On February 14, 1987, George Strait created a milestone for country music. His album “Ocean Front Property” appeared at number one on Billboard’s country album chart, only the second package ever to debut in the top spot (Waylon Jennings’ “Ol Waylon” had been the first back in 1977). The feat was fueled both by Strait’s growing popularity and the interest created from the title track, already poised that week at #21. The song’s roots went back to one of his earlier singles, “The Chair.”
Dean Dillon and Hank Cochran wrote “The Chair” during a trip to Florida. Royce Porter was supposed to join them on that excursion, but was late getting there and the song had already been completed by the time he arrived. Collectively, they wrote sixteen songs on that trip and when they returned to Nashville, Dillon booked time at Wild Tracks Studio to record demos.
