Don't Close Your Eyes

by Keith Whitley

Overview

Don't You Close Your Eyes was more successful than Keith Whitley's two previous albums and it's easy to see why. Though the record still suffered from a handful of mediocre songs and a slightly soft production, the overall album was leaner and more direct than Whitley's earlier solo work, showcasing his talent for heartfelt honky tonk singing and his skill for crafting excellent barroom ballads. "Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing At All," and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" were the hits, but there's a wealth of excellent material here, including a haunting version of Lefty Frizzell's "I Never Go Around Mirrors." The sheer strength of the best numbers make the handful of weaker songs perfectly excusable. After all, country in the late '80s rarely got better than Don't You Close Your Eyes at its best. ~ Thom Owens

Product Details

Release Date:	03/01/2008
Label:	Rca / Sony Bmg
UPC:	0886972455723

Tracks

1. Flying Colors
2. It's All Coming Back to Me Now
3. Lucky Dog
4. Don't Close Your Eyes
5. The Birmingham Turnaround
6. Some Old Side Road
7. Would These Arms Be in Your Way
8. I'm No Stranger to the Rain
9. I Never Go Around Mirrors
10. When You Say Nothing at All
11. A Day in the Life of a Fool
12. Honky Tonk Heart

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Keith Whitley   Primary Artist,Vocals
Paul Franklin   Guitar (Steel)
Red Lane   Guitar (Acoustic)
Brent Rowan   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Dave Pomeroy   Guitar (Bass)
Billy Sanford   Guitar (Acoustic)
Jerry Kroon   Drums
Vern Gosdin   Vocals (Background)
Dennis Wilson   Vocals (Background)
Eddie Bayers   Drums
Allen Frizzell   Vocal Harmony
Sonny Garrish   Guitar (Steel)
Larry Paxton   Bass
Curtis Young   Vocals (Background)
Emmylou Harris   Vocals (Background)
Garth Fundis   Vocals (Background)
Mac McAnally   Guitar (Acoustic)
Rob Hajacos   Fiddle
Matt Rollings   Piano
Mike Lawler   Synthesizer
Mitch Humphries   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Sonny Curtis   Composer
Blake Mevis   Producer
Bill Caswell   Composer
Bob McDill   Composer
Keith Whitley   Composer,Producer
Mike Dekle   Composer
Denny Purcell   Mastering
Byron Hill   Composer
Gary Laney   Engineer,Remixing
Paul Overstreet   Composer
Curly Putman   Composer
Don Cook   Composer
Warren Robb   Composer
Vern Gosdin   Composer
Hank Cochran   Composer
Todd Sholar   Assistant Engineer
Jerry Joyner   Design
Bill Harris   Engineer
Roger D. Ferris   Composer
Don Schlitz   Composer
Mary Hamilton   Art Direction
Gary Talley   Composer
Kim Morrison   Composer
Garth Fundis   Producer,Remixing
Lefty Frizzell   Composer
Ron Hellard   Composer
Johnny Neel   Composer
Verlon Thompson   Composer
Lonnie Wilson   Composer
Sanger D. Shafer   Composer
Red Lane   Composer