Gene Watson’s ‘Memories to Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985)

Gene Watson: 'Memories To Burn' (Epic Records, 1985)

‘Memories To Burn’
Epic Records BFE-40076 (1985)

Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) was released by Epic Records in July 1985.


Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) 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 ‘Memories To Burn’…

Overview
Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985), which was released on Epic Records in 1985, was Gene Watson’s first full album of material for the label.

Gene Watson joined the roster at Epic Records following very successful recording periods with Capitol Records (1975 – 1980) and MCA Records (1980 – 1985).

Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985), which was co-produced by Gene Watson, along with Farewell Party Band stalwart, Larry Booth (Tony Booth‘s younger brother), yielded three hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985 / 1986; ‘Cold Summer Day In Georgia’ (No.24, 1985), ‘Memories To Burn’ (No.5, 1986) and ‘Carmen’ (No.32, 1986).

Gene Watson’s first album for Epic Records, ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) further showcased his extraordinary talent for selecting just the right song to record.

Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) also demonstrated Gene’s respect for his fellow country music peers with the inclusion of cuts by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019), Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Obie Burnett McClinton (Thursday 25 April 1940 – Wednesday 25 September 1987)’.


Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) was produced by Gene Watson and Larry Booth and was recorded at Hilltop Studio, Madison, Tennessee; the album was mixed by Gene Watson and Larry Booth (Recording Engineer: Randy Best).

Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) was mastered by M.C. Rather at Custom Mastering, Nashville.

Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) reached No.35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1985.


‘Memories To Burn’
Epic Records BFE 40076 (1985)


1 ‘Memories To Burn’
Writers: Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
Publishers: BMI / ASCAP

Leona Williams recorded ‘Memories To Burn’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), and included the track on ‘Honorary Texan’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2003).



Gene Watson re-recorded ‘Memories To Burn’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).

Teea Goans recorded ‘Memories To Burn’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), and included the track on ‘Memories To Burn’ (Crosswind Corporation, 2015).


2 ‘The Note’
Writers: Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray
Publishers: Sixteen Stars Music / BMI

Conway Twitty: 'Don't Call Him A Cowboy' (Warner Bros. Records, 1985)

Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Don’t Call Him A Cowboy’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).

Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Next to You’ (Epic Records, 1989).

Doug Supernaw (Monday 26 September 1960 – Friday 13 November 2020) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘You Still Got Me’ (Giant Records, 1995).

Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Ain’t It the Truth’ (Giant Records, 1998).

Daryle Bruce Singletary: 'Now & Again' (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2000)

Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Now & Again’ (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2000).


3 ‘Cold Summer Day In Georgia’
Writers: Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 – Monday 27 August 2018) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999)
Publishers: BMI / ASCAP



‘Cold Summer Day In Georgia’, which was written by Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 – Monday 27 August 2018) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), was included, for the first time on CD, on Gene Watson’s ‘Ultimate Collection‘ (Universal / Hip-O Records, 2001).

‘Cold Summer Day In Georgia’, which was written by Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 – Monday 27 August 2018) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), featured backing vocals from Leona Williams and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004); the track also featured the exquisite guitar work of Dave Kirby.


Dave Kirby passed away on Saturday 17 April 2004 – he was 63 years old.  Dave, who was a native of Brady, Texas where he was born on Sunday 10 July 1938, was a masterful songwriter and had the privilege of having twenty-three of his compositions recorded by Gene Watson.

Enjoy a celebration of Dave Kirby‘s life and country music achievements (thanks to Tracy Pitcox, Heart of Texas Records in Brady, Texas)


IIIrd Tyme Out recorded ‘Cold Summer Day In Georgia’, which was written by Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 – Monday 27 August 2018) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), and included the track on ‘John & Mary’ (Rounder Records, 1999).


4 ‘If I Painted A Picture’
Writers: L. Williams and C. Browder
Publishers: BMI / ASCAP


5 ‘I Want My Rib Back’
Writers: Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller
Publishers: BMI

‘I Want My Rib Back’, which was written by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller, was recorded by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) in the early 1980s.

However, ‘I Want My Rib Back’ did not see the light of day until after Keith Whitley’s death, on Tuesday 9 May 1989, when it was included on Keith Whitley’s ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991).

Kenny Chesney recorded ‘I Want My Rib Back’, which was written by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller, and included the track on ‘In My Wildest Dreams’ (Capricorn Records, 1994).

Charlie Sizemore recorded ‘I Want My Rib Back’, which was written by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller, and included the track on ‘In My View’ (Rebel Records, 1996).

Odd Jarle Hanssen: 'On Fire' (Odd Jarle Hanssen Music, 2014)

Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded ‘I Want My Rib Back’, which was written by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller, and included the track on ‘On Fire’ (Odd Jarle Hanssen Music, 2014).


6 ‘Carmen’
Writer: Steve Spurgin
Publishers: BMI

Odd Jarle Hanssen: 'I Know This Feeling' (Odd Jarle Hanssen Music, 1993)

Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded ‘Carmen’ (written by Steve Spurgin) and included the track on ‘I Know This Feeling’ (Odd Jarle Hanssen Music, 1993).



Gene Watson re-recorded ‘Carmen’ (written by Steve Spurgin) and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).


7 ‘Stranger In Our House Tonight’
Writer: Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
Publishers: ASCAP


8 ‘The New York Times’
Writer: Obie Burnett McClinton (Thursday 25 April 1940 – Wednesday 25 September 1987)
Publishers: ASCAP

Obie Burnett McClinton: 'Just For You' (CBS Special Products, 1988)

Obie Burnett McClinton (Thursday 25 April 1940 – Wednesday 25 September 1987) recorded ‘The New York Times’ (unsure of date of recording); the track was subsequently included on ‘Just For You’ (CBS Special Products, 1988).

• Enjoy a celebration of the life and country music career of Obie Burnett McClinton


9 ‘Speak of The Devil’
Writer: J. Ewtah
Publishers: ASCAP


10 ‘Get Along Little Doggie’
Writers: Mark La Forme and Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019)
Publishers: CAPAC/PRO-CAN


• Read a Country Music People review of Gene Watson’s ‘Memories to Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985)

The review, which was written by Bob Powell, was published in the October 1985 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.


‘Memories To Burn’
Epic Records BFE 40076 (1985)

Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) included members of Gene Watson’s Farewell Party Band:

Tony Booth (bass)
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson (steel guitar)
Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018) (lead guitar)
Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (‘Cass’) (Sunday 2 September 1945 – Wednesday 18 July 2012) (lead guitar, rhythm guitar)
Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) (rhythm guitar)
Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009) (piano)
Doug Boggs (drums)

Additional personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson’s ‘Memories To Burn’ (Epic Records, 1985) included the following:

Hoot Hester (Monday 13 August 1931 – Tuesday 30 August 2016) (fiddle)
Beckie Foster, Joy Gardner and Leona Williams (background vocals)




On Monday 9 May 2011, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Memories to Burn’, along with Gene Watson’s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986), in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as a special 2-for-1 CD set; the 2-for-1 CD set was released worldwide on Tuesday 17 May 2011.