20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of George Strait

by George Strait

Overview

In his 22-year career, George Strait has racked up more million-selling albums than any country artist in history. This collection has some glaring omissions, but it also boasts a dozen beautifully realized blockbusters, all richly conceived and masterfully rendered. Rife with good humor and hot fiddling, the jaunty "Ace in the Hole" is the best shot of western swing this side of Asleep at the Wheel. At the other end of the spectrum, the tuneful ballad "Love Without End, Amen" offers an unvarnished, moving message about a father's duty to his progeny. Be it a love song as tender as "Baby Blue," a number as expertly crafted as "I Cross My Heart," or upbeat celebrations full of joie de vivre like "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')" and the hilarious "All My Ex's Live in Texas," Strait plays his country straight, keeping the production flourishes in check, minimizing the use of strings and orchestras, and, for the most part, fronting an accomplished small combo that deftly navigates between honky-tonk and western swing. Strait, a consummate vocalist whose feel for the music improves with age, becomes a juggernaut in front of his just-right backing band. The song's the thing with Strait, and this disc boasts 12 unassailable tracks to prove the point.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/26/2002
Label:	Mca Nashville
UPC:	0008817028026
catalogNumber:	170280
Rank:	12652

Tracks

1. Famous Last Words of a Fool
2. Baby Blue
3. If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')
4. Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye
5. What's Going on in Your World
6. Ace in the Hole
7. Love Without End, Amen
8. I've Come to Expect It from You
9. Easy Come, Easy Go
10. I Cross My Heart
11. All My Ex's Live in Texas
12. You Look So Good in Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

George Strait   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

George Strait   Producer
Aaron Barker   Composer
Ray Baker   Producer
Jimmy Bowen   Producer
Dean Dillon   Composer
Andy McKaie   Compilation Supervisor
Sanger D. Schafer   Composer
Paul Kingsbury   Liner Notes
Lyndia Shafer   Composer
Rex Huston   Composer
Tony Martin   Composer
Rory Bourke   Composer
Troy Glenn Martin   Composer

Editorial Reviews

George Strait himself chose the 12 number one country hits included in this midline-priced compilation, which presents digitally remastered tracks. The hits ranged from "You Look So Good in Love," which topped the charts at the start of 1984, to "Easy Come, Easy Go," a number one in October 1993. During this period, an additional 11 Strait singles also reached the country summit, so this is just a sampling. Some of his biggest hits (i.e., ones that stayed at number one longer) -- such as "Love Without End, Amen" and "I've Come to Expect It From You" -- are included, while others -- such as "You Know Me Better Than That" and "If I Knew Me" -- are not. In the less easily quantifiable category of signature songs, again some are included, notably "All My Ex's Live in Texas," while others, such as "Ocean Front Property," are missing. So Strait easily could come up with a second volume for 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection without even getting too far into the 1990s. And he probably will.

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann