Ocean Front Property (CD - 1987)

Personnel: George Strait (vocals, guitar); Richard Bennett, David Anthony (acoustic guitar); Larry Byrom, Reggie Young, Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Rick McRae, Bennie McArthur (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); Mike Daily (steel guitar); Johnny Gimble (fiddle, mandolin); Gene Elders (fiddle); John Jarvis, Ronnie Huckaby (piano); Lee Sklar, Terry Hale (bass); Owen Hale, Phillip Fajardo (drums).

Personnel: George Strait (vocals); David Anthony, Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar); Rick McRae, Larry Byrom, Reggie Young , Benny McArthur, Billy Joe Walker (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); Mike Daily (steel guitar); Johnny Gimble (mandolin, fiddle); Gene Elders (fiddle); Ronnie Huckaby, John Jarvis (piano); Phillip Fajardo, Owen Hale (drums).

Audio Mixer: Steve Tillisch.

Recording information: Sound Stage Studio.

Photographer: Jerry Smith.

Unknown Contributor Role: Ace in the Hole Band.

This excellent album went triple platinum for country-singing great George Strait. It was a sure success with songs like "Am I Blue," "All My Ex's Live in Texas," "Burning Flames," "My Heart Won't Wander," and the fun title track, "Ocean Front Property" -- which hit the Billboard music charts with a firm number one debut holding spot. In today's country music world, Strait, a native Texan and one-time rancher, has served as a strong role model for many young artists hoping to follow in his impressive footsteps. His music seems able to reach both critics and fans, either with emotion or simple toe-tapping swing rhythm, offering modern country that doesn't forget its roots. Ocean Front Property is one of those albums that you'll want to keep close at hand, since it's a perfect replayer, and great if you like to sing along. ~ Charlotte Dillon

One of the biggest country albums of the 1980s and a virtual greatest-hits record in and of itself, 1987's OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY is perhaps George Strait's career pinnacle. It features two of Strait's most beloved hits, the rueful title track and the sly "All My Ex's Live in Texas," as well as the jaunty Western swing of "Am I Blue" and seven other slices of what critics were quick to call "new traditionalist" country. Strait was, in many ways, the Ray Price of the '80s, a singer whose ties to country music's bedrock sound were strong enough to allow him to court pop success without losing sight of what initially made his music special. A start-to-finish solid album, OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY is a landmark '80s country record and one of Strait's finest outings. minimize