No Dolly Parton thread? Well then -- classic or hyperclassic?

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
He says while listening to the single-disc comp of seventies/eighties stuff that BMG put out this year. It was 9 to 5 and after that I first knew about her back in the early eighties, and wasn't she on the Muppet Show as well? So clearly she kicks ass for that alone.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 16:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

john denver was on
'the muppet show' ned so that's
no criterion

dolly parton though
is one of our very best
songwriters ever

talk about someone
who's still trying new stuff now
forty years later!

Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:04 (9 years ago) Permalink

don't forget Dollywood!

atomic horseradish (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

or the Alamo.

NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

At a dedication ceremony in Dollywood (possibly for the Dolly-themed waterpark that now sits next door) she ended her Q&A session at the podium by saying: "alright guys, I gotta go take a leak." I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, DOLLY.

Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

john denver was on
'the muppet show' ned so that's
no criterion

Hey now, that tribute album Kozelek coordinated gives me a new respect for the man.

I am listening to "The Bargain Store" right now and damn that's a good song.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

And dammit I completely forgot about "Here You Come Again" until this very moment! I change the thread question to 'hyperclassic or hypermegaclassic?'

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

the new dolly tribute disc is deadly boring, at least half of it

Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:12 (9 years ago) Permalink

'jolene' is easily one of the best songs evah! the pain, the analytical wit, the country sweetness of the melodi, the arrangement, the subtle lo-fi sound, the resignation. it's all there. no one can front on this (well, of course they can, but they should consider themselves outcasts around my parts)...

Jay Kid (Jay K), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, Jolene is a great fucking song. That is all I know of Dolly Parton's actual music but it's enough.

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

a supervisor at a job I used to have, w/ dolly on the stereo; "see that jolene? I'd kick her in the pie."

RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:48 (9 years ago) Permalink

"I Will Always Love You" = completely tear-jerking classic!!! Whitney butchered it with that over-preening pomp. Dolly's version sounds more like country-smoothed Spiritualized.

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

I've never listened to much Dolly - just what she performed on Hee Haw etc in the 70s.. but I do like what I have heard. And I think she is one of the most likable singers ever ...

..And she was great on Saturday Night Live - when she told folktales her mamma used to tell her and her siblings, about Hoss and Little Joe ..

dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

After "Jolene," my all-time fave is: "Traveling Man"

There's a good ep in last year's album.

dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

He says while listening to the single-disc comp of seventies/eighties stuff that BMG put out this year. It was 9 to 5 and after that I first knew about her back in the early eighties, and wasn't she on the Muppet Show as well? So clearly she kicks ass for that alone.
-- Ned Raggett (ne...), November 11th, 2003

Knew about her back? I wanna know about her front! HI-YO!

Dean Gulberry (deangulberry), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

"The Bargain Store" is one of my top ten favorite songs of all time. According to a recent interview with My Bloody Valentine's Debbie Googe, it was also the song that Bilinda Butcher sang to audition for the band.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:36 (9 years ago) Permalink

does anyone here know roscoe holcomb? once john cohen asked him what he sounded like as a young man, and he said, "there's a singer on the tv, that's what i sounded like." he was talking about dolly parton.

amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

this is when she was on porter wagoner's tv show

amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

what do you people think of "down from dover"?

amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

whoever said her latest album has a good EP on it = otm. There's some great songs on there, but the more contemporary covers are kinda lame (even if she does leave in the "I get no kick from cocaine" line in "I Get a Kick Out of You"). I do like her version of Down from Dover.

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:48 (9 years ago) Permalink

contemporary is the wrong word there. Replace that with "pop hits" or something...

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

she wrote "down from dover"!!

amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:51 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm easily confused on who wrote what in Dolly's catalog. Well, I know she didn't write that stupid Candlebox song or "I Get a Kick Out of You" at least...

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

Oh, man, do I miss my Mom's Dolly rekkids right now! Oh, does anybody know the best comp to get??????

Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

The idea of Candlebox trying to cover "Jolene" fills me with mirth. Martin Skidmore and I both agreed that the White Stripes cover of same was their finest moment -- he was not aware of the Sisters of Mercy one, which I have to say I do enjoy but I would. Then there's the One Dove cover...

Oh, does anybody know the best comp to get??????

Well, this one I just got is called Ultimate Dolly Parton, release date this year, hour long. But those who know her work better might suggest something else.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

Geraldine Fibbers' cover of "Jolene" R0XX0R!!!

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

Walked in on my Mom watching Oprah the other day when I was at my parent's house, and Dolly was being interviewed with one of those country pop people I don't care about. Anyway when I walked in she refered to herself as a "walking cartoon" or something to that effect, talking about all the plastic surgery, etc. From what I can tell she is one of the most down to earth people (not just famous musicians) I have ever seen. She also called her chest "Weapons of Mass Distraction". I left when the song started up, though because you could hardly hear Dolly's (beautiful) voice over the pop-tard's. The techie in me got very angry at Oprah's sound folks. I'm just amazed that at her age she still has such a beautiful voice, such a great sense of humor (esp. about herself), and she has so much energy.

Mike Salmo (salmo), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:18 (9 years ago) Permalink

Here You Come Again. Yes. Oh baby yes.

My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:13 (9 years ago) Permalink

There are certain features to Dolly Parton that are classic. Two of them, actually...

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

she's the perfect case of someone that i wanted with all my heart to hate but just ended up loving. her voice, her music, her sense of humor, she just rules. Why is it that country music's veterans are so much cooler than rock's.

Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

-.+?

Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:18 (9 years ago) Permalink

There are certain features to Dolly Parton that are classic. Two of them, actually...

Remind me to have you killed.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Better Bring it On Home" is a showstopper! Porter and Dolly !!!! Yeah!

thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

super ultra heap big dolly discography/reviews here

duane, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

oh yeah & i say classic of course

duane, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Dolly Parton live is the best show I've ever seen. Ultramegasuperclassic. Totally search her 50s stuff with Porter Waggoner also - some hidden gems like that one about her being a lady muleskinner...

Jacob (Jacob), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 01:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Down from Dover" is one of the best songs ever. No questions about it. Almost as good as "Love is Like a Butterfly".

Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 04:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Down from Dover" makes me cry (okay not really, but it is pretty touching). I've never heard Dolly's ORIGINAL version though. I mostly know it from the fantastic Hazlewood/Sinatra version on Nancy and Lee Again.

Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 04:25 (9 years ago) Permalink

The version on Halos and blah blah is really nice btw

Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 04:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

Thanks for the Parton thread, it reawakened a jones... when I first read the title "Coat of Many Colors" started playing in my head and I flashed back to a really happy moment when I was very very young and I just ordered the Coat ot Many Colors album and I'm so so so looking forward to it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

Rah! Glad to bring back the memories. :-)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

by coinkidink I just met Dolly at the CMT music awards shoot. aside from the aforementioned cartoon-ish fronal assets she looks a little freaky close up - something of the michael jackson living surgical experiment about her these days unfortunatley. as she said: "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap!". definatley agree she's still got it going on live...living legend

bakhtin, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

ned, i'll helpfully remind to kill geir any time you like.

amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

Stone-cold classic. Her first bluegrass album, 'The Grass is Blue', is pretty cool too.
Re. Down from Dover, I think Nancy's cover is slightly superior, probably thanks to the OTT sobbing.

Baaderist (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 09:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

Second "The Grass is Blue," especially the spooky version of "Silver Dagger."

Sally Timms does a nice version of "Down From Dover." When I saw her a few years ago, she prefaced it by recounting a fantasy of running off to be lovers with Dolly and resting her head on Dolly's breasts.

One of my friends has interviewed her several times for assorted publications. One time, while they were walking and chatting, she turned a corner ahead of him and rammed his elbow with her breasts. "Oops," she said, "I didn't leak on you, did I?"

And the log-cabin reproduction at Dollywood of her childhood home is affecting despite the cheesiness, because you stick your head in there and try to imagine a couple of grown-ups and 10 kids all running around and it really is kind of amazing and it does tell you something about her resilience and also her affection for the place.

"Coat of Many Colors" made me all misty-eyed when I was a kid. (er, still does, actually.)

spittle, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 09:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Has anyone else seen her amazing film Straight Talk? where she plays a radio psychologist?

Amazing film, stellar soundtrack!

Kevin Erickson, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 15:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

if Teardrops Were Pennies, and Heartaches Were Gold

christina, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 21:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

I found a song of hers not too long ago, called "Don't Drop Out" and it's the best Shangri-Las song they never did. It's a perfect over the top pop song that I sounds like it was recorded in the mid to late sixties. Has anyone else heard it? And if so, are there more songs by Dolly that sound anything like it?

Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 23:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

spittle:

hmmm. interesting. what would she leak I wonder?

bakhtin, Thursday, 13 November 2003 07:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

when I reviewd her last album, I talked about how she deserves, but doesn't really get the same *rockist* (i didn't use that term though) acclaim and respect as Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard have over the last decade. I concluded though:
"But then, none of those guys have their own theme park, so Dolly wins."

Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 13 November 2003 14:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

what??

Surmounter, Thursday, 27 December 2007 17:30 (5 years ago) Permalink

???

I know, right?, Thursday, 27 December 2007 17:32 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oh this might not have made the intl press but a few thousand people who attended her Rotterdam (i think) show are trying to get their 80 euro back after discovering obv lip syncing.

Siegbran, Thursday, 27 December 2007 18:03 (5 years ago) Permalink

The demo of "My Blue Tears" is better than the studio version.
ysi??

-- Lingbert, Saturday, 8 September 2007 03:26 (3 months ago) Link

Lingbert, Thursday, 27 December 2007 18:15 (5 years ago) Permalink

all the plastic surgery stuff -- it's strange, because for someone else, it would seem freakish, but something about dolly parton just seems so normal and grounded that she could do almost anything, and I would still think she was pretty cool.

I saw her on Larry King, and a caller asked if she'd had any work done. Without missing a beat, she said, "Hey, whenever's something saggin', baggin', or draggin', I gotta do what I can." Brilliant.

Major props for including "Imagine" in her sets when pro-war sentiment was at a fever pitch ('02-'03).

Sara Sara Sara, Thursday, 27 December 2007 19:13 (5 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

new album - "Backwoods Barbie" on Dolly Records

apparently it's her first mainstream country record in 15 years

Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 14:50 (5 years ago) Permalink

Is Jack White involved?

Jazzbo, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 14:56 (5 years ago) Permalink

i certainly hope not

Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 15:09 (5 years ago) Permalink

Sanneh gave it thumbs-up on Sunday.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 15:30 (5 years ago) Permalink

It's my favorite album of the year so far, for whatever that's worth. (And I've never been an absolutely huge Dolly fan either, for whatever that's worth, though I've loved some of her songs in the past, for course -- mainly the poppier ones, like "9 to 5" and "Romeo" etc. Reviewed the new one for emusic, but review's not up there yet.)

xhuxk, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 15:39 (5 years ago) Permalink

I pretty much like the straight country Dolly, around '70 on RCA. The new one--the songs where she's dispensing homilies I can do without, but "I Will Forever Hate Roses" and "Only Dreamin'" I like fine. What can you say about her, but I never really liked listening to her that much, about as much as I like to listen to Yoko Ono. Her new one isn't terrible, anyway. I talk to Dolly here

whisperineddhurt, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 16:55 (5 years ago) Permalink

I heard "Baby I'm Burnin'" for the first time last week.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 17:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

which album should I start with? is there a good greatest hits, or do I need to work my way through albums?

caek, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 17:15 (5 years ago) Permalink

The two-disc Essential comp is exactly what it promises, although it's got too many blah 80s numbers.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 17:20 (5 years ago) Permalink

thanks!

caek, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 17:36 (5 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Idols singing Parton songs this week...I've only heard a few songs, but i'm youtubing her catalog now, and it's so goddamn great! I'm listening to an amazing live version of "Down from Dover" right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xal27WBGC4M

Tape Store, Friday, 28 March 2008 07:24 (5 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Dolly Parton vs. Google. Sorta.

Ned Raggett, Monday, 3 November 2008 18:57 (4 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

thunda lightning (clotpoll), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 04:39 (4 years ago) Permalink

it's like tim buckley or something

schlump, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 05:04 (4 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

Is Hannah Montana's Aunt Dolly Gay?
Tue., Mar. 24, 2009 1:48 PM PDT by Marc Malkin

Hannah Montana's Aunt Dolly is not a lesbian.

Well, at least the country legend who plays her isn't.

Dolly Parton knows that she's been the target of gay rumors for years and years because of her close relationship with lifelong best friend Judy Ogle.

And once again, for the umpteenth time, she's setting the record straight...

"We're absolutely totally honest, open and comfortable with each other," Parton says in the new issue of AARP magazine. "We've been accused of being lovers. We do love each other, but we've never been like that." (For the record, Parton has been married to her retired businessman husband, Carl Dean, for 43 years!)

velko, Thursday, 26 March 2009 07:49 (4 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

is the dolly parton vs loretta lynn good vs evil thing codified? dolly as the blonde wronged wife vs loretta as the raven world-weary other woman? e.g. "jolene" vs "coal miner's daughter" albums. east vs west coast w country songstresses?

fakeducks, Saturday, 11 July 2009 01:42 (3 years ago) Permalink

no

My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 11 July 2009 01:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

well i'd like to officially codify it then.

that done, "here i am" is a stone cold classic. i can't stomach pop dolly.

fakeducks, Saturday, 11 July 2009 03:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

you are mistaking Dolly & Loretta for Betty & Veronica, which is sooooo wrong.

A Fox TV Executive With Nothing To Lose (Dr. Superman), Saturday, 11 July 2009 05:06 (3 years ago) Permalink

that is a much better analogy than the rappers.

fakeducks, Saturday, 11 July 2009 14:15 (3 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

er nevermind

go Nick go! Scrub that paint! Scrub it!! Yeah!! (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 23:10 (3 years ago) Permalink

i went to dollywood last month. i saw the actual Coat Of Many Colors. i almost cried tears of joy.

Jamie_ATP, Wednesday, 19 August 2009 00:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

Backwoods Barbie, despite the kinda awful title, is really great. The FYC cover works better than the big pop covers on the bluegrass trilogy (e.g. "Shine", "Stairway").

Euler, Thursday, 28 January 2010 10:28 (3 years ago) Permalink

It almost made my top ten that year.

Blue Fucks Like Ben Nelson (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 January 2010 14:13 (3 years ago) Permalink

And deservedly! I don't remember hearing of the songs on country radio in 2008, which is a pity. The songs would have sounded totally normal there.

I'm listening to the new box set now. Even her greatest hits albums were in disarray before this, in that there are so many of them that you might get stuck with rerecordings if you're careful (for instance, of "I Will Always Love You").

Euler, Thursday, 28 January 2010 14:43 (3 years ago) Permalink

Well, the country old guard doesn't get played much except new old guard member George Strait.

Blue Fucks Like Ben Nelson (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 January 2010 14:43 (3 years ago) Permalink

You're right, but in Dolly's case I'd think there's room for an exception; never mind her extraordinary musical talent, she's a household name without compare in country.

Euler, Thursday, 28 January 2010 14:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

been loving "love is like a butterfly" lately. ignored it for being to sweet for a long time, but there's some little turns in the melody that are fantastic and keep me glued.

andrew m., Thursday, 28 January 2010 15:11 (3 years ago) Permalink

"The Bargain Store" is my new favorite.

Blue Fucks Like Ben Nelson (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 January 2010 15:12 (3 years ago) Permalink

love that one too!

andrew m., Thursday, 28 January 2010 15:16 (3 years ago) Permalink

The really early sides on the box set are eye-opening; her voice was quite different on the first two songs, much higher. And the sound of the songs in the first half of that first disk is more like "Dumb Blonde" and the song "Don't Drop Out" (that you might know from the One Kiss Leads To Another Rhino box set from a few years back). That's to say, more girl group than honky tonk. Her range as an artist is broad (no pun intended), more like Ray Charles or Aretha Franklin than Merle Haggard or George Jones.

Euler, Thursday, 28 January 2010 15:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

"the bargain store" is great. uses an a-minor/g-major progression similar to "jolene," she likes those minor chords.

hellzapoppa (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 28 January 2010 15:56 (3 years ago) Permalink

my parents saw dolly at merlefest the year she put out that bluegrass album and LOVED her - they weren't expecting much one way or the other but they said she sang her heart out and had great stage presence, made light of herself and her "assets" continually until no one could hold them against her, and just basically won over a crowd of bluegrass purists who were probably ready to hate her guts at the slightest misstep...

i didn't really realize "here you come again" was her - i always liked that tune, maybe i should dig up some of her other stuff

messiahwannabe, Thursday, 28 January 2010 16:51 (3 years ago) Permalink

Your digging will be amply rewarded.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west---or at least, when I hear this song from 1975, on disk 3 of the box:

Euler, Thursday, 28 January 2010 16:53 (3 years ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

pure gold. now i know what to wear to a hog roastin' or maybe a rooster fight in the country.

jed_, Friday, 27 August 2010 21:36 (2 years ago) Permalink

10 months pass...

I love her new album!

Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 21 July 2011 13:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

OK so I am finally getting around to listening to The Grass is Blue, which I copied off my Mom on my last visit. This is my first time listening to Dolly other than on the radio.

First song fucking SLAYS, then side 1 sags for awhile until 'Steady As the Rain' and 'I Still Miss Someone' (a song which I'll listen to anyone's version of, frankly). Then 'Silver Dagger' fully kills it and holy crap the lyrics and affect of 'The Grass Is Blue'. This album has more than its share of awesome.

QUOTE sampling at a higher rate UNQUOTE (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 20:07 (7 months ago) Permalink

Grass is Blue and Little Sparrow are both great, I think I prefer the latter more except it has that Collective Soul song on it which, even though she acquits herself admirably with her take, is just such a shitty song.

stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 20:09 (7 months ago) Permalink

The Grass is Blue is awesome in stretches.

taking tiger mountain (up the butt) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 20:40 (7 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

"Heartbreaker" is generic L.A. crap but wow her performance.

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 1 December 2012 00:58 (5 months ago) Permalink

i saw her in brisbane last year, she was completely wonderful.

estela, Saturday, 1 December 2012 01:24 (5 months ago) Permalink


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.