[3] On February 2, 1981, Groundhog Day, Strait entered The Waxworks recording studio in Berry Hill, Tennessee with producer Blake Mevis to record "Unwound", a song written by an unknown songwriter named Dean Dillon and his writing partner Frank Dycus.

Woolsey listened to Dillon's rough demo of "Unwound" and knew immediately that the song could be a big hit and launch Strait's career.

[7] Strait would later remember the experience of hearing his first record on the radio while working on his ranch in San Marcos.

"[7]Several days after "Unwound" made it onto the charts, MCA offered Strait a recording contract and gave the go-ahead to proceed with the album.

[8][5] This early decision to use session musicians on his recordings rather than his touring band set a pattern that he would continue to follow throughout his career.

While eager to help publicize the album, Strait had a few ground rules that would remain in place throughout his career.

The front cover photo was taken by Tom Wilkes showing Strait wearing a cream-colored straw cowboy hat, a Western shirt open at the neck, revealing a simple gold chain.

In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted how "startling" this debut album was during a time when country music was dominated by country-pop crossover songs, outlaw country anthems, the urban cowboy trend, and the Alabama-style country-rock movement.

[1] Strait displays his clear love for the music of Merle Haggard on "Blame It on Mexico", produced with a "light production sheen" that makes it accessible and timely, and yet the singer's "delivery and attitude" make it "sound as pure country as the harder stuff".

[1] Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a B+ rating, admiring Strait's "quiet honky tonk" sound and "pleasant baritone".