George Strait is easily the most successful traditional country artist
year after year for many years running. Thirty Three Albums. George would
rather avoid the spotlight and stay on his Texas farm or tour and record
music. His music is music that Hank Sr. would be proud of. He sings honky tonk
songs about rodeos, love and life.
This live recording is really live. His studio recordings take on new
life with his excellent road band, plenty of great steel, fiddle and country
guitar. This show is his last at the Astrodome which was being replaced and
torn down. A studio quality recording with enough crowd noise to make things
exciting without being distracting.
Nine songs are former number one hits. George really seems to be
enjoying himself playing to this crowd of about sixty eight thousand. The acid
test of an artist to me is how they sound live. George really takes his music
to another level on this live recording. He really has fun with his band and
phrasing the song lines creatively with his signature voice.
Standouts are "Run", a recent mid-tempo love song. The great "Murder On
Music Row", this song is a masterpiece of truth about the Nashville Scene and
George has a ball singing it. The lyrics are so apropos - just great. "Living
and Living Well" is an upbeat song about life. "She'll Leave You With A Smile"
is a song that he nails about the deception of a woman in love.
Strait does an awesome acoustic version of "Love Without End Amen".
Awesome lyrics about unconditional love. Other great songs include "Write This
Down", "I Can Still Make Cheyenne", "Blue Clear Sky" and "The Cowboy Rides
Away".
In Closing, this is a very enjoyable listen, the next best thing to
being there.
