On Friday 1 January 2021, Gene Watson wished everyone a 'Happy New Year' and reflected on a track, which was included on his first major label album, 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975); the album was released by Capitol Records in August 1975.

'Happy New Year and Welcome to 2021!

A lot of us are hoping for a bright and sunny year that returns us to a more normal time.

Couldn't help thinking about this song, 'For The First Time', from my very first album and how, with just a word change or two, it could be about looking forward to good things in our lives in 2021.  This song was written by Jessi Colter'

Source
• Gene Watson on Facebook



In August 1975, Gene Watson saw the release of his first major label album, 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975), which was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster (1930 - Thursday 22 February 2007), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Bad Water', which was written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday (Tuesday 24 July 1934 - Sunday 15 February 1987) and Randy Myers (No.87, 1975)

'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003) (No.3, 1975) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975

'Where Love Begins', which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 - Wednesday 9 March 2016) (No.5, 1975) / this track also reached No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975

'You Could Know As Much About A Stranger' (written by Nadine Bryant) (No.10, 1976) / this track also reached No.42 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1976

Gene Watson's first major label album, 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975), also included the following tracks:

'Through The Eyes of Love', which was written by 'Cowboy' Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 - Thursday 8 August 2013) and Milton 'Mitt' Addington (1924 - 1979)

'Long Enough To Care' (written by Bobby Sykes)

'Harvest Time' (written by Bill Emerson, Lewis Moore and Carrol Dunham)

'This Just Ain't No Good Day For Leaving', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019)

'For The First Time' (written by Jessi Colter)



Jessi Colter recorded 'For The First Time' (written by Jessi Colter) and included the track on her debut album, 'I'm Jessi Colter' (Capitol Records, 1975).

'This Is My Year For Mexico', which was written by Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003)

Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson's first major label album, 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975), included the following:

Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 - Wednesday 11 January 2017), Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 - Saturday 9 December 2017) and Charlie McCoy (rhythm guitar)
Jimmy Colvard (1943 - 1977), Pete Wade and Dale Sellers (lead guitar)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar, Dobro)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Charlie McCoy and Kenny Malone (marimba)
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins (piano)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Joe Allen, Henry Strzelecki (Tuesday 8 August 1939 - Monday 29 December 2014) and Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 - Saturday 9 December 2017) (bass)
Kenny Malone, Jimmy Isabel and Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 - Thursday 21 August 2008) (drums)
Jerry Tuttle (horn)
The Nashville Edition (voices)

Gene Watson's first major label album, 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975) reached No.5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1975.



On Tuesday 3 December 2002, England's Hux Records released Gene Watson's 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975), along with Gene Watson's 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol Records, 1978), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.