When Paul Overstreet and Don Shlitz wrote the song “When You Say Nothing At All” they thought it was “OK but nothing special”. Keith Whitley thought otherwise and in 1988 made the song the second Number One of his career.
In 1995 Alison Krauss recorded a version for Keith Whitley: A Tribute Album. Krauss’ recording only made it to Number Two on the charts but did win the 1995 CMA award for “Single of the Year”.
A third version of the song by Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating was included on the Notting Hill film soundtrack in 1999. It’s also on Keating’s debut solo album and went on to become a Number One in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Here are all 3 different versions. Give them a listen and pick your favorite.