Living And Living Well

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 11 Jul 2002 9:23 am

JDG is the voice on the Austin city Limits Theme song..I took Don Imus advice and bought the CD. I'm not disapointed it's originality and raw cuts are good. Joe ELY and Loyd Maines workout on this CD also.

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CJC

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 12 Jul 2002 4:08 am

A couple more #1's for him, and he'll take the lead over Conway Twitty for most #1's!

If you don't count the Conway duets with Loretta, George and Conway are now tied at
49 #1's

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 12 Jul 2002 7:19 am

James Hall wrote:

He used to be ,now he's mostly hype and programmed like the system calls for.

I don't see anything wrong with that. "Hype" is advertising, and its the American way. Without some hype, you can't sell CDs. I hype the "Forum CD of the Month", and it always outsells all of the other CDs in the catalog.

"Programmed" is how radio playlists are made. The days of independent DJs playing what they like are over. If you're not programmed, you don't get played. Being added to a programmed playlist is part of the hype, and it sells records.

If George Strait is guilty of anything, its of staying contemporary while maintaining his traditional roots. I wonder what musical aspects of his newer songs you (James) don't like. Sometimes he plays more than 4 chords - does that offend you? Are the drums too loud in the mix? Do you just prefer shuffles to straight (no pun) time?

There's a lot of junk on the radio that I don't like. Unimaginitive chord progressions with stupid lyrics, too-loud drums and mindless guitar pyrotechnics have become commonplace. George Strait's hits have never fallen into this category, in my mind. He has always been a true "recording artist".

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Jul 2002 8:28 am

I like it.
The steel being so up-front in the mix is something we don't get enough.

The intro Fiddle-Steel had me before George sang a note.

Earl Foote · Post by **Earl Foote** » 12 Jul 2002 12:23 pm

The guy in the Flatlanders is Jimmy Dale Gilmore. He has a very unique & recognizable voice.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 12 Jul 2002 2:12 pm

"Stars On the Water" is the best song? Thanks for the warning.

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Jeff

"If you can hear it, you can have it."
--Ray Brown

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 12 Jul 2002 10:43 pm

I personsonally don't think Country is country with Jazz chords.

What is a "Jazz chord"? If its a 6th,7th,9th or 13th chord, then we should'nt use those tunings on steels if we play "Country" becuase those are "Jazz Chords"?
If there is such a thing as a"Jazz Chord" then what are the "Country Chords"? Please help me with this, as I would like to learn how to play "Country" with out offending any noted Jazz musician's.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 15 Jul 2002 3:09 pm

WOW! Another #1 for George Strait!

Wayne Morgan · Post by **Wayne Morgan** » 17 Jul 2002 3:14 pm

George K.,
The bucket deal doesn't work if you don't have muddy water or empty space, maybe thats your problem with the bucket.
Wayne

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Wayne Morgan
BMI D10 8x8, Nash 400,'63 Fender Super Reverbe,and '71 telecaster custom

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 17 Jul 2002 3:53 pm

James Hall, I don't think you answered my question, which was: What musical aspects of George Strait's newer songs do you dislike? I guess I shouldn't have framed it as multiple choice, because you seem to be saying "none of the above".

I'm a bit puzzled, because I thought everyone liked George Strait. What's not to like?

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 18 Jul 2002 6:16 am

I think George is one of the most listenable artists on country radio today. I think he manages to keep that 'country' sound in the face of modern production and pop pressures. As for steel, Paul is virtually always given a prominent position in the mix (in George material as well as others). b0b, regarding your comment on country radio.... there is now only one country station in the Bay Area, KRTY of San Jose. They remain independent and are proud of their lack of affilliation with and control by conglomerates. It's very cool!

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Bill L | My steel page | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 19 Jul 2002 10:05 am

I guess my question isn't clear enough, James. I asked "What musical aspects of George Strait's newer songs do you dislike?" By "musical", I mean things like rhythms, arrangements, chord progressions, studio mixes, etc.

This is interesting to me. As a performer, I like to know what musical aspects of a performance rub the audience the wrong way. I can't control the singer's presentation, but often I have some say in song selection and stylistic musical elements. That is the basis for my question.

Perhaps what you dislike about the "new" Goerge Strait has more to do with the presentation on top 40 radio than with the music itself? Just a thought...

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 19 Jul 2002 1:09 pm

So I guess my answer is I don't care for his newer Nashvilized material.

So, it's the song selection? Or is it the Nashville-style arrangements (too much drums, etc.)?

Keith Currie · Post by **Keith Currie** » 19 Jul 2002 8:10 pm

Hey Bob remember that some folks dont even like home cooking. I personly think that George is one of the great ones.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 20 Jul 2002 11:34 am

[Disclaimer: I don't own the current album and haven't bought one of Strait's since the mid-'90s. As the singles became less and less country, I voted with my dollars.]

George Strait was once considered the "White Knight" of country music, a neo-traditionalist cowboy savior riding in to relieve us from the urban cowboy dreck. (Funny...some of that stuff doesn't sound so bad now. "Could I Have This Dance" sounds far countrier to me than "Living Well.")

So, part of the disappointment is based on what he once was and where he's going: To synthesized vocal effects on "Stars" more befitting Britney Spears' ex-boyfriend than George Strait.

And yes, neo-Nash production can be noxious: Booming drums, thundering bass, thin, brittle steel, and very busy, chaotic mixes. Alison Krauss as producer could fix most of that. Yeah, her music is recorded there, too, proving it can be done, even today.

Being the least uncountry thing on "country radio" (and Strait's singles are not even that now--see Brad Paisley) is not a very inspiring standard, is it? Ever heard Strait's cut of "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name?" Historical perspective is useful. It's really sad and unfortunate to hear the guy capable of that recording turning into N'Strait.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 20 Jul 2002 7:00 pm

Jeff, My thoughts are if Allison produced George,you would hear no steelguitar.
Maybe, that would be better to you and others.
You may not care for his "Stars On The Water" version, but his rendention sounds fresh to me.

What I've liked about George is he keeps you thinking, Who is that? He's a tradionalist and yet he can step out of the box and make hit records that relate to people! I really love his country style. Theresa