An Album/Song A Week: Keith Whitley - I Wonder Do You Think Of Me

Has this ever happened to you?  Just when you are getting in to an artist's career, or maybe rediscovering their music again, they pass away.  It's happened to me.  And Keith Whitley was one of those artists.  This 1989 was recorded but released a few months after Whitley died from alcohol poisoning in 1989.  It's one of the greatest New Traditionalist albums ever.  Prior to his solo career, Whitley (along with Ricky Skaggs) was a member of Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley's band. He went solo in 1983 and released his first album a year later.  His first albums show a remarkable voice, but patchy results.  In 1987, Whitley finally started to get songs that were up to his high standards.  Don't Close Your Eyes is a solid album.  The title track and "When You Say Nothing At All" are two of the best Country singles of the 80's.  There's also a definitive take of Lefty Frizzell's "I Never Go Around Mirrors".

Having found his sound, it was no surprise that I Wonder Do You Think Of Me turned out so great.  Three #1's, another Top Ten hit and a bunch of album tracks that were covered by other acts.  Whitley only lived to see one of those songs, "I'm No Stranger To The Rain", reach #1.  He died on May 9, 1989.  The album was released on August 1st of that year. 

The years since have shown his influence on a generation of Country singers who came after him.  Whitley's catalog is short, but influential.  And he's often mentioned as someone who belongs in The Country Hall of Fame.  Garth Brooks certainly believes he does.  

I Wonder Do You Think of Me is a powerful final statement.