bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 1, 2023 19:25:52 GMT -5
Oh hey, the power must have come back ;)
This is pretty much the predictable top 5, although I would have subbed in Lorrie for "My Amy". The hook of the latter is probably one of his most iconic, but I found the rest of the song to not quite live up to the attempted wordplay in the hook. Definitely still top 10 worthy, but "'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose" just has a much more infectious melody!
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 1, 2023 19:27:33 GMT -5
Prediction:
5. Miami, My Amy 4. I'm No Stranger To The Rain 3. I'm Over You 2. Don't Close Your Eyes 1. When You Say Nothing At All
Although 5-2 could frankly be in any order. The only thing I am even remotely confident about is "Nothing" being the #1!
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recordyear
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Post by recordyear on Feb 1, 2023 19:33:44 GMT -5
1-4 and 17. I hope my #17 is #5 here so that I can have my top 4 in rankdown top 4!
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 19:48:18 GMT -5
Below are some additional songs that were recorded by Keith Whitley and then covered by other artists. âDoes Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mindâ While Keith Whitley did record the song, it was released as a standalone track. After having been passed up on by Reba McEntire, it would be George Strait whom after hearing Keith's demo decided to the record it and made the song the title track and lead-off single of his fourth studio album.
âOn the Other Handâ Keith recorded this for his debut studio album, L.A. to Miami, which was released in late 1985. It would be Randy Travis, however, that would take his version all the way to the top of the country charts in in 1986.
âBetween An Old Memory and Meâ While initially recorded by Keith for his 1989 album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me, Travis Tritt would record and release in November 1994 as the third single from his album Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof where it peaked just outside of the top 10.
âThat's Where I Want to Take Our Loveâ Keith's version was originally recorded for and released in 1991 for his second compilation album, Kentucky Bluebird. George Strait would also go on to cover the song as he recorded it for his 1999 album Always Never the Same.
âTalk to Me Texasâ Recorded for Keith's third studio I Wonder Do You Think of Me, Tracy Byrd also covered the song for his 1993 self-titled debut album.
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 19:55:01 GMT -5
Well, everybody talks about the California quakes But the first time I ever felt the earth shake Was in Miami When Amy touched me Aw, it shook me
I told her I loved her and I wanted to stay But she said, "Be sure, and I'll call you in L.A." Even in the taxi I could hear my telephone ring 5. âMiami, My AmyâReleased: November 1985 Album: L.A. to Miami Peak Chart Position: #14
Total: 107 Average: 8.23 Std Dev: 5.56 (5th Highest) {Songs Remaining} Donât Close Your Eyes Iâm No Stranger to the Rain Iâm Over You When You Say Nothing At All
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 19:59:42 GMT -5
You heard I'm drinking more than I should That I ain't been looking all that good Someone told you I was taking it rough Why are they making those stories up? When I'm over you 4. âIâm Over YouâReleased: January 1990 Album: I Wonder Do You Think of Me Peak Chart Position: #3 Total: 88 Average: 6.77 Std Dev: 6.41 (HIGHEST!) {Songs Remaining} Donât Close Your Eyes Iâm No Stranger to the Rain When You Say Nothing At All
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 1, 2023 20:01:17 GMT -5
Hmm, maybe the only thing holding "Miami" back for me is that it is quite a bit more dated than everything that is left. I'm listening to it again right now, and it's better than I remembered! Not that I ranked it low or anything, lol. But still it's better than I remembered!
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 20:03:17 GMT -5
The #1s are starting to fall as both superdave3556 and kw9461 lost theirs with "Miami, My Amy" followed by a trio of #1s for "I'm Over You" from George Strait Junkie, bboat11, castleoblivion26. While the majority of the group did place that song in their top 10, it did garner a few bottom 5s which in turn made that our most polarizing song!
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 1, 2023 20:03:54 GMT -5
Lmao wtf are those three random bottom 5s for "I'm Over You" The fact that nearly everybody else put it top 5 is more like the reality that we want be living in! This was a discovery for me (I think? Actually, it was probably in the 1990 rankdown...), and something about Keith's delivery made me throw it right up to the top of my list, which was actually a huge accomplishment considering that I was 100% positive going into this thing that "When You Say Nothing At All" was going to be my #1! This melody is just so smooth!
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 20:09:24 GMT -5
Don't close your eyes, let it be me Don't pretend it's him, in some fantasy Darling, just once let yesterday go And you'll find more love Than you've ever known Just hold me tight When you love me tonight And don't close your eyes 3. âDonât Close Your EyesâReleased: March 1988 Album: Donât Close Your Eyes Peak Chart Position: #1 Total: 67 Average: 5.15 Std Dev: 3.21 (LOWEST!) {Songs Remaining} Iâm No Stranger to the Rain When You Say Nothing At All
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 20:10:28 GMT -5
The Top 2!
Iâm No Stranger to the Rain When You Say Nothing At All
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 1, 2023 20:16:34 GMT -5
Of course as a relative youth compared to some of the other tractors who need not be specifically named, my first exposure to "Don't Close Your Eyes" was Kellie Pickler's second album, which is a hella good cover. I would have never guessed after hearing it that it was a cover of a 20+ (at the time) year-old song, as it fits right in along the other modern ballads on that album like "One Last Time" and "Somebody To Love Me". Of course Keith's version slays too, and definitely was THIS close to making my top 5!
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.indulgecountry
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Post by .indulgecountry on Feb 1, 2023 20:16:52 GMT -5
Pulling for "Rain" to win.
"When You Say Nothing at All" is an incredible... Alison Krauss song.
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 20:20:44 GMT -5
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall Yeah, you say it best When you say nothing at all 2. âWhen You Say Nothing At AllâReleased: 1988 Album: Don't Close Your Eyes Peak Chart Position: #1 Total: 55 Average: 4.23 Std Dev: 4.21
When I get that foggy feeling The one I'm feeling now If I don't keep my head up, I may drown But it's hard to keep believing I'll even come out even While the rain beats a hole in the ground And tonight, it's really coming down 1. âIâm No Stranger to the RainâReleased: January 1989 Album: Don't Close Your Eyes Peak Chart Position: #1 Total: 48 Average: 3.69 Std Dev: 3.38 (2nd Lowest)
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.indulgecountry
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Post by .indulgecountry on Feb 1, 2023 20:26:21 GMT -5
1. âIâm No Stranger to the Rainâ
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 20:31:48 GMT -5
Despite four #1 rankings for âWhen You Say Nothing At Allâ, it would be the only two non-top 10 placements that allowed the 1989 CMA Single of the Year âIâm No Stranger to the Rainâ to maintain its lead at the top for the much of its run. The majority of the group in fact placed both songs somewhere inside their top 5 with đșCountryLineDancer being the lone dissenter for our winning song. And that's a wrap folks! I'd like to thank everyone for their patience as this took me a bit longer to finish than I was hoping. I hope there were a couple discoveries along the way that you found and enjoyed as these icon rankdowns really are all about introducing y'all to artists who wouldn't receive a full artist rankdown otherwise. Thanks!
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 1, 2023 20:32:28 GMT -5
Well, can't be too mad because literally everything in the top 5 could have had a solid argument for why it deserved to win. But imo "When You Say Nothing At All" deserved it the most, as it is by far his signature song. It may have been given artificially-extended relevance due to the popularity of Alison's version a few years later, but I don't feel like hers made his any less relevant or anything. I've still heard his plenty over the course of my life, even though I've obviously heard hers more. Also, Sara Evans' live tribute is incredible as well How she could record a whole covers album and fill it with campy s**t that people only like as a joke ("My Sharona", "Come On Eileen", "Whenever I Call You Friend", etc.) when she could have done THIS is beyond me....
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Post by tim on Feb 1, 2023 20:40:20 GMT -5
{Recap of Results} 20. Quittinâ Time 19. If You Think Iâm Crazy Now (You Should Have Seen Me When I Was a Kid) 18. A Hard Act to Follow 17. Nobody In His Right Mind Wouldâve Left Her 16. Ten Feet Away
15. I Wonder Do You Think of Me 14. It Ainât Nothinâ 13. Brother Jukebox 12. The Birmingham Turnaround 11. I Never Go Around Mirrors
10. Homecoming â63 9. Wherever You Are Tonight 8. Somebodyâs Doinâ Me Right 7. Brotherly Love (w/ Earl Thomas Conley) 6. âTil a Tear Becomes a Rose (w/ Lorrie Morgan)
5. Miami, My Amy 4. Iâm Over You 3. Donât Close Your Eyes 2. When You Say Nothing At All 1. Iâm No Stranger to the Rain
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đșCountryLineDancer
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Post by đșCountryLineDancer on Feb 1, 2023 21:03:50 GMT -5
Darn! âWhen You Say Nothing At Allâ is by far my fav output by Keith Whitley. At least I tried + good to see a good chunk of #1 rankings. Thanks for hosting tim!
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.indulgecountry
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"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Feb 1, 2023 21:08:38 GMT -5
Well, can't be too mad because literally everything in the top 5 could have had a solid argument for why it deserved to win. But imo "When You Say Nothing At All" deserved it the most, as it is by far his signature song. It may have been given artificially-extended relevance due to the popularity of Alison's version a few years later, but I don't feel like hers made his any less relevant or anything. I've still heard his plenty over the course of my life, even though I've obviously heard hers more. I disagree! I've always felt like "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" seems like THE quintessential Keith Whitley hit, and it's the one that I've probably heard the most on country radio as a recurrent play. I feel like WYSNAA is not terribly far behind it, but I do think Alison Krauss having such a big hit with it herself has always kinda lessened the impact of it on his end, and "Stranger" doesn't have that working against it.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 2, 2023 0:31:46 GMT -5
Well, can't be too mad because literally everything in the top 5 could have had a solid argument for why it deserved to win. But imo "When You Say Nothing At All" deserved it the most, as it is by far his signature song. It may have been given artificially-extended relevance due to the popularity of Alison's version a few years later, but I don't feel like hers made his any less relevant or anything. I've still heard his plenty over the course of my life, even though I've obviously heard hers more. I disagree! I've always felt like "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" seems like THE quintessential Keith Whitley hit, and it's the one that I've probably heard the most on country radio as a recurrent play. I feel like WYSNAA is not terribly far behind it, but I do think Alison Krauss having such a big hit with it herself has always kinda lessened the impact of it on his end, and "Stranger" doesn't have that working against it. Okay but Alison making it a bigger hit doesn't suddenly make his version one of the worst songs in his catalog #15, I swear!
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.indulgecountry
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"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Feb 2, 2023 11:18:33 GMT -5
I disagree! I've always felt like "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" seems like THE quintessential Keith Whitley hit, and it's the one that I've probably heard the most on country radio as a recurrent play. I feel like WYSNAA is not terribly far behind it, but I do think Alison Krauss having such a big hit with it herself has always kinda lessened the impact of it on his end, and "Stranger" doesn't have that working against it. Okay but Alison making it a bigger hit doesn't suddenly make his version one of the worst songs in his catalog #15, I swear! It does, for the same reason I ranked the one that George Strait made better low, too! This rankdown has taught me that A LOT of artists enjoyed also recording his songs... and it was evidently to make improvements. đ
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recordyear
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Post by recordyear on Feb 3, 2023 9:37:48 GMT -5
Time to talk about some of the songs in the rankdown. Correct song for last place. Quittin' Time is quite repetitive and and doesn't have a good chorus. The wordplays are also forced and cluttered. On the contrary, the pun in A Hard Act to Follow is more throughout. Brother Jukebox is higher on my list because it is not as balladry as others. Brotherly Love is a weird song even though it is about bromance, especially the line "You hated girls 'til I had my first date". They do harmonize well though. When I did the rankdown, Miami, My Amy was viral on Tiktok I think? The soft rock sound can be dated but I think it stands out in this list for a good reason. Still don't get the love for Iâm Over You. The melody sounds like a rip-off to me despite being an original song. When You Say Nothing At All still has a GOAT melody so whether it is sung by him or Alison Krasus doesn't affect me much. Donât Close Your Eyes feels devastating enough. Iâm No Stranger to the Rain is his best upbeat song. Any of the three would be great winner. Thanks tim for hosting.
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gonecountry
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Post by gonecountry on Feb 3, 2023 15:37:09 GMT -5
Thanks tim for hosting. Solid rankdown, I knew some but not all of Keith's hits. I still love Don't Close Your Eyes the best, but I certainly expanded my appreciation of his portfolio even further.
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