| Kentucky Bluebird | |
| Type: | compilation |
| Artist: | Keith Whitley |
| Cover: | kentuckybluebird.jpg |
| Recorded: | various |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 39:54 |
| Label: | RCA Records |
| Prev Title: | Greatest Hits |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | Wherever You Are Tonight |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
Kentucky Bluebird is the second compilation album by American country music singer Keith Whitley. His first posthumous album, it was released by RCA Records in September 1991. The album consists of four previously released songs, re-orchestrated demos, and other previously unreleased songs, as well as snippets from live performances that predate his professional music career.
The album features several snippets from various points at Whitley's career, including: a performance that he gave at age eight on Buddy Starcher'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.[1] 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.[1] Three of the new songs — "Backbone Job," "I Want My Rib Back" and the title track — had already been recorded by Whitley as demos, with new musical accompaniment added by producer Garth Fundis.[2] 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,[3] "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. Glen Campbell had previously recorded "Somebody's Doin' Me Right" on his 1991 album Unconditional Love.
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 numbers 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 number 45 on Top Country Albums.[4]
Alanna Nash 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."[5] 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."[6]
As listed in liner notes.[1]
As listed in liner notes.[1]
| Chart (1991) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 45 | |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 17 |