Don't Close Your Eyes (album)

Don't Close Your Eyes is the second studio album by American country music artist Keith Whitley and the last to be released during his lifetime. The album was released on May 31, 1988, by RCA Records. After the success of his debut album, L.A. to Miami (1985), Whitley re-entered the studio and began recording a second album with producer Blake Mevis. After its completion, Whitley was unhappy with its production, and he convinced his label to shelve the recordings. Don't Close Your Eyes was subsequently recorded with producer Garth Fundis. The album's liner notes credit Fundis and Whitley with production on all tracks except "Some Old Side Road" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way", which are credited to Mevis.

The album became a commercial success, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It contained three consecutive number one hits on the Hot Country Singles chart: "Don't Close Your Eyes", "When You Say Nothing at All", and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain".

Track listing

 * AOmitted from LP and cassette versions.

Personnel
Compiled from liner notes.


 * All tracks except "Some Old Side Road" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"

Musicians 
 * Eddie Bayers — drums
 * Paul Franklin — steel guitar, Pedabro
 * Allen Frizzell — background vocals on "I Never Go Around Mirrors"
 * Garth Fundis — background vocals
 * Red Lane — acoustic guitar
 * Mac McAnally — acoustic guitar
 * Dave Pomeroy — bass guitar
 * Matt Rollings — piano
 * Billy Sanford — acoustic guitar, electric guitar
 * Keith Whitley — lead vocals
 * Dennis Wilson — background vocals

Technical
 * Garth Fundis — production, mixing
 * Carlos Grier — mastering assistant
 * Gary Laney — engineering, mixing
 * Denny Purcell — mastering
 * Todd Sholar — assistant engineer
 * Keith Whitley — production


 * "Some Old Side Road" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"

Musicians
 * Sonny Garrish — steel guitar
 * Vern Gosdin — background vocals on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"
 * Rob Hajacos — fiddle on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"
 * Emmylou Harris — background vocals on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"
 * Mitch Humphries — keyboards
 * Jerry Kroon — drums
 * Mike Lawler — synthesizer
 * Larry Paxton — bass guitar
 * Brent Rowan — acoustic guitar, electric guitar
 * Keith Whitley — lead vocals
 * Dennis Wilson — background vocals on "Some Old Side Road"
 * Curtis "Mr. Harmony" Young — background vocals on "Some Old Side Road"

Technical
 * Bill Harris — engineering
 * Blake Mevis — production

Production

 * Produced by Garth Fundis and Keith Whitley except for tracks 6 and 7, produced by Blake Mevis for Southwind Music, Inc.
 * Engineered By Bill Harris, Gary Laney & Todd Sholar
 * Mixed By Garth Fundis & Gary Laney
 * Digital Editing By Carlos Grier
 * Mastered By Denny Purcell