Customer Reviews

Strait Country

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you had never heard of George Strait and had first taken a look at the album cover of the 29-year-old, you would have no idea how big this guy would become. George started off his career with a set of songs that would form the framework of his "faithful to tradition" style.

From the get-go, Unwound grabs you and two-steps you across the dancehall floor with its driving bass and drum beat. It also has a nice take on a common, cliched phrase. If You're Thinking also predated Kenny Rogers' similarly-themed present hit Buy Me A Rose, with a nifty fiddle throughout. Down And Out, which the record company released as a single against George's wishes, is still pretty good.

As for the other songs, one of Strait fans' all-time favorite non-singles, Blame It On Mexico, stands out. It contains a nice, slight Tex Mex flavor, and an ideal chorus for singing along. Everytime You Throw and Firday Night Fever are also strong tunes, even though Everytime's theme has been done to death and Fever gets a little dated with the mention of the Dallas TV show.

The most entertaining lyrics are on She's Playing Hell. The gems include not being to church "once in a row", "hearing that rod and reel singing" with the church bells, breaking "at least eleven" Commandments, and "rolling them sevens" in your Sunday suit. Such utterances always foster a smile.

Honky Tonk Down Stairs might be the only weak song, with meaningless content and an only passable melody.

One warning for listeners used to today's modernized country sound: These songs do seem a little rough around the edges, and lack the rich production value of today's hits. For some people, including me, that's a strength and what true country is all about.

This album combines two sure-fire winners: Dean Dillon's formittable songwriting and Mr. Strait, country music's purest voice. Most of the songs on the album can even be appreciated by folks who generally don't care for country. If you fall into this catagory, you'll do well to check out Blame It On Mexico, I Get Along With You, Friday Night Fever, and If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger. These songs could almost be catagorized as soft rock/easy listening. However, songs such as Down And Out, She's Playing Hell.., and Unwound round out the album with their more conventional beer-drinkin' honky tonk sound. Also, the production quality is crisp, clear and tight. For under seven bucks, you'll own the best country album ever recorded.

The beginning is right here on this album. The earliest work he ever did with MCA records. Since the this album was first only offered on a LP record in 1981 and cassette you do not get that first class sound you get with cds that are made today. Really when you hear this the recording is really outdated but that does not stop the classics on the album and basically all of the great songs his first classic Unwound, Down and Out and If you want a stranger are reasons to buy it right there but then you have the non singles which are the reasons to own it like Blame it on Mexico, Friday Night Fever,Everytime you throw dirt on her,and I get along with you and basically all of the others, with the exception of Honky tonk downstairs which isn't to bad but gets better later on in the song but the song starts out slow but overall a classic.

This CD has 3 of the best George Strait songs (in my ears) on it. "I Get Along With You", "Friday Night Fever" and "Her Goodbye Hit Me In The Heart" . Can't remember how many times we've all enjoyed this CD around the fire at partys. If you are just starting to get into Strait's music, this CD is a must have!

I first heard this album in 1981 and still listen to it all the time. It is without a doubt one of George's best!

This is when he really had it down pat, prior to the new country explosion and the tearing down of country music...here was George playing real, honest-to-goodness country music. Sounds great.

The recording quality isn't the best and his voice sounds a little higher than it is now, but don't miss this, the very first George Strait record. His first hits are here, Unwound, Down and Out and If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home), but the award for catchiest track goes to Friday Night Fever, a song you won't get out of your head after a couple of listens. I Get Along With You shouldn't be missed either. It's quite pretty.

To me George's earliest albums where his best.His early records are what made him, and no one can sing those older Texas swing songs better than george!!!!

When this skinny young man put out this album in 1982, how were we supposed to know he'd become one of the greatest country singers of all time?

It's a dang good record...that's how. I actually bought his second album first because the first time I heard him on the radio was when he released "Amarillo By Morning" off his second album. Like a lot of singers, he took two records to really break out. Then he re-released his first one, and I went out and bought it. I've bought every one since.

That's how much I like George Strait.

This is a very, very country album. It was refreshing. Buy this record, and you will not be sorry. It's fabulous. If you buy nothing else, buy the "Unwound" single. Then you'll buy the album.

GREAT album! It's George Strait! Why shouldn't it be great? Every single song is awesome, I love country music! :)