Customer Reviews

From The Heart

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... Okay, so I'm told WSM plays it once in awhile.

Here again, I learned about more great country music on The Steel Guitar Forum, ... . By the way, if you happen by be sure and say hello to Gregg Galbraith (lead guitar) and Buddy Emmons (steel) who get it done on this album.

Taking a play from Merle Haggard, Gene puts a wrinkle or two in here that are specifically intended to get the attention of his long-time fans. If you liked his vocal ending on his biggest hit, "Farewell Party", then you'll see what I mean.

A great band delivers clean and splendid lead guitar, fiddles and steel. The song writing is supurb! Small wonder, with pen names including Bill Anderson, Leslie Satcher, Max T. Barnes, Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. Shafer. I think country songwriters are at their best when playing off the ambiguity of a common phrase. So "No Trash in My Trailer", "Would It Be Cheatin'" and "Drivin' Me Sane" are my favorite tracks.

It's a shame that many newer fans of country music may never become aware of this great singer and his NEW music.

Produced by former SOR label chief and Watson's former helmsman Ray Pennington and Gene Watson himself, the CD is a testament to that country music is still alive and well. Without any attempts to crossover to Nashpop, fiddles, steel guitars lead the forray. Traditional country themes also abound: cheating ("Would It Be Cheatin'"), rodeo ("This Circus That You Call a Rodeo"), blue collar labor ("The Man An' Me and You"), heartbreak ("I Never Go Around Heartbreak")and so on.

Though this album is country through and through, it is by no means short of today's best writers. Big names in today's country biz have made their contribution: Leslie Satcher, Skip Ewing, Bill Anderson, Eddy Raven, Steve Dean, Frank Myers, Michael White, Bryon Hill among many others. Naturally, the songs here are all top notched: Leslie Satcher (writer for Martina McBride)and Max T. Barnes' "When You're Not Looking Back" is packed with emotions. On the other hand, Tommy Roco and A. J. Masters' "She Had Me" is a moving tribute of the virtues of the ideal woman. "Next to Nothin'" is Watson's attempt to sound contemporary but yet still keeping it within the country fold.

Watson even revives Keith Whitley's "I Never Go Around Mirrors." Although Watson brings nothing new to this chesnutt but one never gets tired of hearing it again. The other cover is the less impressive "Take Me As I Am" (formally done by Ray Price, and subsequently by Mack White and Bobby Bare later).

Watson even tries to be witty on "No Trash in My Trailer," which unfortunately did not impress me. However, there are more songs that have impressed than those that have not. This CD may not cause a ripple on the charts but it's a strong reminder that country music is not dead.

I feel this is one of Gene Watson's best yet. Folks, I have them all!!. It's been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait.There is not one song on it, I didn't like. As a long time fan, I recommend this to others, fans or not. He is so underrated as a singer, but he's still # one. It's a must for all country music fans.

great gene watson music great version of take as i am or let me go

There are two guys still out there that nobody can touch-Vern Gosdin and of course Gene.

I think this may be the best album he has put out. He obviously had high hopes for "Next to Nothin'" and "The Man and Me and You" since he did videos on both of these (can be seen at AMG). The former is a very contemporary sounding piece and the latter a truck driving song-both are great. Other highlights are "When You're Not looking Back", "Circus That You Call a Rodeo" which features some great mandolin, and "Would it Be Cheatin'"-a top notch ballad.

Gene also expertly covers some classics namely "I Never Go Around Mirrors" and "Take Me As I Am", which has a "Farewell Party"-like ending. First-rate album by one of the best of all time!

Gene Watson keeps old country and real country music alive, not pop country.younger genheration should listen to him they would understand the difference in real country music

It took 4 months for this CD to arrive after I ordered it. At the end,
once I listened to it, the slight anger turned into hapiness. Again
a wonderful CD by the nicest and most genuine C&W singer around since
the seventies. He may have suffered from the Pop/Rock orientated Nashville
C&W releases during the complete decade of the 90's but now
he is back with his own style varying form the most beautiful ballads
to the good old 60's and 70's country rock songs. He has survived from
the Punk-hard rock C&W period. That alone deserves our respect for Gene.