walking upstream…
George Strait
photo: bede735 · cc by-sa 3.0 ↗George Strait
sourcesWikipedia · American Songwriter
Born in Poteet, Texas in 1952, George Strait modeled his career after the honky-tonk and Western swing traditions he grew up on, debuting with 1981's "Unwound" and going on to log more number-one country singles than any artist in history. Nicknamed "King George," his understated, twang-forward vocal delivery and traditional Texas dancehall arrangements made him the standard-bearer for neotraditional country through the 1980s and beyond.
the sound in question
1982
Amarillo by MorningGeorge Strait
walk the tributaries ↓
Bob Wills1930s-40s · Western swing / Country
Strait's early records leaned on toned-down Western swing arrangements straight out of the Bob Wills songbook — his 1984 hit "Right or Wrong" is itself a cover of a tune Wills had made a Texas dancehall standard.
listen: upstream & here
1940
New San Antonio RoseBob Wills
1984
Right or WrongGeorge Strait
listen forPlay Wills's "New San Antonio Rose" and then Strait's "Right or Wrong" — same easy Texas shuffle and dancehall swing, just filtered through a smaller honky-tonk band.
Merle Haggard1970s · Country / Bakersfield sound
Strait has said he always wanted a career like Merle Haggard's, and Haggard's Bob Wills tribute album is credited with steering young Strait toward Western swing in the first place. The unadorned, working-class shuffle of Haggard's records runs through Strait's uptempo dancehall cuts.
listen: upstream & here
1968
Mama TriedMerle Haggard
1985
The FiremanGeorge Strait
listen forSet Haggard's "Mama Tried" against Strait's "The Fireman" — both keep the arrangement lean and let a steady, unhurried honky-tonk backbeat do the work.
George Jones1980s · Honky-tonk / Country / Countrypolitan
Strait has named George Jones as one of the two singers whose career he most wanted to emulate. Jones's tradition of narrative, character-driven honky-tonk songwriting surfaces in Strait's story-songs.
listen: upstream & here
1980
He Stopped Loving Her TodayGeorge Jones
1985
The ChairGeorge Strait
listen forHear how Jones's "He Stopped Loving Her Today" tells its whole story through one devastating twist, then listen for the same device — a barroom pickup line turned life story — in Strait's "The Chair."