George Strait, “Wrapped”

George Strait, “Wrapped”

I’ve been underwhelmed by the singles from Strait’s It Just Comes Natural set so far, but there’s no quicker way to get back on my good side than covering Bruce Robison.    Strait returns to the same Robison album that contained “Desperately” and turns the title cut into an instantly classic Strait tune.    He turns in a fantastic vocal performance, making Robison’s original sound darn near pedestrian in comparison.   I would love to hear a Strait album just of Austin songwriters.   If this song is any indication, he’d knock it out of the ballpark.

Grade: A

Listen: Wrapped

Buy: Wrapped

13 Comments

  1. I disagree. I think Bruce Robison’s cover has so much more warmth and sincerity to it than Strait’s version. I did see Bruce perform this song live and I thought it sounded perfect. Strait sounds flat, in my opinion.

  2. I’m with AS on this one. I think Strait sounds detached from 90% of his songs– especially in the last five years– and this is no exception. The production doesn’t do him any favors, either, since it sounds as lifeless as he does. Pinmonkey did a pretty good cover of the song on their Big Shiny Cars album last year, but I think Kelly Willis’ version is far and away the best.

  3. I have to disagree about this. Of course, I like the song and George, but his version is not as good, in my opinion, as Bruce’s. And actually, I prefer Kelly Willis’s version over both of the men’s versions. Kelly performed this song the way it should be sung. Listen to hers and then re-listen to George’s. This is not an “A” performance by George. But give him credit for picking good songs.

  4. I agree, Roger. I think it is Kelly who knocks the ball out of the park with this song. Bruce’s version is softer but still very engaging. I find George Strait’s cover to be ok if it stand alone but utterly bland in comparison to Bruce and especially Kelly’s.

  5. I just wanna say that i thought “Give It Away” was the worst song George Strait has ever done along side “Seashore Of Old Mexico” (which i think Haggard did so much better). Sense these two songs were back to back released I was beginning to think George was becoming an artist that released things just cause he could make them hits.

    However he has earned my respect back quickly with his 2 newest songs. It Just Comes Natural and Wrapped have brought back the George Strait I was a fan of before “Seashore Of Old Mexico”. I’m really excited to get his album now.

    I completely agree with the A!

  6. I couldn’t disagree more with the lot of you! There is no one out
    there with better vocals that George Strait. He makes every song
    sound like it came strait from his heart and soul. He is truly a
    master at what he does. They don’t call him KING for nothing. I’ve
    listened to Bruce’s version, yes he is good… but I don’t “feel” it
    when he sings. I prefer George’s version over any. And IJCN is a
    superb album. In the words of Tony Brown… “It’s a killer album.”

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