Disco de Dolly Parton: “The Encore Collection”

To coincide with Dolly's European tour of 2007, there were several CD releases including yet another best of compilation (this album) and three twofers featuring six albums, five of which had never been released on CD while the other had only briefly been available in the early days of CD. Three of Dolly's older albums were also released with bonus tracks although only the bonus tracks were new to CD, the main albums having already been made available on earlier releases. Despite the fact that all the tracks here have been released many times before, this compilation was hugely successful. There are still plenty of people out there who don't own any of Dolly's music and this CD provides such people with most of the tracks that they're likely to be familiar with.

Dolly's two British top ten hits (Jolene, Islands in the stream) are both here, along with the Dolly song made even more famous by Whitney Houston (I will always love you) and Dolly's major American pop hits (9 to 5, Here you come again). Another song that Brits might recognize even if they don't normally listen to Dolly's music is the theme to the old TV series Butterflies (Love is like a butterfly), although Dolly`s own version wasn`t actually used for the theme - Clare Torrey recorded a cover of it for the purpose. Dolly's cover of an old Drifters classic (Save the last dance for me) is often included on compilations of her music, as it is here, because it was successful in the American country charts, but it sounds even further removed from country music than the original.

As if these familiar songs were not enough, there are other songs here that were important to Dolly's early career and popularity including Bargain store, My Tennessee mountain home and Coat of many colors, any or all of which may be familiar to people far beyond Dolly's fan base. The compilation is certainly varied, featuring disco-styled songs (Baby I'm burning, Potential new boyfriend) and hillbilly songs (Applejack, Tennessee homesick blues). You could say there's something for everybody, but unless you have broad musical tastes, there are likely to be some tracks you don't like. Dolly has recorded many different types of music over her 40+ years in the music business, so compilations of her music inevitably reflect that unless they focus on specific periods of her career.

If you haven't got any of Dolly's music and you're looking for the obvious oldies with some of the best of the rest, this is a good one to choose. If you enjoy it enough to want more, there's also a volume 2.

This is a collection of various Dolly Parton hits from her career in the late 70's/early to mid 80's. Some are very well known hits while others may not have done well, but fans have found a place in their hearts for it. The collection begins with the disco/pop hit Baby Im Burnin, from her Heartbreaker album. The original version of Starting Over Again, which Reba McEntire recorded in 1995 as a cover, the song is timeless, from her Dolly Dolly Dolly album. Working Girl and Single Women further venture into pop territory, from her album Working Girl from her 9 To 5 And Odd Jobs album, Single Women from her Heartbreak Express album. But You Know I Love You, another classic song only Dolly could sing is here as well, originally on her 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album. God Wont Get You is a lesser known hit, it was from her 1983 movie Rhinestone. Old Flames (Cant Hold A Candle To You) makes an appearance, a hit from the Dolly Dolly Dolly album.

Other hits include Its All Wrong, But Its All Right, from her Here You Come Again album, House of the Rising Sun, from her 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album, and Potential New Boyfriend, from the much underrated Burlap and Satin, which still proves to be her most satisfying album from the 80's.

This collection is nice for fans, but overall these songs can be found on other Parton Greatest Hits collections. Until fans are treated to a Dolly box set, these will have to do, or until they release a nice collection, we will have to come back to these various greatest hits packages.

All of her music is a real pleasure to listen too. A true country artist. You can not help but sing along.

One of a kind voice, Beautiful collection of Dolly's best songs. Enjoyed every one of them. The CD was made in Germany.

Great cd. I think the songs on this grouping are some of Dolly's best. I bought it to enjoy Dolly and her familiar tunes when I'm in the mood for listening to her. I wasn't disappointed.