Thursday, February 23, 2012

Today's Musical Interlude: Gene Watson

One of the country artists I listened to in the early 1970's on WDVH in Gainesville, Florida. AM radio back then, of course.

Here's Gene's signature song,Farewell Party:



He really belted out that last bar, didn't he? Takes people by surprise.

You often hear music critics speak disparagingly of the "moon/spoon/June" school of songwriting, and this is a perfect example of it. Not the most profound lyric writing you'll find. It's a song I remember fondly, though. Great example of classic early 1970's country that wasn't drenched in the string sound that many artists relied on. Love In the Hot Afternoon:



Finally, the maudlin, tears-in-your-beer ballad (yes, another ballad) Paper Rosie:



These all seem a bit cornball now, I guess. More cynical age these days.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You have great taste in Music! Gene Watson is known as the Singer's Singer for good reason. Very few can jump the octaves he does on that last note of Farewell Party and apparently he did that entire song in one take in the studio. Not like today's singers who re-sing each note or have it FIXED by auto-tune engineer techniques. Anytime you go back and listen to Patsy Cline, Ray Price and Gene Watson, remember it's not slick or polished, just the real thing. Thanks for the music videos.