B-side "My Poor Old Heart" Format CD Single, 7" 45 RPM Length 3:29 | Released December 16, 1996 Genre Country Label BNA 64726 | |
"When I Close My Eyes" is the title of a country music 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 singer Larry Stewart on his 1993 debut album Down the Road. Kenny Chesney 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.
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Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic 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.
Alternate versions
Chesney recorded an acoustic version of the song on his 1997 album I Will Stand.