''Honkytonkville'' is the twenty-second studio album by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

singer George Strait, released in June 10, 2003 by

MCA Nashville Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Nashville Records, Lost Highway Records, Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Records Nash ...

. One of only a few albums of his career not to produce a Number One single, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA. It produced the singles "Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa", "Cowboys Like Us" and "Desperately", at #11, #2 and #6 respectively on the country charts. "Honk If You Honky Tonk" also charted at #45 based on unsolicited airplay. "She Used to Say That to Me" was originally recorded by

Rick Trevino Ricardo Treviño Jr. (born May 16, 1971) is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Nashville in 1993, Trevino began his career that year with the release of his debut single "Just Enough Rope", the first mainstream country music sin ...

on his 1995 album, ''Looking for the Light''. "Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa" was originally recorded by

Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Haggard was born in Oildale, California, toward the end of the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled a ...

on his 1986 album '' Out Among The Stars''. "Desperately" was originally recorded by

Bruce Robison Bruce Ben Robison (born June 11, 1966) is an American, Austin-based Texas country music singer-songwriter. Bruce and his brother, fellow singer-songwriter Charlie Robison, grew up in Bandera, Texas, near San Antonio, and he currently reside ...

on his 1998 album ''Wrapped''.

Track listing

Personnel

As listed in liner notes.

Musicians

* George Strait – lead vocals *

Steve Nathan Steven Jay Nathan is an American keyboardist. He is known for his session work in Muscle Shoals and Nashville studios. Biography Nathan was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. In 1977, Nathan moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. After touring w ...

– keyboards *

Matt Rollings Matt Rollings is a Grammy Award-winning American composer, keyboard player and record producer. Known mainly for playing in Lyle Lovett's Large Band, Rollings has worked with many artists, not all country. Matt won the 'Best Traditional Pop Voc ...

– keyboards * Steve Gibson – acoustic guitar * Chris Leuzinger – electric guitars *

Brent Mason Brent Mason (born July 13, 1959) is an American, Nashville, Tennessee-based recording studio guitarist and songwriter, performing primarily country music. Guitar World Magazine listed him as one of the "Top Ten Session Guitarists of All Time". ...

– electric guitars,

nylon string guitar The classical guitar (also known as the nylon-string guitar or Spanish guitar) is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string instrument with strings made of gut or nylon, it is a precursor o ...

Biff Watson Fletcher Bangs "Biff" Watson is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. His musicianship has been a part of recording sessions for many artists. Biography Early years Raised in Chatham, Virginia, Watson learned how to play guitar at a ...

– acoustic guitar * Paul Franklin – steel guitar * Stuart Duncan – fiddle, mandolin *

Glenn Worf Glenn Worf is an American bassist known mainly for his work as a session musician. He has recorded with many major country music acts and also tours with Mark Knopfler. Early life and education Worf was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up in Mad ...

– bass guitar,

upright bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass). Similar ...

Eddie Bayers Eddie Bayers (born January 28, 1949) is an American session drummer who has played on 300 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for fourteen years, has three times won the Nashville Music ...

– drums *

The Nashville String Machine Nashville String Machine is a musical collective comprising session musicians, based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Members of the group have been credited on records dating from 1972 to the present, although the group was formally formed ...

– strings * Bergen White – string arrangements and conductor * Carl Gorodetzky – string contractor * Wes Hightower – background vocals * Marty Slayton – background vocals

Production

* Clay Bradley – A&R direction * Mike Owens – A&R direction * Tony Brown – producer * George Strait – producer, additional recording *

Chuck Ainlay Chuck Ainlay is an American record producer and audio engineer. He has worked with Mark Knopfler on much of Knopfler's solo work, in addition to some Dire Straits material. He has 4 Grammy Awards and 5 nominations. Along with Knopfler and Bob ...

– recording, mixing * John Guess – additional recording * Lisa Richter – recording assistant * Jeff Sochor – recording assistant * Patrick Murphy – additional recording assistant, mix assistant * Todd Tidwell – additional recording assistant * Jesse Benfield – mix assistant * Jim Cooley – mix assistant * Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee) * Amy Russell – production coordinator * Craig Allen – design * Jim Kemp – art direction * Tony Baker – photography * Robin Geary – hair, make-up * Erv Woolsey – management

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

References

{{Authority control 2003 albums George Strait albums MCA Records albums Albums produced by Tony Brown (record producer)