Too Country And Proud Of It!

REVIEW: George Strait -  For The Last - Live at the Astromdome
(Traditional, Western Swing)

George Strait has done just about everything in an impressive career that spans over two decades. He's topped the chart 50 times, broke attendance records with sold out shows, starred in a movie, won countless awards and accolades and even tried his hand at songwriting early on,  but his latest album is a first - a live project, recorded at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, March 3, 2002. Many years before a young Strait took the same stage as a last minute replacement for Eddie Rabbitt and the rest, as they say, is history. His performance at the Astrodome this past Spring marked the last time anyone would take the stage for a live performance.

Somewhere in my un-cataloged stash of country music memorabilia there's a sampling of George's live shows from the beginning of his career, radio show LPs dated 1982, a live tape made straight from the soundboard of a small honky tonk during his pre-MCA days. Time's made some differences. The awkward shyness of the early years is gone. Believe it or not, he bantered with the audience a bit more back then in between songs. Now he doesn't have to, I suppose. With an almost endless string of hits that need no introduction his polite 'thank you's' in between songs seems suffice for the audience. Now its the legions of loyal fans that take up his slack on the vocals. If you've ever seen George Strait live you'll know what I mean.

His studio albums have changed a bit over the years as his career slid into a comfortable pattern, some would venture as far to say he's become <surprise> predictable. The energy level's certainly gone down and although the voice has perfected itself over the years to it's current flawless state, his performances are less enthusiastic as they were in years gone by. All that considered, that doesn't mean his music isn't versatile. For The Last Time gives you a broader look at the spectrum of his influences and style,  from western swing to honky tonk to solid country love songs.

With  the audience noise turned down to a dull roar in the background, the album starts of as his live shows do --  Deep in the Heart of Texas is the tune long time Strait concert attendees have come to recognize as the signal that King George is about to swagger nonchalantly to centre stage.  From there he impeccably meanders through his stack of hits. His live show is always a mix of the old and new, and no matter how hard he may try to please everyone, there's inevitably a few songs left unsung that someone somewhere thinks 'should' have been included. The album gives a brief glimpse at some of the key moments of his career: Amarillo By Morning (1982,) The Chair (1985); Heartland (1992) and Blue Clear Sky (1996). He doesn't leave out crowd favorites such as The Fireman or Murder on Music Row either but what you're missing here amidst the barrage of hits that ends with The Cowboy Rides Away, is the most memorable element of his live show.

Concert highlights aren't always packaged in the familiar and that's the key ingredient that's blatantly missing on this CD. Other than the inclusion of Bob Will's Take Me Back To Tulsa, missing is the homage he regularly pays to the artists who've influenced him. Sure he's covered the all of the high points of his career, but with at least 3 greatest hit compilations and a 4 CD boxed set long time fans already own numerous CDs with the same, familiar songs.. Missing are the memorable covers that have peppered his concerts through the years: Conway Twitty's Linda on my Mind,  Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues (complete with his imitation of Johnny's infamous "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash), Merle Haggard's Mama Tried, Webb Pierce's There Stands The Glass or Waylon's Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line.

For The Last Time is George Strait's 30th album on the only major label he's ever called home. As we've come to expect the songs are delivered  flawlessly but aside from the background noises, listeners are not going to find anything much different here. For a large portion of of his loyal fan base he leaves them once more with a smile. but for those who were hoping the album would capture the complete essence of his live show you can't help but feel the cowboy rode away all too soon.

Laurie Joulie Take Country Back February 2003