Two for Tuesday
Providing background information on music from popular genres like Country, Classic Rock, Southern Rock etc.
Two for Tuesday
The King of Country's First Crown: George Strait's 1981 Debut
In 1981, a young Texan named George Strait released his debut album, Strait Country, and changed the direction of country music forever. In this episode, Michael Pezent of 2nd Round Music dives deep into Strait’s early career, the making of his first album, and the three singles that introduced “The King of Country” to the world: “Unwound,” “Down and Out,” and “If You’re Thinking You Want a Stranger.” From honky-tonk fiddle lines to chart history, this is the story of how it all began for George Strait.
2nd Round Music YouTube Channel Link to hear Michael's performance of these three songs: https://youtu.be/2pxXgvszYAc
Welcome back to the Two for Tuesday podcast from Second Round Music. I'm your host, michael Pazin, and today we're going back to the summer of 1981, a year that changed country music forever. It's the year that George Strait, a young singer from Texas, released his debut album, strait Country. This record not only lost his career, but it also signaled a turning point in country music history, steering the genre back to its traditional roots when much of Nashville was chasing the pop country crossover trend. In today's episode, we'll dive into George Strait's early career, the making of Straight Country, and take a close look at three singles that introduced the world to the king of country. Unwound Down and Out. And If You're Thinking you Want a Stranger, there's One Coming Home.
Speaker 1:George Harvey Strait was born in Poteet, texas, in 1952, and he grew up in nearby Purcell, texas, which is south of San Antonio, about 60 miles. South Texas, which is south of San Antonio, about 60 miles Now. His father, who was a junior high math teacher, owned and operated a 2,000-acre cattle ranch in a place called Big Wells, which is about 40 miles away Now. Like many young Texans, he was surrounded by the sounds of country music, but he also loved rock and roll, so while he was in high school, he started playing with a rock and roll garage band known as the Stoics. Now they were heavily influenced by the Beatles, who were very popular at the time. Now, george's musical preference soon turned the country. I mean, how would it not live in Texas? And it did, with singers like Hank Thompson, lefty Frizzell, merle Haggard, george Jones, bob Wills, hank Williams and even get this Frank Sinatra.
Speaker 1:Now, after graduating from high school in 1971, george did two major things. He eloped with his high school sweetheart, norma Foss, and got married in Mexico, and he then enlisted in the US Army. Now, while he was stationed in Hawaii, he joined the army-sponsored band called Rambling Country, performing country hits for the servicemen. Now, that was his first real taste in a performing profession. Now, when his service had ended in 1975 as a corporate and being honorably discharged, george returned to Texas and he enrolled in Southwest Texas State University where he went on to graduate with an agricultural degree. He also formed his own band called Ace in the Hole Band. They toured the Texas honky-tonk circuit, building a loyal local following circuit building a loyal local following. A straight, smooth baritone voice coupled with Ace in the Hole's traditional western swing lings set him, apart from the increasingly pop-oriented Nashville sound.
Speaker 1:Now, for years George struggled to get noticed in Nashville and he shot demo tapes and made trips, with little success. But everything changed in 1979 when MCA Records talent scout Irv Woolsey, who also operated a bar, heard him sing and arranged a deal through his connections. Now, the record guys weren't impressed with the performance, but they were concerned that they couldn't market that Texas Swing sound that the band had featured, so they left without offering a deal. So after several unsuccessful trips to Nashville and being turned down by every label in town, well, he considered giving it up altogether. But after a discussion with his wife, norm, she convinced him to give music one more year and by February of 1981, george had signed with MCA and was finally ready to record his debut album, now released.
Speaker 1:On September 4th 1981, straight Country was produced by Blake Mevis and recorded in Nashville with a combination of seasoned session musician and members of Ace and the Hope, and at the time country radio was dominated by the urban cowboy, inspired, soundired sound, polished production and crossover influence. Straight went in an opposite direction, delivering a record that was rooted in honky-tonk fiddle and steel guitar. This was country music stripped back to the essentials and it felt refreshing to the fans who missed that traditional sound. The album was hailed by critics as being the new traditionalist breakthrough that broke the pop-influenced country trend. The album contained the normal 10 songs, three of which became singles. Each one played a critical role in building George Strait's career and after this sponsored message, we'll break them down so you don't notice that.
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Speaker 1:The first single, unwound, was released in April of 1981, five months before the full album dropped. The song was written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dykus, who would become two of George Strait's most important songwriter collaborators. Now here's a fun bit of history about the song. Unwound wasn't originally intended for George Dillon and Dykus wrote it for Johnny Paycheck, but Paycheck was in legal trouble at the time and couldn't record it. Kind of hard to record a song while you're in jail. Now record producer Blake Mavis drove over to Dylan's house and him and Dykus were writing songs on the front porch and he asked them hey, have you got any new songs for this new kid from Texas? And since Paycheck wasn't going to use it, they gave the song to Blake. So that's how the song found its way to George, and it fit him perfectly.
Speaker 1:Musically, unwound featured two fiddles, steel guitar and an infectious honky-tonk groove. It's a ballroom anthem about letting loose after a breakup, perfect introduction to Strait's mix of traditional sound with modern policy. Now Unwound peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, making George Strait an instant new star on the scene. Country fans and radio programmers immediately noticed something fresh yet familiar about this sound. Give me a bottle of your very best Cause I got a problem. I'm gonna drink off my chest Now.
Speaker 1:The second single, down and Out, followed in August of 1981, right as the album was being released, also written by the dynamic duo of Dylan and Dykus Boy. There's a lot of D's in that statement. It was another hard country honky-tonk number about heartbreak and drinking your blues away. The instrumentation is straight, classic George Strait Strong fiddle lines, pedal steel guitar and George's smooth yet understated vocal delivery. Now, while it carries the same traditional flair as on Wild, it didn't quite climb as high on the charts and although the critics spoke favorably of the music and George's delivery, some call the lyrics weak and generic. Now Down and Out peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country chart and while it's not a top 10, it did solidify George as more than just a one-hit-wonner and he was delivering consistency and country fans were starting to pay attention.
Speaker 1:Since my woman left, I'm down and out. Well, I'm down at the bar Out of my mind, tired of that, and that day clock Down at the barn out of my mind. Tired of that, and that day clock, the third segment If You're Thinking you Want a Stranger, there's One Coming Home. It was released in early 1982. Now this track was written by Mavis who, as you remember, also produced the album along with Ernie Rout. It's one of my early favorites of George and it's also a staple on my regular set list.
Speaker 1:It tells the story of a man returning home to his partner after long absence, acknowledging her doubts but promising he's coming back with change. The song's more contemporary feel, with smoother production and a hint of Nashville sound, showed Strait's ability to balance tradition with commercial appeal, which, in my opinion, is something that would serve him well later in his career. Now this single became Georgia's first top five hit and it peaked at number three on the US country chart. It also peaked at number two on the Canadian charts and critics continued to give favor to George's song offers. And with that success George Strait officially arrived as one of country music's brightest new stars. Lately you've been showing all the signs Of a woman with someone else on her mind.
Speaker 1:Looking back at straight country, it wasn't just Georgia's first out. It was the start of a seismic shift in country music. The record proved that traditional honky-tonk could still sell in the 1980s, paving the way for what became known as the New Traditionalist Movement Artists like Randy Travis, who would come on the scene in 1985. Alan Jackson and Clint Black would follow in the late 80s and early 90s. But George Strait was the pioneer who showed Nashville that fans still wanted fiddles, steel guitars and a pure country storytelling. Fiddles, steel guitars and a pure country storytelling. Now, from 1981 on, george Strait would go on to release almost 100 studio singles, 60 of which were number one hits. Now that's a record unmatched in country music history. But it all began with three songs and one album Strait Country.
Speaker 1:Hey guys, thank you for listening today and I hope you're enjoying this podcast. If you are, please subscribe or follow the podcast, click the like button, share it with other music lovers and please consider giving a five-star rating so we can reach a bigger audience. Now back to the show. Well, that wraps up today's deep dive into George Strait's debut album, straight Country, and the singles that launched him. In the story we also got into a little bit of early life George history, to which there'll be more in the future.
Speaker 1:When you've had a long career like he had. There's a lot to talk about. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to follow the Two for Tuesday podcast from Second Round Music wherever you listen, and don't forget to catch my performance of these three songs on the Second Round Music YouTube channel. And if you've got a favorite George Strait song or memory, I'd love to hear about it. Share it on social media. Tag the show or leave comments if you're on YouTube. Until next time, I'm Michael Prezant. This has been the Two for Tuesday podcast. Thanks for listening. Keep it in country and just remember we love you and we need you. God bless you.