Truth' album, which was released on Giant Records
(924696-2) in 1998.
'Cold summer day in Georgia'
(track indicated thus
••)
was included (for the first time on CD) on the 'Ultimate
Collection' album, which was released on
Universal/Hip-O Records in 2001.
'I
want my rib back' (track indicated thus
*)
was co-written by Keith Whitley &
Fred Koller
and 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
the 'Kentucky Bluebird' album, which was released posthumously on
RCA Records
(RCA 3156) in 1991.
You
can read a review of Gene Watson's 'Memories to Burn'
album 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.
