Strait co-wrote seven of the album's eleven tracks with his son, Bubba Strait, and songwriter Dean Dillon.[ 14] "Here for a Good Time," the lead off single, debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, making the second-highest debut of his career.[ 15]
Here for a Good Time was recorded at Shrimpboat Sound Studio in Key West, Florida , the same studio where Strait recorded his last three albums.[ 16]
"Lone Star Blues" was originally recorded by Delbert McClinton on his 2002 album, Room to Breathe . "A Showman's Life" was originally recorded by the songwriter, Jesse Winchester , on his 1978 album, A Touch on the Rainy Side and by Gary Allan on his 2003 album, See If I Care .
Title Writer(s) 1. "Love's Gonna Make It Alright " Al Anderson , Chris Stapleton 3:50 2. "Drinkin' Man " Dean Dillon , Bubba Strait, George Strait 4:27 3. "Shame On Me" B. Strait, G. Strait 2:39 4. "Poison" Chuck Cannon , Allen Shamblin 3:39 5. "Here for a Good Time " Dillon, B. Strait, G. Strait 3:01 6. "House Across the Bay" Dillon, B. Strait, G. Strait 3:36 7. "Lone Star Blues" Gary Nicholson , Delbert McClinton 4:18 8. "A Showman’s Life" (featuring Faith Hill ) Jesse Winchester 4:43 9. "Three Nails and a Cross" Bobby Boyd, Dillon, B. Strait, G. Strait 3:43 10. "Blue Marlin Blues" Dillon, B. Strait, G. Strait 3:24 11. "I’ll Always Remember You" Dillon, B. Strait, G. Strait 3:54 Total length: 41:13
George Strait – lead vocals, backing vocals
Steve Nathan – acoustic piano, Hammond B3 organ , synthesizers
Matt Rollings – acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano , Hammond B3 organ
Steve Gibson – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gut-string guitar
Brent Mason – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gut-string guitar
Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Paul Franklin – steel guitar
Stuart Duncan – fiddle , mandolin
Glenn Worf – bass guitar, upright bass
Eddie Bayers – drums
Thom Flora – backing vocals
Wes Hightower – backing vocals
Marty Slayton – backing vocals
Chris Stapleton – backing vocals
Faith Hill – backing vocals (8)
Brian White – A&R
Tony Brown – producer
George Strait – producer
Chuck Ainlay – recording, mixing, additional recording
Jim Cooley – recording assistant
Brandon Schexnayder – additional recording, mix assistant
Brian David Willis – digital editing
Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)
Amy Garges – production assistant
Craig Allen – design
Terry Calonge – photography
Kelley Fromme-May – booklet back cover photography
Vanessa Gavalya – inside front and back cover photography
Erv Woolsey – management
Here for a Good Time debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200 chart and No.1 on the Country Albums chart with 91,000 copies.[ 17] As of December 21, 2011, the album had sold 298k copies.
^ a b Hight, Jewly (September 7, 2011). "George Strait: Here For a Good Time" . American Songwriter . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ "Critic Reviews for Here for a Good Time" . Metacritic . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Here for a Good Time - George Strait" . Allmusic . Retrieved September 7, 2011 .
^ Rodman, Sarah (September 5, 2011). "George Strait, 'Here for a Good Time' " . The Boston Globe . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Phillips, Jessica (October 5, 2011). "Here for a Good Time by George Strait" . Country Weekly . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Wood, Mikael (September 9, 2011). "Albums: Sept. 9, 2011 (George Strait, Here for a Good Time )" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Lewis, Randy (September 5, 2011). "Album review: George Strait's 'Here for a Good Time' " . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Ratliff, Ben (September 5, 2011). "New Music (George Strait: 'Here for a Good Time')" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Heaton, Dave (October 28, 2011). "George Strait: Here for a Good Time" . PopMatters . Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ Keefe, Jonathan (September 5, 2011). "George Strait: Here for a Good Time" . Slant Magazine . Retrieved September 24, 2011 .
^ Dukes, Billy (September 6, 2011). "George Strait, 'Here for a Good Time' - Album Review" . Taste of Country . Retrieved September 7, 2011 .
^ Mansfield, Brian (September 6, 2011). "George Strait, Here for a Good Time " . USA Today . Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2013 .
^ "George Strait is here for a Good Time - New CD is here Sept. 6th" . georgestrait.com . August 3, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved August 4, 2011 .
^ Sarah Wyland (August 4, 2011). "George Strait to Release New Album September 6" . Great American County . Retrieved August 4, 2011 .
^ Wyland, Sarah (June 14, 2011). "George Strait Releases New Single" . Great American Country . Retrieved August 4, 2011 .
^ "Strait gets ready for a good time" . Country Standard Time . August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2011 .
^ Caulfield, Keith (May 22, 2013). "Vampire Weekend Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200" . Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 22, 2013 .
^ "George Strait Chart History (Canadian Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "George Strait Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "George Strait Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011" . Billboard . Retrieved May 19, 2021 .
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2011" . Billboard . Retrieved May 19, 2021 .
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012" . Billboard . Retrieved May 19, 2021 .
^ "American album certifications – George Strait – Here For A Good Time" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 18, 2023 .