‘Because You Believed In Me & Beautiful Country’
Hux Records HUX 072 (2005)
Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me & Beautiful Country’ (Hux Records, 2005) was released by Hux Records on Monday 26 September 2005.
Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed In Me & Beautiful Country’ (Hux Records, 2005) 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 & Beautiful Country’…
Album Sleeve Note
‘Gary Gene Watson was born in Palestine, Texas on October 11 in 1943, one of seven children. As is often the case in the lives of country music performers, his early years were spent in rural hardship as his parents and siblings traveled around in a remodeled school bus where they sought farm work of many different kinds.
Eventually the family moved to Paris, Texas where Gene attended school before dropping out in the ninth grade.
At this point he went to work in the auto salvage business and learned to repair cars.
(To this day, after years at the top in the music business, he still owns his own body shop and remains a car fanatic).
However, music had always been a major part of Gene’s life, singing at the local Pentecostal church and hearing the blues music that his father would play at home.
At the age of 19, Gene relocated to Houston where he would continue to work as an auto body repair man and painter by day while playing the clubs by night with one of his brothers and three of his cousins, in a group known as Gene Watson & The Other Four, eventually recording for the local Tonka label, though to no great success.
Later, while performing at the city’s Dynasty Club he was spotted by local record businessmen Russ Reeder, a distributor, and Roy Stone who owned a record store. They approached Gene with a view to making records.
As the singer recalls in an interview with country music journalist, Don Ford, in the British magazine Country Music People, ‘the three of us started out making records but there was some conflict between Russ and Roy and they parted.
I was recording for Wide World Records and when they parted Roy agreed to give Russ Reeder his half of my contract, and Russ gave him all of Wide World and all of the masters.
Russ and I went off and formed Resco which stood for ‘Record Service Company’.
It was with this label that Gene had his first taste of success, albeit in a small way as his record, ‘Bad Water’, a song previously recorded by Ray Charles’ backing vocal group The Raelettes, reached No.87 on the Billboard chart in 1975.
However, Gene’s next release on Resco the same year, the New Orleans-set ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’, was to change his life for ever. Despite its steamy subject matter which initially caused it airplay problems, it came to the attention of Capitol Records who took over distribution of the single and signed Gene to the label.
The record peaked at No.3 on Billboard’s country chart and a new star was born. Keeping with rather risqué themes, Gene’s follow-up was the sensational, sensual and sexual ballad ‘Where Love Begins’.
This was penned by the great Canadian songwriter, Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016), whom Gene was to champion together with another Canadian writing talent Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019) for much of his stay at Capitol Records, ‘Dallas probably had my biggest hits, but Ray had more’, reflected Gene looking back.
For the next five years Gene scored no less than seventeen top twenty hits for Capitol, ten of which made the top ten.
Gene’s success was due in some part to his manager and producer Russ Reeder. He remembers, ‘Russ was real laid-back, real loose. He never told me how or what to record. He stayed in the control room and I would get out there with musicians’.
In 1980, he left Capitol Records for MCA Records. The hits continued throughout that decade, later with Curb in 1984 and 1985 and from then on with Epic until 1987, always recording traditionalist honky tonk country music of the highest order.
When his contract with Epic expired, he concentrated on working on the road, eventually playing some dates with a young, up and coming artist named Randy Travis, who was managed by the woman who discovered him, Lib Hatcher (Randy and Lib later married in 1991).
With Russ Reeder now retired, Gene turned to Hatcher for management.
Unfortunately things did not work out well and a long legal wrangle ensued which effectively prevented him from signing with another label.
During this time the artist was now with Warner Brothers although when the label became aware of the legal situation, they dropped Gene from their roster.
Help next came in the shape of Jack McFadden (1927 – Tuesday 16 June 1998), a formidable talent manager whose list of clients included Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) Freddie Hart (Tuesday 21 December 1926 – Saturday 27 October 2018), Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and, a little later, Billy Ray Cyrus.
‘I went to talk to Jack. He was aware of my situation and agreed to manage and book me without a contract’, recalls Gene, indicating an act of supreme trust.
With no American major label willing to take on an artist with an ongoing legal suit, Jack McFadden (1927 – Tuesday 16 June 1998) struck an album deal with Canadian, Gary Buck (Thursday 21 March 1940 – Tuesday 14 October 2003), forging another north-of-the-border connection following his associations with Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019) and Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016).
The Nashville-recorded album ‘In Other Words‘ was released in Canada on Mercury / Polygram, and in the United States, on the indie label, Broadland. This gave Gene his last official single hit ‘One & One & One’, which peaked at No.66 in 1993. ‘It was a great song and we had a lot of airplay on it but we didn’t have the wherewithal to create a hit’, ruminated Gene later.
By the end of the 1990s, Garth Brooks and a new raft of country artists under the loose umbrella of ‘New Country’ had caused the centre of country music gravity to shift away from the honky tonk style of music Watson had always performed.
Moreover Jack McFadden (1927 – Tuesday 16 June 1998) was now concentrating on his new star Billy Ray Cyrus.
‘When Billy Ray released ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, Jack’s whole focus was turned on him, naturally, because that’s where the money was. But it seemed everywhere I turned I was going down a blind alley. I didn’t have any management and I didn’t have anything to look forward to’.
At this low point in his career, Gene was on the verge of quitting.
However, an old friend and booking agent, Allen W. Whitcomb (Tuesday 11 November 1947 – Tuesday 24 October 2006), was instrumental in talking him out of this and helped him secure a deal with the prestigious label Step One, which kick-started Gene’s career all over again.
With the advent of the new century, Gene had mixed fortunes; in 2000 he was diagnosed with colon cancer, although after rigorous hospital treatment, he was declared well enough again to continue with his heavy touring schedule. He continues to record, and signed with RMG and Intersound, and on August 17th 2002, Gene was inducted into The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, an honour long, long overdue.
That same year, Hux Records in England released two of Gene’s classic Capitol albums, ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon‘ and ‘Paper Rosie‘, on one re-mastered CD (HUX036). The critical response and success of the venture has led Hux to follow this up.
Again two great Capitol albums, ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ from 1976 and ‘Beautiful Country‘ from 1977, have been released back to back.
These tracks are quintessential Gene Watson and capture an artist at the very top of his form.
Five of Gene’s superlative hits are featured, the heartfelt waltz, ‘Because You Believed In Me’ (No.20, 1976), the tense, anguished, ‘Her Body Couldn’t Keep You (Off My Mind)’ (No.52, 1976) and the beautiful and tender love song, ‘I Don’t Need A Thing At All’ (No.8, 1977).
Also among the hits are two great Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019) numbers, the wry and rueful, ‘Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All The Time’ (No.11, 1978) and the unusual jazz-themed, story song, ‘The Old Man & His Horn’ (No.11, 1977) with its surprise payoff.
Add to this Gene’s superlative tour de force reading of Larry Gatlin‘s breathless heart-breaker ‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’, Roger Miller’s unusual bluesy composition ‘Sorry Willie’, the humorous self-pitying ‘Hey, Barnum & Bailey’ and any number of beautifully executed country shuffles and waltzes contained on this album and you begin to understand why Gene Watson’s fans number George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), George Strait, Jean Shepard (Tuesday 21 November 1933 – Sunday 25 September 2016), Randy Travis and Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982) and why Gene has legions of devoted country record buying fans throughout the world.
In short, this is simply country music at its very, very best’.
Jon Philibert
Country Music People
September 2005
‘Because You Believed in Me‘
Original 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’.
‘Beautiful Country‘
Original Album Sleeve Notes
‘At the Fan Fair in Nashville recently, I was emceeing the Capitol Records Show and at that time, I introduced Gene Watson as ‘the next Merle Haggard‘ (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and I really meant it. He is a song stylist who’s phrasing reminds you of Merle, but there is enough difference to indicate that he isn’t trying to be Merle.
Gary Gene Watson has been building a ladder of success and the rings in that ladder have been some of the biggest country hits in the last three years. There was ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon’, ‘Where Love Begins’, ‘You Could Know As Much About A Stranger’, ‘Because You Believed In Me’ and ‘Paper Rosie’.
And you’re saying to yourself, is that the guy who sang all those songs?
My friend, he’s right inside this album with another batch of good listening.
Who is Gene Watson? Here are a few facts:
Lives in Houston, Texas, worked on automobiles for ten years as a mechanic and body man, does not like for fans to kiss him (it embarrasses him), has strange hobby – likes to grow ivy in pots, CB handle: ‘Hail Ball’ because an old car he was driving was caught in a hail storm, married, two children (15 and 13) boy and girl, went to Central High in the big town of Direct, Texas (population: 150).
Gene is good natured, a pleasure to know. It is difficult to convey to you on paper his friendliness and his ability to sing a country song. In another three years, he will be country music’s biggest star. It’s nice to know that we fans of his know it first’.
Ralph Emery (Friday 10 March 1933 – Saturday 15 January 2022)
Host of ‘Pop Goes The Country’, a national syndicated television show in the United States
‘Because You Believed in Me & Beautiful Country’
Hux Records HUX 072 (2005)
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 Company Inc. / BMI
Gene Watson originally 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).
‘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), was also included on Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976).
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 (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), which included liner notes written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003).
Larry Gatlin‘s ‘The Pilgrim’ (Monument Records, 1974) was re-issused, on CD, by Columbia Records in 1980.
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).
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).
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
5 ‘Sorry Willie’
Writer: Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992)
Publishers: Tree Publishing Company Inc. / BMI
Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) recorded ‘Sorry Willie’ (written by Roger Miller) at RCA Victor Records in Nashville on Tuesday 19 September 1961; the track was subsequently included on ‘Roger Miller’ (RCA Camden Records, 1964).
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
11 ‘The Old Man & His Horn’
Writer: Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019)
Publishers: Doubleplay Music / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded recorded at Bradley’s Barn, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Joe Mills
Gene Watson re-recorded ‘The Old Man And His Horn’, which was written by Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019), and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
12 ‘Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All The Time’
Writer: Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019)
Publishers: Doubleplay Music / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded recorded at Bradley’s Barn, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Joe Mills
Gene Watson’s recording of ‘Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All The Time’, which was written by Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019), was also featured on ‘Convoy’ (soundtrack) (United Artists Records, 1978).
Gene Watson re-recorded ‘Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All The Time’, which was written by Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019), and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
13 ‘I Won’t Be Sleeping Alone’
Writers: Charles Robert Stewart and Jerry Bob Abbott
Publishers: Pantego Sound / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded recorded at Bradley’s Barn, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Joe Mills
Jeff Woolsey recorded ‘I Won’t Be Sleeping Alone’ (written by Charles Robert Stewart and Jerry Bob Abbott) and included the track on ‘The Real Me’ (Shuffle One Records, 2016).
14 ‘Hey, Barnum & Bailey’
Writers: Jerry Bob Abbott, Charles Robert Stewart and Kenneth Hagler
Publishers: Pantego Sound / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded recorded at Bradley’s Barn, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Joe Mills
15 ‘I’d Love To Live With You Again’
Writer: Dicky Overbey (Monday 11 May 1942 – Saturday 4 October 2014)
Publishers: Back Bay Music / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded at the Jack Clement Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson
16 ‘I Don’t Need A Thing At All’
Writer: Joe Allen
Publishers: Joe Allen Music / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded at the Jack Clement Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson
Gene Watson re-recorded ‘I Don’t Need A Thing At All’ (written by Joe Allen) and included the track on ‘The Good Ole Days‘ (Step One Records, 1996).
Gene Watson re-recorded ‘I Don’t Need A Thing At All’ (written by Joe Allen) and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
17 ‘Raining In Dallas’
Writers: John Gostick and Richard Moreland
Publishers: Calloway Music
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded at the Jack Clement Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson
18 ‘It Don’t Hurt Me Half As Bad’
Writers: Joe Allen, Deion Lay and Bucky Lindsay
Publishers: Combine Music Corporation / BMI
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded at the Jack Clement Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson
19 ‘I Knew We Could Never Love For Long’
Writer: David Barnes
Publishers: Neverbreak Music / ASCAP
Produced by Russ Reeder
Recorded at the Jack Clement Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson
20 ‘He Little Thinged Her Out of My Arms’
Writer: Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
Publishers: Tree International / BMI
Produced by Bob Webster (1930 – Thursday 22 February 2007)
Recorded at the Jack Clement Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Recording Engineer: Jim Williamson
Produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster
Licensed courtesy of EMI Music
Mastered by Russell Pay at The CD Clinic
Hux thanks: Alan Gardiner, Sean Brady and Richard Martin
• Read a Country Music People review of Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me & Beautiful Country‘ (Hux Records, 2005)
The review, which was written by Craig Baguley, was published in the February 2006 issue of Country Music People.
‘Because You Believed in Me & Beautiful Country’
Hux Records HUX 072 (2005)
Musician Credits
(on the original ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ album)
Rhythm Guitar and Bass Guitar: Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017)
Rhythm and Lead Guitar: Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017)
Steel Guitar: Lloyd Green
Fiddle: Norman ‘Buddy’ Spicher
Bass: Joe Allen
Piano: Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022)
Lead Guitar: Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977) and Pete Wade (Sunday 16 December 1934 – Tuesday 27 August 2024)
Drums: Jimmy Isbell, Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021)
Musician Credits
(on the original ‘Beautiful Country‘ album)
Guitar: Dale Sellers, Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977), Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Harold Bradley (Saturday 2 January 1926 – Thursday 31 January 2019)
Steel: Lloyd Green
Bass: Joe Allen
Drums: Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021)
Piano: Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022)
Fiddle: Norman ‘Buddy’ Spicher and Tommy Williams
Vocals: The Nashville Edition: Joe Babcock, Hurshel Wayne Wiginton (Saturday 29 January 1938 – Monday 6 March 2017), Dolores Edgin and Wendy Suits
On Tuesday 3 December 2002, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1977), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
On Monday 27 January 2009, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Reflections‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
On Monday 9 May 2011, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Memories to Burn‘ (MCA Records, 1985), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (MCA Records, 1986), in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as a special 2-for-1 CD set; the 2-for-1 CD set was released worldwide on Tuesday 17 May 2011.