Search - Keith Whitley :: Rca Country Legends

Another Near Miss On Keith Whitley's RCA Years

T. C Lane | Marina, CA USA | 03/18/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is RCA's fifth attempt at compiling Keith Whitley's RCA years, and it still falls short of their first (Greatest Hits from 1990). It's not just missing Miami, My Amy (#14, 1986), but it all but neglects his final CD. Eight of these 16 songs are on 1988's Don't Close Your Eyes, while his last CD, 1989's I Wonder Do You Think Of Me only gets ONE (!?) song (the title track). Makes you wonder if Rich Kienzle (the compiler and liner notes writer for this CD) has something against Whitley's final album. The compilation as a whole might be a good 2nd Hits album for the Whitley novice. The performances, of course, are great. The sound is good and the liner notes are 2002 up-to-date. But if you're looking to start your RCA Whitley collection, here's 3 to own first: Greatest Hits (1990), I Wonder Do You Think Of Me (1989) and Don't Close Your Eyes (1988). Count this as another near-miss on compiling Keith Whitley's RCA years."

This stuff never gets old

Nicholas R Nahodil | Stow, OH United States | 03/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of Country's biggest tragedies to this day is the unfortunate early death of Keith Whitley. This album gives us 16 of Keith Whitley's best hits. 10 of these were top 20's. Although this is basically another compilation album, it is still definitely worth buying. Every now and then we get treated to a cd filled with all new remastered unreleased material, but there is nothing new is on this album. Maybe someday the record companies will finally wake up and give us a live album from their music vaults.For those who don't know him this album is Definitely worth buying. I have listened to this album over and over again...........again this stuff never gets old."

Just As Good As The Rest

K. Fontenot | The Bayou State | 03/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, so this album doesn't contain "Miami, My Amy," but that can be found on the other countless Keith Whitley greatest hits collections. This isn't necessarily a greatest hits disc. Instead, it offers us the songs that make Whitley deserving of the title "Country Legend."



Before Garth came along and "popped up" country, there was a heavy lean toward neo-Traditionalist Country. That lean was lead by country heavyweights George Strait and Keith Whitley(Alan Jackson would soon pick up the slack left by Whitley after his untimely death). With Whitley's death, the floodgates opened for acts like Garth Brooks who strayed from traditional country to reach a larger audience. I'm not knocking Brooks, mind you, I just hold him responsible for pushing "real" country to the back of the line.



Whitley was great, there's no denying that. He's the closest thing to Merle Haggard that ever existed. Songs like "The Birmingham Turnaround" and "I'm No Stranger To The Rain" scream Haggard, but are all Keith Whitley as well. Both of those tunes are found on this disc. Other greats included here are "Some Old Side Road," "Don't Close Your Eyes," and the REAL version of "When You Say Nothing At All." Shame on NPR darling Allison Krauss for botching up that song! There are a couple of duets here and "Hard Livin'," which has a Hank, Jr. feel to it. Everything else here only solidifies Whitley's spot in Country Music history.



For folks interested in hearing some great neo-traditionalist country, you can't go wrong with Whitley. If you enjoy him, check out Alan Jackson, George Strait, Brad Paisley, and the legendary Merle Haggard. I guarantee you'll love'em all.



Long since Garth's flame died out, we still talk about Keith Whitley as an important and crucial piece of Country music's history. I'm sure that well beyond the days when we see the burnout of acts like Rascal Flatts and Shania Twain, it will be Whitley who will still be considered one of the greatest artists of all time.



Rest in peace, Mr. Whitley, you aren't forgotten."