Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]

1981   Long Live The King

After the success of his debut single, Unwound, George Strait’s debut album Strait Country was released by MCA Records. Rolling Stone's review of the album called Strait Country "serviceable, possibly the beginning of a streak of satisfying albums from George Strait."

In January 1981, MCA Records offered Strait a single deal, agreeing to release one song as a single and provide the necessary promotion. If the single was successful in sales and radio play, then an album deal would be offered. On February 2, 1981, Strait entered The Waxworks recording studio in Berry Hill, Tennessee to record a song written by an unknown songwriter, Dean Dillon and his writing partner Frank Dycus.

Strait's Producer Blake Mevis and manager, Erv Woolsey heard a rough demo of "Unwound" and knew immediately that the song could be a big hit and launch Strait's career. Woolsey and Strait agreed to record the song. Three additional songs were recorded during that February recording session: "Blame It on Mexico", "Perfect Lie", and "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her".

The "Unwound" single was released by MCA on April 23, 1981 and entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart the week of May 16. It soon made it into the top ten. Strait would later remember the experience of hearing his first record on the radio while working on his ranch in San Marcos:

I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. I mean, hearing your first record on the radio, when it was something that you had been trying to get to for so long, and then finally having it happen, it was wild. Here I was driving around the ranch there, and I'd hear it go up the chart, and I'm saying to myself, "What's wrong with this picture? I've got a hit record. I need to go out on the road and go play some concerts."

Several days after "Unwound" made it onto the charts, MCA offered Strait a recording contract and gave the go-ahead to proceed with the album. In early June, Strait returned to Nashville with the Ace in the Hole Band to perform every night throughout the week of June 7 at the Reflections Ballroom at the Radison Hotel. That same week, Strait spent his days in Music City Music Hall recording studios in Nashville with Mevis and a group of session musicians recording the remaining songs for his first album. This early decision to use session musicians on his recordings rather than his touring band set a pattern that he would continue to follow throughout his career.One of the songs from the February session, "Blame It on Mexico", was rerecorded during the June sessions and included on the album.

After the album's release, Strait and the Ace in the Hole Band performed a series of shows and performed the new material to promote it. While eager to help publicize the album, Strait had a few ground rules that would remain in place throughout his career. First, he insisted that his private life remain private, and that his wife and family not be involved in press interviews and publicity events. Strait also insisted on remaining in Texas and not moving to the country music capital. And finally, he insisted on remaining true to his identity, and refused to take off the hat, despite considerable pressure to do so. As unfashionable as it might have appeared in Nashville at the time, it was a part of his identity - of just being himself.

The album includes three singles: "Unwound", "Down and Out", and "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)", reaching 6, 16, and 3 respectively on the Country Singles chart. To date, Strait Country has sold more than 2.5 million copies.