In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted how "startling" this debut album was during a time when country music was dominated by country-pop crossover songs, outlaw country anthems, the urban cowboy trend, and the Alabama-style country-rock movement. In contrast, Strait ignored the trends and focused on traditional country music, "drawing deep on honky tonk tradition, undeniably rooted in Texas but willing to wander outside of the Lone Star State's borders". Strait displays his clear love for the music of Merle Haggard on "Blame It on Mexico", produced with a "light production sheen" that makes it accessible and timely, and yet the singer's "delivery and attitude" make it "sound as pure country as the harder stuff". Erlewine observed: Erlewine concluded that in addition to being influential, Strait Country is "flat-out great, the beginning of a remarkable streak of continually satisfying albums from George Strait". Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a B+ rating, admiring Strait's "quiet honky tonk" sound and "pleasant baritone". Track listing Personnel George Strait – lead vocals Fred Newell – electric guitar Jimmy Capps – acoustic guitar Dave Kirby – acoustic guitar Jerry Shook – acoustic guitar Bobby Thompson – acoustic guitar Sonny Garish – steel guitar Rob Hajacos – fiddle Buddy Spicher – fiddle Mitch Humphries – keyboards Mike Leech – bass guitar Clyde Brooks – drums Bob Gelotte – drums Jerry Kroon – drums Sudie Callaway – background vocals Rita Figlio – background vocals Arlene Harden – background vocals Sherri Huffman – background vocals Diane Tidwell – background vocals Curtis Young – background vocals Blake Mevis – producer Bill Harris – engineer, mixing Mike Poston – engineer, mixing Dan Dea – assistant engineer David DeBusk – assistant engineer Milan Bogdan – digital editing Glenn Meadows – digital mastering Simon Levy – art direction Tom Wilkes – photography Katie Gillon – coordination Sherri Halford – coordination Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Release history References Works cited 1981 debut albums George Strait albums MCA Records albums