Dolly Parton Album: “Ultimate Dolly Parton”

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 Again" and "9 to 5," but like her "Islands in The Stream" singing partner Kenny Rogers' music from the late '70s and early '80s, much of what you hear from this period is better forgotten. What stareted as well-intended country crossover degenerated into bad schmaltzy pop, which never holds interest for long.

The last few tracks show how Dolly redeemed herself from the horrors of Carter administration -era soft rock to reclaim her rightful position as the queen of modern country. The aforementioned "Stream" is a delight, as is "To Know Him Is To Love Him," with the equally endearing Linda Rondstat and Emmylou Harris. The last track, "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That," is a nod to the "hot country" that would dominate the 1990s, but Dolly wisely decided to sidestep the rat race of contemperary country radio and forge a stunning bluegrass-tinged fourth musical era. None of that is covered on "Ultimate," but it's worth the trip to seek out some of Dolly's most recent output.

Buy this album without hesitation, and check out her new music as well.

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. The six tracks that follow it, like "Starting Over Again" and "You're The Only One," are sluggish, bland soundalikes - usually written by others - that failed to exploit her immense personality. Thankfully, the collection emerges from this sonic coma with Parton's spunky, self-penned "9 To 5" (1980) and the delightful yodelfest "Tennessee Homesick Blues" (1984).

Mid-80s collaborations with Kenny Rogers on "Islands In The Stream" plus Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on "To Know Him Is To Love Him" (the exquisite Parton-centered "Wild Flowers" should be here, not this ordinary, Harris-led effort) amply exhibit Parton's harmonizing skills, while other country chart-toppers from this period (the Rogers' duet "Real Love," the enchanting "Think About Love") are inexplicably omitted from this set. Instead, it's left to 1989's "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That" (licensed from Sony) to brings things to a rousing conclusion.

So, you ask, does this cd truly represent Parton's "ultimate" work? No way. Check out Essential Dolly Parton, Volume Two (which concentrates on her late '60s-through-mid-70s recordings) or her recent bluegrass efforts for that.

I think this is an excellent, single-disc overview of Dolly's biggest hits. What sets this collection apart from the many other hits collections that have been previously released is the sound quality. Mastering engineer Vic Anesini brings out the warmth in this original recordings. Compare these versions with what's on the two volumes of the "Essential" Dolly Parton discs and you can easily hear that the latter have a thin and bright tonal balance. The "Essential" discs just don't sound as musical as this "Ultimate" disc.

I sympathize with some of the other negative reviews. There needs to be more Dolly mastered like this. I understand that Vic Anesini also did the 2-cd German import version of this title, so I might check that out. Steve Hoffman of the now-defuct DCC label previously mastered Dolly's "Here You Come Again" album, and that also sounded terrific but is now very difficult to find. We definitely need more well mastered Dolly music available. Here's hoping that BMG is already having Vic Anesini work on more Dolly tracks.

This is a great collection; something for everybody who is a fan. My question is, when are we fans going to get a Dolly Parton Box Set spanning her entire career and include some true rarities like "Girl Left Alone", "Ping Pong", and "Puppy Love"? For an artist of this stature a six CD Box Set is in order.

WOW! When I first heard that there was going to be another greatist hits CD I Though that this was going to be another one of those 10 or 8 simple songs again put on a CD (Songs like "Coat of Many Colors" "I Will Always Love You" "9 to 5" etc......) But I Was Wrong This One Is Great! You Have more of a variety to listen to. SO BUY IT!

I Also Recommend Her Greatist Work Ever: HUNGRY AGAIN, THE GRASS IS BLUE, LITTLE SPARROW, HALOS AND HORNS, LIVE AND WELL and THOSE WERE THE DAYS! I would only recommend FOR GOD AND COUNTRY to a dolly fan or someone who really loves thier Country.