Cowboys and Dreamers explained

Cowboys and Dreamers
Type:	studio
Artist:	George Strait
Cover:	George Strait - Cowboys and Dreamers.png
Genre:	Neotraditional country honky-tonk
Length:	47:49
Label:	MCA Nashville
Producer:	Chuck Ainlay Tony Brown George Strait
Prev Title:	Honky Tonk Time Machine
Prev Year:	2019

Cowboys and Dreamers is the thirty-first studio album by American country music artist George Strait. It was released on September 6, 2024, via MCA Nashville. The album's first single, "MIA Down in MIA", was released on May 17, 2024.

Strait dedicated the album to longtime fiddle player of Ace in the Hole Band Gene Elders and manager Erv Woosley, who both died on March 20, 2024, as well as road manager Tom Foote who died on April 29, 2024.^[1]

Content

Strait announced the album on May 16, 2024, while performing at Lucas Oil Stadium.^{[2] [3]} Three promotional singles — "MIA Down in MIA", "The Little Things", and "Three Drinks Behind" — were released ahead of the album.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} As with his last album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, Cowboys and Dreamers was co-produced by Chuck Ainlay.

While performing in 2024, Strait teased songs for Cowboys and Dreamers, including "Honky Tonk Hall of Fame" (featuring Chris Stapleton) and "Three Drinks Behind."^{[8] [9]} "Waymore's Blues" was co-written and previously recorded by Waylon Jennings for his 1975 studio album, Dreaming My Dreams.^[10]

Musical style and composition

Cowboys and Dreamers has been labeled primarily neotraditional country and honky-tonk by critics,^{[11] [12] [13] [14]} with elements of Western swing,^[12] gospel,^[15] and countrypolitan.^[15]

Commercial performance

Cowboys and Dreamers debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and number six on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, with first-week totals of 27,000 equivalent units.^[16]

Personnel

Musicians

• George Strait – lead vocals
• Marty Slayton – background vocals
• Wes Hightower – background vocals
• Glenn Worf – bass guitar (tracks 1–3, 6, 9, 13), upright bass (7, 8, 11)
• Eddie Bayers – drums (tracks 1–3, 6–11, 13)
• Brent Mason – electric guitar (tracks 1–3, 6–11, 13)
• Mac McAnally – acoustic guitar (tracks 1–3, 6, 7, 13)
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar (tracks 1–3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Matt Rollings – Wurlitzer electric piano (tracks 1, 2, 9), piano (3, 6–9), Hammond B3 (11)
• Steve Nathan – synthesizer (tracks 1, 3, 9), Hammond B3 (8, 13)
• Stuart Duncan – mandolin (tracks 3, 13), fiddle (6, 8, 9, 11)
• Steve Gibson – acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 6, 8, 9, 11)
• Andrew Dunn – cello (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Austin Hoke – cello (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Kevin Bate – cello (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Sari Reist – cello (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Kristin Wilkinson – conductor (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Chris Farrell – viola (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Elizabeth Lamb – viola (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Monisa Angell – viola (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Seanad Chang – viola (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Alison Hoffman – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Annaliese Kowert – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Carrie Bailey – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Conni Ellisor – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• David Angell – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• David Davidson – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Jenny Bifano – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Jung-Min Shin – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Karen Winkelmann – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Mary Kathryn Vanosdale – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Peter Otto – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• WeiTsun Chang – violin (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• John Michael Whitby – Hammond B3 (tracks 4, 5, 7, 10, 12)
• Benny McArthur – acoustic guitar (tracks 4, 5, 10), electric guitar (12)
• Joe Manuel – acoustic guitar (tracks 4, 5, 10, 12)
• Terry Hale – bass guitar (tracks 4, 5, 10, 12)
• Bobby Jarzombek – drums (tracks 4, 5, 10, 12)
• Rick McRae – electric guitar (tracks 4, 5, 10, 12)
• Mike Daily – steel guitar (tracks 4, 5, 10, 12)
• Ronnie Huckaby – Wurlitzer electric piano (tracks 4, 5, 12), Wurlitzer organ (4), piano (10, 12)
• Gene Elders – mandolin (track 4), fiddle (5, 12)
• Chris Stapleton – acoustic guitar, lead vocals (track 8)

Technical

• George Strait – production
• Chuck Ainlay – production, mixing, engineering
• Tony Brown – production (tracks 1–3, 6–9, 11)
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Dan Harrison – engineering (track 2)
• Lance Van Dyke – additional engineering, engineering assistance
• Jon Clover Brown – engineering assistance (tracks 1–6, 8–13)
• Kaitlyn Walker – engineering assistance (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Tate Sablatura – engineering assistance (tracks 3, 7, 13)
• Dan Flynn – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 5, 10, 12)
• Kristin Wilkinson – string arrangement (tracks 3, 7, 13)

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)^[17]	35

Notes and References

1. News: May 17, 2024 . George Strait Releases New Song "MIA Down in MIA" From Highly Anticipated 'Cowboys And Dreamers' . July 17, 2024 . MCA Nashville.
2. News: Lippe . Ryan . May 16, 2024 . George Strait Announces New Album "Cowboys and Dreamers" . July 17, 2024 . Country Central.
3. Brandle . Lars . May 16, 2024 . George Strait Sets 31st Studio Album 'Cowboys And Dreamers'. July 17, 2024 . Billboard.
4. News: Cohen . Howard . May 18, 2024 . George Strait sings ode to Miami on his new song. How it compares to Swift's 'Florida!!!' . July 17, 2024 . Miami Herald.
5. News: Casalena . Em . May 16, 2024 . George Strait Releasing New Song "MIA Down in MIA" Tonight, Reveals Tracklist for Upcoming Album . July 17, 2024 . American Songwriter.
6. News: Brooks . Nancy . June 14, 2024 . George Strait Releases 'The Little Things' . July 17, 2024 . Backstage Country.
7. News: Douglas . Hill . July 19, 2024 . George Strait Raises A Glass With "Three Drinks Behind" From Upcoming Album 'Cowboys & Dreamers' . July 19, 2024 . Whiskey Riff.
8. News: Crabtree . Mary Claire . June 17, 2024 . George Strait Performs New Song "Three Drinks Behind" At Kyle Field . July 17, 2024 . Whiskey Riff.
9. News: Brooks . Nancy . May 17, 2024 . George Strait Announces New Album 'Cowboys And Dreamers' . July 17, 2024 . Backstage Country.
10. Web site: George Strait To Release Cover Of Waylon Jennings' "Waymore's Blues" On New 'Cowboys And Dreamers' Album. Casey Young. May 20, 2024. Whiskey Riff. July 17, 2024.
11. News: Sherman . Maria . September 6, 2024 . Music Review: On 'Cowboys and Dreamers,' George Strait's traditional country is still a heart warmer . September 18, 2024 . ABC News.
12. Web site: Hauk . Hunter . August 31, 2024 . George Strait's new album, Cowboys And Dreamers: Review, Tracklist . September 18, 2024 . Cowboys & Indians.
13. News: Hatcher . Katherine . George Strait puts class in country with new album . September 18, 2024 . Baylor Lariat . September 10, 2024.
14. Web site: O’Connell . Madeleine . George Strait Proves His 'King Of Country Music' Status With 31st Studio Album, 'Cowboys And Dreamers' . Country Now . September 18, 2024 . September 6, 2024.
15. Web site: Exploring The Songs of George Strait's "Cowboys and Dreamers" . Saving Country Music . September 18, 2024 . September 13, 2024.
16. Billboard Country Update. Billboard. September 16, 2024. September 16, 2024.
17. Web site: ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 16, 2024. September 13, 2024.