Kentucky Bluebird
Encyclopedia
Kentucky Bluebird is the fifth studio album by American country music
singer Keith Whitley
. His first posthumous album, it was released via RCA Records
Nashville in September 1991. The album consists of four previously-released songs, re-orchestrated demo
s and other previously unreleased songs, as well as snippets from live performances that predate his professional music career.
's television show in Charleston, West Virginia
; a radio show performance given as a member of the Lonesome Mountain Boys in 1971; two interviews from the radio countdown show American Country Countdown
(then hosted by Bob Kingsley
); and an interview with Ralph Emery
. Also included are "Lucky Dog" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way," both of which were included on only the compact disc
release of his 1988 album Don't Close Your Eyes, as well as "I Never Go Around Mirrors" from that album and "Between an Old Memory and Me" from 1989's I Wonder Do You Think of Me
. These latter two songs were added because they were among Whitley's favorite songs that he recorded. Three of the new songs — "Backbone Job," "I Want My Rib Back" and the title track — had already been recorded by Whitley as demo
s, with new musical accompaniment added by producer Garth Fundis
. The rest of the songs on the album were to have been included on an album that was never released. Kenny Chesney
later recorded "I Want My Rib Back" on his 1994 debut album In My Wildest Dreams
, "Brotherly Love" was originally a single for Moe Bandy
in 1989, and Wade Hayes
covered the title track on his 1995 debut album Old Enough to Know Better
.
Of the new material on Kentucky Bluebird, two songs were released as singles: "Brotherly Love," a duet with Earl Thomas Conley
, and "Somebody's Doin' Me Right." Respectively, these reached #2 and #15 on the U.S. Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts, with the latter becoming Whitley's last top 40 country hit. The album itself peaked at #45 on Top Country Albums.
of Entertainment Weekly
gave the album an A rating, saying that while it did not function as a greatest hits
album, it "contain[s] some of Whitley's best moments on record[…] paired here with crisp new instrumental backings." Allmusic critic Al Campbell gave it three stars out of five, calling the album "a documentary
of sorts" and "definitely not a first-purchase disc, but a recommended curio."
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley
Jackie Keith Whitley , known professionally as Keith Whitley, was an American country music singer. Whitley's brief career in mainstream country music lasted from 1984 until his death in 1989, but he continues to influence an entire generation of singers and songwriters...
. His first posthumous album, it was released via RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
Nashville in September 1991. The album consists of four previously-released songs, re-orchestrated demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
s and other previously unreleased songs, as well as snippets from live performances that predate his professional music career.
Content
The album features several snippets from various points at Whitley's career, including: a performance that he gave at age eight on Buddy StarcherBuddy Starcher
Buddy Starcher was an American country singer. He starred on his own show on WCHS-TV from 1960 to 1966. However, he is best known for his 1966 spoken word recording entitled "History Repeats Itself", written with Minnie Pearl and released on Boone Records...
's television show in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
; a radio show performance given as a member of the Lonesome Mountain Boys in 1971; two interviews from the radio countdown show American Country Countdown
American Country Countdown
American Country Countdown, also known as ACC or American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, is an internationally syndicated radio program which counts down the top 30 country songs of the previous week, from No. 30 to No. 1, according to the Mediabase country chart...
(then hosted by Bob Kingsley
Bob Kingsley
Bob Kingsley is an American country music radio personality and host of the nationally syndicated programs "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40" and "Bob Kingsley with Today's Hit Makers."...
); and an interview with Ralph Emery
Ralph Emery
Walter Ralph Emery is a country music disc jockey and television host from Nashville, Tennessee. He gained national fame hosting the syndicated television music series, Pop! Goes the Country, from 1974 to 1980 and the nightly Nashville Network television program, Nashville Now, from 1983 to 1993...
. Also included are "Lucky Dog" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way," both of which were included on only the compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
release of his 1988 album Don't Close Your Eyes, as well as "I Never Go Around Mirrors" from that album and "Between an Old Memory and Me" from 1989's I Wonder Do You Think of Me
I Wonder Do You Think of Me
I Wonder Do You Think of Me is an album released by country music artist Keith Whitley. It was released in August 1989 by RCA Records, one month after Whitley's death from alcohol poisoning. It peaked at #2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and is certified gold by the RIAA...
. These latter two songs were added because they were among Whitley's favorite songs that he recorded. Three of the new songs — "Backbone Job," "I Want My Rib Back" and the title track — had already been recorded by Whitley as demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
s, with new musical accompaniment added by producer Garth Fundis
Garth Fundis
Garth Fundis is an American country music record producer. Active since the 1970s, Fundis has produced albums for several country artists, including Alabama, Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland, and Keith Whitley. Fundis has also served as a judge on the Colgate Country Showdown.-References:...
. The rest of the songs on the album were to have been included on an album that was never released. Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
later recorded "I Want My Rib Back" on his 1994 debut album In My Wildest Dreams
In My Wildest Dreams
-Album:-Singles:...
, "Brotherly Love" was originally a single for Moe Bandy
Moe Bandy
Marion Franklin Bandy, Jr.–better known professionally as Moe Bandy– is a country music singer...
in 1989, and Wade Hayes
Wade Hayes
Tony Wade Hayes is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1994, he made his debut that year with his gold-certified album Old Enough to Know Better...
covered the title track on his 1995 debut album Old Enough to Know Better
Old Enough to Know Better
Old Enough to Know Better is the debut album of American country music artist Wade Hayes. Released in early 1995 on Columbia Records, it produced a Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in its title track; the singles "I'm Still Dancing with You", "Don't Stop", and...
.
Of the new material on Kentucky Bluebird, two songs were released as singles: "Brotherly Love," a duet with Earl Thomas Conley
Earl Thomas Conley
Earl Thomas Conley is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1980 and 2003, he recorded ten studio albums, including seven for the RCA Records label. In the 1980s and into the 1990s, Conley also charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, of which...
, and "Somebody's Doin' Me Right." Respectively, these reached #2 and #15 on the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts, with the latter becoming Whitley's last top 40 country hit. The album itself peaked at #45 on Top Country Albums.
Critical reception
Alanna NashAlanna Nash
Alanna Nash is an American journalist and biographer.Nash holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is the author of several acclaimed books...
of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the album an A rating, saying that while it did not function as a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album, it "contain[s] some of Whitley's best moments on record[…] paired here with crisp new instrumental backings." Allmusic critic Al Campbell gave it three stars out of five, calling the album "a documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
of sorts" and "definitely not a first-purchase disc, but a recommended curio."
Track listing
- Buddy Starcher Show (from Charleston, West Virginia, ca. 1962) – 0:56
- "Going Home" (Troy SealsTroy SealsTroy Seals is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.He is a member of the prominent Seals family of musicians that includes, Jim Seals and Dan Seals and Brady Seals...
, John SchneiderJohn Schneider (television actor)John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
) – 4:00 - "Lucky Dog" (Verlon Thompson, Bill CaswellBill CaswellBill Caswell is a country music singer-songwriter and musician active since the early 1980s. Together with his wife Rosi Caswell, the duo from Bartlesville, Oklahoma perform on rare old style instruments including the ukelin, mandolin-guitar, bell-harp, and tremeloa. In the 1980s he performed his...
) – 2:00 - "That's Where I Want to Take Our Love" (Hank CochranHank CochranGarland Perry "Hank" Cochran was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and others...
, Dean DillonDean DillonDean Dillon is an American country music artist. Between 1982 and 1993, Dillon recorded six studio albums on various labels, and charted several singles on the Billboard country charts. Although he has not charted since 1993, Dillon has continued to write several hit songs for other artists, most...
) – 3:13 - "Somebody's Doin' Me RightSomebody's Doin' Me Right"Somebody's Doin' Me Right" is a single by American country music artist Keith Whitley. Posthumously released in January 1992, it was the second single from his album, Kentucky Bluebird...
" (Fred KnoblockFred KnoblockFred Knoblock is an American country singer-songwriter.Prior to his solo career, Knoblock had been a member of Let's Eat, a 1970s rock band. Knoblock was signed to Scotti Brothers Records in 1980 when he released the song "Why Not Me", which he wrote along with Carson Whitsett...
, Paul OverstreetPaul OverstreetPaul Lester Overstreet is an American country music singer and songwriter. He recorded 10 studio albums between 1982 and 2005, and charted 16 singles on the Billboard country charts, including two #1 hits...
, Dan Tyler) – 3:50 - American Country Countdown interview excerpt – 0:33
- "I Never Go Around Mirrors" (Sanger D. ShaferSanger D. ShaferSanger D. "Whitey" Shafer is an American country songwriter and musician. He wrote numerous hits for stars such as George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and George Strait.-Life:...
, Lefty FrizzellLefty FrizzellLefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
) – 4:24 - Lonesome Mountain Boys Radio Show, circa 1972 / American Country Countdown interview excerpts – 1:10
- "Brotherly LoveBrotherly Love (Moe Bandy song)"Brotherly Love" is the title of a song written by Jimmy Stewart and Tim Nichols, which has been recorded by Moe Bandy, as well as a duet between Keith Whitley and Earl Thomas Conley....
" (Jimmy Stewart, Tim NicholsTim NicholsTim Nichols Tim Nichols Tim Nichols (born in Portsmouth, Virginia is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since the late 1980s, Nichols has written for several country music singers, including Keith Whitley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, and Alan Jackson...
) – 3:17- duet with Earl Thomas ConleyEarl Thomas ConleyEarl Thomas Conley is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1980 and 2003, he recorded ten studio albums, including seven for the RCA Records label. In the 1980s and into the 1990s, Conley also charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, of which...
- duet with Earl Thomas Conley
- "Backbone Job" (Keith Whitley, Kix BrooksKix BrooksLeon Eric "Kix" Brooks III , is an American country music artist, best known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn.-Early life:...
) – 2:42 - "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" (Cochran, Vern GosdinVern GosdinVern Gosdin was an American country music singer. He idolized The Louvin Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys as a young man and sang in a gospel quartet called The Gosdin Brothers. An inheritor of the soulful honky tonk style of Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard, Gosdin was nicknamed "The Voice" by his...
, Red Lane) – 3:10 - "Between an Old Memory and MeBetween an Old Memory and Me"Between an Old Memory and Me" is the title of a song written by Keith Stegall and Charlie Craig. It was originally recorded by American country music artist Keith Whitley for his 1989 album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me. It was then recorded by Travis Tritt and released in November 1994 as the...
" (Charlie Craig, Keith StegallKeith StegallRobert Keith Stegall is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two-major label studio albums: 1985's Keith Stegall and 1996's Passages...
) – 3:18 - Ralph Emery interview excerpt, January 1989 – 0:43
- "I Want My Rib Back" (Whitley, Fred KollerFred KollerFred Koller is an American singer-songwriter. He has been active in the music business since 1973. Fred currently lives and works in Nashville with his wife Trish and their cat Buddy.-Music career:...
) – 3:38 - "Kentucky Bluebird" (Don CookDon CookDon Kirby Cook is an American record producer and songwriter whose work is mainly in the field of country music. Artists who recorded Cook's material include Barbara Mandrell, John Conlee, Mark Collie, Wade Hayes and Brooks & Dunn...
, Wally WilsonWally WilsonWally Wilson , is an American record producer and songwriter based in Nashville.-Career:Wally Wilson has worked with artists as diverse as Leon Russell, Bo Diddley, the Neville Brothers, Junior Wells, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Lone Star, Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Rick Trevino, Rascal Flatts...
) – 3:38
Production
As listed in liner notes.- "Going Home", "That's Where I Want to Take Our Love", "Somebody's Doing Me Right", "Brotherly Love" originally produced by Blake Mevis; additional recording produced by Garth FundisGarth FundisGarth Fundis is an American country music record producer. Active since the 1970s, Fundis has produced albums for several country artists, including Alabama, Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland, and Keith Whitley. Fundis has also served as a judge on the Colgate Country Showdown.-References:...
- "Lucky Dog", "I Never Go Around Mirrors", "Between an Old Memory and Me" produced by Garth Fundis and Keith Whitley
- "Backbone Job" produced by Kix BrooksKix BrooksLeon Eric "Kix" Brooks III , is an American country music artist, best known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn.-Early life:...
and Keith Whitley; additional recording produced by Garth Fundis - "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" produced by Blake Mevis
- "I Want My Rib Back" produced by Fred Koller and Keith Whitley; additional recording produced by Garth Fundis
- "Kentucky Bluebird" produced by Don Cook; additional recording produced by Garth Fundis
Chart performance
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 45 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 17 |