Troubadour (George Strait album)

Troubadour
Troubadour
Studio album by George Strait
Released	April 1, 2008
Recorded	2007–2008
Studio	Shrimpboat Sound (Key West, Florida); Keith Harter Music Studios (San Antonio, Texas); Back Stage Studio (Nashville, Tennessee).
Genre	Neotraditional country; honky-tonk;
Length	36:09
Label	MCA Nashville
Producer	Tony Brown; George Strait
George Strait chronology
Singles from Troubadour
	"I Saw God Today"; Released: February 4, 2008; "Troubadour"; Released: June 2, 2008; "River of Love"; Released: November 17, 2008;

Troubadour is the twenty-fifth studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 1, 2008 (see 2008 in country music) on MCA Nashville Records. The album comprises twelve tracks, including two duets. The lead-off single, "I Saw God Today", was the highest-debuting single of Strait's career, and his forty-third Number One on the Billboard country charts. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA.^[3] At the 51st Grammy Awards, Troubadour earned the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, the first Grammy win of Strait's career. The album was intended to include the song "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven", but after Strait decided not to include it on the album, it was later recorded by Kenny Chesney, and was released as the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun. "It Was Me" was originally recorded by Jamey Johnson on his 2006 album, The Dollar.

Singles

"I Saw God Today", the lead-off single, debuted at #19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving Strait the highest chart debut of his career. This song went on to become his 43rd Billboard Number One, and his 56th on all trade charts, setting a new record for most Number One singles. The album's title track was released in June 2008 as its second single, and peaked at #7 on the country charts. Following it was "River of Love", which debuted at #45 in November 2008, and reached #1 in April 2009.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
411Mania	(8.5/10)^[4]
About.com	^[5]
Allmusic	^[2]
The Austin Chronicle	^[6]
Entertainment Weekly	B+^[7]
The Music Box	^[9]
Paste	(favorable)^[10]
PopMatters	^[11]
Robert Christgau	^[12]
Rolling Stone	^[13]
Slant	^[14]
Engine 145	^[8]

Rhapsody ranked the album #4 on its "Country's Best Albums of the Decade" list.^[15] "With a career that includes an awe-inspiring 50-plus No. 1 hits, plenty of George Strait's releases could have a spot on this list, but Troubadour feels like the best fit. From the Caribbean lilt of "River of Love" to the reverential "I Saw God Today" to the honky-tonkin' trucking song "Brothers of the Highway" to the carefree Western swing of "West Texas Town", Strait runs the gamut of sounds and emotions, and aces them all. One of the few artists who can achieve commercial success without courting it, Strait remains true to the honky-tonk-inspired sound he started out with decades ago."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Duet partner(s)	Length
1.	"Troubadour"	Leslie Satcher, Monty Holmes		2:56
2.	"It Was Me"	Buddy Cannon, Randy Hardison		3:09
3.	"Brothers of the Highway"	Doug Johnson, Kim Williams, Nicole Witt		2:42
4.	"River of Love"	Billy Burnette, Dennis Morgan, Shawn Camp		3:15
5.	"House of Cash"	Satcher, Holmes	Patty Loveless	3:35
6.	"I Saw God Today"	Rodney Clawson, Wade Kirby, Monty Criswell		3:22
7.	"Give Me More Time"	Al Anderson, Dean Dillon, Scotty Emerick		3:30
8.	"When You're in Love"	Dillon, Kerry Kurt Phillips		2:49
9.	"Make Her Fall in Love with Me Song"	Satcher, Anderson		2:25
10.	"West Texas Town"	Dillon, Robert Earl Keen	Dean Dillon	2:03
11.	"House with No Doors"	Kate Coppola, Kacey Coppola, Jamey Johnson		3:44
12.	"If Heartaches Were Horses"	Buddy Brock, Wil Nance, Dillon		2:42
Total length:				36:12

Personnel

George Strait – lead vocals
Steve Nathan – Hammond B3 organ (1-5, 9), acoustic piano (6, 8, 11), synthesizers (7, 12)
Matt Rollings – acoustic piano (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12), Wurlitzer electric piano (4, 7), Hammond B3 organ (6, 8, 11)
Mac McAnally – acoustic guitar
Steve Gibson – electric guitar (1, 5, 8, 9, 12), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11), gut-string guitar (7)
Brent Mason – electric guitar (1-7, 9, 10, 11), gut-string guitar (8, 12)
Paul Franklin – steel guitar
Stuart Duncan – fiddle (1, 2, 3, 5, 7-12), mandolin (3, 4, 6)
Glenn Worf – bass guitar
Eddie Bayers – drums
Vince Gill – backing vocals (1)
Wes Hightower – backing vocals (1)
Thom Flora – backing vocals (2, 3, 6-10, 12)
Marty Slayton – backing vocals (2, 3, 6-10, 12)
Billy Burnette – backing vocals (4)
Shawn Camp – backing vocals (4)
Dennis Morgan – backing vocals (4)
Patty Loveless – lead vocals (5)
Dean Dillon – lead vocals (10)

Production

Tony Brown – A&R direction, producer
Brian Wright – A&R direction
George Strait – producer
Chuck Ainlay – recording, mixing
Jim Cooley – recording assistant, mix assistant
Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)
Erin McAnally – production coordinator
Craig Allen – design, additional photography
Donald Lesko – photography
Erv Woolsey – management

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[16]	13
US Billboard 200^[17]	1
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[18]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)	Position
US Billboard 200^[19]	61
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[20]	12

Chart (2009)	Position
US Billboard 200^[21]	92
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[22]	20

References

^ "George Strait, Troubadour". Country Universe. December 3, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Allmusic review
^ "News : George Strait's Troubadour Certified Platinum". CMT. June 4, 2009. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
^ "411MANIA -". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.
^ "George Strait – 'Troubadour'". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
^ "George Strait".
^ "Troubadour - EW.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^ "Engine 145 review". Archived from the original on December 18, 2014.
^ Metzger, John. "George Strait – Troubadour (Album Review)".
^ "George Strait – Troubadour CD Album".
^ "George Strait: Troubadour".
^ "Robert Christgau: CG: george strait".
^ "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Slant review
^ "Country’s Best Albums of the Decade" Archived January 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 12, 2010.
^ "George Strait Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ "George Strait Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ "George Strait Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[cu08-1] "George Strait, Troubadour". Country Universe. December 3, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2023.

[amg-2] Allmusic review

[3] "News : George Strait's Troubadour Certified Platinum". CMT. June 4, 2009. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2012.

[4] "411MANIA -". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.

[5] "George Strait – 'Troubadour'". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-05-13.

[6] "George Strait".

[7] "Troubadour - EW.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2008-10-25.

[8] "Engine 145 review". Archived from the original on December 18, 2014.

[9] Metzger, John. "George Strait – Troubadour (Album Review)".

[10] "George Strait – Troubadour CD Album".

[11] "George Strait: Troubadour".

[12] "Robert Christgau: CG: george strait".

[13] "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[14] Slant review

[15] "Country’s Best Albums of the Decade" Archived January 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 12, 2010.

[ac_BillboardCanada_George_Strait-16] "George Strait Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[ac_Billboard200_George_Strait-17] "George Strait Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[ac_BillboardCountry_George_Strait-18] "George Strait Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[19] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[20] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[21] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[22] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

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v t e George Strait
Ace in the Hole Band Mike Daily - Gene Elders - Terry Hale - Wes Hightower - Ron Huckaby Bobby Jarzombek - Joe Manuel - Benny McArthur - Rick McRae - Marty Slayton - John Michael Whitby
Studio albums	Strait Country Strait from the Heart Right or Wrong Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind Something Special #7 Ocean Front Property If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' Beyond the Blue Neon Livin' It Up Chill of an Early Fall Holding My Own Pure Country Easy Come Easy Go Lead On Blue Clear Sky Carrying Your Love with Me One Step at a Time Always Never the Same George Strait The Road Less Traveled Honkytonkville Somewhere Down in Texas It Just Comes Natural Troubadour Twang Here for a Good Time Love Is Everything Cold Beer Conversation Honky Tonk Time Machine Cowboys and Dreamers
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Volume Two Ten Strait Hits Strait Out of the Box Latest Greatest Straitest Hits 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of George Strait 20th Century Masters – The Christmas Collection: The Best of George Strait 50 Number Ones 22 More Hits Icon Icon 2 Strait Out of the Box: Part 2
Christmas albums	Merry Christmas Strait to You! Merry Christmas Wherever You Are Fresh Cut Christmas Classic Christmas
Live albums	For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome Live at Texas Stadium The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium
Related articles	Singles discography Albums discography Ace in the Hole Band The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

v t e CMA Album of the Year
1967−1970	There Goes My Everything – Jack Greene (1967) Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison – Johnny Cash (1968) Johnny Cash At San Quentin – Johnny Cash (1969) Okie from Muskogee – Merle Haggard and the Strangers (1970)
1971−1980	I Won't Mention It Again – Ray Price (1971) Let Me Tell You About a Song – Merle Haggard and the Strangers (1972) Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich (1973) A Very Special Love Song – Charlie Rich (1974) A Legend in My Time – Ronnie Milsap (1975) Wanted! The Outlaws – Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser (1976) Ronnie Milsap Live – Ronnie Milsap (1977) It Was Almost Like a Song – Ronnie Milsap (1978) The Gambler – Kenny Rogers (1979) Coal Miner's Daughter – Various artists (1980)
1981−1990	I Believe in You – Don Williams (1981) Always on My Mind – Willie Nelson (1982) The Closer You Get – Alabama (1983) A Little Good News – Anne Murray (1984) Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind – George Strait (1985) Lost in the Fifties Tonight – Ronnie Milsap (1986) Always And Forever – Randy Travis (1987) Born to Boogie – Hank Williams Jr. (1988) Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1989) Pickin' on Nashville – The Kentucky Headhunters (1990)
1991−2000	No Fences – Garth Brooks (1991) Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks (1992) I Still Believe in You – Vince Gill (1993) Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles – Eagles (1994) When Fallen Angels Fly – Patty Loveless (1995) Blue Clear Sky – George Strait (1996) Carrying Your Love with Me – George Strait (1997) Everywhere – Tim McGraw (1998) A Place in the Sun – Tim McGraw (1999) Fly – The Dixie Chicks (2000)
2001−2010	O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Various artists (2001) Drive – Alan Jackson (2002) American IV: The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash (2003) When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney (2004) There's More Where That Came From – Lee Ann Womack (2005) Time Well Wasted – Brad Paisley (2006) It Just Comes Natural – George Strait (2007) Troubadour – George Strait (2008) Fearless – Taylor Swift (2009) Revolution – Miranda Lambert (2010)
2011−2020	My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (2011) Chief – Eric Church (2012) Based on a True Story... – Blake Shelton (2013) Platinum – Miranda Lambert (2014) Traveller – Chris Stapleton (2015) Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church (2016) From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton (2017) Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves (2018) Girl – Maren Morris (2019) What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs (2020)
2021−2030	Starting Over – Chris Stapleton (2021) Growin' Up – Luke Combs (2022) Bell Bottom Country - Lainey Wilson (2023) Leather - Cody Johnson (2024)