George Strait - Beyond the Blue Neon

Great stuff

This was the first George Strait recording I ever bought. I remember hearing the songs "Ace In The Hole" and "Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye" on the radio while driving between jobs. Being something of a peripheral country music fan at the time (I knew Willie, Waylon, Jerry Jeff and Guy Clark) I really wasn't familiar with George Strait. I had heard his early recordings on the radio but never placed his name with them. But "Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye" hooked me. I bought a cassette of the album and just about wore it out. Then I had to get the two "Greatest Hits" cassettes and then.... Well, like I said, I was hooked.

This one is special to me but all of King George's recordings are four- or five-star winners. I still consider his Ace In The Hole Band to be the most together group in popular music. November 4, 2006

Classic album from George

It must have been hard for the record company to choose the tracks for single to release for single release - most of them sound good enough to be singles. Ultimately, three singles off the album made it to number one on the country charts, these being Baby's gotten good at goodbye, What's going on in your world and Ace in the hole. The fourth single, Overnight success, stalled at number eight but maybe radio stations were waiting for the next album by the time it came out.

So the title track was never released as a single but it's a brilliant opening track for the album. Elsewhere, the remaining tracks on the album are all of a high quality. I particularly like Angel Angelina and Leaving's been coming for a long long time.

George has recorded many wonderful albums. Although this is not my favorite, it's not far behind and is certainly worth a listen. May 24, 2005

One of Strait's Very Best

This is one of Strait's very best albums of all time. It has some of the best songs you'll ever find.

My Reviews are out of 5 stars

Beyond The Blue Neon - Great song, cool, soothing melody. About a bar and the environment surrounding it. *****

Hollywood Squares - Funny song about jumping from woman to woman and paying for it later in life ****

Overnight Success - Great romance song, or should I say romance, gone but not forgotten, very catchy, very well written ****

Ace In The Hole - George Strait's take on "The Gambler", pretty catchy with almost a jazz sound to it ***

Leavin's Been Comin (For A Long, Long, Time) - One of George Strait's very best songs, I hope when he's through recording, that this will be on his masterworks *****

Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye - 2nd best song on the album, great, soothing and tearjerking, at the same time *****

What's Going On In Your World - There isn't a person alive who hasn't heard this song, you know how it is (for those who haven't, see: fantastic) *****

Angel, Angelina - Pretty good song, not my favorite but good, nonetheless ***

Too Much of Too Little - My least favorite on the album, but that's saying nothing, still a great song **1/2

Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby - this song is once again one of my faves on the album, perfectly written. If it had been on a different cd, it would have been out of place ***** November 19, 2004

It Has Everything

This CD has it all, if you like "tear in the beer" songs, "Beyond The Blue Neon's title track is George's best (Even beats "Designated Drinker" or "Six Pack To Go"), if you like humor "Hollywood Squares" is only beaten by "You Know Me Better Than That", "Baby's Getting Good At Goodbye" is his number one tear jerker, and "Overnight Success" is not far behind. "Ace In The Hole" is an an interesting song, something of a cross between, Kenny Rogers "The Gambler" and Billy Joel's "The Stranger" complete with western swing (Perhaps the most neglected Strait masterpiece). I know all of these songs are on "Strait Out Of The Box", but "Angel, Angelina" is not, and this CD is a must if ONLY to have this song, another great example of western swing (Complete with fiddles and piano), that no one else can do well. It is one of his top CDs , and a must for any country fan. March 7, 2004

What can I say?

Each review is going to be identical to the others. George is my number one singer and every song is mine. May 1, 2003

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