Troubadour
Studio album by
George Strait
ReleasedApril 1, 2008 (2008-04-01)
Recorded2007–2008
StudioShrimpboat Sound (Key West, Florida); Keith Harter Music Studios (San Antonio, Texas); Back Stage Studio (Nashville, Tennessee).
Genre
Length36:09
LabelMCA Nashville
ProducerTony Brown
George Strait
George Strait chronology
22 More Hits
(2007)		 Troubadour
(2008)		 Classic Christmas
(2008)
Singles from Troubadour
  1. "I Saw God Today"
    Released: February 4, 2008
  2. "Troubadour"
    Released: June 2, 2008
  3. "River of Love"
    Released: November 17, 2008

Troubadour is the twenty-fifth studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 1, 2008 (see 2008 in country music) on MCA Nashville Records. The album comprises twelve tracks, including two duets. The lead-off single, "I Saw God Today", was the highest-debuting single of Strait's career, and his forty-third Number One on the Billboard country charts. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA.[3] At the 51st Grammy Awards, Troubadour earned the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, the first Grammy win of Strait's career. The album was intended to include the song "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven", but after Strait decided not to include it on the album, it was later recorded by Kenny Chesney, and was released as the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun. "It Was Me" was originally recorded by Jamey Johnson on his 2006 album, The Dollar.

Singles

"I Saw God Today", the lead-off single, debuted at #19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving Strait the highest chart debut of his career. This song went on to become his 43rd Billboard Number One, and his 56th on all trade charts, setting a new record for most Number One singles. The album's title track was released in June 2008 as its second single, and peaked at #7 on the country charts. Following it was "River of Love", which debuted at #45 in November 2008, and reached #1 in April 2009.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
411Mania(8.5/10)[4]
About.com[5]
Allmusic[2]
The Austin Chronicle[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[7]
The Music Box[8]
Paste(favorable)[9]
PopMatters[10]
Robert Christgau(dud)[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
Slant[13]
Engine 145[14]

Rhapsody ranked the album #4 on its "Country's Best Albums of the Decade" list.[15] "With a career that includes an awe-inspiring 50-plus No. 1 hits, plenty of George Strait's releases could have a spot on this list, but Troubadour feels like the best fit. From the Caribbean lilt of "River of Love" to the reverential "I Saw God Today" to the honky-tonkin' trucking song "Brothers of the Highway" to the carefree Western swing of "West Texas Town", Strait runs the gamut of sounds and emotions, and aces them all. One of the few artists who can achieve commercial success without courting it, Strait remains true to the honky-tonk-inspired sound he started out with decades ago."

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Duet partner(s)Length
1."Troubadour"Leslie Satcher, Monty Holmes 2:56
2."It Was Me"Buddy Cannon, Randy Hardison 3:09
3."Brothers of the Highway"Doug Johnson, Kim Williams, Nicole Witt 2:42
4."River of Love"Billy Burnette, Dennis Morgan, Shawn Camp 3:15
5."House of Cash"Satcher, HolmesPatty Loveless3:35
6."I Saw God Today"Rodney Clawson, Wade Kirby, Monty Criswell 3:22
7."Give Me More Time"Al Anderson, Dean Dillon, Scotty Emerick 3:30
8."When You're in Love"Dillon, Kerry Kurt Phillips 2:49
9."Make Her Fall in Love with Me Song"Satcher, Anderson 2:25
10."West Texas Town"Dillon, Robert Earl KeenDean Dillon2:03
11."House with No Doors"Kate Coppola, Kacey Coppola, Jamey Johnson 3:44
12."If Heartaches Were Horses"Buddy Brock, Wil Nance, Dillon 2:42
Total length:36:12

Personnel

Production

  • Tony Brown – A&R direction, producer
  • Brian Wright – A&R direction
  • George Strait – producer
  • Chuck Ainlay – recording, mixing
  • Jim Cooley – recording assistant, mix assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)
  • Erin McAnally – production coordinator
  • Craig Allen – design, additional photography
  • Donald Lesko – photography
  • Erv Woolsey – management

Charts

References

  1. ↑ "George Strait, Troubadour". Country Universe. December 3, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Allmusic review
  3. ↑ "News : George Strait's Troubadour Certified Platinum". CMT. June 4, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ "411MANIA -". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "George Strait – 'Troubadour'". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  6. ↑ "George Strait".
  7. ↑ "Troubadour - EW.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  8. ↑ Metzger, John. "George Strait – Troubadour (Album Review)".
  9. ↑ "George Strait – Troubadour CD Album".
  10. ↑ "George Strait: Troubadour".
  11. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: george strait".
  12. ↑ "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ Slant review
  14. ↑ "Engine 145 review". Archived from the original on December 18, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Country’s Best Albums of the Decade" Archived January 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  16. ↑ "George Strait Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  17. ↑ "George Strait Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  18. ↑ "George Strait Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
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