Customer Reviews

Gene Watson - 18 Greatest Hits

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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.

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.

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!

What a great selection of songs! When I ordered this collection, I was apprehensive about ordering the whole album; since the only song I was familiar with was Paper Rosie. However, I am equally delighted with the rest of the songs on this CD and it has quickly become one of my favorites. Even though I was a pre-schooler when most of these songs came out, this collection of mostly unfamiliar songs won quick appeal with me. I would strongly recommend this album to any Gene Watson fan. Thanks!

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.

Gene Watson's music was introduced to me by a friend who played drums for Sonny James, Ernest Tubb, and Dottie West. I had never heard of him but then when I heard his voice on the CD I knew the songs. It's amazing to me how a person with such a great voice has never received the attention that he should. Every song is great but the one which I really like is "The Old Man and His Horn". This was a song I had never heard. It also shows the versatility of Gene's song selections. He has the best voice of any country singer I have ever heard.

Since I don't like today's country (since the mid 90's)and here
in Europe we don't have country radio stations to listen to, the
only way to hear country is buying CD's from the States something
I'm doing since the past 18 months. These mostly are from the
70's and 80's and I am so happy to re-discover all those artists
I used to listen to during my many business trips through the USA
and whose LP's I always brought back after each trip. Now I am
recuperating them on CD and buying many I didn't have then or
didn't even know the existence of. This is the case with Gene
Watson. Last month I received "Ultimate Collection" and gave it
5 stars. Gee, how I love his music. I would have liked to give
these "18 greatest hits" 5 stars as well but again I received a
CD with zero information. Who wrote these songs? When were they
recorded? Does the record company release them this way to cut
down prices? What a shame.

Universally acclaimed as one of the classic traditional country vocalists, Gene Watson has recorded a prolific body of work over the span of his career. The combination of his clear, smooth, expressive voice with well chosen material makes for some essential listening.
This TeeVee CD release,"18 Greatest Hits", features the original recording of every Gene Watson charting single between 1975-1980.
From the title tunes of his debut LP,"Love In The Hot Afternoon" (1975),through his final LP, "No One Will Ever Know"(1980), the rest of his "classic seven" Capitol LP releases are represented: "Because You Believed In Me(1976), "Paper Rosie"(1977), "Beautiful Country"(1977), "Reflections"(1978), and "Should I Come"(1979).
In the mix are story songs("The Old Man and His Horn" and "Paper Rosie"), uptempo honky tonkers ("Raisin' Cain In Texas" and "Pick the Wildwood Flower"), and romantic ballads ("Nothing Sure Looked Good On You" and "Bedroom Ballad").
His big gun signature song,"Farewell Party", is here of course, but no less powerful are the quieter, more subtle tunes like "I Don't Need A Thing At All" and "One Sided Conversations".
Gene Watson went on to record other hits for the MCA, Epic, and Warner Brothers labels and they are available in many combinations on various collections and anthologies.
Don't be deceived by the cut rate packaging-this is a great, complete collection of Gene Watson's early singles on the Capitol label.

Gene Watson's music was introduced to me by a friend who played drums for Sonny James, Ernest Tubb, and Dottie West. I had never heard of him but then when I heard his voice on the CD I knew the songs. It's amazing to me how a person with such a great voice has never received the attention that he should. Every song is great but the one which I really like is "The Old Man and His Horn". This was a song I had never heard. It also shows the versatility of Gene's song selections. He has the best voice of any country singer I have ever heard.

Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Gene
It was his very first tour of the UK,he was dressed in a plain
brown suit clean shaven and his hair was slicked straight back
Just an ordinary guy in the street.nobody had heard of Gene Watson. we did not know what to exspect
Believe me when that guy started to sing the place went silent
Never before had we heard such a wonderful voice he was a nobody
who was going to be somebody how right we were
Unfortunately since the Wembley Festivefuls stopped he has not
been over to the UK Please come over Gene