The Big One - A George Strait Rankdown (Revealing)

[Cody Wants Out...]

Ugh! Two away from a p-p-p-p-perfect ranking!

[sabre14]

Jan 17, 2018 19:12:44 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Jan 17, 2018 17:28:34 GMT -5 castleoblivion26 said:

Surprised my Top 2 still remain but hopefully they are not coming anytime soon!

44. "You'll Be There"

Album: Somewhere Down In Texas
Year: 2005




gardyfan - 74
.indulgecountry - 80
LBTrocks - 85
codyj100 - 86
George Strait Junkie - 91
Kanenrá:ke - 93
carriekins - 97

[castleoblivion26]

Jan 17, 2018 19:28:28 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Jan 17, 2018 19:12:44 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

44. "You'll Be There"

Album: Somewhere Down In Texas
Year: 2005




gardyfan - 74
.indulgecountry - 80
LBTrocks - 85
codyj100 - 86
George Strait Junkie - 91
Kanenrá:ke - 93
carriekins - 97

When I was making my post saying I was surprised my Top 2 was still in I knew I'd regret it, just didn't think it would come so soon. This song deserved way better, lyrically one of his strongest singles imo. I love everything about this song and the minute I started putting together my list I knew my Top 2 without listening to anything. Expect my #2 to come sooner than later now

[Cody Wants Out...]

Ya see? This is exactly why I'm keeping mum about my own top songs. :kii:

It may not matter though, since I believe most of my top songs are pretty well-liked...for the most part. :kii:

[dajross6]

Jan 16, 2018 2:57:19 GMT -5 tim said:

#74: Not to get too much into my work life, but I once did an event right in front of George's residence at the Dominion in San Antonio (which is now for sell). Just to get an idea of how hard it is to get into this part of the Dominion there are at least two security checkpoints.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEsKSQrSYwl

Hang out at the HEB over by the Dominion. I've run into him twice there and he's nice as could be.

[tim]

- I'm glad I'm not the only one that found "Unwound" super hard to rank; with it being George's first single (and one that he still performs live to this day) I just found it incredibly hard to compare against anything he's released up to now.

- Not at all surprised to see "I Cross My Heart' out this early as I kind of figured Pulse has considered it an overrated 90's tune from George; for myself the song really works and George's delivery is timeless.

- This will be my fan anecdote #71 as the song "You'll Be There" will always have a special place in my heart as this song was released just around the time my mother became very ill and passed away on April 1st of that year. The lyrics So if you're up there watchin' me, would you talk to God and say, Tell Him I might need a hand to see you both someday gets me every time. Given all the memories her and I shared together listening to George's music and traveling hundreds of miles to see him in concert, I can't help but believe this was her goodbye to me.

[bboat11]

Time to say goodbye to another album!

[bboat11]

The almighty dollar,
And a lust for worldwide fame
Slowly killed tradition;
And for that, someone should hang.

43. "Murder On Music Row" ft. Alan Jackson

Album: Latest Greatest Straitest Hits

Year: 2000





Total: 962
Average: 48.10
Std Dev: 27.75


gardyfan - 3
sabre14 - 10
George Strait Junkie - 15
countrymusicjunkie - 19
Kanenrá:ke - 22
zaclord 🌈 - 28
BackwoodsBarbie - 29
.indulgecountry - 36
castleoblivion26 - 44
DistrictTwelve - 45
codyj100 - 47
@adam1995 - 57
bboat11 - 58
Cody Wants Out... - 62
CoJoFan - 68
carriekins - 68
LBTrocks - 79
fearlessarrow - 88
mamasaid - 89
tim - 95



Murder's been committed down on Rankdown Row! This song gets axed from the competition just outside the top 40. Which is higher than I think most people expected it would rank, based on some of the comments I have seen. This song heralding the death of the country music industry could not be any more relevant today, as artists like Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line continue to push the genre further and further away from what made it so great when superstars like George Strait and Alan Jackson reigned supreme. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
A Fire I Can’t Put Out
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love

[LBTrocks]

I actually do like "Murder on Music Row" lol but couldn't rank it any higher cuz it can't compete with most of his songs + Alan Jackson is in it and brings it down for me lol.

[bboat11]

Album Spotlight: Latest Greatest Straitest Hits

Released: March 7, 2000

Label: MCA Nashville

Producer: Tony Brown, George Strait

Runtime: 52 min. 09 sec.

Country Albums Chart: 1

Certification: 2x Platinum

Singles/Rankdown Placements:

The Best Day (59)
Murder On Music Row (43)

Average Rank: 51.00

Tracklist:

1. The Best Day
2. Murder On Music Row (ft. Alan Jackson)
3. Carrying Your Love With Me
4. Adalida
5. Lead On
6. Carried Away
7. Blue Clear Sky
8. We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This
9. I Can Still Make Cheyenne
10. True
11. King Of The Mountain
12. Round About Way
13. You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody
14. One Night At A Time
15. Today My World Slipped Away


This Greatest Hits album is one of my favorite hits compilations from George. The time period covered by this album is by far my favorite stretch of George's career, so I could listen to this album on repeat and never get tired of it. The only head scratcher is "I Just Want To Dance With You" and "The Big One" being left off...

---

bboat11 @adam1995 Cody Wants Out... .indulgecountry codyj100 sabre14 George Strait Junkie zaclord 🌈 mamasaid castleoblivion26 DistrictTwelve countrymusicjunkie CoJoFan gardyfan carriekins fearlessarrow LBTrocks tim BackwoodsBarbie Kanenrá:ke

[bboat11]

With the next two reveals, TWO of our untouched albums will be seeing their first casualties!!!! Which means that going into the top 40, only one studio album will be left untouched!!! Any guesses which one will be the lucky one to remain intact as we enter the top 40?

Strait From The Heart
Singles: Fool Hearted Memory, Marina Del Rey, Amarillo By Morning, A Fire I Can't Put Out

The Road Less Traveled
Singles: Run, Living And Living Well, She'll Leave You With A Smile

It Just Comes Natural
Singles: Give It Away, It Just Comes Natural, Wrapped, How 'Bout Them Cowgirls

[Cody Wants Out...]

OH NO! My #1 is in that set!!!

[.indulgecountry]

Guessing The Road Less Traveled will remain in tact. I can see songs like "Wrapped" and/or "Cowgirls," and "A Fire I Can't Put Out" being out soon.

[bboat11]

And she’ll never change, don’t know how to hide
Her stubborn will or her fightin’ side.
But you treat her right, and she’ll love you like no one else.

42. "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls"

Album: It Just Comes Natural

Year: 2007





Total: 959
Average: 47.95
Std Dev: 27.81


mamasaid - 4
carriekins - 7
CoJoFan - 8
fearlessarrow - 19
countrymusicjunkie - 27
DistrictTwelve - 35
sabre14 - 37
tim - 37
zaclord 🌈 - 43
LBTrocks - 43
.indulgecountry - 46
BackwoodsBarbie - 51
Cody Wants Out... - 57
gardyfan - 58
George Strait Junkie - 59
@adam1995 - 74
Kanenrá:ke - 81
bboat11 - 83
castleoblivion26 - 93
codyj100 - 97




Just outside the top 40, It Just Comes Natural becomes the next album to lose a song. "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls" was the 4th single from the album, and tbh I have always found it a little boring. This album was absolutely loaded with amazing material, and is one of my favorite albums from George's career, so I am definitely just a little salty that so many songs from it never got released because this song did. The lyrics to this have always felt a little fluffy, while the production leaves some energy to be desired. I still like it quite a bit, but am not surprised or disappointed to see this song just missing the top 40.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
A Fire I Can’t Put Out
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love

[bboat11]

Embers to ashes; that’s how it should be.
You’d think by now my heart would know,
And it could set you free.

41. "A Fire I Can't Put Out"

Album: Strait From The Heart

Year: 1983





Total: 950
Average: 47.50
Std Dev: 22.21


LBTrocks - 4
codyj100 - 19
Kanenrá:ke - 25
@adam1995 - 28
countrymusicjunkie - 28
tim - 29
bboat11 - 31
George Strait Junkie - 38
DistrictTwelve - 38
.indulgecountry - 49
BackwoodsBarbie - 50
mamasaid - 50
fearlessarrow - 57
zaclord 🌈 - 59
castleoblivion26 - 69
gardyfan - 71
carriekins - 72
sabre14 - 74
Cody Wants Out... - 79
CoJoFan - 80



Just outside the top 40, George's second album Strait From The Heart becomes the second-to-last album to lose its first song! This song was actually quite consistent, as you can see by looking at the graph. It was pretty much always in the 40s. LBTrocks loses a top 5 here, but frankly other than that I am surprised that this song did not generate a little more passion. This is a CLASSIC!!! I would not have been disappointed to see this make the top 20. Unfortunately it bows out well before that point.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love

[LBTrocks]

UGH you guys. “A Fire I Can’t Put Out” is a timeless classic, not to mention a phenomenal song regardless. The melody and the vocals, THAT FIDDLE THO, and the lyrics. The whole thing is a damn masterpiece. One of the greatest songs EVER written and recorded.

[.indulgecountry]

Jan 19, 2018 20:08:37 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Guessing The Road Less Traveled will remain in tact. I can see songs like "Wrapped" and/or "Cowgirls," and "A Fire I Can't Put Out" being out soon.

Damn, would you look at me with my crystal ball.

[Cody Wants Out...]

Yeah, looking back, I definitely underranked this one. I'll go find a gallows to get my lynching out of the way...

[castleoblivion26]

still bitter at "You'll Be There" being out WAY too early, just saying

anyway, "Murder On Music Row" is incredible and I'm glad it made it this far in this rankdown because I didn't expect it to. Definitely deserves it

"How 'Bout Them Cowgirls" is alright, I enjoy the song enough that if it comes on I'll listen to it but I have never gone out of my way to listen to it outside of for this rankdown. It lasted way too long imo

"A Fire I Can't Put Out" is a great song, but he has many of them. For me I'm okay with this leaving here because most of the songs remaining deserve Top 40. I think there is only one song I am honestly surprised is still in but obviously people like it way more than I thought.

Looking at my list my lowest remaining song (I ranked at 83) I definitely underranked because I shouldn't have that song so low, not sure what I was thinking.

[mamasaid]

Jan 19, 2018 20:27:08 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

And she’ll never change, don’t know how to hide
Her stubborn will or her fightin’ side.
But you treat her right, and she’ll love you like no one else.

42. "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls"

mamasaid - 4

SPOILER: Click to show

This hurts....really really hurts y'all...

[bboat11]

There’s no way of knowin’ what tomorrow brings.

Life’s too short to waste it. I say bring on anything.

40. "Here For A Good Time"

Album: Here For A Good Time

Year: 2011





Total: 931
Average: 46.55
Std Dev: 19.11


.indulgecountry - 8
DistrictTwelve - 23
CoJoFan - 27
LBTrocks - 27
gardyfan - 29
zaclord 🌈 - 30
sabre14 - 31
tim - 36
Cody Wants Out... - 40
codyj100 - 50
fearlessarrow - 53
George Strait Junkie - 54
@adam1995 - 56
BackwoodsBarbie - 61
bboat11 - 64
countrymusicjunkie - 65
carriekins - 66
Kanenrá:ke - 66
mamasaid - 72
castleoblivion26 - 73




Kicking off the top 40, we say goodbye to another of George's 2010s singles, which also eliminates his 2011 album Here For A Good Time. This is a very solid song, but honestly has not aged super well for me. Hence me being one of the lower rankers for it. This song seems to be one that everybody at least liked, as it has an incredibly low SD, placing in only 1 person's top 10, and having only 2 people place it lower than the bottom 30. In accordance with the small SD, this was also a rather consistent performer. It was on track to land within the top 40 for most of the submission process. One of George's more recent #1 hits, this is one that you are still likely to hear on the radio today!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love

[bboat11]

It is worth pointing out that with the elimination of "Here For A Good Time", "I Got A Car" is officially the LAST of George's 2010s singles remaining!!! Any guesses how much higher that one will make it??

[.indulgecountry]

"Here for a Good Time" deserved better than this, but at least it made Top 40! <3

[bboat11]

Album Spotlight: Here For A Good Time

Released: September 6, 2011

Label: MCA Nashville

Producer: Tony Brown, George Strait

Runtime: 41 min. 14 sec.

Country Albums Chart: 1

Certification: None


Singles/Rankdown Placements:
Here For A Good Time (40)
Love's Gonna Make It Alright (62)
Drinkin' Man (67)

Average Rank (56.33)


Track List:
1. Love's Gonna Make It Alright
2. Drinkin' Man
3. Shame On Me
4. Poison
5. Here For A Good Time
6. House Across The Bay
7. Lone Star Blues
8. A Showman's Life (ft. Faith Hill)
9. Three Nails And A Cross
10. Blue Marlin Blues
11. I'll Always Remember You

---

Album Tracks:

"Shame On Me"

This is an upbeat, wistful song expressing regret about how the main character keeps taking his girl back despite how she mistreats him. Of course the hook is a play on the common expression, "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." One of the funnest songs on the album, which definitely would have made a good single.


"Poison"

This song is absolutely haunting!! The instruments sound so cool, and George's voice is so dark and warm. But the real stunning aspect of this song boils down to the lyrics. The way the song describes the way you love things even though they are bad for you is moody and almost sinister. My favorite lyric is the way it describes his lover: "Ruby lips hid a razor tongue and a heart blue as glacier ice."


"House Across The Bay"

One of the most classic George-sounding songs on the album. A good old heartbreak ballad looking back at a past love. George sells the performance here, as usual, and the melody is easily accessible. This was my favorite from the album when it came out, but it has unfortunately not aged super well for me. Still would have probably made a good single though.


"A Showman's Life" ft. Faith Hill

One of the best ballads on the album! This song is incredible. The way it portrays the life of an entertainer on the road is so raw and emotional without being judgmental, and George sounds nothing short of believable singing a song like this. Not to mention that the melody is quite complex in the verses, and allows George to test out some of his highest notes in the middle of all the verses and choruses. Of course having Faith Hill on background vocals is a plus!


"I'll Always Remember You"

What does one even say about this song? It sort of speaks for itself! This is one of those songs that sounds amazing and draws you in from the very first steel guitar note in the intro. Then as soon as George starts singing, and you realize that he is singing directly to "you" the fan, it grabs you by the heart and starts squeezing hard... I imagine this song ripped some people apart when they heard it for the first time. Can you even imagine if you're just jamming along to your favorite artist's new album for the first time and had no idea what was coming, and all of a sudden they start singing directly to you hinting at the eventual end of their career?? I still get major chills when I listen to this song. Spoken-word part and all.

Also, I have never been one to cry easily, but when George announced his retirement for real a couple years after this song came out, I laid down on my dorm bed and queued this song up on my iPod, and the moment the first chorus started and I heard, "I'm not saying I'm through by any means," I was absolutely bawling.

---

bboat11 @adam1995 Cody Wants Out... .indulgecountry codyj100 sabre14 George Strait Junkie zaclord 🌈 mamasaid castleoblivion26 DistrictTwelve countrymusicjunkie CoJoFan gardyfan carriekins fearlessarrow LBTrocks tim BackwoodsBarbie Kanenrá:ke

[bboat11]

Damn it, now I'm crying listening to "I'll Always Remember You" again right now! I thought I was over that part of my life. I guess this rankdown is getting me all up in my feels.

[bboat11]

Oh my, you’re really fillin’ up their eyes.
Smilin’ and a-winkin’,
I know what they’re thinkin’.
But I’m the only one who loves you so.

39. "Adalida"

Album: Lead On

Year: 1995





Total: 901
Average: 45.05
Std Dev: 25.81


.indulgecountry - 12
LBTrocks - 15
mamasaid - 17
castleoblivion26 - 17
@adam1995 - 19
Kanenrá:ke - 21
carriekins - 22
CoJoFan - 36
Cody Wants Out... - 41
George Strait Junkie - 43
gardyfan - 43
fearlessarrow - 44
DistrictTwelve - 53
tim - 54
codyj100 - 54
bboat11 - 75
sabre14 - 77
BackwoodsBarbie - 82
zaclord 🌈 - 88
countrymusicjunkie - 88



Okay, this is a great song, but I cannot believe that this was the highest-placing single from the Lead On album. I always assumed this was one of his more forgotten singles. Also this song has a certain vibe to it that I figured would make it more polarizing. But in reality this was pretty much always a top 40 contender!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love

[bboat11]

Album Spotlight: Lead On

Released: November 8, 1994
Label: MCA Nashville
Producer: Tony Brown, George Strait
Runtime: 30 min. 45 sec.
Country Albums Chart: 1
Certification: 2x Platinum


Singles/Rankdown Placements:
The Big One (50)
You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody (54)
Adalida (39)
Lead On (84)

Average Rank: 56.75


Tracklist:
1. You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody
2. Adalida
3. I Met A Friend Of Yours Today
4. Nobody Has To Get Hurt
5. Down Louisiana Way
6. Lead On
7. What Am I Waiting For
8. The Big One
9. I'll Always Be Loving You
10. No One But You

---

Album Tracks:

"Nobody Has To Get Hurt"

This one has always just stood out to me for some reason. A big part of it might be how tight the band sounds in the musical arrangement. This song has excellent musicianship through-and-through! Plus the chorus melody is catchy and George sounds great. I love the juxtaposition between the way the verses are kinda lethargic melodically, in contrast with how the chorus feels like it has a lot of energy. This is one that I listen to and think "The song isn't groundbreaking or anything, but this could have still easily been a #1 hit."


"Down Louisiana Way"

By far the catchiest song on the album, and the biggest missed hit opportunity. This is one of those songs that you listen to and just assume it WAS a #1 hit for him, so the fact that it wasn't even a single is just asinine... It would have made a better single than both "Lead On" and "You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody" for sure (and I would also say "Adalida", but apparently y'all like that one more than I expected so it might have been the right single choice after all). My only complaint with this song is that it feels too long fairly often when I listen to it.


"What Am I Waiting For"

This song has just always stood out to me because it has a pretty unique vibe to it. It is a groovy uptempo that has a feeling of urgency to it that fits perfectly with the lyrics about a man being stood-up by his date.


"I'll Always Be Loving You"

This is one of those songs that I listened to for the first time and felt like I had heard it somewhere before... But it wasn't a cover as far as I know. So I guess it must just be a song that jumps out at you! The melody to this song is very unique, which is definitely its strongest suit.

---

bboat11 @adam1995 Cody Wants Out... .indulgecountry codyj100 sabre14 George Strait Junkie zaclord 🌈 mamasaid castleoblivion26 DistrictTwelve countrymusicjunkie CoJoFan gardyfan carriekins fearlessarrow LBTrocks tim BackwoodsBarbie Kanenrá:ke

[bboat11]

[fearlessarrow]

I have too little knowledge about George Strait music to figure this hint out but I'll post a comment here because why not?

I thought I liked "Adalida" a lot but I ranked it at #44 lol

[.indulgecountry]

Omg what the actual fuck at "Adalida" out this low?! You heathens. This is like one of his catchiest tunes of all time. The production and melody of "Adalida" is pure country gold.