Artist:Gene Watson
Song:Should I Go Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)
Album:18 Greatest Hits
Gene Watson scored a string of top ten country hits from 1975-85 on two different labels. Of course he faded after that. But he still tours and records for small labels. He was born Oct. 11, 1943 in Palestine, TX but he grew up in Paris, TX. Watson moved to Houston in 1963. He performed in clubs at night while working at an auto body shop during the day. He released a 1969 album produced by Cowboy Jack Clement for World Wide Records. Russ Reeder was one of the label owners and he started a new label Resco. The goal was to get Watson a major label record deal. When the 1975 single Bad Water charted nationally, Capitol signed Watson and the single Love in the Afternoon reached #3 on the Country Singles chart. This began a string of top ten country hits. The big advantage of getting on a major label in those days was getting access to Nashville songs and session musicians. Reeder produced all of Watson's albums. And he never produced anyone else. And Watson was not a songwriter. So they needed the Nashville machine. Should I Go Home (Or Should I Go Crazy) is from the 1979 album Should I Go Home. It reached #3 on the Country Singles chart. The song was written by Joe Allen who played bass on the album. The cream of Nashville session musicians led by pianist Hargus "Pig" Robbins played on the album. This comp which was sold on TV has all of Watson's Capitol hits. They are original recordings. Watson switched to MCA in 1981 no doubt for more money. He brought Reeder with him. They continued to have success including his 1981 #1 country hit Fourteen Carat Mind. Inevitably Watson faded in the late 80s. He recorded for Epic and Warner Bros. with little success. He even worked with legendary producer Billy Sherrill at Epic with little success. Watson continues to record and tour. He released his latest album in 2022 on his own label. Here's Gene Watson performing Should I Go Home (Or Should I Go Crazy) on a 1985 episode of the TV show Play It Again Nashville.
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