Fretplay.com Dolly Parton CD reviews Dolly Parton guitar tabs Dolly Parton CD reviews Dolly Parton tabs The Essential Dolly Parton


Dolly Parton - The Essential Dolly Parton Audio CD

A fair review of the Dolly Parton "The Essential Dolly Parton" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Dolly Parton reviews here, or go back to the Dolly Parton tabs.

Dolly Parton Band: Dolly Parton
Title: The Essential Dolly Parton
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-06-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Dumb Blonde 2: Just Because I'm a Woman 3: My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy 4: Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8) 5: Joshua 6: Coat of Many Colors 7: Touch Your Woman 8: My Tennessee Mountain Home 9: Jolene 10: Please Don't Stop Loving Me - Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner 11: I Will Always Love You 12: Love Is Like a Butterfly 13: Bargain Store 14: Seeker 15: We Used To 16: All I Can Do 17: Light of a Clear Blue Morning 18: It's All Wrong, But It's All Right 19: Here You Come Again 20: Two Doors Down 21: Heartbreaker 22: I Really Got the Feeling 23: You're the Only One 24: Starting Over Again 25: Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You 26: 9 to 5 [From 9 to 5] 27: But You Know I Love You 28: Single Women 29: Heartbreak Express 30: Islands in the Stream - Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Rogers 31: Save the Last Dance for Me 32: Tennessee Homesick Blues [From Rhinestone] 33: God Won't Get You [From Rhinestone] 34: To Know Him Is to Love Him - Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt 35: Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That 36: Rockin' Years - Dolly Parton, , Ricky Van Shelton 37: Shine

A good retrospective, but the Columbia years are underrepresented


This new two-disc Essential collection from Sony BMG replaces the earlier RCA volumes. In the mid-90s, RCA finally began treating the back catalogs of its legendary artist with respect, with their Essential series, which included two volumes focusing on Dolly Parton's work during her 19-year stint with the label. When RCA's parent company BMG merged with Sony, and the bulk of Dolly's catalog was controlled by one company, many fans, myself included, were excited at the prospect of finally getting an anthology that included hits from her Monument days through her 1987-1995 association with Columbia Records. It was inevitable that the RCA material would dominate, given Parton's long association with that label (1967-1986); however it is disappointing that her Columbia work remains under-anthologized. Only two of her Columbia hits - 1989's "Why'd You Come In Here Looking Like That" and her 1991 duet with Ricky Van Shelton, "Rockin' Years" are represented here. At the very least, "Yellow Roses", "He's Alive", "Eagle When She Flies", and "Silver And Gold", deserved inclusion in this collection. Instead, we get a single track from the Trio albums -- "To Know Him Is To Love Him" with Emmylou Harris on lead vocals, and a duet with Porter Wagoner, "Please Don't Stop Loving Me", which, though excellent, probably should have been excluded in favor of some of Dolly's solo work.

On the bright side, this collection does include a pair of brilliant early tracks that failed to catch on commercially at the time. It's nice to see that "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" and "Dumb Blonde", her first (modest) hit for Monument Records, each earned a slot here. I'd have preferred more selections from these early years, instead of some of the later crossover hits which are widely available on other collections, but at least this was a step in the right direction.

The remaining tracks on this collection, are by and large, a rehash of the earlier RCA Essential volumes. It's impossible to do justice to such a long and successful career as Dolly Parton's with a two-disc set. It's also impossible to please everyone - I'd have made some different choices if I were the one compiling this collection - but overall, it is a good introduction to Dolly's work and the best retrospective of her career currently available, despite its shortcomings.

Diehard Parton fans might consider purchasing "The Tour Collection", a 4 CD boxed set recently released by Sony BMG in the UK that contains a handful of Dolly's hits, along with a generous sampling of rare tracks, several of which are making their first appearance on CD. There is some duplication with the Essential discs, but the two collections combined will provide a comprehensive look at this amazing singer-songwriter's entire career.
.


Let Your Fingers do the Walking
It was easy, a much better deal than mail in music companies (about $12-15 cheaper), fast and arrived in a couple of days. This purchase was made from the comfort of my home (it was snowing and cold outside). VERY HAPPY!!! I WILL use this service again. Thank you for the time, money and frustration you saved me.


The Essential Dolly Parton
It was what I was looking for, arrived on time and in good shape. Pleased with the purchase. It was cheaper than if I had purchased it at a local store. .


THE BEST
He loved it and plays it in his truck constantly. I bought this item for my brother as he couldn't find it anywhere in stores.


A must have
It will NOT disappoint!!. If you're a Dolly Parton fan (even somewhat of a fan), this is a must have for your collection.


You can see a complete list of all Dolly Parton discography, or go back to the Dolly Parton tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]