Dolly Parton Album: “9 To 5 And Odd Jobs”

Description :

Personnel includes: Dolly Parton (vocals); Larry Carlton, Reggie Young, Jeff Baxter, Martin K. Walsh (guitar); Joe McGuffee (steel guitar); Sonny Osborne (banjo, background vocals); Kim S. Hutchincroft (baritone saxophone); Tom Saviano (saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet); William Reichenbach (trombone); Larry Knechtel (piano); Gregg Perry (organ); Ron Oates (keyboards); Ian Underwood (synthesizer); Leland Sklar, Abraham Laborial (bass); Eddie Bayers, Richard Schlosser (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Bobby Osborne, Anita Ball, Denise Mayanelli (background vocals). Producers: Mike Post, Gregg Perry. Reissue producer: Mike Ragogna. Engineers include: Larry Carlton, Paul Dobbe, Marshall Morgan. Recorded at Audio Media, Nashville, Tennessee & Sound Labs, Hollywood, California. Digitally remastered by Elliott Federman (SAJE Sound, New York, New York). This is part of the Buddah Original Masters Series. Dolly Parton was a crossover superstar when she recorded this album--the infectious title song, which she wrote, was the theme from the movie of the same name, in which she made her acting debut. Not suprisingly, much of the album is chart oriented state-of-the-art early '80s pop fluff, but Parton still finds time to flash her country and folk roots. Standout tracks include a terrific cover of Mel Tillis' "Detroit City," a riveting version of Woody Guthrie's classic migrant worker anthem "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)," a surprisingly fresh take on "House of the Rising Sun," and an impassioned run through of Merle Travis' "Dark As a Dungeon."

I have loved this album for nearly twenty years and love Dolly...ALL her different types of music! Those who complain it is a commercial sellout, leaving her country roots behind must have had their ears blocked when "Hush-A-Bye-Hardtimes, Poorfolks Town, and Dark as a Dungeon" were playing. How many pop songs begin with: "Come and listen, ye fellows?" This is one of Dolly's best albums, showing a range and diversity with country and pop genres that should be applauded. Just because something is a commercial success doesn't mean it is bad. Sometimes the mass public actually picks a winner, and this winner is the complete album from 1980. Previous CD releases were missing two great tracks! There is not a bad cut on this album!

By the time this album was originally released in 1981, Dolly Parton's commercial sellout had long been established. Having abandoned her country roots which had produced some of the finest music of the genre, she was ready for Hollywood and made her film debut in the movie "Nine to Five." An amusing escapist comedy, Parton surprisingly managed to hold her own against Jane Fonda and the truly comicly gifted Lily Tomlin (who ultimately stole the show).

The movie's theme song, which is the center piece of this album was more of the same for the pop sellout that was Dolly at this time, so naturally, with a popular movie behind it, the song was a huge hit and further encouraged Parton to leave her country roots behind. Still, this isn't to say that this album is a total loss. Her version of Woody Guthrie's "Deportees" manages to rescue the album from complete pop sellout status. Hearing Parton's glorious set of pipes surround this heartbreaker of a song pleading for social justice and human dignity is pretty much worth the price of admission, even if the rest of this stuff is a far cry from the jewels she had created a decade before.

I have always loved this album of Dolly's, & quite frankly, I think it's her best ever! The songs are original, peppy, catchy, & I never get tired of listening to it over & over again. If you're wanting something that doesn't sound totally country, but maybe a mix of country & pop rock, this is the one to get!

Dolly's 1980 album 9 TO 5 (AND OTHER ODD JOBS) is a worthy investment, dont pay attention to bad reviews. This is top notch material from Dolly. First the hit of the album "9 to 5", this song spent 1 week at #1 on the country charts, 2 weeks at #1 on both the Hot 100 and the A/C chart. Another hit from the album was "But You Know I Love You", a song about being on the road away from a lover, spent one week at #1 on the country charts. The album has a bunch of other great songs, "Dark as a Dungeon" and "Deportee (Plane Wreck at los Gatos)" are so heartbreaking, Dolly at her best. I love "The House of the Rising Sun", Dolly does justice on this one. Other highlights include "Sing For The Common Man", "Working Girl", and more. Overall great album!