Watch Randy Rogers Salute George Strait With Moving ‘Wrapped’ Cover
George Strait will release his second Strait Out of the Box set on November 18th, two decades after the original four-disc collection became the best-selling country box set of all time. But with 11 other compilations to his credit already, the updated Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 goes beyond your standard greatest-hits package – and may suggest that the King isn’t ready to hand over his throne just yet.
Fifty-six tracks from the years 1996 to 2016 were hand selected by Strait himself – 26 of them Number One hits – but there are also a smattering of choice album cuts and two previously unreleased songs. This news has got hardcore Strait-heads excited, for sure, but it extends beyond fans to his fellow artists, as well.
Randy Rogers is one such Strait lover, and among other Texas favorites like Aaron Watson and Green River Ordinance he was asked to record his favorite Strait tune in honor of the new project. He chose “Wrapped,” a Top 5 hit in 2007 that appears on the It Just Comes Natural album.
Written by legendary songsmith Bruce Robison, Rogers brought the track back to its roots and recorded it in Robison’s home studio, working up a dusty version of the tune and draping it in laid back, pure Texas swing. Featuring accordion, fiddle and steel guitar, Rogers begins the song in heartbroken despair, only to let his spirits rise and the sound swell as his narrator locks eyes with a lost lover once again. He knows he’ll still never get that love back, but the brief rush of romantic relief seems enough reason to keep on living and hoping.
All the while, Robison stands nearby, taking in the new interpretation of his creation and looking pleased with the outcome. And for his part, Rogers treated the task as an honor, writing on Facebook, “So proud to be asked to cover my favorite George Strait tune, ‘Wrapped,’ in honor of the new Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 box set coming out in November. #TheKing.” (The cover songs do not appear on the box set.)
Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 will be available November 18th.