Marina del Rey (song)

Last updated
"Marina del Rey"
Single by George Strait
from the album Strait from the Heart
B-side "I Can't See Texas from Here"
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1982
RecordedJanuary 11, 1982
Genre Country
Length3:00
Label MCA 52120
Songwriter(s) Dean Dillon
Frank Dycus
Producer(s) Blake Mevis
George Strait singles chronology
"Fool Hearted Memory"
(1982)
"Marina del Rey"
(1982)
"Amarillo by Morning"
(1983)

"Marina del Rey" is a song recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in September 1982 as the second single from his album Strait from the Heart , which went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA. It peaked at number 6 in the United States, and number 2 in Canada. The song is set in Marina del Rey, California, and it is structured as a slow romantic ballad. Longtime country songwriters Frank Dycus and Dean Dillon composed the tune. [1] [2]

Contents

Content

The song is about a love affair on the beach. A man and a woman get together and have a good time during a vacation. They create many memories and then go their separate ways – back to their normal lives.

Critical reception

Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B grade, saying that the lyrics are "appropriately longing and sentimental for times gone by, but Strait hasn’t yet developed enough as a vocalist to pull off the mature performance required." [3]

Chart positions

Chart (1982)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 6
Canadian RPM Country Tracks2

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Strait</span> American country music singer (born 1952)

George Harvey Strait Sr. is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. In the 1980s, he was credited for igniting the neotraditional country movement, famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts. His influential and record-breaking legacy of his pioneering neotraditionalist country style has garnered him as the "King of Country Music."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Nowels</span> American songwriter and record producer

Richard Wright Nowels Jr. is an American songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and arranger. He has co-written and co-produced over 90 hit singles with multiple artists and his songs have appeared on over 250 million albums. In 2020 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

<i>Strait from the Heart</i> 1982 studio album by George Strait

Strait from the Heart is the second studio album by American country music artist George Strait, released on June 3, 1982 by MCA Records. The album includes Strait's first No. 1 single, "Fool Hearted Memory", as well as follow-up singles "Marina del Rey", "Amarillo by Morning" and "A Fire I Can't Put Out", reaching No. 6, No. 4, and No. 1 respectively on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The album peaked at No. 18 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Strait from the Heart is certified platinum by the RIAA.

"Fool Hearted Memory" is a song written by Byron Hill and Blake Mevis, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. The song was Strait's first number 1 single. It was released in May 1982 as the first single from Strait's Strait from the Heart album, and was included in the soundtrack of the feature film The Soldier on Embassy Films. The song won an ASCAP Award for being among the most performed country songs of 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give It Away (George Strait song)</span> 2006 single by George Strait

"Give It Away" is a song recorded by American country music artist George Strait, written by Jamey Johnson, Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon. It was released in July 2006 as the lead single from the album It Just Comes Natural.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How 'bout Them Cowgirls</span> 2007 single by George Strait

"How 'bout Them Cowgirls" is a song written by Casey Beathard and Ed Hill, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in August 2007 as the fourth single from his album It Just Comes Natural. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 67 on the Canadian Hot 100.

"Amarillo by Morning" is a country music song written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, and recorded in a country pop style by Stafford as a single in 1973 to minor success. The song would be popularized in fiddle-based Western rendition by Texas neotraditionalist George Strait in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All My Ex's Live in Texas</span> 1987 single by George Strait

"All My Ex's Live In Texas" is a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in April 1987 as the second single from Strait's album Ocean Front Property. "All My Ex's Live In Texas" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven</span> 2008 single by Kenny Chesney with The Wailers

"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" is a country music song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by George Strait for his 2008 album Troubadour, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chair (song)</span> 1985 single by George Strait

"The Chair" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in August 1985 as the first single from Strait’s album Something Special. The song reached number one on the country music charts in both the United States and Canada in 1985. The song was named by CMT as one of the Top 100 country songs of all time, posting at number 24 on that list. Something that sets "The Chair" apart for most other songs of any style - it has no refrain or chorus. Only the basic melody repeats throughout the song.

"The Fireman" is a song written by Mack Vickery and Wayne Kemp, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in May 1985 as the third and final single from his album Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. It reached number 5 on the country music chart in the United States, and number 10 in Canada.

"Ocean Front Property" is a song written by Dean Dillon, Hank Cochran and Royce Porter and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in December 1986 as the first single and title track from his album of the same name. It was a number-one hit in both the United States and Canada. On the 45 record single, "My Heart Won't Wander Very Far From You" is the B-side.

"The Cowboy Rides Away" is a song written by Sonny Throckmorton and Casey Kelly, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in January 1985 as the second single from his album Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. It peaked at number 5 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and at number 3 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. It is the song used by Strait to close out his performances. This is also the name of his last and final tour commencing January 18, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living for the Night</span> 2009 single by George Strait

"Living for the Night" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. Written by Strait with his son, Bubba, and Dean Dillon, it is the 88th single release of his career, and the first single that Strait has co-written. It was released in May 2009 as the first single from his album Twang. The song was released to radio on May 28, 2009, one day after CBS aired a George Strait tribute show in which other musical artists performed covers of his songs. "Living for the Night" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

<i>Twang</i> (album) 2009 studio album by George Strait

Twang is the twenty-sixth studio album by American country music artist George Strait. It was released on August 11, 2009, via MCA Nashville, the same label to which Strait has been signed since 1981. It is produced by Tony Brown. The lead-off single "Living for the Night", which Strait wrote with his son Bubba and songwriter Dean Dillon, was released in May 2009. As of the chart dated January 8, 2011, the album has sold 662,023 copies in the US. "Twang" was nominated for Best Country Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Strait singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country music singer George Strait comprises 126 charted singles. Starting with "Unwound" in 1981, Strait has reached the Top 10 of the Hot Country Songs charts with all but 14 of his single releases. He has 44 No. 1s on the Billboard country charts, the most of any artist. Strait has also amassed 86 Top 10 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, second only to Eddy Arnold, who had 92.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lana Del Rey</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1985)

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Her music is noted for its cinematic quality and exploration of tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia, with frequent references to contemporary pop culture and 1950s–1960s Americana. She is the recipient of various accolades, including two Brit Awards, two MTV Europe Music Awards, and a Satellite Award, in addition to nominations for six Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Variety honored her at their Hitmakers Awards for being "one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Believe (George Strait song)</span> 2013 single by George Strait

"I Believe" is a song recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was written by Strait, his son Bubba, and Dean Dillon. It was released on July 15, 2013, as the second single from his album Love Is Everything.

"Bucked Off" is a song recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released on November 12, 2018 by Arista Nashville as the first single from his upcoming twelfth studio album. Paisley co-wrote the song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois, and co-produced it with Dann Huff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damn Strait</span> 2021 single by Scotty McCreery

"Damn Strait" is a song by American country music singer Scotty McCreery. It was released on October 18, 2021, as the second single from his fifth studio album Same Truck. The song was written by Jim Collins and Trent Tomlinson, and produced by Frank Rogers, Aaron Eshuis and Derek Wells.

References

  1. "Marina del Ray - George Strait | Song Info". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  2. Thom Jurek. "Strait from the Heart - George Strait | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  3. "Retro Single Review: George Strait, "Marina Del Rey" – Country Universe". Countryuniverse.net. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  4. "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.