George Strait Album Series

[bboat11]

‘Cause my heart won’t let me love no one but you.

My mind keeps tellin’ me that just won’t do.

My arms keep reachin’ out for someone new,

But my heart won’t let me love no one but you.

10. "No One But You"

Track #10

Runtime: 3:00

Songwriters: Max D. Barnes



Total: 90
Average: 7.50
Std Dev: 2.32


gonecountry - 3
LBTrocks - 4
.indulgecountry - 5
ClevelandRox - 7
George Strait Junkie - 8
gardyfan - 8
fearlessarrow - 8
bboat11 - 9
castleoblivion26 - 9
Cody Wants Out... - 9
tim - 10
taylor is terrified - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
I Met A Friend Of Yours Today
I’ll Always Be Loving You
Lead On
Nobody Has To Get Hurt
The Big One
What Am I Waiting For
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[tim]

The only correct choice for last place. This song is such a bore.

[bboat11]

Bowing out first is "No One But You". This rankdown was interesting, because while this song was our last place for the entire submission process, it was only ranked there by two people. Usually the last place song in album rankdowns has much more consistency than that; especially if it manages to be last place for the entire time. This song only finishes an incredibly slim two points behind our #9 song! So it was far from a runaway last place despite what the trajectory graph makes it look like.

"No One But You" is not bad at all, but I could certainly see it coming across as one of the more pedestrian songs on a strong album. I don't have a whole lot to say about it, tbh. I do enjoy it, but I am not disappointed to see it do poorly here because I enjoy almost everything else more.

It did manage to get three top 5s from gonecountry , LBTrocks , and .indulgecountry though, so clearly there will be some who are disappointed with how this rankdown is starting!

[tim]

“No One But You” was on the b-side of “The Big One” and honestly I’ve never liked the song. So it leaving last place is exactly where it should.

[taylor is terrified]

I agree with tim that "No One But You" was quite a snoozefest. Glad to see it leave where it should. Great start

[bboat11]

Please, don’t cry, woman,

‘Cause it’s much too late for tears.

Yeah, and I’m sorry too,

‘Cause it hurts after all these years.

And ain’t it sad

A love like ours should end this way.

And all because

I met a friend of yours today.

9. "I Met A Friend Of Yours Today"

Track #3

Runtime: 3:16

Songwriters: Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield



Total: 88
Average: 7.33
Std Dev: 2.23


George Strait Junkie - 3
tim - 4
gonecountry - 6
castleoblivion26 - 6
taylor is terrified - 7
.indulgecountry - 8
ClevelandRox - 8
Cody Wants Out... - 8
gardyfan - 9
fearlessarrow - 9
LBTrocks - 10
bboat11 - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
I’ll Always Be Loving You
Lead On
Nobody Has To Get Hurt
The Big One
What Am I Waiting For
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[bboat11]

I have always loved the overall story of "I Met A Friend Of Yours Today", but the conversational delivery makes me revisit it less than the rest of the album. Still, it is a solid song, so I am not surprised or disappointed to see it escape last place despite my own last place ranking for it!

This was a bottom 3 contender for the majority of the rankdown, with more than half of us putting it in our own bottom 3.

[bboat11]

It’s six minutes after eleven,

But I’m talkin’ about the next day.

Our date was just made to be broken.

I guess some things just never change.

8. "What Am I Waiting For"

Track #7

Runtime: 2:38

Songwriters: Jim Lauderdale



Total: 81
Average: 6.75
Std Dev: 2.49


taylor is terrified - 4
Cody Wants Out... - 4
bboat11 - 4
George Strait Junkie - 5
gardyfan - 5
tim - 6
LBTrocks - 6
castleoblivion26 - 8
.indulgecountry - 9
gonecountry - 10
ClevelandRox - 10
fearlessarrow - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
I’ll Always Be Loving You
Lead On
Nobody Has To Get Hurt
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[taylor is terrified]

And here's where I start to derail from everyone else

[bboat11]

The taste did NOT jump out with WAIWF leaving at #8... I have always found this song to be a really fun and refreshing burst of energy. George has done uptempo stuff of course, but he really doesn't have anything else in his entire career that sounds quite like this song. It is also a super relatable song, as you can feel the impatience in George's delivery at constantly getting stood up by his date. This song is a jam! It appeared ready to settle into the top 5 at first, but stumbled mightily as some of the low ranks started coming in. Fortunately it was able to stabilize and rebound a bit at the end!

[bboat11]

Oct 18, 2020 19:01:34 GMT -5 tim said:

I don't know what this was supposed to be, but nothing is showing up for me. Lol

[tim]

[fearlessarrow]

Oct 18, 2020 18:50:11 GMT -5 taylor is terrified said:

And here's where I start to derail from everyone else

The regularly scheduled programming

[bboat11]

You can change your dreams, change your heart,

Or change your mind,

And just pretend that it all ends

With your goodbye.

You can walk out and forget

The love we knew.

As for me, I’ll always be lovin’ you.

7. "I'll Always Be Loving You"

Track #9

Runtime: 2:33

Songwriters: Aaron Barker, Donny Kees, Sanger D. Shafer

Total: 74
Average: 6.17
Std Dev: 2.21 (3rd smallest!)


LBTrocks - 3
George Strait Junkie - 4
castleoblivion26 - 4
.indulgecountry - 4
taylor is terrified - 5
ClevelandRox - 6
gardyfan - 7
gonecountry - 7
fearlessarrow - 7
bboat11 - 8
tim - 9
Cody Wants Out... - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
Lead On
Nobody Has To Get Hurt
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[bboat11]

"I'll Always Be Loving You"'s distribution here looks very similar to all the other album tracks we've seen so far. Ranks ranging all over, from the top 5 all the way down to last place. This one was practically the opposite as "What Am I Waiting For", as it started out as a bottom 2 contender, but it picked up some high ranks which allowed it to push ahead a bit as submissions came in.

This song has a very unique and memorable melody, that makes it sound to me like it could have been a big hit. However, imo it pales in comparison to the two album tracks that are left ("Nobody Has To Get Hurt" and "Down Louisiana Way"), plus the singles always do well, so imo this feels like an appropriate time for this one to leave!

[bboat11]

Alright, we have arrived at the top 6!!!

Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
Lead On
Nobody Has To Get Hurt
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

What could possibly miss the top 5 out of this perfect sextet of songs?! Can "Lead On" shake the 'boring' perception that it tends to have on Pulse? Can "Down Louisiana Way" last any longer despite all the people who apparently hate it? Will "Adalida"'s weird cajun vibe hold it back? Will "Nobody Has To Get Hurt" succumb to the fact that nobody really seems to be talking about it? Could "The Big One" or "You Can't Make A Heart" pull off a shocking and unexpected flopping act?!

I'm going to go pick up some pizza for dinner, and then I'll be back to press onward!!! In the meantime, feel free to make predictions!

[bboat11]

Oct 18, 2020 20:18:53 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

What could possibly miss the top 5 out of this perfect sextet of songs?! Can "Lead On" shake the 'boring' perception that it tends to have on Pulse? Can "Down Louisiana Way" last any longer despite all the people who apparently hate it? Will "Adalida"'s weird cajun vibe hold it back? Will "Nobody Has To Get Hurt" succumb to the fact that nobody really seems to be talking about it? Could "The Big One" or "You Can't Make A Heart" pull off a shocking and unexpected flopping act?!

Aaaand we have a winner! (Loser?)

---

We can do this thing right,

Fix what went wrong,

Really make this work.

Turn around real slow,

Walk straight back to me.

Nobody has to get hurt.

6. "Nobody Has To Get Hurt"

Track #4

Runtime: 2:31

Songwriters: Jim Lauderdale, Terry McBride



Total: 71
Average: 5.92
Std Dev: 1.88 (2nd smallest!!)


ClevelandRox - 3
bboat11 - 3
gonecountry - 4
fearlessarrow - 5
George Strait Junkie - 6
.indulgecountry - 6
gardyfan - 6
LBTrocks - 7
castleoblivion26 - 7
Cody Wants Out... - 7
tim - 8
taylor is terrified - 9

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
Lead On
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[bboat11]

"Nobody Has To Get Hurt" just barely misses out on the top 5 by 3 points! This has always been one of my favorite tracks from the album. It has "hit single" written aaaaalll over it imo. That chorus is pure ear candy. It's one of those songs where I just feel so satisfied the moment I hear that "We can do this thing right" melody kick in  I can't wait to see how this does in the album tracks rankdown. I expect it to be a strong competitor.


With this elimination, "Down Louisiana Way" is our highest remaining album track. What do you think about that, castleoblivion26 , tim , .indulgecountry , gonecountry , taylor is terrified , and whoever else was part of that fun debate?

[bboat11]

The Top 5!

Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
Lead On
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[taylor is terrified]

Oct 18, 2020 21:13:29 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

With this elimination, "Down Louisiana Way" is our highest remaining album track. What do you think about that, castleoblivion26 , tim , .indulgecountry , gonecountry , taylor is terrified , and whoever else was part of that fun debate?

I think that that's incredible. And it deserves Top 3 status imo 

[fearlessarrow]

I was not part of that debate but "Down Louisiana Way" is one of the best tracks on the album and does not deserve the slander that it got earlier in the thread period.

[LBTrocks]

"Down Louisiana Way" in the top 5 where it belongs!

[bboat11]

Watch "Down Louisiana Way" win the '90s album tracks rankdown just because of all the attention and conversation it generated here 😂

[castleoblivion26]

Oct 18, 2020 23:36:11 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Watch "Down Louisiana Way" win the '90s album tracks rankdown just because of all the attention and conversation it generated here 😂

tbh I'm kinda looking forward to revisiting that one to see if it grows on me any because I didn't care for it at all for this album (hence my last place ranking lol)

[bboat11]

She said, “I had a love once,
But he just up and left me.”
I said, “I bet it broke your heart.
I had a love once too, but
I acted like a fool.
Oh, what I’d give to be back in her arms.”

Then she smiled and said, “The invitation’s open,
‘Cause you look just like what I’ve been waitin’ on.”
So I said, “Why don’t we take this matter somewhere else,
And pick up right where everything went wrong?
Lead on.”

5. "Lead On"

Track #6

Runtime: 3:28

Songwriters: Dean Dillon, Teddy Gentry

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #84 out of 100

Total: 68
Average: 5.67
Std Dev: 3.08 (2nd largest!!)


ClevelandRox - 1
gonecountry - 2
gardyfan - 3
castleoblivion26 - 3
Cody Wants Out... - 5
tim - 5
bboat11 - 6
fearlessarrow - 6
taylor is terrified - 8
LBTrocks - 9
George Strait Junkie - 10
.indulgecountry - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
Down Louisiana Way
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[bboat11]

We kick off this top 5 with our title track, our first single, AND our first #1 loss! "Lead On" is one of George's 60 #1 hits, but it only made it to #7 on Billboard, so I guess it's technically the flop of the album despite being one of his 60 #1s? I dunno, I have always considered "Adalida" to be the flop of the album because it's the only hit from this album that I didn't get to know from the 50 #1s album. (It peaked at #3. What a flop!)

However, there is no question that "Lead On" is considered more of a flop on Pulse! This song barely escaped the bottom 15 of George's singles rankdown. It was practically the first #1 hit that we got rid of. (Just went and double checked: It was the 3rd #1 we got rid of. Out of 60!!)

I can understand the mixed reception this song gets on Pulse. I think the premise is really strong: two people who are sad about messing up their relationships meet in a bar, and decide to try to heal their remorse and sorrow by falling in love with each other. It is superbly well-written. I would argue that the "She said 'I don't recall seeing you around here. You must be new to this town'" opening line has got to be one of those iconic and memorable opening lines that stands out ahead of most of his career.

However, melodically I can absolutely understand why it might be boring for some. It goes for a dark, smoky vibe that is meant to portray the flirtatious-yet-sad intimacy between the people introducing themselves in the bar. It definitely does not sound like it would be a radio hit for anybody but George Strait, who could do pretty much whatever he wanted at this point in his career. "Down Louisiana Way" and "Nobody Has To Get Hurt" would have both been much safer single choices, imo!

[bboat11]

So long, friend, guess I’ll see you while ago.

I might be back sometime, you just never know.

I have left a sweetheart north of Whiskey Bay.

True love waits down Louisiana way.

4. "Down Louisiana Way"

Track #5

Runtime: 4:18

Songwriters: Aaron Barker, Donny Kees, Sanger D. Shafer





Total: 65
Average: 5.42
Std Dev: 3.15 (Largest!!!)


bboat11 - 2
taylor is terrified - 2
.indulgecountry - 2
tim - 3
fearlessarrow - 3
ClevelandRox - 5
LBTrocks - 5
Cody Wants Out... - 6
gonecountry - 8
George Strait Junkie - 9
gardyfan - 10
castleoblivion26 - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
The Big One
You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody

[bboat11]

At long last, there it is! Watching "Down Louisiana Way" was a huge nail biter for pretty much the entire submission process!! There was little doubt in my mind that this would be the highest album track going into this thing.....until all of a sudden three of our first five participants tanked it to hell!!! It plummeted all the way from #2 to #9 in the 3 lists between my own and gardyfan's. Fortunately things normalized in the second half of the submission process... It regained its footing, and climbed comfortably back into the midst of the singles where it belonged.

This song has always sounded like a HUGE smash hit to me. It is fun, catchy, and just unique enough to really stand out. To me it puts off a similar easy-listening vibe to what makes something like "Amarillo By Morning" such a memorable and repeatable song.

Nobody ranked it at #1, but a trio of top 2s from myself, taylor is terrified, and .indulgecountry helped to give it the ammunition it needed to remain a strong competitor, as well as the top 5 ranks it received from more than half of the participants. Meanwhile, gardyfan and castleoblivion26 lose their last place... That spread pretty much guaranteed it was going to finish as our most polarizing song, despite the fact that this is one of the biggest fan favorites on the album.

I really look forward to seeing how this one does in the '90s album tracks rankdown

[taylor is terrified]

This is gonna be a night of tragic trajectories it seems! First this (albeit not too tragic since it regained its footing but still) and then...well, if you stay tuned for the grand finale of Come On Over, you'll see. Not to say too much more...but your jaw will drop to the floor. 

[bboat11]

You can’t make a heart love somebody.

You can tell it what to do,

But it won’t listen at all.

You can’t make a heart love somebody.

You can lead a heart to love,

But you can’t make it fall.

3. "You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody"

Track #1

Runtime: 3:21

Songwriters: Steve Clark, Johnny MacRae

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #54 out of 100





Total: 59
Average: 4.92
Std Dev: 3.06 (3rd largest!)


Cody Wants Out... - 1
gardyfan - 1
tim - 2
fearlessarrow - 2
taylor is terrified - 3
bboat11 - 5
castleoblivion26 - 5
.indulgecountry - 7
George Strait Junkie - 7
LBTrocks - 8
ClevelandRox - 9
gonecountry - 9

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Adalida
The Big One