“Why Didn’t I Think of That”
Doug Stone
Written by Paul Harrison and Bob McDill
Billboard
#1 (1 week)
August 21, 1993
Radio & Records
#1 (1 week)
August 13, 1993
Doug Stone finds the humorous side of heartbreak.
The Road to No. 1
Following the No. 1 single “Too Busy Being in Love,” Doug Stone scored another top ten hit with “Made For Lovin’ You.” The fourth and final single from From My Heart returned him to the pole position.
The No. 1
In my mind, “Why Didn’t I Think of That” always felt like an unofficial sequel to “Too Busy Being in Love,” where the narrator being too busy caught up with him, and another man swept in to do all the romantic things he couldn’t find time for.
It’s a playful song that Doug Stone sings quite well, with the right combination of self-deprecation and good humor. It also reinforces his own persona, as most of his material by this time was stressing the importance of declaring your love in word and deed. It makes sense in his world that a guy who didn’t bother to do any of these things ends up alone in the end.
It’s one of his better efforts of this time period.
The Road From No. 1
Doug Stone has one more No. 1 single on the way, and it’s up next.
“Why Didn’t I Think of That” gets a B.
Every No. 1 Single of the Nineties
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Next: Little Texas, “What Might Have Been”
I used to get a bit frustrated around the early-mid 00’s that this was one of the only Doug Stone songs that radio remembered. Not that I disliked it or anything, but I just wished they’d play another one of his hits once in a while. However, after having listened to it quite a few times more recently, I’m reminded that I actually really love this song, and that there was a good reason that radio held onto it as long as they did. It’s catchy as heck, and Doug gives his performance just the right amount of playfulness that fits the lyrics perfectly. Love the solid steel playing throughout, as well. For me, it’s one of the most charming “I know I messed up” songs the genre has produced.
Also, I personally love Doug Johnson’s production on Doug Stone’s earlier records even though it tends to sound dated in places, but this one still amazingly holds up pretty well today, to my ears. I think it’s pretty neat how a record like this with more laid back early 90’s style production could still be successful along with other mid 1993 singles that featured updated, more aggressive rock/pop influenced production styles.
Unfortunately, this is one I missed out on during its original chart run. However, when I really got back into country radio in the mid 90’s, I remember this being one of the songs I’d hear often as a recurrent, and I always enjoyed it. I remember still hearing it pretty regularly on the radio throughout the late 90’s during my middle school years, as well. I didn’t get a copy of his From The Heart album until I found it in a used cd and book store that I discovered in the mid-late 00’s. That’s actually been one of my favorite Doug Stone albums ever since. The singles off that album, and just the overall production and feel of it really takes me back to my childhood.
…speaking of thinking – or not – of something: is leeann gonna make this holiday season all the more enjoyable with one of her legendary (new) christmas album roundups? swiss country monthly “country style” cheekily coined the pistol annies’ “hell of christmas”: “…the coolest christmas album – probably since jesus was born” in their holiday issue. doug stone, in and out of pine boxes a most enjoyable performer and a nice guilty pleasure. i realise that sounds a little sus coming from a guy.
I misread that as Doug Stone had a new Christmas album entitled “In and Out of Pine Boxes” and was incredibly confused.
…christmas with an unintended dash of black humour – what a magical time the season is.
It’s probably more of a Easter album anyway.
LOL!! Thanks guys for making me laugh!
On a more serious note, I actually do like a good number of the songs on Doug’s actual Christmas album from ’92.
Other than his debut, I think this song might be Doug Stone the single I enjoy most. That’s faint praise, however, given even this single still sounds lame and weak spirited. It has a “aw shucks” sensibility to it that does little to boost my opinion of Stone as a hapless persona. This song is cutesy more than humorous.