One of the best blues albums of the 1980s

This album is front loaded with singles and big songs. The lead off track and the song that brought Robert Cray to the mainstream was "Smoking Gun."

"Smoking Gun" is about a jealous man who shoots his girlfriend. What makes this such a standout is the use of keywords in a blues song. The notes swing together. The guitar solo keeps in the rhythm. He doesn't showboat or make it scream out. 

"I Guess I Showed Her." This song is comical but it's not a novelty song. He sees his girlfriend with another guy. The thing is that she wants to explain and he stomps off without giving her a chance. He proves his instincts were right because he has this new place on his own. This little place with a hot plate and moldy sheets. As the song progresses the singer sounds lost and he realized he really didn't win the end. 

"It's Because of Me" - here's where we get the album title. He calls himself a "strong persuader" in this song of an affair. This time the singer is the guy she has the affair with. Not a point of view you often get in song. Love the shimmering guitar strum throughout the song. 

"Nothin' But a Woman"- Memphis Horns from Wayne Jackson. It's a bouncy. Full of instrumentation. 

"Still Around"- a breakup song like the movie The Break Up. 

"More Than I Can Stand"- we start with horns. It's a steady bluesy song.

"Foul Play"- we go back to bass and gentle guitar, almost ominous. As the song progresses, we hear paranoia of an affair? He states his case of each event. He may be right about the affair.

"I Wonder"- blues no doubt. We open with some guitar in this ballad of love. Then you get to the line about her changing her phone number and now I wonder. Is he a stalker? 

"Fantasized"- another modern blues song. Big guitar opening. He got the girl he had a crush on. 

"New Blood"- we close on a ballad. Looking for a new relationship. 

No songs to skip past. No songs out of place. This is a phenomenal from beginning to end. 

This brilliant album was made by Robert Cray, Richard Cosins, Peter Boe, David Olson and Lee Spath.