Here for a Good Time

Here for a Good Time is the twenty-seventh studio album by American country music artist George Strait. It was released on September 6, 2011, via Universal [Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville]. Strait co-produced the album with his long-time producer Tony Brown. The title track and lead-off single, "Here for a Good Time", co-written with son Bubba and songwriter Dean Dillon, was released in June 2011. The album sold 91,414 copies in its first week.
On November 30, 2011, the album received a nomination at the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Country Album.

Content

Strait co-wrote seven of the album's eleven tracks with his son, Bubba Strait, and songwriter Dean Dillon. "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.
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.
"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 (album)|See If I Care].

Personnel

George Strait – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
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
Ace [in the Hole Band|Thom Flora] – backing vocals
Wes Hightower – backing vocals
Marty Slayton – backing vocals
Chris Stapleton – backing vocals
Faith Hill – backing vocals

Production

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
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

Chart positions

Here for a Good Time debuted at No.3 on the [Billboard 200|Billboard 200] chart and No.1 on the Country Albums chart with 91,000 copies. As of December 21, 2011, the album had sold 298k copies.