Customer Reviews

I Wonder Do You Think of Me

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Like many seemingly ordinary things done uncommonly well, Keith Whitley's performance on this album may not really catch your attention the first time around. A few licks by guitarist Brent Mason aside, there is nothing flashy here: no vocal pyrothechnics, no power ballads, no exotic melodies or strained similies. But put it on again. Pay attention the way you would if you were in a small club well into an evening when everyone there came just to listen to the singer up there on the stage, no further away than you are from your stereo. The voice is a warm baritone and it rumbles, almost purrs, when it reaches down for the low notes.

Above all else, this is an intimate album. There's only one number meant to rock the roadhouse -- "Heartbreak Highway" -- and especially in this setting, it does its job just fine. The rest of it -- even the uptempo numbers like "Turn This Thing Around" -- is clean, understated and emotionally direct. "Direct" doesn't mean "unsubtle." Whitley's phrasing is like a lens that brings emotions into focus. This is particularly true on a slow honky-tonk like "I'm Over You" or the exquisite "Between and Old Memory and Me."

Some of the best numbers deal with the perennial country theme of taking refuge in a bottle; "Tennessee Courage" is a particularly good example. On the one hand, this is a part of the genre. But unfortunately, we know that Whitley knew entirely too well what he was talking about. He drank himself to death one night in the spring of 1989, before the final touches were put on the album. If that was the cost of creating this jewel, it was far too high a price to pay. The least we can do is close our eyes and imagine ourselves in that small dark club, lost in his soft Kentucky drawl.

This is Whitley's masterpiece. Everything about this record is done masterfully from the production, song selection, and material. Whitley's silky voice was at its most tortured on here. Unfortunately, it was released a few weeks after his tragic death. Some of the songs on here are made even more meaningful when you realize that he was living these songs at the time.

It's chilling to listen to them.

"I'm Over You" is a great country song. When you keep in mind that Whitley was about to drink himself to death, it sends shivers down your spine to hear him sing,"You heard I'm drinking more than I should that I ain't been looking all that good. Someone told you I was taking it rough, well why they making those stories up. I'm over you."

It's just a great album that anyone who calls themselves a country fan should own. Artists like Whitley only happen once in a lifetime, and unfortunately...when a star burns that bright, it often burns out.

Seldom do singers come along who can interpret songs the way Keith Whitley could. This album perhaps best demonstrates his ability to pour his emotions and raw talent into melodies and lyrics. The songs on this album have a common thread of heartbreak and struggle, whether through the up-tempo "Talk to Me Texas," and "Turn This Thing Around," to the slower, more reflective "I Wonder, Do You Think of Me," and "Tennessee Courage." Though the hits from this album did not necessarily have the success of his previous offerings, nevertheless every song is a winner and could have potentially been a radio hit, especially "Lady's Choice" and "Brother Jukebox" (later a hit for Mark Chesnutt). Keith's best vocal performances of his career are captured in the mournful "Between and Old Memory and Me," and "I'm Over You." This is an album that is 100% artistry from one of the industry's finest. When Keith sings these songs, it's hard not to cry reflecting on the talent left us far too soon. This is THE album to own for true Keith Whitley fans.

My grandma bought the casette tape of "I Wonder Do You Think of Me" as soon as it came out in stores. According to the info in the cover, this was the last album Keith Whitley made with new songs on it before he died of alcohol poisioning in 1989. I especially loved listening to this tape, because the songs tell of his struggle with love life and drinking. 2 of my favorite songs on the album were "I'm Over You" and "Tenessee Courage". If anyone is bored with the current state of country music and want to listen to more traditional sounding songs, I'd definetly recommend listening to this album.

I recently bought this album,i already had it on tape.If you want a real country singer,who can sing country music the way
it should be sung then,Keith Whitley is your man.He can just reach inside you with his singing and tear your heart out.He lived what he sang,and sang about the life that he lived and that to me is what makes a true country singer.If i cant relate to the music i hear then,i wont buy it.Keith sang about real life,and he didnt try to have a story book ending because,lifes problems dont always end the way we want them to, but you wouldnt know other wise today on country radio everythings a-ok nothing ever goes wrong anymore.Have they forgot the secret formula to having hit songs its simple sing,and write songs people can relate to and they will but it.I can relate to keiths music therefore thats the reason i bought his cd i can relate to the songs he sang.He may be gone but,his music will live on,and on.So if you really want to hear what "country music" is really supposed to sound like then get you some keith whitley and i bet you wont be the same afterwards youll want to hear more!!!!!!!!!!