George Strait may have landed his first number one in 1982, making him an "overnight sensation," but he'd been working for it since 1976. Strait From the Heart boasts "Fool-Hearted Memory," a perfect slow two-step that raged in all the dancehalls in America for half a year and sent folks to the bins in droves seeking out Strait's records. What they found was a singer of uncommon vitality who could sing honky tonk, countrypolitan, and the new traditional sounds that were just beginning to assert themselves after the first wave of "new country." The new Strait fans were interested in the ballads such as "Marina del Rey" and "A Fire I Can't Put Out," but they are hardly the best cuts on the set. In fact, when Strait lets it get on the raw side is when he is at his best. Tracks such as "Honky Tonk Crazy," his cover of Guy Clark's "Heartbroke," the Western swing of his original "I Can't See Texas From Here," and the strutting barroom anthem "The Steal of the Night" offer a portrait of Strait as a man who can do it all. His work is not over-produced, and his voice rings clear and true, offering only what the song needs to reveal itself to the listener. Strait From the Heart may not be the exact beginning of the story, but it is the first part of the legend. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Arlene Hardin (Vocals), George Strait (Vocals), John Hughey (?), Milan Bogdan (Editing), Katie Gillon (Coordination), Glenn Meadows (Mastering), Bill Harris (Mixing), Bobby Hardin (Vocals), Gwen Kay (Vocals), Sherri Halford (Coordination), Buddy Spicher (?), Jerry Kroon (?), Simon Levy (Art Direction), Bill Harris (Engineer), Rob Hajacos (?), Blake Mevis (Producer), Nashville String Machine (Strings), Curtis Young (Vocals), Mitch Humphries (?), Fred Newell (?), Mark Feldman (?), Sudie Callaway (Vocals), Bill Harris (Engineer), Sonny Garrish (?), Larry Paxton (?), Jim McGuire (Photography), Buddy Cannon (Vocals), Gregg Galbraith (?), Doug Crider (Assistant Engineer), Bobby Thompson (?), Allen Moore (String Arrangements), Mike Leech (?), Rita Figlio (Vocals), David DeBusk (Assistant Engineer), Jimmy Capps (?)
Strait From the Heart is the second studio album from American country music artist George Strait. It is certified platinum by the RIAA. The album includes George's first Number One single, "Fool Hearted Memory", as well as the singles "Marina del Rey", "Amarillo by Morning" and "A Fire I Can't Put Out".
