Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976)

Gene Watson: 'Because You Believed In Me' (Capitol Records, 1976)

‘Because You Believed In Me’
Capitol Records ST-11529 (1976)

Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) was released by Capitol Records in May 1976.


Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) discography information is presented on the Gene Watson Fan Site for educational purposes only and no infringement of copyright is intended.


About Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976)…

Album Sleeve Notes
‘Gene Watson sings songs that explore the intimate side of love and life, songs that capture both the feelings of pleasure and joy as well as heartache and sorrow, songs that make the listener laugh and cry because they tug at the heartstrings.

Gene Watson vocally dramatises the feeling of holding the right person in your arms…or not holding the person…or sometimes holding the wrong person.  When Gene Watson sings a song, a great many of the listeners invariably nod their heads in agreement as the lyrics strike a responsive chord.

‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) is a highly appropriate title for Gene Watson’s second Capitol album.

The record is Gene’s way of thanking everyone for believing in him. This album will undoubtedly assure everyone’s continued faith in Gene’.

Ed Keeley
National Country Field Manager
Capitol Records, Inc


Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster (1930 – Thursday 22 February 2007).

Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) was recorded at the ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee (Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson).

Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1976.


‘Because You Believed In Me’
Capitol Records ST11529 (1976)


1 ‘Because You Believed In Me’
Writers: Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), Shorty Hall (Walter Harrison Hall) (Tuesday 5 April 1927 – Thursday 21 March 2002) and Gene Vowell
Publishers: Unichapell Music Inc. / BMI




Gene Watson re-recorded ‘Because You Believed In Me’, which was written by Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), Shorty Hall (Walter Harrison Hall) (Tuesday 5 April 1927 – Thursday 21 March 2002) and Gene Vowell, and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).


2 ‘If I’m A Fool For Leaving’
Writers: Skip Graves and Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015)
Publishers: Cedarwood Publishing Co. Inc. / BMI




Gene Watson recorded ‘If I’m A Fool For Leaving’, which was written by Skip Graves and Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015), and included the track on ‘Gene Watson‘ (Wide World Records, 1969 & Stoneway Records, 1973).



Gene Watson re-recorded ‘If I’m A Fool For Leaving’, which was written by Skip Graves and Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015), and included the track on ‘Gene Watson: Then & Now‘ (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).


3 ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’
Writer: Larry Gatlin
Publishers: First Generation Music Company / BMI


Dottie West: 'If It's All Right With You / Just What I've Been Looking For' (RCA Victor Records, 1973)

Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘If It’s All Right With You / Just What I’ve Been Looking For’ (RCA Victor Records, 1973).

Larry Gatlin recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on his debut album, ‘The Pilgrim’ (Monument Records, 1974); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974.

Larry Gatlin‘s debut album, ‘The Pilgrim’ (Monument Records, 1974), included liner notes, which were written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003).

Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 – Tuesday 16 August 1977) recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee’ (RCA Records, 1976).

Randy Cornor: 'My First Album' (ABC Records / Dot Records, 1976)

Randy Cornor (Wednesday 28 July 1954 – Thursday 24 March 2022) recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘My First Album’ (ABC Records / Dot Records, 1976).

Anne Murray recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘Where Do You Go When You Dream’ (Capitol Records, 1981).

Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘Full Circle’ (Liberty Records, 1982).

Sydney Devine: 'By Request' (Country House Records, 1983)

Sydney Devine (Thursday 11 January 1940 – Saturday 13 February 2021) recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘By Request’ (Country House Records, 1983).

Tim Graves: 'Walking On New Grass' (Pinecastle Records, 1997)

Tim Graves recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘Walking On New Grass’ (Pinecastle Records, 1997).

Amber Digby recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘Here Come The Teardrops’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2006).

Gene Watson re-recorded ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin) and included the track on ‘Real.Country.Music‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016).


4 ‘When My World Left Town’
Writers: Tom Ghent and R. Paul
Publishers: Jando Music Inc. / ASCAP


Jeff Woolsey & The Dancehall Kings: 'Jeff Woolsey & The Dancehall Kings: Double Live at The Western Club' (Jeff Woolsey Music / Shuffle One Records, 2017)

Jeff Woolsey & The Dancehall Kings recorded ‘When My World Left Town’ (written by Tom Ghent and R. Paul) and included the track on ‘Jeff Woolsey & The Dancehall Kings: Double Live At The Western Club’ (Jeff Woolsey Music / Shuffle One Records, 2017).


5 ‘Sorry Willie’
Writer: Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992)
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI


On Tuesday 19 September 1961, Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) recorded ‘Sorry Willie’ (written by Roger Miller) at the RCA Victor Records studio in Nashville; the track was subsequently included on ‘Roger Miller’ (RCA Camden Records, 1964).

Willie Nelson & Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) recorded ‘Sorry Willie’ (written by Roger Miller) and included the track on ‘Old Friends’ (Columbia Records, 1982).


6 ‘How Good A Bad Woman Feels’
Writer: Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
Publishers: Blue Echo Music / ASCAP


7 ‘Her Body Couldn’t Keep You (Off My Mind)’
Writer: Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
Publishers: Blue Echo Music / ASCAP


8 ‘I Fell Apart’
Writer: Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI


9 ‘Hey, Louella’
Writer: Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
Publishers: Blue Echo Music / ASCAP


10 ‘And Then You Came Along’
Writer: Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
Publishers: Blue Echo Music / ASCAP




On Monday 26 September 2005, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Beautiful Country‘ (Capitol Records, 1977), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.




‘Because You Believed In Me’
Capitol Records ST11529 (1976)

Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (Capitol Records, 1976) included the following:

Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017) (rhythm guitar, bass guitar)
Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) (rhythm guitar, lead guitar)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Joe Allen (bass)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977) and Pete Wade (Sunday 16 December 1934 – Tuesday 27 August 2024) (lead guitar)
Jimmy Isbell, Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (drums)