Gene Watson has been singing professionally since the late 1950s and has been a country music album recording artist since the late 1960s.
Gene Watson’s contribution to the country music genre is immeasurable.
It is here where you have an opportunity to read a review of Gene Watson’s ‘Uncharted Mind‘ (Step One Records, 1993), as published in the February 1994 issue of Country Music People.
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Country Music People have long ago nailed its colours to the mast where Gene Watson is concerned.
CMP has rigorously championed Gene Watson’s cause down through the years and have published a number of reviews of his album releases.
All reviews have been reproduced with the kind permission of Country Music People.
‘Uncharted Mind‘ (Step One Records, 1993)
Country Music People, February 1994
This review of ‘Uncharted Mind‘ (Step One Records, 1993) by Craig Baguley was published in the February 1994 issue of Country Music People, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.
Album Review by Craig Baguley
(8 out of 10)
‘Another label change for this great country singer following his traumatic time with Bugs Bunny and his regrettably less than successful last album on Canadian Broadland / Mercury.
‘Uncharted Mind‘ (Step One Records, 1993) is a fine album with Gene’s voice in cracking form, as he proves on the power ballad ‘You Gave Me A Mountain’, the Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982) song that was a big hit for the fabulous Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) back in ’69 (does anyone know how Bush is getting on?).
Watson also pulls off a riveting vocal on ‘Mirrors Don’t Lie’ that is probably better than the song itself.
There are a couple of below average numbers in the set – the title track and ‘Glass Hearts’ could get lost – but the standard of material is fairly sound.
‘Simple Minded Heart’ is a tasty ballad, ‘Snake In The House’ treads the Ronnie Milsap country-soul path, ‘He’s Back In Texas Again’ is a rare old swinger, and ‘Give Her My Best’ is an easy shuffle with unlikely references to caviar and string quartets as singer’s ex gets to marry above her station: ‘Give her my best, ’cause I never did’.
Best track, however, is the wonderful ‘Hold That Thought’ written by Canadian Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016), whose ‘Where Love Begins’ gave Watson one of the most memorable hits of his career.
This time around Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) serves up a delicate shuffle ballad that, in song, feel and vocal performance, harks back to the singer’s glory days on Capitol. Heavenly.
Aided by quality sessioners like Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015), Rob Hajacos, Jerry Kroon and Roger Ball, this outing proves that Gene remains an awesome vocalist and it pisses me off that current trends, where youth and looks override talent, confine such greatness to the sidelines.
Keep with him, Step One’.
Craig Baguley
Country Music People
February 1994
