Another cracker from Humphead, their compilations especially the double cds (50 track efforts) they are total class, and unbeatable value. To date we have had The Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, George Strait, Hoyt Axton and others it is an impressive list and growing.
Pulled from his Capitol and MCA years (1975-1985) traditional country fans are in for a huge treat, for Texan Gene Watson was up there with the best and was to some far more consistent than a legend or two, supposedly at the top of their game during this period.
Gene Watson alongside Vern Gosdin was the finest option when in came to acts, other than George Jones and Merle Haggard, and as noted above to a degree on occasions even more consistent that the! As for consistency Watson was and still is as country as they come, a throw back to the older ways but not to the degree he was stone country period. Hugely melodic his soothing vocals caressing of a lyric and telling of a story as he spoke of love, won and lost and heartache eased through a beer is about as good as it gets. Still popular and recording to this day and touring here Watson is simply one of the best ever, loaded with wonderful pedal steel, fiddle, country lead guitar and tasty harmony vocals Watson’s work was forever garnished with the tastiest of country sounds.
Among his biggest songs to come out of this period, especially those from the late 1970s edging into the 1980s haven’t been matched or better even by him. Some would simply say all his records are good. Who am I to argue? His cover of Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Harms’ “Paper Rosie” ranks most highly no matter the company, it is one of those songs the listener recognises immediately Watson and band strike up, and it has the likes of “Love In The Hot Afternoon”, “Nothing Sure Looks Good On You” and another catchy tune in “You’re Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without” coupled with “Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All The Time” and “Raisin’ Cane In Texas”.
As for country classics you could not go past “Wildwood Flower” (I can still hear her say, hey Gary get your guitar and pick the Wildwood Flower) and likewise special fare in more career songs in “Farewell Party” and 1975 tune “Bad Water”. With a bunch of his songs peppered in irony as he licks his wounds you also have “Sometimes I Get Lucky And Forget” and “Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy”) and to top it off you have his fine version of “This Is My Year For Mexico” (as covered by Crystal Gayle and Tex-Mex recording act Johnny Rodriguez) and Marty Robbins’ painstaking big ballad “You Gave Me A Mountain”; and, there are others also worthy of a mention, but way, way too many to be listed. Another case of go listen and listen again.
Maurice Hope