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The "For the Last Time" in the title does not refer to the last concert George Strait ever gave, nor does this suggest that this is a farewell to live albums; in fact, it's the first live album Strait has ever released. The "last time" refers to the last concert of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ever given in the Houston Astrodome, a show that Strait headlined, breaking records by drawing 68,266 people, the largest audience the venue ever saw (for the record, he top-lined the first Livestock Show at its new home, Reliant Stadium). This was a big, big occasion -- highlighted by an on-stage guest spot by former President George Herbert Walker Bush, where number 41 proclaimed that "everyone in Texas loves him and everyone across this country loves his music" -- so it makes perfect sense that it would be commemorated with an audio souvenir, and For the Last Time isn't bad at all on those terms. Its biggest problem is its nature: it captures a big-stage, big-sound production, where it's about the spectacle as much as the music, so when it's presented as a CD, it's not as exciting as the concert, nor is it as exciting as many of his straight studio records. It's professional, well-performed, and enjoyable without being dynamic, surprising, or lively; it never feels as lived-in or real as the best of Strait's music. Part of the reason for that is the song selection, which is heavy on ballads and mid-tempo numbers, de-emphasizing harder country and Western swing. When they do go for purer country, such as on the death-of-country-music lament "Murder on Music Row," it sounds great, but this is not about gritty country, this is a soundtrack to spectacle. It's fine as that, but it's not the great live George Strait album it could have been.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Swander, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - June Hershey Swander, ComposerLyricist - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kent Robbins, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dana Hunt Black, ComposerLyricist - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Barker, ComposerLyricist - Erv Woolsey, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Steve Dorff, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JOHN BETTIS, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Barker, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Danny Wells, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Dana Hunt Oglesby, ComposerLyricist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - MACK VICKERY, ComposerLyricist - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Kemp, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tony Lane, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Smith, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Larry Cordle, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Shell, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Hank Cochran, ComposerLyricist - DEAN DILLON, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jay Knowles, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Odie Blackmon, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Stafford, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Paul Fraser, ComposerLyricist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tom Shapiro, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Nesler, ComposerLyricist - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Martin, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Wills, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Duncan, ComposerLyricist - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mark D. Sanders, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Jarrard, ComposerLyricist - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Dipiero, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J.R. Rodriguez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Brown, Producer - JUstin Niebank, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Kelly, ComposerLyricist - Gene Elders, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Kennedy, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rick McRae, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - James F. Throckmorton, ComposerLyricist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Harper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rondal Huckaby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Manuel, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benny McArthur, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Daily, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Hale, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Leroy, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Cornelius, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Sterms, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
The "For the Last Time" in the title does not refer to the last concert George Strait ever gave, nor does this suggest that this is a farewell to live albums; in fact, it's the first live album Strait has ever released. The "last time" refers to the last concert of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ever given in the Houston Astrodome, a show that Strait headlined, breaking records by drawing 68,266 people, the largest audience the venue ever saw (for the record, he top-lined the first Livestock Show at its new home, Reliant Stadium). This was a big, big occasion -- highlighted by an on-stage guest spot by former President George Herbert Walker Bush, where number 41 proclaimed that "everyone in Texas loves him and everyone across this country loves his music" -- so it makes perfect sense that it would be commemorated with an audio souvenir, and For the Last Time isn't bad at all on those terms. Its biggest problem is its nature: it captures a big-stage, big-sound production, where it's about the spectacle as much as the music, so when it's presented as a CD, it's not as exciting as the concert, nor is it as exciting as many of his straight studio records. It's professional, well-performed, and enjoyable without being dynamic, surprising, or lively; it never feels as lived-in or real as the best of Strait's music. Part of the reason for that is the song selection, which is heavy on ballads and mid-tempo numbers, de-emphasizing harder country and Western swing. When they do go for purer country, such as on the death-of-country-music lament "Murder on Music Row," it sounds great, but this is not about gritty country, this is a soundtrack to spectacle. It's fine as that, but it's not the great live George Strait album it could have been.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:39
- Main artists: George Strait
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: MCA Nashville
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Country
© 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2003 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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