Ultimate Dolly Parton

 (36 customer reviews)

To anybody who already owns a compilation of Dolly's music for RCA, the track listing here has a familiar look to it with few exceptions. The exceptions are Please don't stop loving me, a sensational duet with Porter Wagoner not normally included on Dolly's solo compilations, To know him is to love him, from the first Trio album, and Why'd you come in here looking like that, from Dolly's period with Columbia.

The other tracks here include many Dolly classics, notably Jolene (her only UK top ten solo hit), Islands in the stream (a duet with Kenny Rogers that became a USA number one pop hit and UK top ten hit), Here you come again (a USA top three pop hit), Coat of many colors (Dolly's autobiographical signature song - the only song here that didn't reach number one on the USA country chart, peaking at number four), Bargain store (which some radio stations thought too risqué), 9 to 5 (a USA number one pop hit), It's all wrong but it's all right (much more risqué...Read more

Though the title is a bit of a misnomer, "Ultimate Dolly Parton" captures the essence of the hit-making career of country-pop singer extrodinare Dolly Parton. It is both historic and enjoyable to listen to this disc, and it should belong in any casual Dolly fan's record collection.The disc can be divided into three distinct sections. The first includes the first seven tracks, and easily qualifies as the best moments on "Ultimate." Here, Dolly's Smoky Mountain-bred sensibilites mesh into the "countrypolitan" leanings of musical partner Porter Wagoner to create some of the early '70s best country hits. Tracks like "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," and the anthem "I Will Always Love You" secure Dolly's place in country music history and shold not be missed.Tracks 8 though 16 follow Dolly's rise in popularity, and a general mainstreaming of her sound. This era is capped by great tracks like "Here You Come...Read more

Ultimate Dolly Parton is a chronological retrospective containing twenty of Parton's most successful singles from the 1970s and 1980s. Aside from "Coat of Many Colors" (her greatest composition), all of the enclosed recordings hit number one on the country charts.

Leading off the set are the colorful, uptempo sagas of crusty "Joshua" and that tramp "Jolene," as well as the simple but effective devotionals "I Will Always Love You" and "Love Is Like A Butterfly" from the early-to-mid-70s. This period comprises Parton's best recordings, the most consistent work by a female singer-songwriter in country music history. Also included from this era is her biggest hit with longtime music partner/mentor Porter Wagoner, "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" (I prefer their heartbreaker "If Teardrops Were Pennies").With "Here You Come Again" from 1978, Parton went pop, or more precisely, middle-of-the road...Read more