Keith Whitley Icon Rankdown
Jun 6, 2022 2:15:58 GMT -5
Post by tim on Jun 6, 2022 2:15:58 GMT -5
Welcome to the the next installment of the Country Icon Rankdown Series which features an abridged portion of an artists discography to highlight over the course of their career. In light of Keith Whitley's recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to provide a showcase of his work encompassing a selection of material from his studio and compliatlion albums beginning with 1984's A Hard Act to Follow.
Keith Whitley's legacy loomed large over the country music landscape of the '90s. A talented new country singer and songwriter, Whitley was just beginning to emerge as a superstar at the time of his death in 1989. Throughout the next decade, his reputation as both a performer and writer continued to grow, as other artists had hits with his songs and posthumous recordings climbed into the Top Ten.
Whitley's emergence first began in the late '60s when none other than Ralph Stanley was looking to reform his band. He was so impressed with Whitley and his friend Ricky Skaggs, he asked them to join his Clinch Mountain Boys group. The duo accepted the offer immediately and began appearing with the band in 1970. He remained with the group until the mid '70s when he joined J.D. Crowe's band the NewSouth. After recording numerous albums with them in the late '70s and early '80s, Whitley began a full-fledged solo career and signed with RCA Records. His debut album, A Hard Act to Follow, followed in 1984 and the following year he released L.A. to Miami which spawned the Top 15 single "Miami, My Amy."
Keith Whitley's next studio album, Don't Close Your Eyes, was released in the spring of 1988 and solidified his commercial standing with the first three singles ("Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing at All," and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain") all becoming number one hits.
On May 9, 1989, Keith suffered from a fatal case of alcohol poisoning and was only 34 at the time of his passing. Just before his death, he completed his fourth album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me. The record was released shortly after his death and its first single, which was the title track, reached number one, as did its follow-up, "It Ain't Nothin"; another single from the album, "I'm Over You," reached number three in 1990.
Please make sure to PM with your songs ranked from #1 (your favorite) down to #20 (your least favorite). I'm providing ample time to complete the rankdown, so please make sure to utilize the time provided to complete this by the date below.
Keith Whitley's legacy loomed large over the country music landscape of the '90s. A talented new country singer and songwriter, Whitley was just beginning to emerge as a superstar at the time of his death in 1989. Throughout the next decade, his reputation as both a performer and writer continued to grow, as other artists had hits with his songs and posthumous recordings climbed into the Top Ten.
Whitley's emergence first began in the late '60s when none other than Ralph Stanley was looking to reform his band. He was so impressed with Whitley and his friend Ricky Skaggs, he asked them to join his Clinch Mountain Boys group. The duo accepted the offer immediately and began appearing with the band in 1970. He remained with the group until the mid '70s when he joined J.D. Crowe's band the NewSouth. After recording numerous albums with them in the late '70s and early '80s, Whitley began a full-fledged solo career and signed with RCA Records. His debut album, A Hard Act to Follow, followed in 1984 and the following year he released L.A. to Miami which spawned the Top 15 single "Miami, My Amy."
Keith Whitley's next studio album, Don't Close Your Eyes, was released in the spring of 1988 and solidified his commercial standing with the first three singles ("Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing at All," and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain") all becoming number one hits.
On May 9, 1989, Keith suffered from a fatal case of alcohol poisoning and was only 34 at the time of his passing. Just before his death, he completed his fourth album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me. The record was released shortly after his death and its first single, which was the title track, reached number one, as did its follow-up, "It Ain't Nothin"; another single from the album, "I'm Over You," reached number three in 1990.
Please make sure to PM with your songs ranked from #1 (your favorite) down to #20 (your least favorite). I'm providing ample time to complete the rankdown, so please make sure to utilize the time provided to complete this by the date below.
{Recap of Results}
20. Quittin’ Time
19. If You Think I’m Crazy Now (You Should Have Seen Me When I Was a Kid)
18. A Hard Act to Follow
17. Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
16. Ten Feet Away
15. I Wonder Do You Think of Me
14. It Ain’t Nothin’
13. Brother Jukebox
12. The Birmingham Turnaround
11. I Never Go Around Mirrors
10. Homecoming ’63
9. Wherever You Are Tonight
8. Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right
7. Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley)
6. ’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
5. Miami, My Amy
4. I’m Over You
3. Don’t Close Your Eyes
2. When You Say Nothing At All
1. I’m No Stranger to the Rain
20. Quittin’ Time
19. If You Think I’m Crazy Now (You Should Have Seen Me When I Was a Kid)
18. A Hard Act to Follow
17. Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
16. Ten Feet Away
15. I Wonder Do You Think of Me
14. It Ain’t Nothin’
13. Brother Jukebox
12. The Birmingham Turnaround
11. I Never Go Around Mirrors
10. Homecoming ’63
9. Wherever You Are Tonight
8. Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right
7. Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley)
6. ’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
5. Miami, My Amy
4. I’m Over You
3. Don’t Close Your Eyes
2. When You Say Nothing At All
1. I’m No Stranger to the Rain
| Songs |
1. If You Think I’m Crazy Now (You Should Have Seen Me When I Was a Kid)
2. A Hard Act to Follow
3. Miami, My Amy
4. Ten Feet Away
5. Homecoming ’63
6. Quittin’ Time
7. Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
8. Don’t Close Your Eyes
9. When You Say Nothing At All
10. I’m No Stranger to the Rain
11. I Never Go Around Mirrors
12. The Birmingham Turnaround
13. I Wonder Do You Think of Me
14. Brother Jukebox
15. It Ain’t Nothin’
16. I’m Over You
17. ’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
18. Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley)
19. Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right
20. Wherever You Are Tonight *
* not available for streaming
2. A Hard Act to Follow
3. Miami, My Amy
4. Ten Feet Away
5. Homecoming ’63
6. Quittin’ Time
7. Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
8. Don’t Close Your Eyes
9. When You Say Nothing At All
10. I’m No Stranger to the Rain
11. I Never Go Around Mirrors
12. The Birmingham Turnaround
13. I Wonder Do You Think of Me
14. Brother Jukebox
15. It Ain’t Nothin’
16. I’m Over You
17. ’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
18. Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley)
19. Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right
20. Wherever You Are Tonight *
* not available for streaming
{Songlist Without Numbers}
If You Think I’m Crazy Now (You Should Have Seen Me When I Was a Kid)
A Hard Act to Follow
Miami, My Amy
Ten Feet Away
Homecoming ’63
Quittin’ Time
Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
Don’t Close Your Eyes
When You Say Nothing At All
I’m No Stranger to the Rain
I Never Go Around Mirrors
The Birmingham Turnaround
I Wonder Do You Think of Me
Brother Jukebox
It Ain’t Nothin’
I’m Over You
’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley)
Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right
Wherever You Are Tonight
If You Think I’m Crazy Now (You Should Have Seen Me When I Was a Kid)
A Hard Act to Follow
Miami, My Amy
Ten Feet Away
Homecoming ’63
Quittin’ Time
Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
Don’t Close Your Eyes
When You Say Nothing At All
I’m No Stranger to the Rain
I Never Go Around Mirrors
The Birmingham Turnaround
I Wonder Do You Think of Me
Brother Jukebox
It Ain’t Nothin’
I’m Over You
’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley)
Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right
Wherever You Are Tonight
+ + + +
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