If Country is a person, Gary Gene Watson would be him
David Wages | Houston, TX United States | 10/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What else can be said. Gene Watson is one of the finest traditional country singers of this lifetime. I had the opportunity to se him ain Angleton Tx. several years ago and he only proved what a talent he truly is. Country radio should be ashamed of itself for neglecting such talents as Watson,Joe Stampley, Eddie Raven, Gary Stewart and more. Even sadder. Nashville has turned thier backs on these stars only to turn out mindless cross over fodder. This collection is a must for any Gene Watson fan, and for any real country music fans. Every cut tells a story, and every story comes to life when Watson puts his powerful voice to it."
The saddest farewell party
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Great Stuff!!!
Walter Stettner | Vienna Austria | 09/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's so good to see that the "old" stuff from the 60's and 70's is released again. At the time Gene Watson developed into one of the best honky tonk artists, his Capitol material was perfect traditional honky tonk music, with beautiful Steel Guitar played by Lloyd Green. If you don't have the old records from that era, this CD is definitely a good chance to get started with one of the great Honky Tonk Singers of all times!"
Excellent Album
Jess | Coal Country, PA | 10/10/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."