"When I Close My Eyes" is a

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

song written by Nettie Musick and Mark Alan Springer. It was originally recorded by Keith Palmer on his 1991 self-titled debut album, and later by

Restless Heart Restless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's members are Larry Stewart (lead vocals), John Dittrich (drums, vocals), Paul Gregg (bass guitar, vocals), Dave Innis (piano, keyboards, guitar, vocals), and Greg J ...

singer Larry Stewart on his 1993 debut album '' Down the Road''.

Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs and Country ...

later recorded it on his 1996 album, '' Me and You''. Released in December 1996 as that album's third and final single, it peaked at #2 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart, giving Chesney his fifth Top 40 country hit.

Rhonda Vincent Rhonda Lea Vincent (born July 13, 1962) is an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Vincent's music career began when she was a child in her family's band The Sally Mountain Show, and it has spanned more than four de ...

later covered the song on her album Back Home Again in 2000.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

described Kenny Chesney's rendition of the song as "a great soft rock crossover, tuneful and easy but never forced and not dripping with sentiment.". Deborah Evans Price of Billboard Magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it "another pretty ballad." Price also described the production as having "a simple, understated quality that places the focus on the lovelorn lyric and Chesney's evocative vocals."

Chart performance

"When I Close My Eyes" was the third and final single from Chesney's 1996 album ''Me and You''. It debuted at number 74 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated December 21, 1996. Having charted for 21 weeks on that chart, it peaked at number 2 on the country chart dated April 19, 1997, behind

Clay Walker Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. (born August 19, 1969) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You", which reached Number One on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Song ...

's "

Rumor Has It Rumor Has It may refer to: Film and television * ''Rumor Has It'' (film), a 2005 romantic comedy film * ''Rumor Has It'' (game show), a 1993 game show on VH1 * ''Rumour Has It '', a 2016 series by Ndani TV Music * "Rumour Has It" (Donna S ...

Year-end charts

Alternate versions

Chesney recorded an acoustic version of the song on his 1997 album ''

I Will Stand ''I Will Stand'' is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released on July 15, 1997, on BNA Records. "She's Got It All" was the album's first single, as well as Chesney's first number 1 single on the ''Bil ...

''.

References

{{Kenny Chesney singles 1991 songs 1996 singles Larry Stewart (singer) songs Kenny Chesney songs Song recordings produced by Barry Beckett BNA Records singles Songs written by Mark Alan Springer