Ocean Front Property (song)

"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.[1] On the 45 record single, "My Heart Won't Wander Very Far From You" is the B-side.

"Ocean Front Property"
Single by George Strait
from the album Ocean Front Property
B-side"My Heart Won't Wander Very Far From You"
ReleasedDecember 22, 1986
RecordedSeptember 22, 1986
GenreNeotraditional country
Length
  • 3:08 (album version)
  • 2:40 (single edit)
LabelMCA 53021
Songwriter(s)Dean Dillon, Hank Cochran, Royce Porter
Producer(s)Jimmy Bowen, George Strait
George Strait singles chronology
"It Ain't Cool to Be Crazy About You"
(1986)
"Ocean Front Property"
(1986)
"All My Ex's Live in Texas"
(1987)

Musical style and composition

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"Ocean Front Property" is a neotraditional country song with its musical arrangement compared to the styles of Bob Wills and Lefty Frizzell.[2]

Critical reception

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The state of Arizona is not close enough to the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of California for either body of water to be within view.

Ben Foster of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, saying that it is "subtly clever, yet deceptively simple, with a strong undercurrent of heartache." He goes on to say that Strait’s vocal interpretation is "just straightforward enough to keep the song’s left-of-center metaphor from coming across as campy, keeping the undertone of sadness fully intact."[3]

Charts

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Chart (1986–1987) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1

Certifications

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Certifications for Ocean Front Property
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 336.
  2. ^ Coyne, Kevin (April 15, 2024). "Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: George Strait, "Ocean Front Property"". Country Universe. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  3. ^ CountryUniverse.net Song review
  4. ^ "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "American single certifications – George Strait – Ocean Front Property". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 30, 2023.

See also

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