Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2005, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Kathy Mattea, which she submitted to this site on Sunday 13 November 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Kathy Mattea who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Kathy Mattea
This quote was submitted on Sunday 13 November 2005.
‘Gene Watson has one of the most pure country voices of anyone out there.
And, he’s also one of the nicest guys in the business’
Thank you, Kathy Mattea, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Kathy Mattea…
Kathy Mattea, who hails from Cross Lanes, West Virginia, has an instantly recognisable style, her music encompassing country and folk.
Kathy Mattea, who was born Kathleen Alice Mattea on Sunday 21 June 1959, began playing guitar in her early teens, first performing publicly in church.
In 1978, Kathy Mattea moved to Nashville, initially securing a job at The Country Music Hall of Fame as a tour guide before she gained employment singing commercials, demos and jingles.
In 1982, Combine Music began using Kathy Mattea’s vocals regularly to record its song demos. Kathy Mattea also sang backup in Bobby Goldsboro’s road show.
In 1983, Kathy Mattea put some of her best demos together and, assisted by producer Byron Hill, sent the tape to Frank Jones (Sunday 4 March 1928 – Thursday 3 February 2005).
When Kathy Mattea secured a recording contract with Mercury Records / Polygram Records in 1983, she was signed to the label by Frank Jones (Sunday 4 March 1928 – Thursday 3 February 2005), the then President & Head of the country music division, and the same gentleman who signed Gene Watson to Capitol Records in 1975.
In October 1983, Kathy Mattea saw the release of her first single, ‘Street Talk’ (written by Lee Domann and Ralph Whiteway), which was produced by Byron Hill; the track reached No.25 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
On Thursday 22 March 1984, Kathy Mattea saw the release of her self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), which was produced by Rick Peoples and Byron Hill, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Street Talk’ (written by Lee Domann and Ralph Whiteway) (No.25, 1983)
‘Someone Is Falling In Love’ (written by Lee Domann and Pebe Sebert) (No.26, 1984)
‘You’ve Got A Soft Place To Fall’, which was written by Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022), Bob McDill and H. Moore (No.44, 1984)
‘That’s Easy For You To Say’ (written by B. Clifford and D. Hodges) (No.50, 1984)
Kathy Mattea’s self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), also included the following tracks:
‘Takin’ The Givin’ Away’ (written by Bob DiPiero and J. Wood)
‘You Know That I Do (& I Know That You Won’t)’, which was written by Peter James McCann (Saturday 6 March 1948 – Thursday 26 January 2023)
‘Full Time Love’, which was written by Bob DiPiero and Tim Krekel (Tuesday 10 October 1950 – Wednesday 24 June 2009)
‘Somewhere Down The Road’, which was written by Tom Snow and Cynthia Weil (Friday 18 October 1940 – Thursday 1 June 2023)
‘(Back To The) Heartbreak Kid’, which was written by Van Stephenson (Wednesday 4 November 1953 – Sunday 8 April 2001) and Tim DuBois
‘God Ain’t No Stained Glass Window’ (written by Mark Germino (Saturday 12 August 1950 – Wednesday 3 July 2024)
Kathy Mattea’s self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, guitar, background vocals)
Mark Casstevens, Gregg Galbraith, Jon Goin, Chris Leuzinger and Dale Sellers (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (pedal steel guitar)
David Briggs and Bobby Wood (piano)
Spady Brannan and Alan Rush (bass)
Gene Chrisman and Tommy Wells (drums)
Curtis Young, Wade McCurdy, Pat McManus, Marcy Cates and Margie Cates (background vocals)
Nashville String Machine (strings, arranged by Bergen White)
In January 1985, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘From My Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1985), which was produced by Allen Reynolds, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘It’s Your Reputation Talkin’ (written by Mitch Johnson and Harry Shannon) (No.34, 1985)
‘He Won’t Give In’ (written by Johnny Pierce) (No.22, 1985)
‘Heart of The Country’ (written by Donny Lowery and Wendy Waldman) (No.46, 1985)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘From My Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1985) also included the following tracks:
‘I Believe I Could Fall In Love (With Loving You)’ (written by Gary Burr)
‘Trail of Tears’ (written by Roger Cook and Allen Reynolds)
‘Never Look Back’ (written by Tom Campbell, Jim Photoglo and Wendy Waldman)
‘Ball & Chain’ (written by Elton John and Gary Osborne)
‘When I’m Over You (What You Gonna Do)’, which was written by Mark Germino (Saturday 12 August 1950 – Wednesday 3 July 2024) and Chuck Kuening
‘Talkin’ To Myself’ (written by Richard Allen, Frank Saulino and Jim Valentini)
‘If I Hadn’t Met You’ (written by Randy Goodrum)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘From My Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1985) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, guitar, background vocals)
Mark Casstevens, Sonny Garrish, Chris Leuzinger and Brent Rowan (guitar)
Charles Cochran (Saturday 29 February 1936 – Thursday 7 June 2007) (organ, piano)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano, organ)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Bobby Wood (organ)
Bob Wray (bass)
Gary Van Osdale (viola)
Carl Gorodetzky and George Binkley III (violin)
Roy Christensen (cello)
Jonathan Edwards, Wendy Waldman, Mac McAnally, Pat McManus, John Thompson, Jim Photoglo and Allen Reynolds (background vocals)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘From My Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1985) reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1985.
On Thursday 20 March 1986, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (Mercury Records, 1986), which was produced by Allen Reynolds, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Love At The Five & Dime’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (No.3, 1986) / this track, which featured backing vocals from Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), remained on the Billboard country music singles chart for 22 weeks, and brought Nanci Caroline Griffith wider recognition as a songwriter / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith, who included it on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.10, 1986)
‘You’re The Power’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and F.C. Collins) (No.5, 1987)
‘Train of Memories’, which was written by Andy Byrd and Jimbeau Hinson (Wednesday 29 October 1952 – Friday 4 March 2022) (No.6, 1987)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (Mercury Records, 1986) also included the following tracks:
‘Reason To Live’ (written by Joanne Christy, Johnny Pierce and Geoff Levin)
‘Evenin’, which was written by Mitchell Parish (Tuesday 10 July 1900 – Wednesday 31 March 1993) and Harry Alexander White (1 June 1898 – Tuesday 14 August 1962)
‘Leaving West Virginia’ (written by Kathy Mattea)
‘You Plant Your Fields’ (written by Wendy Waldman and Donny Lowery)
‘Back Up Grinnin’ Again’ (written by David Goodman)
‘Song For The Life’ (written by Rodney Crowell)
Rodney Crowell recorded ‘Song For The Life’ (written by Rodney Crowell) and included the track on his debut album, ‘Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1978); the track was also recorded by Alan Jackson, who included it on ‘Who I Am’ (Arista Records, 1994); Alan Jackson’s version of the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (Mercury Records, 1986) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, background vocals)
Charlie Anderson (harmonica)
Bruce Bouton (guitar, pedal steel guitar)
Tommy Cozart and Milton Sledge (drums)
Bill Donohue (piano)
Bessyl Duhon (accordion)
Ray Flacke, Pat Flynn, Brent Rowan, Chris Leuzinger and K. Susan Taylor (guitar)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Jim Horn, Wayne Jackson and Quitman Dennis (horn)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (percussion)
Tim O’Brien (guitar, mandolin)
Mark O’Connor and Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Bobby Wood (keyboards)
Bob Wray (bass)
Wendy Waldman, Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), Craig Bickhardt, Vince Gill and Jim Photoglo (background vocals)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (Mercury Records, 1986) reached No.13 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986. As a result, Kathy Mattea was nominated for the Country Music Association (CMA) ‘Horizon Award’ and won Billboard’s ‘Top New Country Artist’ honour.
On Monday 28 September 1987, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987), which was produced by Allen Reynolds, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Goin’ Gone’ (written by Pat Alger, Bill Dale and Fred Koller) (No.1 for one week in January / February 1988) / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), who included it on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ (written by Gene Nelson and Paul Nelson) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1988) / the song earned ‘Single Record of The Year’ honours from the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM); the Academy of Country Music (ACM) also named ‘Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ as ‘Song of The Year’ / ‘Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ was also included in the dialogue of ‘Rain Man’, a movie which starred Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise
‘Untold Stories’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.4, 1988)
‘Life As We Knew It’ (written by Walter Carter and Fred Koller) (No.4, 1988)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987) also included the following tracks:
‘The Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz) / this track was a duet with Tim O’Brien
‘Late In The Day’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Untasted Honey’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Barry Alfonso)
‘Like A Hurricane’ (written by Pat Alger and Mark D. Sanders)
‘As Long As I Have A Heart’ (written by Don Henry and Dennis Wilson)
‘Every Love’ (written by Kye Fleming and Janis Ian)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals)
Tim O’Brien (guitar, mandolin, vocals)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Pat Alger, Ray Flacke, Pat Flynn and Nick Forster (guitar)
Bruce Bouton (pedal steel guitar)
Roy M. ‘Junior’ Husky, Mike Leech, Dave Pomeroy and Bob Wray (bass)
Chris Leuzinger (guitar)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) and Milton Sledge (drums, percussion)
David Schaufer (dulcimer)
Craig Bickhardt (guitar, background vocals)
Beth Nielsen Chapman and John Thompson (background vocals)
Pete Wasner and Bobby Wood (organ, piano)
Buck White (piano)
Cindy Reynolds Wyatt (harp)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987) reached No.11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1987.
On Tuesday 4 April 1989, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Willow In The Wind’ (Mercury Records, 1989), which was produced by Allen Reynolds, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Come From The Heart’, which was written by Susanna Clark (1939 – Wednesday 27 June 2012) and Richard Leigh (No.1 for one week in July 1989)
‘Burnin’ Old Memories’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Gene Nelson) (No.1 for one week in November 1989)
‘Where’ve You Been’ (written by Don Henry and Jon Vezner) (No.10, 1989) / this track, which was also a minor hit on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart in 1989, peaking at No.25, earned Kathy Mattea a Grammy Award for ‘Best Female Country Vocal Performance’ in 1990
‘She Came From Fort Worth’ (written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller) (No.2, 1990)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Willow In The Wind’ (Mercury Records, 1989) also included the following tracks:
‘Here’s Hopin’ (written by Bob Regan and Mark D. Sanders)
‘True North’ (written by Wendy Waldman and Phil Galdston)
‘Hills of Alabam’ (written by Mark Fair and Claire Lynch)
‘Willow In The Wind’ (written by Randy Albright, Lisa Silver and Mark D. Sanders)
‘Love Chooses You’ (written by Laurie Lewis)
‘I’ll Take Care of You’ (written by Mark D. Sanders and Karen Staley)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Willow in The Wind’ (Mercury Records, 1989) included the following:
‘Come From The Heart’
Craig Bickhardt (background vocals)
Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (percussion)
Kathy Mattea, Donna McElroy and Wayland Patton (background vocals)
Mark O’Connor (mandolin)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Pete Wasner (piano)
Bobby Wood (percussion)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘Here’s Hopin’
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Ray Flacke (electric guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (percussion)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Riders In the Sky (background vocals)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘Burnin’ Old Memories’
Bruce Bouton (steel guitar)
Mike Chapman (1953 – Monday 13 June 2016) (bass guitar)
Ray Flacke (electric guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (acoustic guitar)
Milton Sledge (drums)
‘She Came From Fort Worth’
Kathy Chiavola and Wayland Patton (background vocals)
Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Pete Wasner (piano)
Bobby Wood (keyboards)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘True North’
Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Jim Photoglo (background vocals)
Matt Rollings (keyboards)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Wendy Waldman (background vocals)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘Hills of Alabam’
Bruce Bouton (steel guitar)
Pat Flynn and Chris Leuzinger (acoustic guitar)
Claire Lynch and Jim Photoglo (background vocals)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Bobby Wood (piano, organ)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘Willow In The Wind’
Kathy Chiavola and Wayland Patton (background vocals)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Stuart Duncan (mandolin)
Ray Flacke (electric guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (acoustic guitar)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘Love Chooses You’
Bruce Bouton (steel guitar)
Robert Bowlin (acoustic guitar)
Kathy Chiavola and Wayland Patton (background vocals)
Pat Flynn (acoustic rhythm guitar)
Matt Rollings and Bobby Wood (piano)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
‘I’ll Take Care of You’
Bruce Bouton (steel guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Ray Flacke (electric guitar)
Mike Leech (bass guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (acoustic guitar)
Kathy Mattea and Tim O’Brien (background vocals)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Bobby Wood (keyboards)
‘Where’ve You Been’
Edgar Meyer (upright bass)
John Mock (acoustic guitar)
Dave Pomeroy (bass guitar)
Matt Rollings (piano)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Willow In The Wind’ (Mercury Records, 1989) reached No.6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989 and was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In 1990, Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017) saw the release of ‘Walkin’ In The Sun’ (Capitol Records, 1990), which marked Glen Campbell’s return to Capitol Records, and included four tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘She’s Gone, Gone, Gone’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) (No.6, 1989) / this track, which was Glen Campbell’s last Top 10 hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, was released via Universal Records, a short-lived record label, which was founded by Jimmy Bowen
‘Walkin’ In The Sun’ (written by Jeff Barry) (No.61, 1990)
‘On A Good Night’, which was written by Jim Weatherly (Wednesday 17 March 1943 – Wednesday 3 February 2021) and Keith Stegall / this track was released as a single in 1990, but it did not chart
‘Somebody’s Leavin’, which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), Rafe Van Hoy and Don Cook / this track was released as a single in 1990, but it did not chart
Glen Campbell’s ‘Walkin’ In The Sun’ (Capitol Records, 1990) also included the following tracks:
‘You Will Not Lose’, which was written by Allen Toussaint (Friday 14 January 1938 – Tuesday 10 November 2015) / this track was a duet with Steve Wariner
‘If I Could Only Get My Hands On You Now’ (written by Larry Gatlin)
‘William Tell Overture’ (written by Gioachino Rossini / arranged by Glen Campbell & Dennis McCarthy)
‘Woodcarver’ (written by Rusty Wolfe) / this track was a duet with Lacy J. Dalton
‘Cheatin’ Is’ (written by Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Tied To The Tracks’ (written by J. Fred Knobloch and Gary Scruggs)
‘Jesus On Your Mind’ (written by Keith Stegall)
Personnel involved in the recording of Glen Campbell’s ‘Walkin’ in The Sun’ (Capitol Records, 1990) included the following:
Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017) (vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars)
Larrie Londin (Friday 15 October 1943 – Monday 24 August 1992) and James Stroud (drums)
Reggie Young (Saturday 12 December 1936 – Thursday 17 January 2019) (electric guitar)
Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) and Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar)
David Hungate and Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Glen D. Hardin and Larry Knechtel (piano)
Mike Lawler and David Innis (synthesizer)
Mark O’Connor (mandolin, fiddle)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Conni Ellisor (violin)
John Cowan, Debby Campbell Olson and Gail Davies (additional background vocals)
Background vocals on ‘Jesus On Your Mind’ (written by Keith Stegall) were provided by Larry Gatlin, Steve Gatlin, Rudy Gatlin, Mark Eugene Gray (Friday 24 October 1952 – Friday 2 December 2016), Alan Jackson, Kathy Mattea, Paul Overstreet, Eddy Raven, Ricky Skaggs, Sharon White, Keith Stegall, Karen Staley, Cheryl White Warren, Buck White and Chris Zann
On Tuesday 7 August 1990, Kathy Mattea saw the release of her first ‘greatest hits’ compilation, which included eight of Kathy’s previous singles, as well as one newly recorded track, ‘A Few Good Things Remain’ (written by Pat Alger and Jon Vezner), along with an album cut from ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987), ‘The Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz), a duet with Tim O’Brien.
Kathy Mattea’s ‘A Collection of Hits’ (Mercury Records, 1990) included the following tracks:
‘Love At The Five & Dime’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (No.3, 1986)
‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.10, 1986)
‘Train of Memories’, which was written by Andy Byrd and Jimbeau Hinson (Wednesday 29 October 1952 – Friday 4 March 2022) (No.6, 1987)
‘Goin’ Gone’ (written by Pat Alger, Bill Dale and Fred Koller) (No.1 for one week in January / February 1988)
‘The Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz) (No.9, 1990)
‘Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ (written by Paul Nelson and Gene Nelson) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1988)
‘Untold Stories’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.4, 1988)
‘Life As We Knew It’ (written by Fred Koller and Walter Carter) (No.4, 1988)
‘A Few Good Things Remain’ (written by Pat Alger and Jon Vezner) (No.9, 1990)
‘Where’ve You Been’ (written by Don Henry and Jon Vezner) (No.10, 1989)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘A Collection of Hits’ (Mercury Records, 1990) reached No.8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990 and was certified ‘Platinum’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
On Tuesday 19 March 1991, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Time Passes By’ (Mercury Records, 1991), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Time Passes By’ (written by Jon Vezner and Susan Longacre) (No.7, 1991)
‘Whole Lotta Holes’ (written by Jon Vezner and Don Henry) (No.18, 1991)
‘Asking Us To Dance’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024) (No.27, 1991)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Time Passes By’ (Mercury Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘What Could Have Been’ (written by Beth Nielsen Chapman)
‘Summer of My Dreams’ (written by David Mallett)
‘Harley’ (written by Don Henry)
‘Quarter Moon’ (written by Bob Millard)
‘I Wear Your Love’ (written by Gary Burr)
‘A Few Good Things Remain’ (written by Pat Alger and Jon Vezner)
‘Ready For The Storm’ (written by Dougie MacLean)
‘From A Distance’ (written by Julie Gold) / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), who included it on ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (MCA Records, 1987)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Time Passes By’ (Mercury Records, 1991) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, guitar, tambourine, bodhran)
Pat Alger, Mark Casstevens, Bill Cooley, Pat Flynn and Chris Leuzinger (guitar)
Bruce Bouton (pedal steel guitar)
Stuart Duncan (mandolin)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Maggie Roche, Suzy Roche, Ashley Cleveland and Craig Bickhardt (harmony vocals)
Mark Howard (guitar, mandolin)
Dougie MacLean (guitar, congas, didgeridoo, whistle)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (drums)
Edgar Meyer, Duncan Mullins, Dave Pomeroy, Glenn Worf and Bob Wray (bass)
John Mock (guitar, string arrangements)
Mark O’Connor (mandolin)
Tom Roady (percussion)
Matt Rollings, Catherine Styron and Pete Wasner (piano)
Milton Sledge (drums, percussion)
Bobby Wood (organ, keyboards)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Time Passes By’ (Mercury Records, 1991) was produced by Allen Reynolds, with the exception of ‘From A Distance’ (written by Julie Gold), which Kathy Mattea co-produced with Jon Vezner and Dougie MacLean.
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Time Passes By’ (Mercury Records, 1991) reached No.9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991 and was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
On Tuesday 7 May 1991, Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) saw the release of his first major-label album, ‘Past The Point of Rescue’ (Curb Records, 1991), which was produced by Allen Reynolds and Jim Rooney, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Small Town Saturday Night’ (written by Pat Alger and Hank DeVito) (No.2, 1991)
‘I Know Where Love Lives’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) (No.13, 1991)
‘Past The Point of Rescue’ (written by Mick Hanly) (No.2, 1992)
‘Past The Point of Rescue’ (written by Mick Hanly) was also recorded by Mick Hanly, who included the track on ‘All I Remember’ (Round Tower Records, 1989) / the track was also recorded by Mary Black, who included it on ‘No Frontiers’ (Gifthorse Records, 1989) / the track was also recorded by The Chicks, who included the track on ‘Little Ol’ Cowgirl’ (Crystal Clear Sound Records, 1992)
‘Five O’Clock World’ (written by Allen Reynolds) (No.16, 1992)
Hal Ketchum‘s first major-label album, ‘Past the Point of Rescue’ (Curb Records, 1991), also included the following tracks:
‘Old Soldiers’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) and Dave Mallett
‘Somebody’s Love’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) and Pat Alger
‘I Miss My Mary’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020)
‘Don’t Strike A Match (To The Book of Love)’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) and Pat Alger
‘Long Day Comin’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) and Gary Burr
‘She Found The Place’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020)
Personnel involved in the recording of Hal Ketchum‘s first major-label album, ‘Past the Point of Rescue’ (Curb Records, 1991), included the following:
Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar)
Bruce Bouton (steel guitar)
Gary Burr, Dave Francis, Kathy Mattea and Allen Reynolds (background vocals)
Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) (lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Will Smith (autoharp)
Pete Wasner (keyboards)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
Hal Ketchum‘s first major-label album, ‘Past the Point of Rescue’ (Curb Records, 1991), reached No.6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991, No.45 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1991, and No.2 on the Billboard Top Heat-Seekers Chart in 1991.
On Tuesday 22 September 1992, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (Mercury Records, 1992), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (written by Larry Cordle and Jim Rushing) (No.11, 1992)
‘Standing Knee Deep In A River (Dying of Thirst)’ (written by Bucky Jones, Dickey Lee and Bob McDill) (No.19, 1993)
‘Seeds’, which was written by Pat Alger and Ralph Murphy (1944 – Tuesday 28 May 2019) (No.50, 1993)
‘Listen To The Radio’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (No.64, 1993) / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith, who included it on ‘Storms’ (MCA Records, 1989)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (Mercury Records, 1992) also included the following tracks:
‘Lonely At The Bottom’ (written by Jan Dowling and Mike Dowling)
‘Forgive & Forget’ (written by Kieran Kane)
‘Last Night I Dreamed of Loving You’ (written by Hugh Moffatt)
‘Slow Boat’ (written by George Teren and Jon Vezner)
’33, 45, 78 (Record Time)’ (written by Steve Key)
‘Amarillo’ (written by Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (Mercury Records, 1992) included the following:
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Larry Byrom, Bill Cooley, Bernie Leadon and Don Potter (guitar)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
John Barlow Jarvis, Steve Nathan, Matt Rollings and Pete Wasner (piano)
Farrell Morris (percussion)
Duncan Mullins (bass)
Kathy Mattea (vocals)
Nashville String Machine (strings)
Bobby Ogdin (organ)
Russ Pahl (drums, Dobro)
Tim O’Brien, Donna McElroy, Christie Westmoreland, Gerry Gillespie, Vicki Hampton, Kathy Chiavola and Gary Burr (background vocals)
Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, violin)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (Mercury Records, 1992) reached No.41 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1992 and received a Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) ‘Gold’ certification.
On Tuesday 21 September 1993, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Good News’ (Mercury Records, 1993), which was Kathy’s first album of Christmas music, and included the following tracks:
‘What A Wonderful Beginning’ (written by Austin Cunningham and Allen Shamblin)
‘There’s A New Kid In Town’, which was written by Don Cook, Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989)
‘Brightest & Best (Star of The East)’ (traditional arrangement by Kathy Mattea and Brent Maher)
‘Mary, Did You Know?’ (written by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry)
‘The Star’, which was written by Peter James McCann (Saturday 6 March 1948 – Thursday 26 January 2023)
‘Emmanuel’ (written by Kye Fleming and Janis Ian)
‘Somebody Talkin’ About Jesus’ (written by Kathy Mattea)
‘Nothing But A Child’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Christ Child’s Lullaby’ (written by Kathy Mattea and Dougie MacLean)
‘Good News’ (written by Rob Mathes)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Good News’ (Mercury Records, 1993) reached No.51 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993 and earned Kathy another Grammy Award.
In 1994, Kathy Mattea collaborated with Suzy Bogguss, Alison Krauss, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, to contribute the track, ‘Teach Your Children’, to the AIDS benefit album, ‘Red Hot + Country’ (Mercury Records, 1994), which was produced by The Red Hot Organization. Also on that album, Kathy Mattea teamed up with Jackson Browne to contribute ‘Rock Me On The Water’.
Through the 1990s, Kathy Mattea often collaborated with Dougie MacLean, a Scottish folk-singer and songwriter.
On Tuesday 17 May 1994, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Walking Away A Winner’ (Mercury Records, 1994), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Walking Away A Winner’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Tom Shapiro) (No.3, 1994)
‘Nobody’s Gonna Rain On Our Parade’ (written by Will Rambeaux and Brad Parker) (No.13, 1994)
‘Maybe She’s Human’, which was written by Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 – Saturday 27 December 1997) and Layng Martine Jr. (No.34, 1994)
‘Clown In Your Rodeo’ (written by Wayne Kirkpatrick) (No.20, 1995)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Walking Away A Winner’ (Mercury Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
‘The Streets of Your Town’, which was written by Andrew Gold (Thursday 2 August 1951 – Friday 3 June 2011) and Jenny Yates
‘Who Turned Out The Light’, which was written by Lisa Angelle and Andrew Gold (Thursday 2 August 1951 – Friday 3 June 2011)
‘Another Man’ (written by Chris Waters and Chuck Jones)
‘The Cape’, which was written by Jim Janosky, Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Susanna Clark (1939 – Wednesday 27 June 2012)
‘Grand Canyon’ (written by Wayne Kirkpatrick)
‘Who’s Gonna Know’ (written by Jon Vezner)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Walking Away A Winner’ (Mercury Records, 1994) included the following:
Lisa Angelle, Karla Bonoff, Kenny Edwards, Andrew Gold (Thursday 2 August 1951 – Friday 3 June 2011), Mary Ann Kennedy, Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020), Pam Rose, Timothy B. Schmit and Wendy Waldman (background vocals)
Sam Bush and Jonathan Yudkin (fiddle)
Bill Cuomo (piano, keyboards)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Dan Dugmore (pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
John Hammond (drums, percussion)
Dann Huff (electric guitar)
Wayne Kirkpatrick (background vocals, acoustic guitar)
Josh Leo (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Carl Marsh (keyboards)
Duncan Mullins (bass guitar)
Tom Roady (percussion)
Bobby G. Taylor (oboe)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Walking Away A Winner’ (Mercury Records, 1994) reached No.12 included on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1994 and was the final album of Kathy’s career to be certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
On Tuesday 4 February 1997, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Love Travels’ (Mercury Records, 1997), which was produced by Kathy Mattea and Ben Wisch, and included four tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘455 Rocket’ (written by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch) (No.21, 1997)
‘I’m On Your Side’ (written by Jim Lauderdale) / this track was released as a single in 1997, but it did not chart
‘Love Travels’ (written by Bob Halligan Jr. and Linda Halligan) (No.39, 1997)
‘Patiently Waiting’ (written by Gillian Welch) / this track was released as a single in 1998, but it did not chart
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Love Travels’ (Mercury Records, 1997) also included the following tracks:
‘Sending Me Angels’ (written by Francis John Miller and Jerry Lynn Williams)
‘If That’s What You Call Love’ (written by Lionel Cartwright)
‘Further & Further Away’ (written by Cheryl Wheeler) / this track featured background vocals from Suzy Bogguss
‘The Bridge’ (written by Jim Pittman and Tom Kimmel)
‘All Roads To The River’ (written by Janis Ian and Jon Vezner)
‘The End of The Line’ (written by Kye Fleming, Mark Stephen Cawley and Mary Ann Kennedy)
‘Beautiful Fool’ (written by Don Henry)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Love Travels’ (Mercury Records, 1997) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals)
Bob Halligan Jr. (acoustic guitar, piano)
Jim Lauderdale, Bill Cooley and Don Potter (acoustic guitar)
Duke Levine (electric guitar)
Paul Franklin and Steve Sturm (pedal steel guitar)
Stuart Duncan (mandolin)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Chris Carmichael (violin)
Steve Lauer (accordion, harmonium)
Hunter Lee (whistle, bagpipes)
Lionel Cartwright (piano, background vocals)
Matt Rollings (piano, Hammond B-3)
Ben Wisch (synthesizer, background vocals)
Tim Lauer (synthesizer)
Edgar Meyer (acoustic bass)
James ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson (bass)
Abe Laboriel Junior (drums, percussion)
Jim Keltner (drums)
Kirby Shelstad (percussion)
Jonatha Brooke, Michael McDonald and Kim Richey (background vocals).
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Love Travels’ (Mercury Records, 1997), which was her last album for Mercury Records, reached No.15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1997, and No.65 on the United Kingdom Albums Chart in 1997.
On Tuesday 11 November 1997, Paul Brandt saw the release of ‘Outside The Frame’ (Reprise Records, 1997); one of the included tracks was ‘We Are The One’ (written by Paul Brandt), which featured background vocals from Kathy Mattea.
In 1998, Red House Records released ‘Treasures Left Behind: Remembering Kate Wolf’ (Red House Records, 1998), a various artists compilation album, which honoured Kate Wolf (Tuesday 27 January 1942 – Wednesday 10 December 1986); one of the included tracks was ‘Give Yourself To Love’ (written by Kate Wolf), which featured vocals from Kathy Mattea.
On Tuesday 16 May 2000, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘The Innocent Years’ (Mercury Records, 2000), which was produced by Kathy Mattea, Keith Stegall and Ben Wisch; the album was a tribute to Kathy Mattea’s then ailing father, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘The Trouble With Angels’ (written by Terry Wilson) (No.53 in May 2000)
‘BFD’ (written by Don Henry and Craig Carothers) (No.63 in July 2000)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘The Innocent Years’ (Mercury Records, 2000) also included the following tracks:
‘The Innocent Years’ (written by Sally Barris, Kathy Mattea and Jon Vezner)
‘Why Can’t We’, which was written by Danny Orton and Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019)
‘Prove That By Me’ (written by Jack Routh and Randy Sharp)
‘Callin’ My Name’ (written by Sally Barris, Kathy Mattea and Jon Vezner)
‘Out of The Blue’, which was written by Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Carolyn Dawn Johnson
‘I Have Always Loved You’ (written by Dan Hill and Tommy Lee James)
‘(Love Is) My Last Word’ (written by Shannon Brown and Monty Powell)
‘Trust Me’ (written by Jon Vezner and Steve Wariner)
‘That’s The Deal’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024)
‘The Innocent Years’ (written by Sally Barris, Kathy Mattea and Jon Vezner) (reprise)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘The Innocent Years’ (Mercury Records, 2000) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, percussion)
John Jennings and Bill Cooley (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Steve Sheehan (acoustic guitar)
Duke Levine (electric guitar, mandola)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Darrell Scott and Dan Dugmore (pedal steel guitar)
Chris Carmichael (violin, fiddle, viola, cello)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle, bajo sexto)
Sam Bush (fiddle)
Matt Rollings (piano, Wurlitzer piano, organ)
Gary Prim and Carl Marsh (keyboards)
Glenn Worf, Hurch Hutchinson and Lee Sklar (bass)
Abe Laboriel Jr., Owen Hale, Jim Brock and Shannon Forrest (drums)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Suzy Bogguss, Alison Krauss, Kim Richey, John Thompson and Wes Hightower (background vocals)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘The Innocent Years’ (Mercury Records, 2000) reached No.35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart on Saturday 3 June 2000.
Kathy Mattea always had a deep interest in Celtic music; in 2002, she switched record labels to Narada Records and, on Tuesday 30 July 2002, saw the release of ‘Roses’ (Narada Records, 2002), which was produced by Ed Cash and Kathy Mattea, and included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘They Are The Roses’, which was written by Paul Jenkins, Tim Schoepf and Randy VanWarmer (Wednesday 30 March 1955 – Monday 12 January 2004) / this track was released as a single in 2002, but it did not chart
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Roses’ (Narada Records, 2002) also included the following tracks:
‘That’s All The Lumber You Sent’ (written by Rick Cua, Bob Halligan Jr. and Linda Halligan)
‘Guns of Love’ (written by Michael Caruso, John Keller and Randy Sharp)
‘Ashes In The Wind’ (written by Jon Vezner)
‘I’m Alright’ (written by Larry Gottlieb, Angelo Petraglia and Kim Richey)
‘Til I Turn To You’ (written by Jessi Alexander and Gary Nicholson)
‘Come Away With Me’ (written by Marcus Hummon and Kathy Mattea)
‘Who We Are’ (written by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Allen Shamblin)
‘Junkyard’ (written by B. Halligan Jr. and L. Halligan)
‘Isle of Inishmore – Part 1’ (written by Bill Cooley) (Air)
‘Isle of Inishmore – Part 2’ (written by Bill Cooley) (Jig)
‘The Slender Threads That Bind Us Here’ (written by Marcus Hummon and Kathy Mattea)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Roses’ (Narada Records, 2002) included the following:
David Angell, John Catchings, Dave Davidson, Pam Sixfin and Kris Thompson (strings)
David Barnes, Bob Halligan Jr. and Bebo Norman (background vocals)
Jim Brock (percussion)
Chris Carmichael (fiddle)
Ed Cash (acoustic guitar, background vocals, banjo, electric guitar, mandolin, synthesizer)
Gerry Gillespie (bass)
Byron House (acoustic bass)
Tim Lauer (accordion)
Joanie Madden (whistle)
Kathy Mattea (lead vocals, foot stomping)
John Mock (concertina, harmonium, whistle)
Dan Needham (drums, percussion, hand jive)
Tom Sims (electric guitar)
Mark Stallings (B3 organ, piano)
Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007) (piano)
Carl Marsh (string arrangements)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Roses’ (Narada Records, 2002) reached No.38 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2002.
On Tuesday 30 September 2003, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Joy For Christmas Day’ (Narada Records, 2003); the album, which was Kathy Mattea’s second album of Christmas music, included the following tracks:
‘Christmas Collage’ (traditional)
‘Unto Us A Child Is Born’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Angels We Have Heard On High’ (traditional)
‘Straw Against The Chill’ (written by Franke)
‘Baby King’ (written by Cohn)
‘When The Baby Grew Up’ (written by Mathes)
‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ (written by Mendelssohn and Wesley)
‘O, Come All Ye Faithful’ (written by Oakeley and Wade)
‘All Because of Him’ (written by Ed Cash, Bill Cooley, Kathy Mattea and Willis)
‘Sing, Mary, Sing’ (written by Knapp)
‘There’s Still My Joy’ (written by Chapman, Manchester and Rollings)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Joy For Christmas Day’ (Narada Records, 2003) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, whistling)
Ed Cash (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin)
Chris Carmichael (vocals, violin, cello)
Nick DiStefano, Gerry Gillespie, Terry Wilson and Bob Halligan (vocals)
Joanie Madden (whistling)
Bill Cooley (acoustic guitar, National guitar)
Mick Conley (acoustic guitar)
Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007) (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards)
Ben Shive (keyboards)
Jim Brock (drums, percussion)
Dan Needham (drums)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Joy For Christmas Day’ (Narada Records, 2003) reached No.69 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2003.
In 2003, Gail Davies saw the release of ‘The Songwriter Sessions’ (Little Chickadee Productions, 2003), which included the following tracks:
Volume 1
‘With A Friend Like You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘A Love That Could Last’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Heat It Up’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Bucket To The South’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘You Need Someone Like Me’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Better Love Next Time’ (written by Gail Davies and Paul Kennerly)
‘Someone Is Looking For Someone Like You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Soft Spoken Man’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘With A Boy Like You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘I’ve Had Enough’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘It’s Just A Matter of Time’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Where Does Love Come From’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Tell Me Why’ (written by Gail Davies and Harry Stinson)
‘Never Cross That Line’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Love Ain’t Easy’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Remember How It Was’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘I’m Hungry, I’m Tired’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Hometown Gossip’ (written by Gail Davies and Richard Allen)
‘Waiting Here For You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Reaching Out For Him’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘I’m A Little Bit Lonely’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘The Game’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Pretty Words’ (written by Gail Davies)
Volume 2
‘Ready To Fall In Love’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Wedding Invitation’ (written by Gail Davies and Wally Wilson)
‘It’s No Wonder I Feel Blue’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Burning In Hell For You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘What Can I Say’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘I Need My Baby Back’ (written by Gail Davies and Wally Wilson)
‘He Comes To Me For The Answers’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘In The Worst Way’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘I Don’t Know’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘It’s Boys Like You’ (written by Gail Davies and Walker Igleheart)
‘Not A Day Goes By’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘The Other Side of Love’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Love Is Living Around Us’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Just Can’t Satisfy You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Grandma’s Song’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Your Mamma Works So Hard’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Careless Love’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Holdin’ Out For You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Lean On You’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Sorry That You’re Leavin’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘Driftin’ Farther Away’ (written by Gail Davies)
‘I Will Rise & Shine Again’ (written by Gail Davies)
Personnel involved in the recording of Gail Davies‘ ‘The Songwriter Sessions’ (Little Chickadee Productions, 2003), included the following:
Bob Mummert (drums)
Chris Nole, Gary Prim, Gene Sisk and Rob Price (piano, synthesier)
Leland Sklar, Rob Price and Willie Weeks (bass guitar)
Lloyd Green, Weldon Myrick (Monday 10 April 1939 – Monday 2 June 2014), Mike Daly and Stu Basore (steel guitar)
Sam Bush, David Harvey, Brent Truitt and Dave Luke (mandolin)
Aaron Till, Hank Singer and Sam Bush (fiddle)
Jerry Douglas, Lloyd Green and Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Richard Bailey and Chris Cioffi (banjo)
Gail Davies, Richard Bennett, Kevin Welch, Chris Scruggs, Jeff Tassin and Pat Bergeson (acoustic guitar)
Richard Bennett, Chris Scruggs, Pat Bergeson, Larry Chaney, Pete Pendras and Brent Moyer (electric guitar)
Gail Davies, Patty Mitchell, Rob Price, David Lege, Kathy Mattea, Vince Gill, Ray Walker, John Cowan, Sharon White, Cheryl White and George Feith (vocalists)
On Tuesday 27 September 2005, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Right Out of Nowhere’ (Narada Records, 2005), which was produced by Kathy Mattea, and included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Live It’, which was written by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011) / this track was released as as single in 2005, but it did not chart
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Right Out of Nowhere’ (Narada Records, 2005) also included the following tracks:
‘Right Outta Nowhere’ (written by Christine Kane and Steve Seskin)
‘Gimme Shelter’ (written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards)
‘Hurt Some’ (written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers)
‘Love’s Not Through With Me Yet’ (written by Darrell Scott) / this track featured background vocals from Darrell Scott and Suzy Bogguss
‘Loving You, Letting You Go’ (written by Steven Bliss and Maia Sharp)
‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ (written by Skip Ewing and Angela Kaset)
‘Down On The Corner’ (written by John Fogerty)
‘Only Heaven Knows’ (written by JD Martin and Jamie Houston)
‘Give It Away’ (written by Bob Halligan Jr., Kathy Mattea and Jon Vezner)
‘Wade In The Water’ (traditional)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Right Out of Nowhere’ (Narada Records, 2005) included the following:
Rick Blackwell (bass, background vocals)
Suzy Bogguss, Paul Martin, Settles Connection, Darrell Scott, Randy Sharp and Terry Wilson (background vocals)
Jim Brock (body percussion – knee slaps – cajón, drums, percussion, performer – road case)
Mick Conley (toy piano)
Bill Cooley (acoustic guitar, archtop guitar, bouzouki, Dobro)
Jim Hoke (autoharp, harmonica)
Randy Leago (accordion, bass flute, percussion, sitar, Wurlitzer)
Kathy Mattea (lead vocals, acoustic guitar)
Eamonn O’Rourke (bouzouki, fiddle, mandolin)
Steve Slum (steel guitar)
Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007) (Hammond B3 Organ, organ, piano, Wurtlitzer)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Right Out of Nowhere’ (Narada Records, 2005) reached No.73 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2005.
In 2006, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Definitive Collection’ (Island Records / Mercury Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘Street Talk’ (written by Lee Domann and Ralph Whiteway) (No.25, 1983)
‘Love At The Five & Dime’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (No.3, 1986) / this track, which featured backing vocals from Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), remained on the Billboard country music singles chart for twenty-two weeks, and brought Nanci Caroline Griffith wider recognition as a songwriter / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith, who included it on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.10, 1986)
‘You’re The Power’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and F.C. Collins) (No.5, 1987)
‘Train of Memories’, which was written by Andy Byrd and Jimbeau Hinson (Wednesday 29 October 1952 – Friday 4 March 2022) (No.6, 1987)
‘Goin’ Gone’ (written by Pat Alger, Bill Dale and Fred Koller) (No.1 for one week in January / February 1988) / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), who included it on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ (written by Gene Nelson and Paul Nelson) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1988)
‘Untold Stories’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.4, 1988)
‘Life As We Knew It’ (written by Walter Carter and Fred Koller) (No.4, 1988)
‘Come From The Heart’, which was written by Susanna Clark (1939 – Wednesday 27 June 2012) and Richard Leigh (No.1 for one week in July 1989)
‘Burnin’ Old Memories’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Gene Nelson) (No.1 for one week in November 1989)
‘Where’ve You Been’ (written by Don Henry and Jon Vezner) (No.10, 1989)
‘She Came From Fort Worth’ (written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller) (No.2, 1990)
‘The Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz) (No.9, 1990) / this track was a duet with Tim O’Brien
‘Time Passes By’ (written by Jon Vezner and Susan Longacre) (No.7, 1991)
‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (written by Larry Cordle and Jim Rushing) (No.11, 1992)
‘Standing Knee Deep In A River (Dying of Thirst)’ (written by Bucky Jones, Dickey Lee and Bob McDill) (No.19, 1993)
‘Walking Away A Winner’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Tom Shapiro) (No.3, 1994)
‘455 Rocket’ (written by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch) (No.21, 1997)
‘Mary, Did You Know?’ (written by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry)
On Tuesday 1 April 2008, Kathy Mattea saw the release, on Captain Potato Records (Kathy Mattea’s own record label) of ‘Coal’ (Captain Potato Records, 2008), which was produced by Marty Stuart, and consisted of eleven covers of classic coal mining songs by a number of artists, including Merle Travis (Thursday 29 November 1917 – Thursday 20 October 1983), Hazel Dickens (Saturday 1 June 1935 – Friday 22 April 2011) and Jean Ruth Ritchie (Friday 8 December 1922 – Monday 1 June 2015):
‘The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’, which was written by Jean Ruth Ritchie (Friday 8 December 1922 – Monday 1 June 2015)
‘Blue Diamond Mines’
‘Red-Winged Blackbird’
‘Lawrence Jones’
‘Green, Rolling Hills’
‘Coal Tattoo’
‘Sally In The Garden’
‘You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive’ (written by Darrell Scott)
‘Dark As A Dungeon’, which was written by Merle Travis (Thursday 29 November 1917 – Thursday 20 October 1983)
‘Coming of The Roads’
‘Black Lung / Coal’
Kathy Mattea’s decision to make an album about this topic was influenced by the fact that both of her grandfathers were miners, as well as by the Sago Mine disaster in 2006 which, when it occurred, reminded Kathy Mattea of the Farmington Mine disaster which had occurred when she was nine years old.
Kathy Mattea has said that she was expecting a set of stories in the songs she covered on this album, but instead found a connection to her miner ancestors.
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Coal’ (Captain Potato Records, 2008) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals)
Byron House (bass)
Bill Cooley (guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin)
Tim O’Brien and Mollie O’Brien (background vocals)
John Catchings (cello)
Randy Leago (keyboards, accordion)
Fred Newell (pedal steel guitar)
Kathy Mattea’s ‘Coal’ (Captain Potato Records, 2008) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart in 2008 and was nominated for a Grammy Award; the album also reached No.64 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2008.
In 2011, Kathy Mattea was inducted into West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, 1427 Lee Street in Charleston, West Virginia.
On Tuesday 11 September 2012, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Calling Me Home’ (Sugar Hill Records, 2012), which was produced by Gary Paczosa & Kathy Mattea, and included the following tracks:
‘A Far Cry’ (written by Janet Dowling and Michael Dowling)
‘Gone, Gonna Rise Again’ (written by Si Kahn)
‘The Wood Thrush’s Song’ (written by Laurie Lewis)
‘West Virginia Mine Disaster’, which was written by Jean Ruth Ritchie (Friday 8 December 1922 – Monday 1 June 2015)
‘The Maple’s Lament’ (written by Laurie Lewis)
‘Hello, My Name Is Coal’ (written by Larry Cordle and Jeneé Fleenor)
‘Calling Me Home’ (written by Alice Gerrard)
‘Black Waters’, which was written by Jean Ruth Ritchie (Friday 8 December 1922 – Monday 1 June 2015)
‘West Virginia, My Home’, which was written by Hazel Dickens (Saturday 1 June 1935 – Friday 22 April 2011)
‘Agate Hill’ (written by Alice Gerrard)
‘Now Is The Cool of The Day’ (written by Alice Gerrard)
‘Requiem For A Mountain’ (written by Bill Cooley)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea’s ‘Calling Me Home’ (Sugar Hill Records, 2012) included the following:
Kathy Mattea (lead vocal)
Jim Brock (percussion)
Byron House (bass)
Bryan Sutton (mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, high strung guitar, octave banjo, octave mandolin)
Bill Cooley (acoustic guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle, banjo, mandolin, bowed zither)
Tim Lauer (accordion, pump organ, additional percussion)
John Randall Stewart (electric guitar)
Tim O’Brien (harmony vocal)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro on ‘A Far Cry’, Weissenborn guitar on ‘West Virginia Mine Disaster’ and ‘West Virginia, My Home’)
Tim Eriksen (harmony vocal on ‘Calling Me Home’)
Patty Loveless and Emmylou Harris (harmony vocal on ‘Black Waters’)
Aoife O’Donovan (harmony vocal on ‘Gone, Gonna Rise Again’, ‘The Wood Thrush’s Song’ and ‘West Virginia Mine Disaster’)
Sarah Dugas (harmony vocal on ‘West Virginia Mine Disaster’ and ‘Hello, My Name Is Coal’)
Oliver Wood (harmony vocal on ‘Hello, My Name Is Coal’)
Mollie O’Brien (harmony vocal on ‘West Virginia, My Home’)
Alison Krauss (harmony vocal on ‘Agate Hill’)
On Friday 20 September 2013, England-based Hump Head Country / Wrasse Records released Kathy Mattea’s ‘The Definitive Collection’ (Hump Head Country / Wrasse Records, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘Goin’ Gone’ (written by Pat Alger, Bill Dale and Fred Koller) (No.1 for one week in January / February 1988) / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), who included it on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ (written by Gene Nelson and Paul Nelson) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1988)
‘Come From The Heart’, which was written by Susanna Clark (1939 – Wednesday 27 June 2012) and Richard Leigh (No.1 for one week in July 1989)
‘Burnin’ Old Memories’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Gene Nelson) (No.1 for one week in November 1989)
‘She Came From Fort Worth’ (written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller) (No.2, 1990)
‘Walking Away A Winner’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Tom Shapiro) (No.3, 1994)
‘Love At The Five & Dime’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (No.3, 1986) / this track, which featured backing vocals from Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), remained on the Billboard country music singles chart for twenty-two weeks, and brought Nanci Caroline Griffith wider recognition as a songwriter / the original version of this track was recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith, who included it on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Untold Stories’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.4, 1988)
‘Life As We Knew It’ (written by Walter Carter and Fred Koller) (No.4, 1988)
‘You’re The Power’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and F.C. Collins) (No.5, 1987)
‘Train of Memories’, which was written by Andy Byrd and Jimbeau Hinson (Wednesday 29 October 1952 – Friday 4 March 2022) (No.6, 1987)
‘Time Passes By’ (written by Jon Vezner and Susan Longacre) (No.7, 1991)
‘The Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz) (No.9, 1990) / this track was a duet with Tim O’Brien
‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (written by Tim O’Brien) (No.10, 1986)
‘Where’ve You Been’ (written by Don Henry and Jon Vezner) (No.10, 1989)
‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (written by Larry Cordle and Jim Rushing) (No.11, 1992)
‘Standing Knee Deep In A River (Dying of Thirst)’ (written by Bucky Jones, Dickey Lee and Bob McDill) (No.19, 1993)
‘455 Rocket’ (written by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch) (No.21, 1997)
‘He Won’t Give In’ (written by Johnny Pierce) (No.22, 1985)
‘Street Talk’ (written by Lee Domann and Ralph Whiteway) (No.25, 1983)
‘Love Travels’ (written by Bob Halligan Jr. and Linda Halligan) (No.39, 1997)
‘The Trouble With Angels’ (No.53, 2000)
(Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020)
On Friday 16 September 2016, John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) saw the release of ‘For Better, Or Worse’ (Oh Boy Records, 2016); one of the included tracks was ‘Remember Me (When Candlelights Are Gleaming)’, which was written by Scott Greene Wiseman (Sunday 8 November 1908 – Saturday 31 January 1981), and featured guest vocals from Kathy Mattea.
(Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020)
On Friday 16 September 2016, John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) saw the release of ‘For Better, Or Worse’ (Oh Boy Records, 2016); one of the included tracks was ‘Dreaming My Dreams With You’ (written by Allen Reynolds), which featured guest vocals from Kathy Mattea.
On Friday 7 September 2018, Kathy Mattea saw the release of ‘Pretty Bird’ (Captain Potato Records, 2018), which was produced by Tim O’Brien, and included the following tracks:
‘Chocolate On My Tongue’ (written by Oliver Wood)
‘Ode To Billie Joe’ (written by Bobbie Gentry)
‘Mercy Now’ (written by Mary Gauthier)
‘Little Glass of Wine’, which was written by Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014)
‘He Moves Through The Fair’ (traditional)
‘St. Teresa’ (written by Eric Bazilian, Richard Chertoff, Robert Hyman and Joan Osborne)
‘This Love Will Carry’ (written by Dougie MacLean)
‘October Song’, which was written by Jon Vezner and Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007)
‘Tell Me What You Ache For’ (written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer and Jon Vezner)
‘Holy Now’ (written by Peter Mayer)
‘I Can’t Stand Up Alone’, which was written by Irene Ethel ‘Martha Carson’ Amburgey Cosse (Thursday 19 May 1921 – Thursday 16 December 2004)
‘Pretty Bird’, which was written by Hazel Dickens (Saturday 1 June 1935 – Friday 22 April 2011)
• Visit Kathy Mattea’s official site at mattea.com
• Jon Vezner submitted a ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson on Monday 5 November 2012 / Tuesday 6 November 2012