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There have been many, many Dolly Parton compilations over the years, but RCA/Legacy's 2005 set The Essential Dolly Parton is one of the handful that gets it right. Spanning two discs and 37 tracks, this set covers her entire career, from her 1967 debut, Hello, I'm Dolly, to her 2001 bluegrass comeback album, Little Sparrow, but the bulk of this set concentrates on her hitmaking years for RCA in the '70s and '80s. Since Dolly had so many hits, not all of them can be included even on a double-disc collection, but this does a tremendous job of picking the biggest and the best of them. Roughly, the first disc covers her first decade of recording, including a healthy dose of her inventive country-folk material from the early '70s, while the second disc covers her slicker crossover hits from the '80s. Dividing her material in this fashion makes each disc consistent within itself, and helps make this a more listenable set than such similar career-spanning collections as 1993's The RCA Years. While Raven's excellent Mission Chapel Memories: 1971-1975 documents her most creative period more effectively, this tells the story of her entire career, and it's the best of its kind of compilation yet assembled.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Curly Putman, Composer - Curly Putman, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
Originally Released 1967 Monument Records
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
Originally released 1969. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Performer - George Vaughn, Composer - George Vaughn, Lyricist - Jimmie Rodgers, Composer - Jimmie Rodgers, Lyricist
Originally released 1970. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
Originally released 1971. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
Originally Recorded 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
(P) 1972 Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Lea Jane Singers, Vocal - Porter Wagoner, Composer - Porter Wagoner, Lyricist - Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, Performer
(P) 1974 Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Gregg Perry, Arranger
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - The Lea Jane Singers, Background Vocal - The Lea Jane Singers, Vocal
(P) 1974 Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Ferguson, Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Porter Wagoner, Producer - The Lea Jane Singers, Background Vocal - The Lea Jane Singers, Vocal
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
Bill McElhiney, Composer - Bill McElhiney, Lyricist - Bill McElhiney, Orchestrator - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Porter Wagoner, Arranger - Porter Wagoner, Producer - The Lea Jane Singers, Background Vocal - The Lea Jane Singers, Vocal
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
Bill McElhiney, Arranger - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Paul McElhiney, Arranger - Porter Wagoner, Producer - The Lea Jane Singers, Vocal
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Porter Wagoner, Producer
(P) 1976 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Arranger - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Greg Perry, Arranger - Greg Perry, Co-Producer - Greg Perry, Misc. Prod.
(P) 1977 Sony Music Entertainment
Charles Koppelman, Executive Producer - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Gary Klein, Producer
(P) 1977 Sony Music Entertainment
DISC 2
Barry Mann, Composer - Barry Mann, Lyricist - Charles Koppelman, Executive Producer - Cynthia Weil, Composer - Cynthia Weil, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Gary Klein, Producer
(P) 1977 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Gary Klein, Producer
(P) 1978 Sony Music Entertainment
Carole Bayer Sager, Composer - Carole Bayer Sager, Lyricist - Charles Koppelman, Executive Producer - David Wolfert, Composer - David Wolfert, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Gary Klein, Producer
(P) 1978 Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Vera, Composer - Billy Vera, Lyricist - Charles Koppelman, Executive Producer - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Gary Klein, Producer
(P) 1978 Sony Music Entertainment
Bruce Roberts, Composer - Bruce Roberts, Lyricist - Carole Bayer Sager, Composer - Carole Bayer Sager, Lyricist - Dean Parks, Producer - Dolly Parton, Performer - Gregg Perry, Producer
(P) 1979 Sony Music Entertainment
Bruce Sudano, Composer - Bruce Sudano, Lyricist - Charles Koppelman, Executive Producer - Dolly Parton, Performer - Donna Summer, Composer - Donna Summer, Lyricist - Gary Klein, Producer
(P) 1979 Sony Music Entertainment
Charles Koppelman, Executive Producer - Dolly Parton, Performer - Gary Klein, Producer - Hugh Moffatt, Composer - Hugh Moffatt, Lyricist - Pebe Sebert, Composer - Pebe Sebert, Lyricist
(P) 1979 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Greg Perry, Arranger - Gregg Perry, Producer - Mike Post, Arranger - Mike Post, Producer
(P) 1980 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Performer - Gregg Perry, Assistant Producer - Mike Post, Arranger - Mike Post, Producer - Mike Settle, Composer - Mike Settle, Lyricist
(P) 1980 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Arranger - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Gregg Perry, Arranger - Gregg Perry, Producer - Michael O'Donoghue, Composer - Michael O'Donoghue, Lyricist
(P) 1981 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Arranger - Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Gregg Perry, Arranger - Gregg Perry, Producer
(P) 1982 Sony Music Entertainment
Albhy Galuten, Producer - Barry Gibb, Composer - Barry Gibb, Lyricist - Barry Gibb, Producer - Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Performer - Karl Richardson, Producer - Maurice Ernest Gibb, Composer - Maurice Ernest Gibb, Lyricist - Robin Gibb, Composer - Robin Gibb, Lyricist
(P) 1983 Sony Music Entertainment
Doc Pomus, Composer - Doc Pomus, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Mort Shuman, Composer - Mort Shuman, Lyricist - The Jordanaires, Vocal - Val Garay, Producer
(P) 1984 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Mike Post, Arranger - Mike Post, Producer
(P) 1984 Sony Music Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Composer - Dolly Parton, Lyricist - Dolly Parton, Performer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Mike Post, Arranger - Mike Post, Producer
(P) 1984 Twentieth Century Fox and Sony Music Entertainment
Albert Lee, Electric Guitar - Barry Beckett, Piano - Bob Carlisle, Composer - Bob Carlisle, Lyricist - Brad Jones, 2nd Engineer - Denny Purcell, Mastering Engineer - Dolly Parton, Executive Producer - Dolly Parton, Performer - Doug Johnson, Mixing Engineer - Doug Johnson, Recording Engineer - Ed Seay, Recording Engineer - Eddie Bayers, Drums - George Massenburg, Recording Engineer - Jeff Geidt, 2nd Engineer - Jo-El Sonnier, Acordeon - Margie Hunt, Executive Producer - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Mike Brignardello, Bass - Mike Poole, 2nd Engineer - Pat Hutchinson, 2nd Engineer - Randy Thomas, Composer - Randy Thomas, Lyricist - Ricky Skaggs, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Ricky Skaggs, Fiddle - Ricky Skaggs, Mandolin - Ricky Skaggs, Producer - Ricky Skaggs, Triangle - Scott Hendricks, Recording Engineer - Steven A. Gibson, Electric Guitar - Tom Harding, Recording Engineer
(P) 1989 Sony Music Entertainment
Allisa Jones Wall, Dulcimer - Brad Jones, 2nd Engineer - Bruce Watkins, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Carlos Grier, Edited By - Chrissy Follmar, 2nd Engineer - Curtis Young, Background Vocal - Dennis Wilson, Background Vocal - Denny Purcell, Mastering Engineer - Dolly Parton, Producer - Dolly Parton duet with Ricky Van Shelton, Performer - Floyd Parton, Composer - Floyd Parton, Lyricist - Gary Paczosa, Engineer - Gary Paczosa, Mixing Engineer - Gary Smith, Keyboards - Gary Smith, Piano - Glen Duncan, Fiddle - Howard Smith, Background Vocal - Jennifer O'Brian, Background Vocal - Jimmy Mattingly, Fiddle - Jimmy Mattingly, Mandolin - Joey Miskulin, Acordeon - John David Parker, 2nd Engineer - John Kunz, 2nd Engineer - John Kunz, Mixing Engineer - John Wesley Ryles, Background Vocal - Joy Gardner, Background Vocal - Kent Wells, Electric Guitar - Larry Jeffries, 2nd Engineer - Lea Jane Berinati, Background Vocal - Lewis Nunley, Background Vocal - Lisa Silver, Background Vocal - Margie Hunt, Executive Producer - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Mark Casstevens, Mandolin - Mike Davis, Organ - Paul Franklin, Dobro - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar - Paul Uhrig, Bass - Ray Bunch, Arranger - Richard Dennison, Background Vocal - Ricky Van Shelton, Vocal - Robert Charles, 2nd Engineer - Sam Bacco, Percussion - Sean Londin, 2nd Engineer - Steve Buckingham, Producer - Steve Gibson, Guitar - Steve Gibson, Mandolin - Steve Turner, Drums - Vicki Hampton, Background Vocal
(P) 1991 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
There have been many, many Dolly Parton compilations over the years, but RCA/Legacy's 2005 set The Essential Dolly Parton is one of the handful that gets it right. Spanning two discs and 37 tracks, this set covers her entire career, from her 1967 debut, Hello, I'm Dolly, to her 2001 bluegrass comeback album, Little Sparrow, but the bulk of this set concentrates on her hitmaking years for RCA in the '70s and '80s. Since Dolly had so many hits, not all of them can be included even on a double-disc collection, but this does a tremendous job of picking the biggest and the best of them. Roughly, the first disc covers her first decade of recording, including a healthy dose of her inventive country-folk material from the early '70s, while the second disc covers her slicker crossover hits from the '80s. Dividing her material in this fashion makes each disc consistent within itself, and helps make this a more listenable set than such similar career-spanning collections as 1993's The RCA Years. While Raven's excellent Mission Chapel Memories: 1971-1975 documents her most creative period more effectively, this tells the story of her entire career, and it's the best of its kind of compilation yet assembled.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 37 track(s)
- Total length: 02:01:45
- Main artists: Dolly Parton
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia Nashville Legacy
- Genre: Country
(P) 2011 Sony Music Entertainment
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