Dolly Parton Album: “Super Hits, Vol. 2”

Why is it that RCA/BMG keeps repackaging the same Dolly Parton songs over and over and over again?

Each of the songs on this collection have been anthologized before, while other vital early songs remain out of print.

There is some first rate material here. "The Bargain Store," and especially "Coat of Many Colors" are superb songs that help establish Parton as one of the most compelling voices in country music. But too much of this compilation is taken up with songs from the far less interesting pop/Hollywood era of her career. These songs are readily available elsewhere while such profound songs like "Down From Dover," "Gypsy, Joe, and Me," "In The Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" etc. remain unavailable and out of print in either their original album form or in any compilation form.

The RCA/BMG treatment of Parton's early back catalog is an outrage, and this latest compilation is just more evidence of that.

"Super Hits" is a rather condensed collection of Dolly Parton's work. It focuses mostly on the commercial releases & a couple of tracks from her movies e.g. "Tennessee Homesick Blues" and "9 to 5". For getting to know Dolly this is a great way to start, you'll sure enjoy the sound on Blockbusters like "Jolene", "I Will Always Love You" & the breathtaking "You're the only one" & "Heartbreaker". Recommended.

Sadly enough, with a catalogue rich in solid hits, many of the "best of" collections for Dolly fall short. Fortunately enough for someone wanting the absolute best, this grouping is just that. This assemblage of songs presents to the listener the very best of Miss Parton and leaves you wanting more. For fine complements to this acquire "The Essential Dolly Parton, Volume One" and "Here You Come Again," the breakthrough recording recently rereleased (and the one that started the mania!).