Keith Whitley - Don't Close Your Eyes (1988)

Tracklist

01. Flying Colors
02. It's All Coming Back to Me Now
03. Lucky Dog (Single (2002 remaster))
04. Don't Close Your Eyes
05. The Birmingham Turnaround (Album (2002 remaster))
06. Some Old Side Road (Single (2002 remaster))
07. Would These Arms Be In Your Way
08. I'm No Stranger to the Rain
09. I Never Go Around Mirrors (Album (2002 remaster))
10. When You Say Nothing at All
11. A Day In The Life Of A Fool (Single (2002 remaster))
12. Honky Tonk Heart

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.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [mp3]

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]