Beyond the Blue Neon
Encyclopedia
Beyond the Blue Neon is George Strait
's ninth original studio album and 12th overall. It was released by MCA Records
in 1989. It is certified platinum
by the RIAA, and it produced the singles "Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye", "What's Going on in Your World", "Ace in the Hole", and "Overnight Success". While the first three singles all reached Number One on the Billboard
country charts in 1989, "Overnight Success" was a #8 for Strait in 1990. "Hollywood Squares" also charted at #67 in 1990 based on unsolicited airplay.
on 1986's Tryin' to Outrun the Wind, and the title track was originally recorded by its co-writer, Larry Boone
, on his 1988 Swingin' Doors, Sawdust Floors (the title of which also references this song). In addition, "Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby
" was later recorded by Diamond Rio
on their 1992 album Close to the Edge
, from which it was released as a single. Finally, David Ball covered "What's Going On in Your World" on his 2007 album Heartaches by the Number
.
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
's ninth original studio album and 12th overall. It was released by MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in 1989. It is certified platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the RIAA, and it produced the singles "Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye", "What's Going on in Your World", "Ace in the Hole", and "Overnight Success". While the first three singles all reached Number One on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts in 1989, "Overnight Success" was a #8 for Strait in 1990. "Hollywood Squares" also charted at #67 in 1990 based on unsolicited airplay.
Content
Two of this album's tracks were previously recorded by other artists, while two more were later covered by others. "Leavin's Been Comin' (For a Long, Long Time)" was originally cut by actor-singer John SchneiderJohn Schneider (television actor)
John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
on 1986's Tryin' to Outrun the Wind, and the title track was originally recorded by its co-writer, Larry Boone
Larry Boone
Larry Eugene Boone is an American country music artist. Between 1985 and 1993, Boone recorded five major label studio albums, in addition to charting several singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. His highest-charting single, "Don't Give Candy to a Stranger", reached #10 in 1988...
, on his 1988 Swingin' Doors, Sawdust Floors (the title of which also references this song). In addition, "Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby
Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby
"Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby" is the title of a song written by Michael Garvin and Tom Shapiro. It was first recorded in 1989 by George Strait and featured on his album, Beyond the Blue Neon. It was later recorded and released as a single by American country music group Diamond Rio. It was the second...
" was later recorded by Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio is an American Country music/Christian music band formed in 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its foundation, the group has comprised the same six members: Gene Johnson , Jimmy Olander , Brian Prout , Marty Roe , Dan Truman , and Dana Williams...
on their 1992 album Close to the Edge
Close to the Edge (Diamond Rio album)
Close to the Edge is the second album from the country music group Diamond Rio. Released in 1992 on Arista Records, it produced the singles "In a Week or Two", "Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby", "This Romeo Ain't Got Julie Yet", and "Sawmill Road"...
, from which it was released as a single. Finally, David Ball covered "What's Going On in Your World" on his 2007 album Heartaches by the Number
Heartaches by the Number (David Ball album)
Heartaches by the Number is the title of an album released in 2007 by American country music artist David Ball. It is his first release for the Shanachie Records label. Except for the track "Please Feed the Jukebox", which Ball wrote himself, all of the songs on this album are covers of classic...
.
Track listing
- "Beyond the Blue Neon" (Larry BooneLarry BooneLarry Eugene Boone is an American country music artist. Between 1985 and 1993, Boone recorded five major label studio albums, in addition to charting several singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. His highest-charting single, "Don't Give Candy to a Stranger", reached #10 in 1988...
, Paul Nelson) – 2:57 - "Hollywood Squares" (Larry CordleLarry CordleLarry Cordle was born in eastern Kentucky and is an American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter. Cordle is most famous for his song "Murder on Music Row", which was recorded by George Strait and Alan Jackson and received the CMA Award for Song of the Year in 2000.-Career:Cordle has written...
, Wayland Patton, Jeff Tanguay) – 2:46 - "Overnight SuccessOvernight Success"Overnight Success" the title of a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and recorded by country music artist George Strait. It was released in November 1989 as the fourth and final single from his album, Beyond the Blue Neon.-Chart performance:...
" (Sanger D. ShaferSanger D. ShaferSanger D. "Whitey" Shafer is an American country songwriter and musician. He wrote numerous hits for stars such as George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and George Strait.-Life:...
) – 3:11 - "Ace in the HoleAce in the Hole (George Strait song)"Ace in the Hole" the title of a song written by Dennis Adkins and recorded by country music artist George Strait in 1989. George's touring band is called "The Ace in the Hole Band." It was the third single released from his album, Beyond the Blue Neon...
" (Dennis Adkins) – 2:39 - "Leavin's Been Comin' (For a Long, Long Time)" (Sonny ThrockmortonSonny ThrockmortonJames Fron "Sonny" Throckmorton is an American country music singer and songwriter. Known primarily for his songwriting, Throckmorton has had more than 1,000 of his songs recorded by various country singers...
, Joseph Allen, Dave Kirby) – 3:01 - "Baby's Gotten Good at GoodbyeBaby's Gotten Good at Goodbye"Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye" is the title of a song released by country singer George Strait. It was released in December 1988 as the first single from the album, Beyond the Blue Neon.-Content:...
" (Tony MartinTony Martin (songwriter)Tony Martin is a country music songwriter who has had twelve Number One hits as a songwriter. Among his compositions are "Third Rock from the Sun" by Joe Diffie and "Just to See You Smile" by Tim McGraw....
, Troy Martin) – 3:31 - "What's Going On in Your WorldWhat's Going On in Your World"What's Going On in Your World" the title of a song recorded by country music artist George Strait in 1989. It was the second single released from his album, Beyond the Blue Neon...
" (David Chamberlain, Royce Porter, Red SteagallRed SteagallRussell Steagall is a multitalented showbusiness personality whose career has covered a period of 35 years and has spanned the globe...
) – 3:29 - "Angel, Angelina" (L. David Lewis) – 3:14
- "Too Much of Too Little" (Curtis Wayne) – 2:21
- "Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet BabyOh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby"Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby" is the title of a song written by Michael Garvin and Tom Shapiro. It was first recorded in 1989 by George Strait and featured on his album, Beyond the Blue Neon. It was later recorded and released as a single by American country music group Diamond Rio. It was the second...
" (Tom ShapiroTom ShapiroTom Shapiro is an American songwriter and occasional record producer, known primarily for his work in country music. To date, he holds four Country Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated, as well as the Songwriter of the Decade award from the Nashville Songwriters...
, Michael Garvin) – 2:28
Band
- Background Vocals: Curtis "Mr. Harmony" Young, Liana "Mrs. Harmony" Young
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
: Eddie BayersEddie BayersEddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'... - BassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
: David HungateDavid HungateDavid Hungate is a bass player noted as a member of Los Angeles pop-rock band Toto from 1977-1982. Boz Scaggs's Silk Degrees album of 1976 included Hungate and several other future members of Toto... - Electric GuitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
: Reggie Young, Steve Gibson - Steel GuitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
: Paul FranklinPaul Franklin (musician)Paul Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville,... - SaxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
: Steve Marsh - PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
: Floyd DominoFloyd DominoFloyd Domino is an American musician known for his work in the genre of Western Swing.Born a native of California, Domino was introduced to Western Swing by way of the musicians who had migrated from Texas and Oklahoma in the 1930s and 1940s.... - FiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
: Johnny GimbleJohnny GimbleJohn Paul Gimble , better known as Johnny Gimble, is an American country musician associated with Western swing. He is an award-winning fiddle player and considered one of the most impressive fiddlers in the genre's history.... - Acoustic GuitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
: Steve Gibson
Production
- Engineers: Bob Bullock, Ron Treat, Tim Kish, Russ Martin
- Mixer: John Guess
- Second Engineers: Julian King, Sheila Mann, Tim Kish
- Digital Editing: Milan Bogdan
- Pre-Production: Don Lanier
- Projection Coordinator: Jessie Noble
- Design: Robert Jones
- Photography: Steven Pumphrey
Chart performance
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 92 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 5 |