I discovered this week's tune in the late eighties while I was still slaving for Camelot Music, at a time when a number of artists with stylistic nods to old-time Country Music--The Judds, Randy Travis, Patty Loveless--began selling a lot of records. Thanks to my half-assed research, I discovered that this was actually a movement know as Neotraditional Country that began in the mid-eighties. Oh, the knowledge I've gained from writing Friday Night Jukebox....
Speaking of gaining knowledge (segues are for amateurs), I had no idea, despite spending a good chunk of my music store years during his heyday, how successful George Strait has been over the last forty-six years. Strait began performing in 1976, and since that time he has sold over 100 million records and is the twelfth best-selling American music artist of all-time. He's also known for his innovative tours (one of which grossed $99 million in three years). Strait has won 22 Country Music Awards, a Grammy Award, and has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. For his career, Strait has released 45 albums, 27 of which have hit #1 on the Country Music charts. He's also released 126 singles, with 44 (a record for the Country charts) #1's; 112 of those singles have hit the top ten. Strait completed his final tour in 2014, but continues to record, releasing his latest LP in 2019.
Fun Fact: Strait holds the record for most number one and most top five singles in the history of any type of music. He also is third, behind only Elvis and the Beatles, for the most multi-platinum albums in music history.
"Ocean Front Property" was released in 1986 and was the first single from his conveniently titled album Ocean Front Property. Both the single and the album hit #1 (with a bullet!) on Billboard's Country Music charts.
"Ocean Front Property" is a whimsical song about a man trying to convince the woman who has left him that he won't miss her, when he can't even convince himself. Strait was blessed with a baritone voice tailor made for singing Country, and he makes the most of it. The instrumental break features a jaunty piano, a dandy (if too short-lived) fiddle, and the creme de la creme of old-time country: some luxurious steel guitar. All in all, a nice piece with all the echoes of classic Country--and bonus points for mentioning the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lyric Sheet: "...From my front porch you can see the sea/I got some ocean front property in Arizona/If you'll buy that, I'll throw the Golden Gate in free..."
Enjoy:
Republican = Traitor
Peace,
emaycee
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