On Monday 8 July 2024, Gene Watson stumbled upon some old photos, and was reminded of just how much he admired fellow country music artist, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
‘I came across some old photos I wanted to share with you.
I had the good fortune to meet George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) early in my career, and I got to work with him on occasion over the years.
We recorded the Christmas song, ‘Silver Bells’, which you can hear on YouTube.
We actually had planned to release an entire album of duets, but we weren’t on the same record label, and I think that kept that project shelved.
But we did enjoy each other’s company and, of course, I greatly admired George.
The oldest photo (shown above) was from when I toured with him in Canada, in the 1980s.
He’d always call me back to end his show and sing the Gospel song, ‘Me & Jesus (Got Our Own Thing Going)’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021), with him.
This was May 2011 – we were recording a song, ‘Didn’t We Shine’, which was written by Don Schlitz and Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014) for Randy Travis‘ ’25th Anniversary Celebration’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2011) album in Nashville.
I’m not sure, but I suspect we were discussing something about cars and what we preferred about certain models, because George collected cars like some of us collect guitars.
That’s Joe Stampley on the right, listening to the discussion’
Source
Gene Watson on Facebook
On Tuesday 7 June 2011, Randy Travis saw the release of ’25th Anniversary Celebration’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2011), which was produced by Kyle Lehning; the album, which was released to celebrate 25 years since the release of Randy Travis‘ debut album, ‘Storms of Life’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986), included the following tracks:
‘Everything & All’ (written by Troy Jones) / this track, which featured guest vocals from Brad Paisley, was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2011, but it did not chart
‘A Few Ole Country Boys’, which was written by Troy Seals and Mentor Williams (Tuesday 11 June 1946 – Wednesday 16 November 2016) / this track featured guest vocals from Jamey Johnson / the original version of this track was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘Heroes & Friends’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1990), was a duet with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and reached No.8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990
‘Forever & Ever, Amen’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz) / this track featured guest vocals from Zac Brown Band / the original version of this track was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘Always & Forever’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1987), and was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in June / July 1987
‘He Walked On Water’ (written by Allen Shamblin) (No.2, 1990) / this track featured guest vocals from Kenny Chesney / the original version of this track was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘No Holdin’ Back’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989), and reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990
‘T.I.M.E’ (written by Tim Menzies and Roger Springer) / this track featured guest vocals from Josh Turner
‘Love Looks Good On You’ (written by Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson) / this track featured guest vocals from Kristin Chenoweth
‘Better Class of Losers’ / ‘She’s Got The Rhythm (& I Got The Blues)’ (medley) (written by Randy Travis and Alan Jackson) / this track featured guest vocals from Alan Jackson / the original versions of these tracks were included on Randy Travis‘ ‘High Lonesome’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991)
‘More Life’ (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid) / this track, which featured guest vocals from Don Henley, was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2012, but it did not chart
‘Can’t Hurt A Man’ (written by Lance Miller, Brad Warren and Brett Warren) / this track featured guest vocals from Tim McGraw
‘Promises’ (written by John Lindley and Randy Travis) / this track featured guest vocals from Shelby Lynne / the original version of this track was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘Old 8×10’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), and reached No.17 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989
‘Is It Still Over’, which was written by Ken Bell and Larry Henley (Wednesday 30 June 1937 – Thursday 18 December 2014) / this track featured guest vocals from Carrie Underwood / the original version of this track was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘Old 8×10’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), and was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1989
‘Road To Surrender’ (written by Gary Duffey, Buffy Lawson and Angela Russell) / this track featured guest vocals from Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson
‘Diggin’ Up Bones’, which was written by Al Gore, Paul Overstreet and Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988) / this track featured guest vocals from John Anderson / the original version of this track was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘Storms of Life’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986), and was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in November 1986
‘Someone You Never Knew’ (written by Kyle Jacobs and Fred Wilhelm) / this track featured guest vocals from Eamonn McCrystal
‘Too Much’ (written by Donny Lowery and Gary Nichols) / this track featured guest vocals from James Otto
‘Didn’t We Shine’, which was written by Don Schlitz and Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014) / this track featured guest vocals from George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Lorrie Morgan, Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Connie Smith, Joe Stampley and Gene Watson / this track was also recorded by Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), who included it on ‘Too Dumb For New York City – Too Ugly For L.A.’ (Epic Records, 1992)
‘Everything & All’ (written by Troy Jones)
Randy Travis‘ ’25th Anniversary Celebration’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2011) reached No.4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2011, and No.19 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2011.