Easy Come, Easy Go (CD - 1993)

Personnel: George Strait (vocals, guitar); Steve Gibson, Brent Mason (guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Matt Rollings (piano); Glenn Worf (bass); Eddie Bayers (drums); Curtis Young, Liana Manis (background vocals).

Personnel: George Strait (vocals); Steve Gibson, Brent Mason (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Paul Franklin (slide guitar, steel guitar); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Matt Rollings (piano); Eddie Bayers (drums); Curtis Young, Liana Manis (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Chuck Ainlay.

Recording information: SoundStage Studios.

Photographer: Keith Carter.

Unknown Contributor Role: Steve Gibson.

Popular country singer George Strait once again does what he does so well on this late-1993 album, Easy Come, Easy Go. He mixes the standards of traditional country, a bit of good ol' honky tonk, along with just a tiny little taste of pop and Texas swing to offer up some really worth-a-listen tunes, including "Stay out of My Arms," "I'd Like to Have That One Back," "Without Me Around," and "That's Where My Baby Feels at Home." He also adds in his own take on an old George Jones cover, "Lovebug." The songs on this recording cover the basics: heartbreak, loving, drinking, and cheating. A fantastic addition to any country collection, especially a George Strait one. ~ Charlotte Dillon

On his eighteenth album for MCA Records, George Strait remains the king of the back-to-basics approach to country music. He is credited with jostling country back to its roots, and creating a major market along the way.

EASY COME, EASY GO's title track--co-written by Dean Dillon, composer of some of George's biggest hits--is a clever bit of songwriting, and could well be a pop hit. With a slight Latin lilt and a Spanish farewell, the song's doomed lovers work on an easy way to end heartbreak. Progressive- traditionalist singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale provides two upbeat, tasty cuts: the opening, bouncy shuffle "Stay Out Of My Arms," and "I Wasn't Fooling Around," a playful song where Strait gets to stretch his phrasing around elastic lyrics and a rubbery melody. It's hard to believe these songs were written by Lauderdale in the '90s; they sound like they came from an old-time honky tonk's jukebox.

Honky tonks are George's element, and his "That's Where My Baby Feels At Home," as well as the vigorous remake of George Jones' barroom classic "Lovebug," will get mugs sliding down bars at full speed. George gives it to you Strait: country music the way its supposed to be. minimize