Q U A L I T Y - C O U N T R Y - M U S I C - CDS

Gene began his recording career with Capitol and it is from that period that this set is compiled. He had many hits on the country chart but his only number one hit (Fourteen Carat Mind) came after he had moved to MCA. Nevertheless, the song Gene is best remembered for is one of his Capitol recordings, "Farewell Party", a song originally recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens. The song remained obscure until Gene recorded it. More recently, both Alan Jackson and Joe Nichols have covered it. The farewell party in Gene's song is actually a funeral. An old man knows that his wife doesn't love him anymore and pleads with her to stay with him for the few months he still has to live, and give him a decent funeral. It is an extremely sad song, emphasized by the way it is performed - with Gene backed only by a steel guitar. Gene's other great hits during his Capitol years included "Love In The Hot Afternoon" (the song that got his career started), "Paper Rosie" (the title track of my favorite original Gene Watson album) and many other classic songs such as "Pick The Wildwood Flower", "One Sided Conversation", "Cowboys Don't Get Lucky All The Time", "Raising Cane In Texas" and a cover of "No One Will Ever Know." Gene was one of the best traditional country singers of his era and provided a sharp contrast with the prevailing pop-country music of the day….P D Harris amazon.com

Gene Watson was one of the finest voices in country music, and this compilation of 18 hits provide a fine sampling of that voice. Considered by some to be "hard country", I find Gene Watson to have a more "pop" oriented voice that combined well with his selection of songs; and in the '70's, that proved to be enough to keep him on the charts. While many of the songs on this album are pure country, others are the typical, drab, 70's pop that filled the void between the Nashville Sound and the New Traditional era of the 80's. In any case, there is no doubt that Gene Watson earned his spot in Country Music, and this collection carries those hits that made him the household name he is today; including his signature songs "Farewell Party" and "Love in the Hot Afternoon". If you prefer the more traditional country sound, his "You Could Know as Much About a Stranger" and "Should I Come Home" are also included….Jess "Jess" amazon.com