Customer Reviews

Sad Songs & Waltzes

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Numerous greatest hits albums and Keith Whitley still has the nerve to give us more incredible unreleased original material. Don't be fooled by the title, this is an album of many moods, sad a serious and down right honky-tonk fun with songs like "Where Are All The Girls I Used To Cheat With". Whitley's sound is like a pool of water in the desert of comercialized pop-country that has been infesting the genre. Hurting for a REAL country musician? Try this on for size.

Keith Whitley was and still is country music at its finest. Sad Songs and Waltzes clearly displays the pure raw talent that he possed. For those of you that have been fans of Keith Whitley you can appreciate the talent and these timeless tracks. For those of you who are new to Keith Whitley you are in for a tremendous treat. Considering that this album has sat on the shelfs since 1982 it sounds as fresh and alive as if it were recorded just yesterday. There are very few Country musicians who can hold a candle to one of the greatest Country Musicians of all time...past and present.

This reworking of early Whitley recordings (including the entire 1982 album Somewhere Between by J. D. Crowe and the New South, for whom Whitley sang) is the best tribute to date to one of country music's most influential artists at the beginning of his country career. Guest artists (Alison Krauss, Carl Jackson, Diamond Rio`s Gene Johnson, Dale Ann Bradley) add their talents to these tracks, but they do so totally in a support capacity and the only identity evident on this album is Whitley's. And that's more than enough -- the emotion, phrasing, and straightforwardness with a honky tonk pathos that made Whitley (a Lefty Frizzell acolyte) so revered is center stage. The music here is country in its unmistakable, pure form -- featuring "Long Black Limousine," Haggard's "Somewhere Between," Lefty's "I Never Go Around Mirrors," and the Willie Nelson penned title cut, a jewel where the singer laments that his song about his lost love will not be heard: "Though my records may say it/No one will play it/For sad songs and waltzes ain't sellin' this year." Two of these songs from the 1982 album later became hits for other artists, "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" (George Strait) and "(I've Always Been) Honky Tonk Crazy" (Gene Watson). No matter how much or little Keith Whitley you currently own, these fifteen tracks are more than worth being in your music library.

At first, I didn't think anything could rival my favorite Whitley CD "I Wonder What You Think Of Me". But after a few listens, that traditional Whitley soul and sound began to really sink in. Keith's multiple talents allow him to cover the full Country spectrum here - yes, there are "sad songs" on this CD ("Long Black Limousine", "Honky Tonk Crazy"), "lighter" songs such as "Where Did You Learn To Love Like That", "cover" tunes ("Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind") as well as some almost Bluegrass crossovers ("Girl from the Canyon", "Another Town"). No surprise, since Keith really started as a Bluegrass artist.

Absolutely great stuff, and Keith's voice is as usual in top form. All in all, a must for Whitley fans or any fan of "real" country music. If you love the "old stuff", and have never heard of Keith Whitley, buy this CD. Or, if you are tired of today's watered down, glitzed up pretenders that Nashville pumps out like penny candy, treat yourself to music you will treasure for a lifetime. What a shame Whitley, one of the few real Country talents to emerge in the past twenty years, died at such a young age (of alcohol poisoning). Thankfully his music lives on.

WOW!!!! what a cd. keith whitley has still today over ten years since his death,proven to me that singers like him dont come around often. what a talent!. the mans voice is awesome.he shows here what country music needs today a true singer,with all the entertainers today none of them can compare to keith whitley.i think he would of been bigger than garth,alan,strait and paisley.his tone is so powerful yet so smooth,j.d. crowe thank you for giving us this cd.great job!! run dont walk to get this cd. and to other keith fans.. theres even a better cd coming out soon its keiths cd called "MY HOME AINT IN THE HALL OF FAME".when you hear this one,it will blow you away.i hope all country fans get this one,then they will hear the gretest country singer of all time.long live keith whitleys music!!!!

This is not only a tribute to the talent that Keith Whitley held. It is a work of genius by J.D. Crowe. Knowing him personally, I know the years of work that was dedicated to producing this album. A certain record company wanted to buy the rights to this album in which all recordings were done during the Somewhere Between recording which was recorded under J.D. Crowe and the New South. But J.D. did not sell the rights to the music because he did not want the originality perverted. He wanted it recorded as Keith Whitley and he would have recorded it. It is J.D.'s unselfishness and genius along with Keith's talent that makes the album what it is -- without the commercialism that the record company would have undoubtedly spun into it. Three cheers!

Here is the finest Keith Whitley album you will ever own. No, dont just listen to it, or read a simple review about it, just get out there and buy it! There's absolutely no way you can be disappointed with this work. "Sad Songs & Waltzes" is a collection of 15 songs that predate Keith's fame on the charts. But, there's not a song here that doesn't deserve to be on the top 10. This was originally recorded in 1982, and preceeds the new traditionalist movement of Dwight, Randy, Marty, and Patty. But, this album will hold its own with any artist of that era (or any era, for that matter). Keith's voice and delivery has its roots with Lefty Frizzel, and although Lefty had a lot of imitators, Keith was just the next natural progressive step of Lefty's style. There are a few real standout tracks that I'll mention: "I Never Go Around Mirrors", "Somewhere Between", and "Sad Songs & Waltzes" all showcase his voice perfectly. In addition, there are two covers: "Does Forth Worth Ever Cross Your Mind", while a signature George Strait song, is captured nicely by Keith; "Long Black Limousine" is a Lefty Frizzel number, that was also covered by Wynn Stewart, but I dare say this number belongs to Keith Whitley....it's better than the original. There are many Keith Whitley albums out there, including a handful of "greatest hits" collections, but this Rounder release deserves your attention. A+++++++++++++++

I don't know when I have enjoyed any CD as I am enjoying this one. Keiths Traditional country voice brings joy to my heart and sometimes tears to my eyes. How he allowed himself to be overcome and to lose his life at such a young age and with a future as bright as any star anywhere is beyond me.
I now have 3 of his CD's, but his voice on this one and the music is sometimes overwhelming. The band that played with him on this CD is also overwhelming. At first I started out just listening to his voice, but was soon listening to the instrumentals accompanying him. I have to sometimes replay the song to hear his voice, because the band is so extremly wonderful, I get caught up in the various instruments that are playing. Theres no mention of band members on the cover.
I was raised on Ernest Tubb and Bob Wills, so you know where my love of Traditional Country music comes from, but Keith Whitley gets more popular as time goes by, because of his wonderful voice. I love "Dance with me Molly". It makes my heart want to dance, and "I've Always Been Honky Tonk Crazy" is simply so old time 'Honky Tonk Hank Williams' that anyone who loves Country Music will have to love this one!!!
I plan on buying all his CD's and would like to find an "honest to God" site that actually discussed Keith Whitley.

I got this cd for my birthday it is a good one!!There is songs on here that were never released ,and now they are.On this album you get to hear Keith doing some bluegrass songs.This album has has a lot to say inside in a review about the state of country music ,and Keith whitleys music.My Favorite song on this album is "sad songs and waltzes " a line in the song goes my records may say it but,no one will play it because sad songs and waltzes aint selling this year.Then theres the song somewhere between "this song really lets you see just how talented Keith was ,and how he could make you feel what the song is saying.A good love song is where d" you learn to love like that its about a girl really putting her loving on strong!To be loved by a woman is a song a bout a man telling how special his woman is to him.Then theres a song called "if i known last night was our last night i wouldve loved you all night long" .Its about losing love unexpected and wishing you could do something but,its over.I have listened to this cd over and over ,i listen to it more than i do the stuff that he is known for.This in my opinion is Keith Whitley at his best ,a great cd of real" country" music.This cd was just released in 2000 so its new material never before heard .Get it i guarantee you will like it ,if your a fan of Keiths music like i am .Theres only one Keith Whitley!! Anyone else is just a wanna be!!

I find myself going between George Jones and Keith Whitley Albums/Songs. This Album falls inline with all of Keith's past records with pure emotion and great songs. I wish I could find the on Vinyl though.