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.
There were three cover songs on the album: "Honky Tonk Crazy", which had been released a couple of months earlier in 1982 by the duo of Gary Stewart and Dean Dillon on their Brotherly Love album; 2) the Guy Clark song, "Heartbroke", which was first recorded by Rodney Crowell on his 1980 album, But What Will the Neighbors Think; and 3) "Amarillo by Morning" which was first recorded by Terry Stafford in 1973.
"The Only Thing I Have Left" was later recorded by Tim McGraw for his 1993 self-titled debut album.
Recording
Strait from the Heart was recorded at Music City Music Hall in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was recorded and mixed digitally.
Musical style and composition
Strait from the Heart is a neotraditional country, honky-tonk, and countrypolitan album that continues the styles of Strait's debut album Strait Country. The album also has musical elements of Western swing. Jurek singled out the depth and breadth of the singer's talent, delivering his first number one hit, "Fool Hearted Memory", a slow two-step, alongside the equally successful ballads "Amarillo by Morning", "Marina del Rey", and "A Fire I Can't Put Out", as well as the raw traditional numbers "Honky Tonk Crazy", "Heartbroke", "I Can't See Texas from Here", and the barroom anthem "The Steal of the Night"—songs that "offer a portrait of Strait as a man who can do it all".
The album contained the songs "Amarillo by Morning", voted by Rolling Stone readers as their favorite Strait song, and "Fool Hearted Memory", Strait's first number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.