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 during 2012, 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 Mike Reid, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 24 May 2012.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Mike Reid who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Mike Reid
This quote was submitted on Thursday 24 May 2012.
‘Rarely does the word legendary apply in describing a singer.
In Gene Watson’s case, it does.
I, like many, believe that great country singers are born, not made.
What Watson does with a song can’t be learned.
It’s either in you or it’s not.
To me, it’s the sound of an authentic life, honestly lived, pain and all.
In an age of pretenders, Gene Watson remains steadfastly the genuine article; one of the truly great singers in the history of country music.
It has been my good fortune to have had him grace one of my songs, ‘Back in The Fire‘ (co-written with Rory Bourke), with his extraordinary talent’
Thank you, Mike Reid, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Mike Reid…
Mike Reid was born Michael Barry ‘Mike’ Reid in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania on Saturday 24 May 1947 and received his degree in music from Penn State University in 1970. But that achievement was considerably overshadowed by his reputation on the football field.
At Penn State, Mike Reid was an All-America selection and won the Outland Trophy as the country’s outstanding collegiate lineman. Mike Reid was the first-round draft pick of The Cincinnati Bengals that year and at the end of his first season in the NFL, was named ‘Defensive Rookie of The Year’.
Mike Reid’s success continued when he was voted NFL All-Pro in 1972 and 1973.
In spite of these honors, Mike Reid decided he would rather play music than football for a living. Mike Reid retired from The Cincinnati Bengals and, in 1980, moved to Nashville to pursue song-writing.
Since 1983, when Mike Reid scored his first No.1 country music hit single, ‘Inside’, which was recorded by Ronnie Milsap, he has composed more than thirty Billboard Top 10 country music and pop music hit singles.
Twenty-one of those records have gone all the way to No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
Mike Reid has been the recipient of ASCAPS’ ‘Songwriter of The Year’ Award and one of the many songs which Ronnie Milsap recorded, ‘Stranger In My House’, has earned a Grammy Award.
In addition to Ronnie Milsap, Mike Reid has had his songs recorded by a number of acclaimed artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Bette Midler, Prince Rogers Nelson (Saturday 7 June 1958 – Thursday 21 April 2016), George Michael (Tuesday 25 June 1963 – Sunday 25 December 2016), Nancy Wilson, Etta James (Tuesday 25 January 1938 – Friday 20 January 2012), Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020), Anne Murray, Wynonna Judd, Alabama, Joe Cocker (Saturday 20 May 1944 – Monday 22 December 2014), Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Collin Raye and Tim McGraw.
Among the songs which Mike Reid has composed are ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, which was recorded by Bonnie Raitt, George Michael (Tuesday 25 June 1963 – Sunday 25 December 2016) and Prince Rogers Nelson (Saturday 7 June 1958 – Thursday 21 April 2016), ‘My Strongest Weakness’ and ‘To Be Loved By You’ (recorded by Wynonna Judd), ‘In This Life’ (recorded by Collin Raye, and Bette Midler), ‘Sometimes I Wonder Why’ (recorded by Anita Baker), ‘Forever’s As Far As I’ll Go’ (recorded by Alabama) and ‘Everywhere’ (recorded by Tim McGraw).
On Saturday 2 February 1991, Mike Reid saw the release of his debut album, ‘Turning For Home’ (Columbia Records, 1991), which included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Walk On Faith’ (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin) (No.1 for one week in February / March 1991)
‘Til You Were Gone’ (written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke) (No.17, 1991)
‘As Simple As That’ (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin) (No.14, 1991)
‘I’ll Stop Loving You’, which was written by Mike Reid and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.23, 1992)
‘I Got A Life’ (written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke) (No.54, 1992)
Mike Reid’s debut album, ‘Turning For Home’ (Columbia Records, 1991), also included the following tracks:
‘Turning For Home’ (written by Mike Reid)
‘Everything To Me’ (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin)
‘Constant Companion’ (written by Mike Reid and Kye Fleming)
‘This Road’ (written by Mike Reid, Tim DuBois and Larry Stewart)
‘Even A Strong Man’ (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin)
‘Your Love Stays With Me’ (written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mike Reid’s debut album, ‘Turning For Home’ (Columbia Records, 1991), included the following:
Eddie Bayers and Paul Leim (drums)
Steve Buckingham, Larry Byrom, Mark Casstevens and Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Paddy Corcoran (Uilleann pipes)
Paul Franklin and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Steve Gibson (electric guitar, mandolin)
David Hungate and Tom Robb (bass guitar)
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) (upright bass)
Mike Lawler and Phil Naish (keyboards)
Albert Lee (electric guitar)
Randy McCormick (piano)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (percussion)
Joey Miskulin (accordion)
Mark O’Connor (fiddle, mandolin)
Mike Reid (lead vocals, keyboards)
Carl Jackson, Michael Mishaw, Louis Dean Nunley (Thursday 15 October 1931 – Friday 26 October 2012), John Wesley Ryles, Scat Springs, Harry Stinson, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Mike Reid’s debut album, ‘Turning For Home’ (Columbia Records, 1991), reached No.22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991.
On Tuesday 29 September 1992, Mike Reid saw the release of ‘Twilight Town’ (Columbia Records, 1992), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Keep On Walking’ (written by Mike Reid and Amanda McBride) (No.45, 1992)
‘Call Home’ (written by Mike Reid and Troy Seals) (No.43, 1993)
Mike Reid’s ‘Twilight Town’ (Columbia Records, 1992) also included the following tracks:
‘A Man With A Hammer’ (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin)
‘Some Somebody’ (written by Mike Reid, Troy Seals and Rhonda Gunn)
‘Back In The Fire’ (written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke)
‘Hurtin’ Side’ (written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke)
‘Workin’ With The Right Tools’, which was written by Mike Reid and Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 – Saturday 27 December 1997)
‘One Night’ (written by Mike Reid and Troy Seals)
‘I’ll Never Have The Heart To Leave This Town’ (written by Mike Reid and Steve Seskin)
‘Love Without Mercy’, which was written by Mike Reid and Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015)
‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin)
Mike Reid’s ‘Twilight Town’ (Columbia Records, 1992) reached No.59 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1992.
It was also in 1992 when Mike Reid composed the score for ‘Quilts’, a modern dance piece created by Andrew Krichels and Donna Rizzo of The Tennessee Dance Theatre. Following the premiere, Mike Reid, Andrew Krichels and Donna Rizzo received The Governor’s Award for The Arts in Tennessee for their work on ‘Quilts’.
In addition, Mike Reid was commissioned by The Kandinsky Trio of Roanoke, Virginia to write a piece for piano trio and storyteller. The piece, ‘The Cantankerous Blacksmith’, premiered in the fall of 1995 and continues to be part of The Kandinsky’s touring repertoire.
Mike Reid has collaborated with librettist Sarah Schlesinger on a one-act opera commissioned by Metropolitan Opera Guild and Opera Memphis which explores the myth of celebrity in contemporary American sports.
The opera, ‘Different Fields’, received its premiere in New York City at New Victory Theatre on Broadway.
‘Different Fields’ has since been produced in Memphis and Nashville and by The Cincinnati Opera. Mike Reid and Schlesinger’s musical, ‘The Ballad of Little Jo’ received a 1998 Richard Rodgers Foundation Award and its first production in September 2000 at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater won The Joseph Jefferson Award for ‘Best New Musical’.
It has also been produced at The Bridewell Theatre in London and The Public Theater in New York City.
Mike Reid’s composition, ‘Eye of The Blackbird’, a setting for piano trio and soprano of Wallace Stevens’ poem ‘Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird’, was given its world premiere in Roanoke, Virginia by The Kandinsky Trio and soprano Elizabeth Weigle.
Shortly thereafter, the group performed the piece at The Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Mike Reid’s work, a setting of the Billy Collins poem ‘The Night House’ for piano trio and soprano, received its premier performance by The Kandinsky Trio and Miss Weigle in December 2007.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, in May 2012, Mike Reid was dividing his time between Nashville and New York City with his wife and their children, and was at work writing songs, as well as composing the score for the musical ‘Casanova Returns’, which was premiered at a workshop in Australia in 2010.
In 2012, Mike Reid saw the release of ‘New Direction Home’ (Off Row Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:
‘New Direction Home’
‘A Love I Can’t Refuse’
‘Ghost Mountain’
‘Always Gonna Be You’
‘Avalon Moon’
‘The Mississippi Pines’
‘Oh, Careless Love’
‘Look At You’
‘When A Man Breaks A Woman’s Heart’
‘Like I Would For You’
‘The Paradise of Language’
‘Intimations of Something Else’
Mike Reid is an extraordinarily gifted songwriter!
Con Hunley recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Table For One’, which was co-written with Ken Jones and Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 – Friday 19 August 2022), and included the track on ‘Ask Any Woman’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1981).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Down The Hall’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘American Made’ (MCA Records, 1983).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Down The Hall’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘Rebel Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1983).
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Inside’ and included the track on ‘Inside’ (RCA Records, 1982); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in February 1983.
Sylvia recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Never Quite Got Back (From Loving You)’, which was co-written with Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015), and included the track on ‘Snapshot’ (RCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Stranger In Our House’ and included the track on ‘Keyed Up’ (RCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Show Her’ and included the track on ‘Keyed Up’ (RCA Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in February 1984.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Still Losing You’ and included the track on ‘One More Try For Love’ (RCA Records, 1984); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1984.
Barbara Mandrell & Lee Greenwood recorded Mike Reid’s ‘To Me’, which was co-written with Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993), and included the track on ‘Meant For Each Other’ (MCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984, and No.24 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart in 1984.
Sylvia recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Love Over Old Times’ (co-written with Lisa Angelle) and included the track on ‘Surprise’ (RCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.36 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘We’re Here To Love’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘Shining’ (Columbia Records, 1984).
Anne Murray recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Should Know By Now’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Heart Over Mind’ (Capitol Records, 1984).
John Anderson recorded Mike Reid’s ‘A Little Rock ‘N’ Roll (& Some Country Blues)’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘Tokyo, Oklahoma’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘She Keeps The Home Fires Burning’, which was co-written with Dennis W. Morgan and Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015), and included the track on ‘Greatest Hits, Volume 2’ (RCA Records, 1985); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in June / July 1985.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Lost In The Fifties Tonight (In The Still of The Night)’ (co-written with Troy Seals and Freddy Parris) and included the track on ‘Greatest Hits, Volume 2’ (RCA Records, 1985); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in September / October 1985.
Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Call Home’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘It’s Just A Matter of Time’ (Atlantic Records, 1985).
Lee Greenwood recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Lonely People’ (co-written with Troy Seals and Eddie Setser) and included the track on ‘Streamline’ (MCA Records, 1985).
Bandana – Lonnie Wilson (lead vocals), Jerry Fox (bass guitar), Tim Menzies (guitar), Joe Van Dyke (keyboards) and Jerry Ray Johnston (drums) – recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I’m Leaving’ (co-written with Troy Seals), and included the track on ‘Bandana’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).
Barbara Mandrell recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I’d Fall In Love Tonight’ (co-written with Naomi Martin) and included the track on ‘Get To The Heart’ (MCA Records, 1985).
Tanya Tucker recorded Mike Reid’s ‘It’s Only Over For You’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
In 2010, Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986), along with Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Love Me Like You Used To’ (Capitol Records, 1987), was re-issued by Hump Head Records, as a ‘2-on-1’ CD set, ‘Girls Like Me / Love Me Like You Used To’ (Hump Head Records, 2010).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘While I’m Here’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘On The Frontline’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Fallin’ For You For Years’ and included the track on ‘Fallin’ For You For Years’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
Marie Osmond recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Everybody’s Crazy ‘Bout My Baby’ and included the track on ‘I Only Wanted You’ (Capitol Records, 1986 / Curb Records, 1990); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘In Love’ (co-written with Bruce Dees) and included the track on ‘Lost In The Fifties Tonight’ (RCA Records, 1986); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September / October 1986.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Old Fashioned Girl Like You’ (co-written with Naomi Martin) and included the track on ‘Lost In The Fifties Tonight’ (RCA Records, 1986).
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Don’t Take It Tonight’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘Lost In The Fifties Tonight’ (RCA Records, 1986).
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Only Remember The Good Times’ (co-written with Naomi Martin) and included the track on ‘Lost In The Fifties Tonight’ (RCA Records, 1986).
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘How Do I Turn You On’, which was co-written with Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005), and included the track on ‘Lost In The Fifties Tonight’ (RCA Records, 1986); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in February 1987.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘We Fell In Love Anyway’ (co-written with Naomi Martin) and included the track on ‘I Prefer The Moonlight’ (RCA Records, 1987).
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Wouldn’t Be A Man’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Traces’ (Capitol Records, 1987); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Where Do The Nights Go’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Heart & Soul’ (RCA Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January 1988.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Old Folks’ and included the track on ‘Heart & Soul’ (RCA Records, 1987); the track, which was a duet with Mike Reid, reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in May 1988.
Gene Watson recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Back In The Fire’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Back in the Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the track reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, and No.24 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1988.
Willie Nelson recorded Mike Reid’s ‘There You Are’ and included the track on ‘A Horse Called Music’ (Columbia Records, 1989); the track reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989.
The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Not My Baby’, which was co-written with Brent Maher and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993), and included the track on ‘River of Time’ (RCA Records, 1989).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘One Night’ (co-written with Troy Seals) and included the track on ‘Something Inside So Strong’ (Reprise Records, 1989).
John Conlee recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Knowin’ You Were Leavin’ (co-written with Tommy Rocco) and included the track on ‘Fellow Travelers’ (16th Avenue Records, 1989).
John Conlee recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Til You Were Gone’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Fellow Travelers’ (16th Avenue Records, 1989); the track was subsequently included on John Conlee‘s ‘Country Heart’ (Varese Sarabande Records, 2006), which was released on Tuesday 29 August 2006.
Shelby Lynne recorded Mike Reid’s ‘The Hurtin’ Side’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Sunrise’ (Epic Records, 1989); this track reached No.38 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989.
Shelby Lynne recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Til You Were Gone’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Sunrise’ (Epic Records, 1989).
Shelby Lynne recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Your Love Stays With Me’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Sunrise’ (Epic Records, 1989).
Les Taylor recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Knowin’ You Were Leavin’ (co-written with Tommy Rocco) and included the track on ‘That Old Desire’ (Epic Records, 1990); the track reached No.58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.
Alabama recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Forever’s As Far As I’ll Go’ and included the track on ‘Pass It On Down’ (RCA Records, 1990); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in August 1990.
Bonnie Raitt recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘Luck of The Draw’ (Capitol Records, 1991); the track reached No.18 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in late 1991.
Tanya Tucker recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Some Kind of Trouble’ (co-written with Brent Maher and Don Potter) and included the track on ‘What Do I Do With Me’ (Capitol Records, 1991); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘She’s In Love’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Even Now’ (MCA Records, 1991), which was the final album which Conway Twitty would see released in his lifetime.
Anne Murray recorded Mike Reid’s ‘You Sure Know How To Make A Memory’ (co-written with Naomi Martin) and included the track on ‘Yes I Do’ (Capitol Records, 1991).
Wynonna Judd recorded Mike Reid’s ‘My Strongest Weakness’, which was co-written with Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022), and included the track on ‘Wynonna’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1992); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
Sweethearts of The Rodeo – Kristine Arnold & Janis Oliver – recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Why Should I Stay Blue’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Sisters’ (Columbia Records, 1992).
Collin Raye recorded Mike Reid’s ‘In This Life’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘In This Life’ (Epic Records, 1992); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for two weeks in October 1992.
Darryl & Don Ellis recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Something Moving In Me’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘No Sir’ (Epic Records, 1992).
Shelby Lynne recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ (co-written with Brent Maher and Don Potter) and included the track on ‘Temptation’ (Mercury Records / Morgan Creek Records, 1993).
Neal McCoy recorded recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Something Moving In Me’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘No Doubt About It’ (Atlantic Records, 1994).
Mark Collie recorded Mike Reid’s ‘It Is No Secret’ (co-written with Mark Collie) and included the track on ‘Unleashed’ (MCA Records, 1994); the track reached No.53 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994.
Maureen McCormick recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Some Somebody’ (co-written with Troy Seals and Rhonda Gunn) and included the track on ‘When You Get A Little Lonely’ (Phantom Hill Records, 1995).
Wynonna Judd recorded Mike Reid’s ‘To Be Loved By You’ (co-written by Gary Burr) and included the track on ‘Revelations’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1996); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in April 1996.
Billy Dean recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Wouldn’t Be A Man’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘It’s What I Do’ (Capitol Records, 1996); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in late 1996.
Tim McGraw recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Everywhere’ (co-written with Craig Wiseman) and included the track on ‘Everywhere’ (Curb Records, 1997); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in August 1997.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘To Me’, which was co-written with Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993), and included the track on ‘Across My Heart’ (Magnatone Records, 1997).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘The Only Way I Know’ (co-written with Gary Burr) and included the track on ‘Across My Heart’ (Magnatone Records, 1997).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Mike Reid’s ‘It Still Rains In Memphis’ (co-written with Naomi Martin) and included the track on ‘Nothin’ On But The Radio’ (Outwest Records, 1997).
Ty Herndon recorded Mike Reid’s ‘The Only Way I Know’ (co-written with Gary Burr) and included the track on ‘Big Hopes’ (Epic Records, 1998).
Peggy Rains recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Tell Me I’m Crazy’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘It’s A Good Day’ (Peggy Rains Music, 1998).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘She Rides Wild Horses’ (Dreamcatcher Records, 1999).
Bryan White recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Heaven Sent’ (co-written with Tim DuBois) and included the track on ‘How Lucky I Am’ (Asylum Records, 1999).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘All That You Could Be’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘There You Go Again’ (Dreamcatcher Records, 2000).
Wynonna Judd recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Learning To Live With Love Again’ (co-written with Gary Nicholson) and included the track on ‘New Day Dawning’ (Curb Records / Mercury Records, 2000).
Ronan Keating recorded Mike Reid’s ‘In This Life’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘Ronan’ (Polydor Records, 2000).
Jo Dee Messina recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Keep The Faith’ (co-written with Jo Dee Messina and Brent Maher) and included the track on ‘A Joyful Noise’ (Curb Records, 2002).
Mark Wills recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Prisoner of The Highway’ and included the track on ‘And The Crowd Goes Wild’ (Mercury Records, 2003); the track was a duet with Ronnie Milsap.
Bonnie Tyler recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘Heart & Soul – 13 Rock Classics’ (Scandinavia: CMC Records, 2002); the album was released in the rest of Europe as ‘Heart Songs’ on Grapefruit Records in 2003.
Hot Apple Pie recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Why Can’t I Get To You’ (co-written with Brady Seals) and included the track on ‘Hot Apple Pie’ (DreamWorks Nashville, 2005).
Jo Dee Messina recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Love Is Not Enough’ (co-written with Jo Dee Messina) and included the track on ‘Delicious Surprise’ (Curb Records, 2005).
Gene Watson re-recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Back In The Fire’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Gene Watson: Then & Now‘ (Koch Records Nashville, 2005); the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Back in the Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), and it reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, and No.24 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1988
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘You’ll Know Love’, which was co-written with Marc Beeson and Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015), and included the track on ‘Water & Bridges’ (Capitol Records, 2006).
Don Rigsby & Midnight Call recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Prisoner of The Highway’ and included the track on ‘Hillbilly Heartache’ (Rebel Records, 2006).
Aaron Tippin recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Prisoner of The Highway’ and included the track on ‘In Overdrive’ (Country Crossing Records, 2009).
Josh Turner recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Wouldn’t Be A Man’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Haywire’ (MCA Records, 2010); the album was also released in England by Hump Head Country.
On Tuesday 7 June 2011, Randy Travis saw the release of ’25th Anniversary Celebration’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2011), which was produced by Kyle Lehning; one of the included tracks on the album, which was released to celebrate 25 years since the release of Randy Travis‘ debut album, ‘Storms of Life’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986), was Mike Reid’s ‘More Life’ (co-written with Rory Bourke), which featured guest vocals from Don Henley, and was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2012, but it did not chart.
Adele recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘Adele: Live At The Royal Albert Hall’ (XL / Columbia Records / Sony Music, 2011).
Kenny Chesney recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Always Gonna Be You’ and included the track on ‘Welcome To The Fishbowl’ (Blue Chair / Columbia Records, 2012).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Look At You’ (co-written with Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘You Can’t Make Old Friends’ (Warner Bros. Nashville Records, 2013).
In 2013, Trisha Yearwood recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Forever’s As Far As I’ll Go’; the track was included on ‘Alabama & Friends’ (Showdog-Universal Music Records, 2013), a various artists Alabama tribute album.
Jennifer Nettles recorded Mike Reid’s ‘This Angel’ (co-written with Jennifer Nettles) and included the track on ‘That Girl’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 2014).
Jennifer Nettles recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Good Time To Cry’ (co-written with Jennifer Nettles) and included the track on ‘That Girl’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 2014).
Melinda Schneider & Beccy Cole recorded Mike Reid’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘Great Women of Country & The Songs That Made Them’ (Universal Music Australia, 2014).
James House recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Love Unbroken‘ (co-written with James House) and included the track on ‘Songwriters Serenade’ (Victor House Recordings, 2015).
Lynn Anderson (Friday 26 September 1947 – Thursday 30 July 2015) recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Heaven Has A Human Touch’ and included the track on ‘Bridges’ (Center Sound Records, 2015).
Teea Goans recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Tell Me I’m Crazy’ (co-written with Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Swing, Shuffle & Sway’ (Crosswind Corporation, 2017).
Trisha Yearwood recorded Mike Reid’s ‘Love You Anyway’ and included the track of ‘Every Girl’ (Gwendolyn Records, 2019); this track featured guest vocals from Don Henley.
• Visit Mike Reid’s official site at mikereidmusic.com