Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
George Strait revived the classic Faron Young anthem "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')" for his eighth album, 1988's If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin'). By this time, it was no great surprise to have Strait draw directly from classic country and while there are no great left turns here, it does pack one surprise: the album isn't quite as rip-roaring as its hell-raising title would suggest. Instead of being packed with barroom ravers, this is a pretty laid-back affair, which is part of its appeal. Again, a few of the singles are a bit glossier than the rest -- "Baby Blue," "Famous Last Words of a Fool," both chart toppers, both very good -- but the rest of the material has an appealingly lazy vibe, from the jazzy textures of "Don't Mind If I Do" and "Is It That Time Again," to the hazy, cheerfully resigned closer "Back to Bein' Me." Even the faster tunes here -- and there are really only two, the galloping 2-step "Let's Get Down to It" and the happy Bakersfield shuffle of "Bigger Man Than Me," both echoing classic Haggard moments -- aren't as energetic as companion pieces from earlier Strait albums, and while some may miss that, this slight change of pace makes it a neat little gem within a wonderfully consistent catalog.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $16.65/month
JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - Tommy Collins, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
Troy Seals, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie McDowell, ComposerLyricist - JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Joe Meador, ComposerLyricist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
Aaron Barker, ComposerLyricist - JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
Skip Ewing, ComposerLyricist - Don Sampson, ComposerLyricist - JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Curtis Wayne, ComposerLyricist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - DEAN DILLON, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Rex Huston, ComposerLyricist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
David Chamberlain, ComposerLyricist - JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
Vern Gosdin, ComposerLyricist - JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - BUDDY CANNON, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - DEAN DILLON, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
David Lewis, ComposerLyricist - JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
JOHN GUESS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Hank Cochran, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Bowen, Producer - DEAN DILLON, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
Album review
George Strait revived the classic Faron Young anthem "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')" for his eighth album, 1988's If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin'). By this time, it was no great surprise to have Strait draw directly from classic country and while there are no great left turns here, it does pack one surprise: the album isn't quite as rip-roaring as its hell-raising title would suggest. Instead of being packed with barroom ravers, this is a pretty laid-back affair, which is part of its appeal. Again, a few of the singles are a bit glossier than the rest -- "Baby Blue," "Famous Last Words of a Fool," both chart toppers, both very good -- but the rest of the material has an appealingly lazy vibe, from the jazzy textures of "Don't Mind If I Do" and "Is It That Time Again," to the hazy, cheerfully resigned closer "Back to Bein' Me." Even the faster tunes here -- and there are really only two, the galloping 2-step "Let's Get Down to It" and the happy Bakersfield shuffle of "Bigger Man Than Me," both echoing classic Haggard moments -- aren't as energetic as companion pieces from earlier Strait albums, and while some may miss that, this slight change of pace makes it a neat little gem within a wonderfully consistent catalog.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:28:52
- Main artists: George Strait
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: MCA Nashville
- Genre: Country
© 1988 MCA Nashville ℗ 1988 MCA Nashville
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.