Strait Out of the Box

Few mainstream artists can honestly say that every album or song they have cranked out truly represents them. George Strait can. This boxed set is what all other boxed sets should be measured by: top-notch hits, sentimental favorites, and songs from throughout a career. This set is the perfect introduction to Mr. Strait for anyone who wants to learn more about him. The liner notes alone are worth the cost. Strait gives personal commentary on each song and why it was put in the set. He tells you his likes and dislikes, as well as reasons why he prefers to sing songs written by others and not himself. You'll find out that "Marina Del Rey" has something in it that doesn't sit quite right with Strait.

Disc-wise, all four have something on them that is sure to please. Big hits are included as well as a few early tunes written by Strait. I could go into detail about the songs, but all I really need to say is that every song in this set belongs for a reason.

Strait's sound...Read more

George Strait's influence on modern country music is immense: all you have to do is turn on your local country station and you'll hear some of his countless clones twanging out a tune. Thankfully, Strait didn't follow the pack when he emerged as a hitmaker back in 1981 with the honkytonker "Unwound." Country radio at that time was dominated by the slick pop sounds of Kenny Rogers and Babs Mandrell and the Urban Country crowd. Instead, Strait (along with Ricky Skaggs) returned country to its roots and built upon them on his own terms (as STRAIT OUT OF THE BOX amply attests).

All of Strait's MCA singles through 1994 are included on this four-disc box set except for the "Unwound" imitation "Down And Out" and the dreary "Overnight Success" (smart omissions by the compiler Strait). Yet they make up only forty-two of the seventy-two tracks found on this set. It's those remaining thirty tracks of various origins which make this collection worthwhile for Strait fans who already own...Read more

I can thank my father for my love of country music. I was brought up listening to everything from Patsy Cline to Merle Haggard to Conway Twitty. Out of all the music I was reared up on, I heard more George Strait that anyone else. My father, knowing a good thing when he heard it, had every George Strait album and tape released. I knew the words to "The Fireman" before I could count to 100 and can clearly remember dancing to "I Cross My Heart" at prom. George Strait, in one way or another, has been a constant throughout my life, as well as every other country fan. That's why the man's a legend and why his popularity seems to grow with each passing year. In a world where traditional country music is shunned, it's refreshing to know that George has remained as popular now as he did 20 years ago.

"Strait Out of the Box [BOX SET]" is THE George Strait album every fan should own. It's got everything from "The Fireman" to "Check Yes or No"...Read more