George Strait Album Series

[ClevelandRox]

Ugh, single bias is already really playing a factor with this one. 😕

[taylor is terrified]

Look at me actually doing a strikingly good job with this album so far 

[tim]

As predicted "We Must Be Loving Right" exited which came as no surprise to many I’m sure. Even though I placed this just one spot shy of last place I think it makes sense for this to leave first. For most first-time listeners this likely stood out like a sore thumb and might’ve even been a chore to even get through. George of course has always been a Frank Sinatra fan and during this time period wasn’t shy about his hopes one day to do a big band-styled album much in the same vain as ‘Ol Blue Eyes himself. George’s dream of doing so would somewhat come to fruition when he recorded a vocal track for “Fly Me to the Moon” which was supposed to be included on Frank’s Duets II. For unknown reasons the producers opted not to include this version and selected a different duet partner instead. George himself stated he was rather peeved about the entire thing, but nonetheless we finally got to hear this track on Strait Out of the Box. I’m looking forward to revisiting this song again for George’s Extras rankdown!

I also assumed that track nine “That’s Where My Baby Feels At Home” would leave in the bottom two as I figured sonically it might not be everyones cup of tea. Anytime I put this album on I have to listen to this song as I can’t ever get enough of that double drum tap in the chorus.

Much to my disappointment we have “I Wasn’t Fooling Around” barely making the album cuts rankdown for the 90s and I'd gladly trade this one for the two that left before it. There’s just something about this song lyrically that I’ve never liked…needless to say I have an easy last place for that decade. I can understand the appeal of this song for others, but again this has always been the one song I skip on this album which I almost never do when it comes to George.

And now I’m left sitting here scratching my wondering just what I was thinking with that bottom three ranking for “Just Look At Me”. I’m quite disappointed in myself for putting it down there, so luckily bboat11 kindly corrected my lapse in judgment and put this in his top three. The only thing I can think of is that this is a song that I never go out of my way to listen to, but whenever I do put the album on this song then becomes a must listen.

[tim]

I know I won’t be around for any late night reveals, so just in case here’s my predictions as we head into the top 5:

6. Lovebug
5. The Man in Love With You
4. Without Me Around
3. Stay Out Of My Arms
2. I’d Like to Have That One Back
1. Easy Come, Easy Go

[bboat11]

Oct 14, 2020 19:41:37 GMT -5 tim said:

Much to my disappointment we have “I Wasn’t Fooling Around” barely making the album cuts rankdown for the 90s and I'd gladly trade this one for the two that left before it. There’s just something about this song lyrically that I’ve never liked…needless to say I have an easy last place for that decade. I can understand the appeal of this song for others, but again this has always been the one song I skip on this album which I almost never do when it comes to George.

And now I’m left sitting here scratching my wondering just what I was thinking with that bottom three ranking for “Just Look At Me”. I’m quite disappointed in myself for putting it down there, so luckily bboat11 kindly corrected my lapse in judgment and put this in his top three. The only thing I can think of is that this is a song that I never go out of my way to listen to, but whenever I do put the album on this song then becomes a must listen.

Well, this album had a hell of a lot of singles, so technically "That's Where My Baby Feels At Home" also makes the album tracks rankdown

And we will be trading NOTHING out for "We Must Be Loving Right". We absolutely put the correct song in last place, lol.

[bboat11]

So when the world won’t turn the way you wish it would,
And the dreams you have don’t come alive
As often as they should.
Remember that there’s someone there
Whose heart is always true.
I’ll always be the man in love with you.

6. "The Man In Love With You"

Track #8

Runtime: 3:24

Songwriters: Steve Dorff, Gary Harju

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #78 out of 100





Total: 74
Average: 6.17
Std Dev: 2.21


fearlessarrow - 2
gardyfan - 4
taylor is terrified - 4
bboat11 - 5
Cody Wants Out... - 5
LBTrocks - 6
.indulgecountry - 7
tim - 7
ClevelandRox - 8
castleoblivion26 - 8
George Strait Junkie - 9
gonecountry - 9

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Easy Come, Easy Go
I’d Like To Have That One Back
Lovebug
Stay Out Of My Arms
Without Me Around

[bboat11]

Oct 14, 2020 0:04:58 GMT -5 ClevelandRox said:

Ugh, single bias is already really playing a factor with this one. 😕

And just like that, single bias proves to not be strong enough to carry all of the singles from this album into the top 5! "The Man In Love With You" is one of George's #1 hits, but seems to be one of his more forgotten singles nowadays. I think it is really beautiful. I am a sucker for love songs though, and this just happens to be a perfect one to slow dance to I can definitely see why some might find it to be boring, however. Despite how much I like it, I can definitely see why it is leaving before everything that is left. It's kind of rare for a single to miss the top 5 in these things, but this one makes sense!

[bboat11]

Said she didn’t know what she was gettin’ into

When we got married.

But she knows good and damn well what she’s gettin’ out of.

Said she’s had enough of a man who’s never there

When she needs him.

She’ll be better off in the long run.

Without me around

Takin’ up her time, tyin’ her down.

Without me in the way,

She’ll be free to enjoy the freedom you say she’s found

Without me around.

5. "Without Me Around"

Track #7

Runtime: 3:28

Songwriters: Dean Dillon, John Northrup




Total: 69
Average: 5.75
Std Dev: 2.42 (2nd largest!!)


ClevelandRox - 2
fearlessarrow - 3
taylor is terrified - 3
tim - 4
gonecountry - 5
gardyfan - 6
castleoblivion26 - 6
bboat11 - 7
Cody Wants Out... - 7
.indulgecountry - 8
George Strait Junkie - 8
LBTrocks - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Easy Come, Easy Go
I’d Like To Have That One Back
Lovebug
Stay Out Of My Arms

[bboat11]

"Without Me Around" and "Just Look At Me" kinda flip-flopped to see which one would finish in the top 5 as the second-highest album track, with "The Man In Love With You" being firmly sandwiched between them.

This song is one that I have unfortunately kinda paid dust to throughout the years. I have always found the verses to be kinda clunky. However, that chorus really stays with you! As far as ballads are concerned, this might have been a better choice for radio than TMILWY. The lyrics for this one are also super strong and are simultaneously clever and relatable. Like, we don't have to have gone through a messy breakup to feel what George is expressing through this song. I am eager to see how this does in the album tracks rankdown!

[bboat11]

Many times, temptation grows so strong

And makes someone go blind to what is wrong.

We’ll stop now while there’s still the strength to see.

Turn your eyes and run away from me.

4. "Stay Out Of My Arms"

Track #1

Runtime: 2:36

Songwriters: Jim Lauderdale



Total: 55
Average: 4.58
Std Dev: 2.11 (2nd smallest!!)



bboat11 - 2
castleoblivion26 - 3
Cody Wants Out... - 3
George Strait Junkie - 3
ClevelandRox - 4
.indulgecountry - 4
LBTrocks - 4
taylor is terrified - 5
tim - 5
fearlessarrow - 6
gonecountry - 6
gardyfan - 10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Easy Come, Easy Go
I’d Like To Have That One Back
Lovebug

[bboat11]

Our top album track bows out at #4 with "Stay Out Of My Arms". This album opener is insanely catchy, and I knew from the moment that I first popped this album into my CD player that this was going to be one of those album tracks that really stands out as a missed hit opportunity! The melody is unrelentingly catchy! I think if they had released this instead of "Lovebug" for the album's 'catchy single', this one would have been a huge #1 smash, and probably much better received by the masses in the long run.

Of course "Lovebug" did better here, but we'll chalk that up entirely to single bias....

Side note, this seems like a pretty hard song to sing. It cracks me up in the second verse on "promises that you were told" when George suddenly jumps up to that high note and then aaaaalmost loses control of the song on his way back down It's not something that makes me like the song any less; it merely makes me smile :) It's one of those moments where you can feel his "realness" as a singer, you know? I love when that shows through :)

[bboat11]

Well, tried to outrun it,

But it finally caught up with me.

Tell me, how can I run

From somethin’ that I can’t see?

3. "Lovebug"

Track #5

Runtime: 2:52

Songwriters: Wayne Kemp, Curtis Wayne

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #90 out of 100

Total: 43
Average: 3.58
Std Dev: 2.23


LBTrocks - 1
castleoblivion26 - 2
George Strait Junkie - 2
.indulgecountry - 2
taylor is terrified - 2
tim - 3
gonecountry - 3
Cody Wants Out... - 4
fearlessarrow - 4
gardyfan - 5
bboat11 - 6
ClevelandRox - 9

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Easy Come, Easy Go
I’d Like To Have That One Back

[bboat11]

I have always felt like "Lovebug" is a bit more overhated than what it deserves, especially on Pulse. This song is nothing groundbreaking, but it is super catchy, and definitely does exactly what it was intended to do as a song!

It is ridiculous that single bias carried it into the to 3 here when it was #90 out of 100 in the singles rankdown But then again everybody here put this in their top 5 except for me and ClevelandRox, and mine was only barely outside...so it is probably safe to say that this song is hated more in comparison to the rest of George's hits than it is as a song itself!

[bboat11]

Easy Come Easy Go vs. I'd Like To Have That One Back

This battle was actually really close... The winner is about to come through with a ONE POINT VICTORY!!!!

[bboat11]

I’d like to have that one back.
I’ve never known someone so true.
And a love that pure and sweet
Is one a man should never lose.
And if my lips had said, “I’m sorry.”
She might’ve stopped right in her tracks.
But now I find my poor heart sayin’,
“I’d like to have that one back.”

2. "I'd Like To Have That One Back"

Track #4

Runtime: 3:53

Songwriters: Aaron Barker, Bill Shore, Rick West

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #58 out of 100

Total: 35
Average: 2.92
Std Dev: 2.19 (3rd smallest!)


.indulgecountry - 1
taylor is terrified - 1
gardyfan - 1
bboat11 - 1
ClevelandRox - 1
tim - 2
Cody Wants Out... - 2
castleoblivion26 - 4
gonecountry - 4
fearlessarrow - 5
George Strait Junkie - 6
LBTrocks - 7

---

Says she’s had enough of me.
I’ve had enough of her too.
I might as well go on and set her free.
She’s already turned me loose.
No fault, no blame, nobody done no wrong.
That’s just the way it sometimes goes.
Sometimes two people just don’t get along,
And it’s time to hit the road.

1. Easy Come, Easy Go

Track #3

Runtime: 3:05

Songwriters: Aaron Barker, Dean Dillon

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #36 out of 100





Total: 34
Average: 2.83
Std Dev: 2.82 (Largest!!!)


tim - 1
Cody Wants Out... - 1
castleoblivion26 - 1
gonecountry - 1
fearlessarrow - 1
George Strait Junkie - 1
gardyfan - 2
LBTrocks - 2
ClevelandRox - 3
bboat11 - 4
taylor is terrified - 8
.indulgecountry - 9

[bboat11]

The album's two most iconic singles proved to be our runaway top 2, as we mostly expected. And, "Easy Come, Easy Go" was probably the most expected winner. However, it picked up enough hate along the way from the likes of taylor is terrified and .indulgecountry to make it our most polarizing song! "I'd Like To Have That One Back" flip-flopped with it several times, and was actually looking just about ready to put the nail in the coffin for our title track, when LBTrocks came in at the last minute and baaaarely knocked it back again. With ClevelandRox's final list, the small gap was closed even more to a mere 1 point victory for the title track!

I have always loved "I'd Like To Have That One Back" from the moment I first purchased George's 50 #1s album (the album where I really started getting into him.) This is the sort of power ballad that I eat up. George's vocals are powerful and resonant on ballads like this, and the lyrics are so wistful and reflective. It was an easy pick for me for #1, and I was not the only one, because it got a #1 rank from nearly half of us! I was excited to see it nearly finish at #1, but alas, it was not quite meant to be. I'm just impressed it put up such a strong fight!!

"Easy Come, Easy Go" was an expected strong competitor, of course. This was the album's only Billboard #1, and is definitely a classic that has stood the test of time. This one is very catchy, especially in the electric guitar work. This one does have a little bit of a novelty vibe to the chorus, so I can understand why people might get tired of it. However, there is no doubt that it is a very fitting winner for this rankdown.

[bboat11]

I'll go ahead and post the pre-reveal questions for Lead On right now, but y'all are welcome and encouraged to still share your thoughts on Easy Come Easy Go too when you wake all up and see this

[bboat11]

Lead On Rankdown: Results Time!

Final Participant List: (12)
1. tim
2. bboat11
3. George Strait Junkie
4. castleoblivion26
5. gardyfan
6. .indulgecountry
7. gonecountry
8. fearlessarrow
9. Cody Wants Out...
10. taylor is terrified
11. LBTrocks
12. ClevelandRox

---

Questions to get us started:

1) What will be #1?

2) What will be #10?

3) Which songs belong in the top 5?

4) What song will be most polarizing? Least polarizing?

5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? (The Big One, You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody, Adalida, Lead On)

6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5?

7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place?

8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see do the best?

9) Any other thoughts/predictions?

[ClevelandRox]

My God I LOATHE Lovebug. Possibly my least favorite single of his career. I didn't participate in the singles rankdown but 90 out of 100 sounds about right. 😒

Easy Come Easy Go is definitely what I consider the most remembered single from this album so I'm still happy with the result even if my #1 still lost by a point. 😃 Other than Lovebug, really happy with how this rankdown turned out!

[tim]

Can't even let us catch up with the late night reveals before moving on ... anyways, I'll post some thoughts about ECEG later this afternoon but until then here are my predictions for Lead On:

1) What will be #1? “Adalida”

2) What will be #10? “No One But You” or “I’ll Always Be Loving You”

3) Which songs belong in the top 5? All four of the albums singles “Adalida”, “You Can’t Make a Heart Love Somebody”, “The Big One”, and “Lead On” will make it leaving only one album track. I’d guess it’ll be either “Down Louisiana Way” or “I Met a Friend of Yours Today”.

4) What song will be most polarizing? “You Can’t Make a Heart Love Somebody” or a random album track such as "What Am I Waiting For" Least polarizing? “Down Louisiana Way”

5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? “Adalida” FTW with “The Big One” and “You Can’t Make a Heart Love Somebody” dueling it out for a top two position

6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5? If by chance one does it would be the title track, but I still expect it to make #5 at a minimum

7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place? “Down Louisiana Way” in the top five

8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see do the best? “I Met a Friend of Yours Today” for sure

9) Any other thoughts/predictions? I didn't realize what a difficult task it would be to rank these songs as the album is solid all the way through. With my bottom two being the exception, I would say I made more edits to my list than any other previous George album I ranked. I do think this album often gets overlooked amongst the rest of his 90s releases if only because it's sandwiched between his Pure Country and Blue Clear Sky/Carrying Your Love With Me eras, the latter of which saw George being to cement his legendary status as the King of Country. I'd also put his box set in there too as the single that followed this album era, "Check Yes Or No", went on to become one of his signature hits. Nonetheless, I think this album has aged like fine wine and this is one record that I love listening to from front to back.

[gonecountry]

1) What will be #1? This is harder to guess. I think it's between The Big One and You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody. I'm leaning towards YCMAHLS, though I'm not a fan of this one.

2) What will be #10? Down Louisiana Way perhaps

3) Which songs belong in the top 5? The Big One, Lead On, Adalida, No One But You, and Nobody Has To Get Hurt

4) What song will be most polarizing? Most - Adalida Least polarizing? An album cut, perhaps Down Louisiana Way

5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? (The Big One, You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody, Adalida, Lead On) #1, between The Big One and You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody

6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5? Yes. That said, I really enjoyed Lead On, so I'm hoping that isn't the one that misses the Top 5 as that was the lowest charter.

7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place? No clue, but I'm thinking in the Top 3.

8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see do the best? No One But You

9) Any other thoughts/predictions? Strong album. I thought some of the single choices were a bit perplexing. I had a harder time reading what might be the perceived clunkers on this one.

[taylor is terrified]

I loved "Lovebug" 

I'm shocked at how well I did with this album relatively. That's the longest my #1 has stayed in a George album rankdown!!!! I'm happy to see I was the one that helped bring it to the crown one final time...but alas. Still a very close finish and I'm glad it put up such a fight!

As for the next album...I just hope "Down Louisiana Way" and "Adalida" do as well as possible here.

[.indulgecountry]

Oct 15, 2020 7:23:01 GMT -5 gonecountry said:

2) What will be #10? Down Louisiana Way perhaps

Well I sure hope you're an outlier on this opinion because what the actual fuq? That should 100% be the LAST album cut to leave from the record. It's fantastic.

[tim]

Not really sure where to start with the final results of Easy Come Easy Go, but suffice it to say that I’m glad the title track ended up pulling ahead even if only by one point (thank you LBTrocks for making this happen ). I’m a bit taken aback that this turned out to be the most polarizing song of the rankdown as I was certain it was going to be something along the lines of “Lovebug”.

Speaking of which, “Lovebug” far and away exceeded my expectations as I felt certain it would miss the top five if only because it barely managed to escape the bottom 10 in George’s singles rankdown. This has long been a fan favorite and was always one of the highlights from George’s live shows. I also have to admit that as a young boy I was absolutely obsessed with this song and couldn’t get enough of it (probably much to my mom’s chagrin lol).

I’m sure if George has a favorite song on this album it would likely be “The Man In Love With You”. This is one of those songs that as a young boy I couldn’t really relate to and therefore probably skipped it more often than not back then. That said, as time has passed I’ve grown to have a deeper appreciation for it.

“Without Me Around” has always been one of my go-to album tracks and I’m pleasantly surprised to see it make the top 5…although I wasn’t expecting this one to be polarizing either. Whereas bboat11 mentioned he finds the versus clunky, I actually have always liked them and is one reason why the song stands out to me. George almost sings the versus with a borderline speaking stance that I just have never been able to get enough of…especially the way in which he sings But she knows damn well what she's getting out of 

I didn’t have much doubt that “Stay Out of My Arms” would be the highest placing album track as it’s always been a standout. This must’ve also been a favorite of George’s as I believe it was the song he used to kick off his shows during the tour for this album and also personally selected this as one of the two album tracks from ECEG to include on Strait Out of the Box. I expect this song will do quite well in the album tracks rankdown too.

My gut feeling was that “I’d Like to Have That One Back” was going to be a #1 contender and so I wasn’t surprised to see it perform as such. My mom and I always had a strong connection to this song and to this day can be just as heart-wrenching to hear as it was back then. I often find myself reaching out to play this song at specific times of the year as it brings back certain memories.

Swinging back around to the title cut one last time…I remember George telling the story about how he really had to put up a fight to record this song as the songwriter Dean Dillon was wanting to release this as single for his own album released that same year. Dean relented and well the rest is history as this became George’s 25th number one hit.

[tim]

Oct 15, 2020 10:24:03 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Oct 15, 2020 7:23:01 GMT -5 gonecountry said:

2) What will be #10? Down Louisiana Way perhaps

Well I sure hope you're an outlier on this opinion because what the actual fuq? That should 100% be the LAST album cut to leave from the record. It's fantastic.

Yea I think gonecountry might be one of the lone dissenters as I fully expect to see "Down Louisiana Way" be a top 5 contender

[LBTrocks]

Very happy with how this played out! Glad “Lovebug” made top 3 cuz what an infectious little jam!!

While I do like “I’d Like To Have That One Back” it is slightly overrated imo. The melody is pretty basic and unmemorable. Definitely not one of my fav George tunes. Pretty sure I ranked it very low in his big rd as well.

“Easy Come, Easy Go” however has a fantastic melody! Very pleased with this winning!

Also agree that “Down Louisiana Way” definitely deserves top 5!

[castleoblivion26]

I'm thinking I should probably give "Down Louisiana Way" another listen, cause personally hope that song is #10...

[bboat11]

Yeah, if y'all haven't picked up on it yet, there are quite a few people with incredibly floppy opinions on this album

[bboat11]

Howdy!!! As I just said in the Martina McBride rankdown, I have been busy moving the last few days!! My family finally left to go back home, and my WiFi is hooked up, so I'm going to go ahead and dive into this album even though I have so many things to unpack, wash, clean, put away, etc. 😂

[bboat11]

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