If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'

Kicked off by the title track, a pitch-perfect update of Faron Young’s honky-tonk anthem, If You Ain’t Lovin, You Ain’t Livin’ extends the traditional theme that worked so well for Ocean Front Property, while at the same adding the elements that would broaden Strait’s appeal in the 90s. In addition to the title track, “Under these Conditions,” “It’s Too Late Now,” and “Let’s Get Down To It” are traditional country at its very best, and should be more than enough to satisfy the Friday night line dancers and lonesome cowboys. On the other end of the spectrum, “Baby Blue” and “Famous Last Words of A Fool” are pining slow dances that blend pop songwriting with just the right amount of country twang. There are contemporary performers who can sing traditional country with as much conviction and expertise as George Strait, but the true measure of his talent lies in “Don’t Mind If I Do” and “Is It That Time Again.” No other performer has shown the taste and class to turn these gently swaying jazz numbers into great country songs.