There are a handful of singers who sound great singing just about anything. Sam Cooke, Charlie Rich, George Jones - singers whose vocal mastery could, one suspects, transform the proverbial telephone book.

For fans of straight, no-frills country music, Gene Watson's rich, mellow voice is magnificently expressive and instantly recognisable.

The two albums on this CD, drawn from the most commercially successful period of his career, certainly capture Watson in his prime. Love In The Hot Afternoon (1975), his debut on US Capitol, followed hot on the heels of his first national hits, while Paper Rosie (1977) was another early classic and the album that introduced him to British audiences.

The release in 2001 of a greatest hits compilation on Universal was a reminder of past glories, and also introduced Gene's vocal genius to a new audience.

Now two of Gene's classic, long-deleted early albums are brought together on this CD, offering another chance to enjoy the company of one of country music's greatest voices. Both of these albums have been digitally remastered and now appear together on CD for the first time.

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Love In The Hot Afternoon

Paper Rosie