BEGINNING OF GEORGE STRAIT – PART 2
Music – Live on Stage – 1985 – George Strait & The Ace In The Hole Band – “San Antonio Rose”
Strait released a self-titled album in 2000…..which despite its # 1 and # 7 showing on the country and Billboard 200 album charts, respectively…..albeit didn’t produce any # 1 singles…..which was the 1st studio album of his career to not be certified platinum…..while the singles “Go On” and “If You Can Do Anything Else” were released from the record…..with both peaking in the top 5. In May 2001, The Road Less Traveled was released…..with reviews for the album being mostly positive…..when Rolling Stone described it as sticking to the formula…..“but adds a few twists that make it superior to his last few releases.”…..when it featured “vocal processing”…..and was considered by some critics as an experimental album. Three singles were released from it…..of which 2 reached # 1, including “She’ll Leave You with a Smile” (his 50th on combined charts)…..and “Living and Living Well”…..as both reached the top 30 of Billboard Hot 100…..with the former peaking at # 23, Strait’s highest rank on the chart. The single “Run” peaked at # 2 and reached # 34 on the Billboard 100. Strait released two records in 2003…. when For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome was a recording of the last Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that took place in the Astrodome. The performance itself set the record for paid attendance at the venue, with 68,266 people, breaking Latin superstar Selena’s previous record of about 67,000 in 1995.
Music – Live in Concert at AT&T Center in Arlington, TX – 2014 – George Strait & Miranda Lambert Duets – “How Bout Them Cowgirls” and “Run”
Music – 2011 – From the Album George Strait – George Strait – “If You Could Do Anything Else”
Music – 2011 – From the Album George Strait – George Strait – “Go On”
Music – 2001 – From the Album The Road Less Traveled – George Strait – “She’ll Leave You With A Smile”
Music – 2001 – From the Album The Road Less Traveled – George Strait – “The Road Less Traveled”
Music – 2001 – From the Album The Road Less Traveled – George Strait – “Don’t Tell Me You’re Not In Love”
His next album, Honkytonkville was described as “a fiery set of hard country”…..and was praised “for its mixture of the old Strait with his modern, superstar self.” It did not produce any # 1’s for Strait…..but included the hits “Cowboys Like Us” and a cover of Bruce Robison’s “Desperately”. His 2004 performance at Reliant Stadium set a new rodeo attendance record, with 68,679 spectators. That year, he issued a greatest hits package billed as 50 Number Ones…..which chronicled the # 1 hits of his career from all charts…..which started with “Fool Hearted Memory” and ending with “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.” A new track, “I Hate Everything”, was also included …..and it became his 51st overall # 1 in 2004.
Music – 2003 – From the Album Honkytonkville – George Strait – “Honkytonkville”
Music – 2003 – From the Album Honkytonkville – George Strait – “Cowboys Like Us”
Music – 2003 – From the Album Honkytonkville – George Strait – “Desperately”
Music – 2003 – From the Album Honkytonkville – George Strait – “She Used To Say That To Me”
Music – 2003 – From the Album Honkytonkville – George Strait – “As Far As It Goes”
Music – 2004 – From the Album 50 Number Ones – George Strait – “I Hate Everything”
The next year, Somewhere Down in Texas arrived…..which produced the hit “You’ll Be There”, marking Strait’s 1st appearance on the adult contemporary chart. The next year, he embarked on a tour that included only 18 performances…..but the tour grossed over $15 million. He attributed this success to the fact that his band and he are “musically very tight”…..have a large pool of songs to draw from…..and perform those songs very similarly to how they sound on their albums.
Music – 2005 – From the Album Somewhere Down In Texas – George Strait – “If The Whole World Was A Honky Tonk”
Music – 2005 – From the Album Somewhere Down In Texas – George Strait – “Somewhere Down In Texas”
Music – Official Music Video – 2005 – From the Album Somewhere Down In Texas – George Strait – “The Seashores Of Old Mexico”
Music – 2005 – From the Album Somewhere Down In Texas – George Strait – “You’ll Be There”
Music – 2005 – From the Album Somewhere Down In Texas – George Strait – “Texas”
Music – 2005 – From the Album Somewhere Down In Texas – George Strait – “She Let Herself Go”
On October 3, 2006, Strait marked his 30th year in the music industry with the release of a new album titled It Just Comes Natural…..as the album was recorded in Key West, Florida, in Jimmy Buffett’s Shrimp Boat Sound Studio (said to be a better recording location due to lack of allergy flare-ups during recording process)…..which was also the recording location of Troubadour. It featured 15 new songs…..as Strait’s long-time friend and songwriter, Dean Dillon, co-wrote two of the songs on the album. It received generally positive reviews from critics…..when People, in their four-star review, remarked, “If ever there was a natural in country music, it’s Strait,”…..while USA Today raved that “he continues to make such consistent quality look easy”. The 1st single from the album, “Give It Away” reached # 1…..thus making one of its co-writers, country legend “Whispering Bill” Anderson, the 1st songwriter to have a # 1 hit in five different decades. The title track, “It Just Comes Natural” became Strait’s 42nd Billboard # 1.
Music – Live at the Frank Erwin Center 2018 – From the 2006 Album It Just Comes Natural – George Strait – “Give It Away”
Music – 2006 – From the Album It Just Comes Natural – Goerge Strait – “That’s My Kind Of Woman”
Music – Live at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ – 2023 – From the 2006 Album It Just Comes Natural – Goerge Strait – “Wrapped”
Music – Live at NV/T-Mobile Area, Las Vegas, NV 2018 – From the 2006 Album It Just Comes Natural – George Strait – “It Just Comes Natural”
Music – 2006 – From the Album It Just Comes Natural – George Strait – “I Ain’t Her Cowboy Anymore”
Music – 2006 – From the Album It Just Comes Natural – Goerge Strait – “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls”
Music – Interview Special – 2008 – A George Strait Production Special – “George Strait: Up Close on New Song ‘I Saw God Today’ and the New Album ‘Troubadour'”
In 2007, “Wrapped” reached # 1 on the Mediabase 24/7 country music charts …..which gave Strait his 55th overall # 1 single. From January through April of that year, Strait headlined a 23-date arena tour with country-music legend Ronnie Milsap and then-newcomer Taylor Swift. He released a new album titled Troubadour on April 1, 2008…..as the CD contained 12 tracks, including a duet with Patty Loveless and another with long-time songwriter Dean Dillon. The lead single from the album, “I Saw God Today”, debuted at # 19 on the Radio and Records and Billboard charts. It is the highest debut ever for a single from Strait and the 4th-highest debut for a song in country-music history. Troubadour debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts…..while selling over 160,000 copies in its 1st week of release. “River of Love”, the 3rd single from the album…..which became his 57th # 1 song in 2009.
Music – Official Music Video – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “Troubadour”
Music – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “Brothers of the Highway”
Music – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “I Saw God Today”
Music – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “Make Her Fall In Love With Me Song”
Music – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “If Heartaches Were Horses”
Music – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “West Texas Town”
Music – 2008 – From the Album Troubadour – George Strait – “River Of Love”
In April 2009, Strait was honored by the Academy of Country Music with the Artist of the Decade Award…..which was presented to Strait by the previous ACM Artist of the Decade, Garth Brooks. In June of that year, he headlined the 1st event at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Strait’s single “Living for the Night” was released on May 28, 2009…..and was written by Strait, his son Bubba and Dean Dillon…..as the song was the lead single from his album Twang…..which was released on August 11, 2009…..and was certified gold for selling over 500,000 copies.
Music & Awards – The AMC Artist of the Decade – 2009 – A MsAnne5 Production Special – “George Strait – ACM Artist Of The Decade All Star Concert Singing ‘Troubadour'”
Music – 2009 – From the Album Twang – George Strait – “Twang”
Music – 2009 – From the Album Twang – George Strait – “Gotta Get To You”
Music – 2009 – From the Album Twang – George Strait – “The Breath You Take”
Music 2009 – From the Album Twang – George Strait – “Living For The Night”
Music – 2009 – From the Album Twang – George Strait – “El Rey”
In 2010, Billboard ranked Strait # 1 in the top-25 country artists of the past 25 years. On September 6, 2011, Strait released the album, Here for a Good Time…..which showcased two # 1 singles…..“Here for a Good Time” and “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”…..which brought Strait’s # 1 singles total to 59. The album’s 3rd single, “Drinkin’ Man” peaked at # 37…..which certainly ain’t bad….but who knows what a man with 59 # 1 hits thinks about a # 37 song.
Music – With Lyrics – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”
Music – With Lyrics – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “Drinkin’ Man”
Music – With Lyrics – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “Here For A Good Time”
Music – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “Lone Star Blues”
Music – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “A Showman’s Life”
Music – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “Three Nails And A Cross”
Music – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “Blue Marlin Blues”
Music – 2011 – From the Album Here For The Good Time – George Strait – “I’ll Always Remember You”
In October 2012, Strait released the single “Give It All We Got Tonight”….. which was included on his album Love Is Everything, released on May 14, 2013. The song initiated a “60 for 60” movement by Strait’s label, to make the song his 60th #1 single on all country charts…..while he was still 60 years old…..when the song reached the top of the Mediabase charts in May 2013. The album’s next single, “I Believe”, reached # 50 on the U.S. Country Airplay chart…..thus making it Strait’s 1st single to miss the top 40…..but Strait won the 2013 CMA Entertainer of the Year award regardless.
Music – Live at the 48th AMC Awards Show – 2013 – George Strait – “Give It All We Got Tonight” – On Night George Strait Wins AMC Entertainer of the Year
In November 2013, Billboard presented Strait with its Legend of Live honor during the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards ceremony. The award honors the concert industry’s top artist based on Billboard‘s Boxscore chart and box-office performance…..thus making Strait the 1st country artist to receive Billboard‘s highest touring accolade. On April 19, 2015, Strait made a guest appearance at the 2015 ACM Awards…..when he performed “All My Ex’s Lives in Texas” and his new single “Let it Go”.
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – Brooks & Dunn – “The Cowboy Rides Away” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – Jack Ingram – “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – Alan Jackson – “I’m the Fireman” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – Lee Ann Womack – “Just Stand There And Sing” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – Jamie Foxx – “You Look So Good In Love” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – John Rich – “Amarillo By Morning” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – Tim McGraw – “Marina del Rey” – Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
Music – Live on Stage – 2015 – ACM Artist of the Century All Star Concert – George Strait & All The Contributing Artist in the Concert – “Troubadour” – The Finale Tribute To George Strait Artist of the Century
END OF GEORGE STRAIT – PART 2
GEORGE STRAIT – PART 3 CONTINUES ON NEXT POST
