'Back In The Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 1-25832 / 9 25832-2 (1988)

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was released by Warner Bros. Records on Monday 17 October 1988.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) 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 'Back In The Fire'...

Album Sleeve Notes
FROM GENE
'Very special thanks to Lib Hatcher for all her concern and encouragement.
Without her my career would have probably ended.
She gave me a new 'beginning'.
I can't begin to thank her enough for everything.



Thanks to: Randy Travis (for remaining a friend for twelve years and for giving me my favourite song: 'The Great Divide'), Martha Sharp (for signing me to Warner Bros.), Gregg Brown (for taking time out of his busy schedule and working with me for days on end, selecting and reviewing my music), and to Paul Worley and Nick Hunter and the entire staff at Warner Bros. Records (for being so warm and enthusiastic).

It's the first time in my career that I've had people care so much.

This is a brand new start and career for Gene Watson'.

Special Thanks from Paul Worley to Fred Cameron for 'Hot Rod Mics'.



Overview
'Following the release of three Gene Watson albums on Epic Records, 'Memories to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985), 'Starting New Memories' (Epic Records, 1986) and 'Honky Tonk Crazy' (Epic Records, 1987), the label began to devote their resources toward ‘younger’ artists.

As a result, Gene Watson didn’t seem to quite 'fit' the record label image.

After a three-year absence from the Top 10, Gene’s disillusionment with his career grew and he seriously considered retirement.

It was during his heavy touring schedule with his Farewell Party Band that he began playing dates with a new, young artist (at the time) called Randy Travis.

It was Randy Travis' (then) manager, Lib Hatcher, who convinced Gene to stay in the business.  Lib Hatcher began managing Gene (he signed a personal management / booking contract with her) and secured a recording contract for him with Warner Bros. Records.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), Gene Watson’s debut album for Warner Bros. Records, was released in the latter part of 1988.

The debut single from the album, 'Don't Waste It On The Blues' (written by Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver), climbed to No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart, while three further singles were also released; 'Back In The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid) reached No.20 in 1988, 'The Jukebox Played Along’, which was written by Ken Bell and Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 - Friday 19 August 2022) reached No.25 in 1988, and 'The Great Divide' (written by John Lindley and Randy Travis) reached No.41 in 1988)'.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was produced by Paul Worley, Ed Seay and Gregg Brown.  The Production Assistant was Sharon Eaves (1961 - Friday 25 September 2015).

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was recorded and mixed by Ed Seay with assistance from Mike Poole, Clarke Schleicher and Gary Paczosa.  Additional Engineering was undertaken by Clarke Schleicher.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was recorded at Treasure Isle Recorders, with overdubs undertaken at The Money Pit.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was mixed at Nightingale Studio and was recorded and mixed using Monster Cable; the album was mastered at Georgetown (Masters by Denny Purcell).

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989.

'Back In The Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)

1 'Don't Waste It On The Blues'
Writers: Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver
Publishers: Wrensong Publishing Corp. / Miller's Daughter Music Corp. / Love This Town Music ASCAP



Gene Watson re-recorded 'Don't Waste It On The Blues' (written by Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).

Gene Watson recorded 'I Picked A San Antone Rose', which was written by James Dean Hicks and Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 - Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track as the 'B' side of the 'Don't Waste It On The Blues' 45rpm vinyl single, which was released on Warner Bros. Records (catalogue number 27692) in 1989.

However, Gene Watson's version of 'I Picked A San Antone Rose', which was written by James Dean Hicks and Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 - Friday 20 November 2015), was not included on 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).



Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 - Thursday 13 June 1996) recorded 'I Picked A San Antone Rose', which was written by James Dean Hicks and Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 - Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track on 'Keith Palmer' (Epic Records, 1991).



• Check out Marlene Slater's website, MKOC (My Kind of Country), where she has an online celebration of Keith Palmer.

Marlene Slater's MKOC (My Kind of Country) also includes a celebration of Gene Watson here and here.



Hank Thompson (Thursday 3 September 1925 - Tuesday 6 November 2007) recorded James Dean Hicks' 'I Picked A San Antonio Rose', which was co-written with Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 - Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track on 'Hank Thompson & Friends' (Curb Records, 1997); the track featured guest vocals from Bekka Bramlett.

2 'Dreams of A Dreamer'
Writer: David Hugh 'Jug' Brown (Tuesday 28 July 1936 - Tuesday 7 May 2013)
Publishers: Mull-Ti-Hit Music Company BMI



Darrell McCall & The Tennessee Volunteers recorded 'Dreams of A Dreamer', which was written by David Hugh 'Jug' Brown (Tuesday 28 July 1936 - Tuesday 7 May 2013), and included the track on 'Reunion' (BGM Records, 1986).



Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded 'Dreams of A Dreamer', which was written by David Hugh 'Jug' Brown (Tuesday 28 July 1936 - Tuesday 7 May 2013), and included the track on 'The Moment of Truth' (Nord Norsk Plateselskap, 1989).



Jesse Jones recorded 'Dreams of A Dreamer', which was written by David Hugh 'Jug' Brown (Tuesday 28 July 1936 - Tuesday 7 May 2013), and included the track on 'Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk' (Jesse Jones Independent Release, 2019).

3 'Somewhere Over You'
Writers: Gene Watson, Dave Lindsey and Jim Rushing
Publishers: Hall-Clement Publications / Booth and Watson Music BMI / Jack and Bill Music Co. / Little Will Music / Amanda-Lin Music (c/o The Welk Music Group) ASCAP

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) is unique in that it is the only album which features a song which Gene Watson had a hand in writing.

4 'Back In The Fire'
Writers: Rory Bourke and Mike Reid
Publishers: Jack & Bill Music Company / Songs De Burgo (c/o The Welk Music Group) / Lodge Hall Music Inc. ASCAP



Mike Reid recorded 'Back In The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Twilight Town' (Columbia Records, 1992).



Gene Watson re-recorded 'Back In The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).



Gene Watson re-recorded 'Back In The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).

5 'Ain't No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone'
Writers: Buddy Cannon and Luke Reed
Publishers: Buddy Cannon Music / Polygram Music Publishing Inc. ASCAP / Polygram Songs Inc. BMI



Jeffrey Barosh Sr. (Jeff Chance) (Monday 13 December 1954 - Friday 12 December 2008) recorded 'Ain't No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone' (written by Buddy Cannon and Luke Reed) and included the track on 'Walk Softly On The Bridges' (Mercury Records, 1992).

6 'The Great Divide'
Writers: John Lindley and Randy Travis
Publishers: Tennessee Hills Music BMI / Three Story Music ASCAP



Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded 'The Great Divide' (written by John Lindley and Randy Travis) and included the track on 'The Moment of Truth' (Nord Norsk Plateselskap, 1989).



Josh Williams recorded 'The Great Divide' (written by John Lindley and Randy Travis) and included the track on 'Modern Day Man' (Rounder Records, 2016).

7 'Just How Little I Know'
Writers: Wayland Patton and Jim Rushing
Publishers: Jack and Bill Music Co. / Amanda-Lin Music (c/o The Welk Music Group) ASCAP

8 'She Found The Key'
Writers: Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019)
Publishers: Acuff-Rose Music Inc. BMI

 

Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) recorded 'She Found The Key', which was written by Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019), and included the track on 'The Classic Style of Lefty Frizzell' (ABC Records, 1975); the track was subsequently included on Lefty Frizzell's 'The ABC Collection' (ABC Records, 1977).



Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded 'She Found The Key', which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019), and included the track on 'The Moment of Truth' (Nord Norsk Plateselskap, 1989).

9 'The Jukebox Played Along'
Writers: Ken Bell and Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 - Friday 19 August 2022)
Publishers: Next o Ken Music / Ensign Music Corporation BMI / BMG Songs Inc. ASCAP



Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded 'The Jukebox Played Along', which was written by Ken Bell and Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 - Friday 19 August 2022), and included the track on 'The Moment of Truth' (Nord Norsk Plateselskap, 1989).



Gene Watson re-recorded 'The Jukebox Played Along', which was written by Ken Bell and Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 - Friday 19 August 2022), and included the track on 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).

10 'When A Fool Learns'
Writers: Steve Clark and Rick Peoples
Publishers: Intersong U.S.A. Inc. / Hide-A-Bone Music / Chappell and Company Inc. ASCAP



• Read a Country Music People Review of Gene Watson's 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)

The review, which was written by Craig Baguley, was published in the March 1989 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.



'Back In The Fire'
Warner Bros. Records 9 25832-2 (1988)

Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) included the following:

Eddie Bayers and Steve Turner (drums)
Mike Brignardello (bass)
Steve Gibson, John Jorgenson, Paul Worley and Gregg Brown (electric guitar)
Larry Byrom, Paul Worley, Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 - Monday 1 June 2020) and Pete Wade (acoustic guitar)
Dennis Burnside, Barry Beckett and Michael Rojas (piano)
Mark O'Connor (fiddle)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)

  

On Friday 11 Novemberr 2016, Morello Records released Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), along with Gene Watson's 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991), as a special '2-on-1' CD set (WMRLL 66).



This special CD brought together two pivotal albums from Gene Watson's brief, but extraordinary time, with Warner Bros. Records; 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) and 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).