"Strait"forward Classics

George Strait's 1990 "Greatest Hits" album is a package of the best from this King of Country all throughout the 1980s. Still one of today's most popular singers, Strait trailblazed through the '80s by sticking to his preferences of a traditional country singer.


PROGRAM
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The first track was Strait's debut single and 1st greatest hit, "Unwound". The man in the song was no good to his woman. Often nights he left her to be with someone else, and now, since being thrown out of the house, he spends his time down at a bar trying to drink his problem away. From the very first slides of the fiddle it is apparent that Strait knows what true country music is all about and this song is purely true country. "Unwound" climbed to #6 in 1981, a great debut for an artist.

"Down And Out" puts a man in the position of the victim here. His woman has left him and he doesn't know what to do with himself. All he knows is that he's not happy and he doesn't look forward to being so in the near future. Strait's 2nd single, it went to #16.

"If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger (There's One Comin' Home)" was even more successful than "Unwound", peaking at #3. The song is a heartfelt admission of a man who realized he has been neglecting his wife for too long. After the truth of his situation hits him, he calls home to tell her that he's dropping whatever it is he's doing, and he's going to devote the whole night to her. The sorrowful admission of guilt and wrongdoing by the man sounds so forgiving with Strait's humble voice, and one can't help but feeling a little swell of emotion with the song.

Strait had his 1st #1 with "Foolhearted Memory". Back to tales of woe, the man in question here spends his nights in bars distraught over the fact that his woman left him. He is so affected that he can't get over her--he always thinks of the memories of her. He can't think clearly and his mind won't let him accept the fact that the relationship is over.

"Marina Del Rey" was Strait's 1st true ballad. The end has come for a couple in Marina Del Rey and the man leaves on a plane back to Tennessee. They had such good times together, but for some reason it didn't work out, and his emotions touch him as he fondly recalls what they once had. This sad tale peaked at #6 on the charts.

Next is a cover of the rodeo classic "Amarillo By Morning". The man here has been through rough times (injuries, lost relationships) but his heart is with the rodeo and he won't let the negative things weigh him down. He may not have money, but he has his Lord and his freedom, and that's enough to see him through his goals. The introductory fiddles give the song an upbeat sound and this is further enhanced by the 3rd verse--the music and Strait's voice increase slightly in speed and intensity, and the combination of these with the touching lyrics make for an extremely rousing effect. Like "Stranger", this track also induces misty eyes (for all the right reasons). "Amarillo By Morning" went to #4 on the charts.

"A Fire I Can't Put Out" is a story of that one unforgettable love. A certain woman preys upon a man's mind and heart, and he can never quite get her out of his system. He's suprised that he still thinks about her as often as he does, and gives up hope of ever getting over her. This was Strait's 2nd #1 hit (he has over 30 #1 hits to date).

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is highlighted in "You Look So Good In Love". A man unfortunately spies an old flame with her new man, and he terribly regrets the sight. She is still beautiful to him, and he longs that she still loved him instead of her newfound beau. The soft instrumentation in this ballad is perfect. Now on a streak of chart-toppers, this was Strait's 3rd #1 single.

"Right Or Wrong" picks up the tempo with a downtrodden theme (well, they do say opposites attract). The woman this man loved wasn't very faithful, and he knew from the start that she wasn't. Still, he hoped for the best of the situation, but it did not last very long. She's gone, and he doesn't know whether it was right for him to be with her or not, but it was nice while it lasted. Continuing the pattern of success, this was Strait's 4th #1.

The last of the greatest hits (at least on this record) is a ballad entitled "Let's Fall To Pieces Together". A broken man is in tears in a bar as he stands at the jukebox, and presently notices a woman in the same situation. Both were abandoned by their respected lovers. The man proposes for them to enjoy each other's company--being upset with another beats being pitifully alone. The tender ballad was a 5th #1 for Strait (no points if you saw that one coming).


COMMENTS
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Strait's "Greatest Hits" is an amazing album. Half of the singles were chart-toppers, and the others were also majorly successful. The MCA record label took full advantage of his popularity and success, releasing this album in 1985 (the last singles here were released in 1984). This is an amazing "track record", so to speak, to achieve in only a 3-year span.

With the true country style of all the selections and Strait's "everyman" easygoing manner in both personality and musicianship, these first 10 hits of his culminate into one spectacular album. Even where the subject matter may be similar in one or two of the tracks, the different moods and/or styles keep things fresh, and one never feels that Strait ever rehashes a song.

George Strait--humbly--knows success. His "Greatest Hits" is truly one of the greatest "Greatest Hits" out there, in every sense of the term.