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On This Day: George Strait Records ‘Check Yes or No’ and ‘I Know She Still Loves Me’ in 1995

On Apr. 10, 1995, George Strait’s career took a major turn. On that day, 26 years ago, Strait recorded two smash hits for his compilation album, Strait Out of the Box.

He recorded “Check Yes or No” and “I Know She Still Loves Me” for the album that he released later that year. The compilation album, one of 11, included some of his best hits, such as “I Just Can’t Go on Dying Like This,” which was his debut single in 1976. 

However, “Check Yes or No” and “I Know She Still Loves Me” were special for Strait: they were the only two songs Strait recorded for the project. Strait laid down both tracks at the iconic Emerald Studios in Nashville. 

George Strait Drops Two Hits for 1995 Compilation Record

The first of the two singles, “Check Yes or No,” was written by Danny Wells and Dana Hunt. After its release, the song became Strait’s 28th No. 1 hit. It claimed the top position on the charts for four straight weeks. The second single, “I Know She Still Loves Me,” was written by Aaron Barker and Monty Holmes. It also did well commercially, landing at No. 5 on the country charts.

In “Check Yes or No,” Strait narrates the story of two young children who develop a crush on each other. Strait sings from the perspective of the young boy, who’s now an adult. He recalls stealing a kiss from the girl, named Emmylou Hayes. He also sings about chasing her “‘Round the playground, across the monkey bars to the merry-go-round.” Later, we find out that The girl gives the boy a note in class asking him to “Check Yes or No” to let her know if he has a crush on her. 

“Do you love me
Do you want to be my friend
And if you do, then don’t be afraid to take me by the hand if you want to
I think this is how love goes, check yes or no”

Nearly ten years later, “Check Yes or No” was included on George Strait’s 2004 50 Number Ones album. He also featured it on his 2007 22 More Hits album and his 2011 Icon album. The ACM awarded Strait with “Single of the Year” for the song, and the CMAs gave him an award for “Check Yes or No.” 

Just two months after its release, Strait Out of the Box was certified platinum. Currently, it’s sold more than 8 million copies, making it one of the best-selling compilation sets of all time.