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AUGUST/SEPTEMBERAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 20032003 VOL.21VOL.21 NO.4NO.4 Strait Mixes It Up On ‘Honkytonkville’ ‘Every song is different,’ says this country hero By Brian Mansfield and they got passed on,” Special for USA TODAY Lauderdale says. “Then he turns Other singers had cut Monte around and surprises me by picking Warden’s songs, but never George something I didn’t think he would.” Strait. So Warden got a little excited Strait says, “I’m always thinking when he learned that “Desperately,” that every song is different. I’ve written with Bruce Robison, had never gone out with the intentions been cut for Strait’s new of looking for a specific type of a “Honkytonkville” album. song. If a song hits me, it hits me.” “It’s the artistic equivalent of if “My preference is singing tradi- Davy Crockett had cut my song.” tional country music, and I think Warden says. that that’s what I do the best. But Warden is not the only Lone Star that’s not to say that I’m not going State resident who engages in hero to go cut a song like “Four Down worship when it comes to Strait. and Twelve Across,” which I don’t “In Texas, we kid around, but it’s feel like is a traditional country almost true he could sing the phone record.” book and it would be a hit,” says “Honkytonkville” has another rar- Chris Huff, program director at ity for a Strait album: a gospel KSCS-FM in Dallas. song, called “I Found Jesus on the On “Four Down and twelve Jailhouse Floor.” Across,” Strait sings the inside of a “I’ve never cut a gospel song newspaper’s lifestyles section, mak- before,” he says. “I believe in God; ing compelling listening out of the I just had never come across a song unwieldy line: “To the left of the ad for a new records. With the exception of one budget- like this that I thought would fit on my dishwashing soap/Dear Abby’s got some priced compilation, each of Strait’s previous album. It’s got the honky-tonk feel like an old good advice for a troubled couple lost in par- 30 albums has been certified at least gold country song, but it’s got the message, too, to adise.” (500,000 sold). Twenty-six have gone plat- go along with it.” Like Strait’s current single, “Tell Me inum (1 million sold), and even that one bud- Strait’s musical influences are broader than Something Bad About Tulsa, Four Down” has get album has sold nearly 350,000 copies most people might give him credit for. He a countrified R&B groove. That bit of blue- since its release last year. grew up idolizing The Beatles before turning eyed soul is the kind of subtle reinvention As for the perceived sameness in sound, on to Merle Haggard. He’s quick to express that has kept the country singer’s sound fresh songwriter Jim Lauderdale hasn’t been able to his admiration for Frank Sinatra (the two for 22 years. pin it down. Strait has cut 13 of Lauderdale’s once recorded a duet of “Fly Me To The “You’ve got to be kidding — I thought I did songs since the “Pure Country” soundtrack — Moon”). And, he says, “I bought two Otis the same thing over and over!” Strait says including “She Used To Say That To Me,” the Redding CDs yesterday.” with a laugh, alluding to a common percep- lead track on “Honkytonkville” — but Despite more than 20 years on the road, tion that his records sound the same, a laid- Lauderdale says he has no luck predicting Strait finds that preparing for a tour is one of back blend of honky-tonk and Western swing, what the singer will like. the most challenging tasks he faces. from album to album. “I’ve written songs for him that I thought “When I know I’m about two or three The only thing he does over and over is sell were just tailor-made for him and were hits, Continued next page … STRAIT TALK Strait Mixes It Up On ‘Honkytonkville’(Continued) months away from a tour, I’ll start getting a el part of it that I don’t like. puter. He particularly enjoys the arduous little antsy, knowing that I’ve got to get back Strait says he enjoys making records more process of sifting through hundreds of poten- on the road again,” he says. than he does touring, especially now that he tial songs to find the dozen or so that will “When I walk out on stage, that feeling is can record his vocals at his Texas ranch — become an album. still there. I still love it, and I’ve got a great as he did for the first time on “It’s kind of like hunting Easter eggs,” he band behind me. There’s nothing better than “Honkytonkville” — using little more than a says. “When you find it, you really feel like that. The audience, you feed off of them; it’s microphone, headphones and a laptop com- you’ve done something.”n hard to describe the feeling. It’s just the trav- George Strait To Begin 2004 Tour In January George Strait is busy putting the finishing other cities. At last look, several different www.georgestrait.com for any late breaking touches on his 2004 concert tour. He is sort- cities that we have not been able to visit for information. The first shows are expected to ing through available dates in many different a long time have made the short list. The go on sale in late November or early cities and narrowing it down. Between hock- first shows are expected to take place in mid- December. Fan club members should make ey, basketball, ice shows and RV and camp- January. A complete list of the 2004 tour sure that their memberships are up to date in ing shows, it is sometimes very difficult to will be available in the next issue of Strait order to take advantage of any fan club seat- find a date that coordinates and routes with Talk. Check the George Strait website at ing that might be available.n Fan Collectable Column August/September 2003 • Country Weekly Magazine - Nashville, (last issue). P. 16 mentioned, p. 38 • Star Tribune Newspaper - July 6, 2003. TN. July 8, 2003. Cover-Front Photo, p. 5 mentioned, Journal p. J3 mentioned. Minneapolis, MN. Arts and Entertainment mentioned, p. 13 mentioned, p. 16 photo/ • People - New York, NY - July 21, 2003. section, page F12. mentioned, p. 20 mentioned, p. 21 photo, Critic’s Choice p. 41. • The Greenville News - Greenville, SC. p. 22 pictures and story, p. 23 pictures and • Temple Daily Telegram, San Marcos, TX - July 6, 2003. Article 5B. story, p. 70 singles/albums, p. 72 July 6, 2003. Weekend Section - article. • The Richmond Times-Dispatch - 2003. mentioned. • San Marcos Daily Record - San Marcos, Weekend Section D p. 16 Richmond, VA, • Country Weekly - Nashville, TN. July 22, TX - July 6, 2003. Article p. 1A and 2A. review. 2003. P. 33 full page ad for “Honkytonk- • Lincoln Journal Star - Ground Zero • Country Music Magazine - Nashville, TN. ville,” p. 48 Awards-The Fans Have Section - Lincoln, NB. P. 9 review. July, 2003. P. 2, p. 23 article/photo. Spoken article, p. 91 mentioned, p. 94 • BMG - Music Service - Loveland, CO. • Tulsa World “Spot” - Tulsa, OK. July 11, Billboard albums mentioned. August, 2003. Ad for CDs, 2 full pages 2003. P. 17 Vol. 19, No. 17 photo and • Country Music, August-September 2003 w/photos. article. The following George Strait Fan Club Members submitted to the Collectable Column… And We Thank You! As a GSFC member, you can join in and earn Strait Cash, receive your Strait Talk 1st Class and a Collector’s Card. This is all you need to do - collect magazine or newspaper articles, photos or reviews - send them in and if we use them, your name is added to the list. It’s easy. Remember to enclose the article, where it came from, date, page #, issue and your name and address. Thank You!!! Jean Hurt - Beech Grove, IN Margaret Pavelka - Lincoln, NE Rachel E. Hollins - Bumpass, VA Debbie Erickson - Taylor, MI Margaret Carmichael - Loveland, CO Alexis Gaffney - Gales Creek, OR Helen Miller - Belton, TX Margaret Eckers - Saint Louis Par, MN Cheryl Raines - Claremore, OK Gary A. Randow - Kingsbony, TX Janie Fulmer - Ware Shoals, CS L O O K I N G B A C K STRAIT TALK NEW FAN CLUB MERCHANDISE Front #9600 - Work Jacket Back #1075 - Tote Bag #986 - 2003 Team Roping Video #1026 - Coaster Set #1022 - Apron Visit The Official George Strait Website • www.georgestrait.com user name: lady • password: bird STRAIT TALK NEW FAN CLUB MERCHANDISE #1070 - Satchel #5017 - Long Sleeve Shirt #570 - Italian Charm Bracelet #1120 - Beach Towel #810 - Wall Clock #5225 - Baby Shirt #5250 - Baby/Youth Shirt #207 - Bumper Sticker #300 - Mouse Pad MONDAY-THURSDAY 8:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. • FRIDAY 7:30 A.M.-12 NOON (CENTRAL TIME) FAN CLUB #: 1-615-824-7176 • ORDER DESK #: 1-800-338-4732 • FAX #: 1-615-822-2527 STRAIT TALK George Strait “Honktonkville” CD Word Search Puzzle Created by: Jeanie Spears - Blue Springs, MO ACROSS 1 4. GEORGE’S RECORDING LABEL 2 ____________ NASHVILLE 3 4 5 10. THE FIRST SINGLE OFF OF THE NEW 6 ALBUM. TELL ME _______________ (4 WORDS) 13. THERE’LL BE NO REGRETS, NO WORRIES AND SUCH FOR 7 ________ (3 WORDS) 8 9 14.