Disco de Dolly Parton: “Great Balls of Fire/Dolly Dolly Dolly”

"Great Balls of Fire" and "Dolly,Dolly,Dolly" are 2 of Dolly's best pop efforts and they finally come to CD for the first time. The folks over in the UK have done a remarkable job of bringing these rare recordings to CD and they should be applauded! The sound is pitch perfect and the packaging is remarkable with the actual LP being reissued in CD format with a beautiful booklet. Get these CD's while they last as they have only been issued in Europe and they will be collector's items in the very near future. Dolly Parton has never sounded better!

The album "Dolly, Dolly, Dolly" is a really great combination of country, and pop. I don't feel that this album really hit the commercial success that it should have, but then came "9 to 5" and it was all up from there.

I highly recommend this c.d. However, if your a serious "Dolly fan", then get the double c.d. that has: Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, and Great Balls of Fire! Both of these titles have just recently been released on a (2 for 1). Which brings me to the title of this review...

Why is BMG Special Marketing bringing us duplicates of duplicates??? This title as I mentioned, has already been released on c.d. and as a (2 for 1). So why are we releasing the same titles in different format???

I'm not a marketing expert, but common sense would tell me that maybe releasing: Hearbreak Express (1982) WHICH HAS NEVER, EVER BEEN RELEASED ONTO C.D. FORMAT!!! Also, the title: The Great Pretender (1984) which was at one time on c.d format, about 25yrs. ago...

If BMG Special Services really wanted to do something smart(?) Let's put out a (2 for 1) on c.d. for the titles: Heartbreak Express and The Great Pretender!!! This would make more sense than releasing c.d.'s of the SAME THING over and over again.

Not to mention, that it also makes sense to put out onto c.d. format Heartbreak Express because collectors go for the entire discography, and not bits and pieces of compilations!!! So far, collectors can't complete the collection because you keep skipping it YEAR after YEAR!!

So, make it a goal to have this title out by the end of 2008, you will feel better about yourselves, and so will the fans!!! GET BUSY!!!

Even when Dolly makes a less than perfect album there are always at least a few great songs on her albums. Being such a gifted songwriter, means she always has a gem or two up her sleave even when she's not at her best. This particular album kinda represents the opposite of that. Dolly did not write any songs on this album and this album doesn't really contain any outstanding songs. However, the production of this pop album and Dolly's pop vocals are so good it does what an album can rarely do, and that is being a great album without great songs. I know that doesn't normally make sense but after you listen to this CD all the way through you will see what I mean.

It's just one of those albums that has the "IT" factor. Its just extremely enjoyable with every listen and never gets old. The album was produced by Gary Klein. Gary was probably the only producer who knew how to produce Dolly when she sings pop to perfection. He only produced 3 albums for her but all 3 would be 5 star albums. While it is true that there woud not be any individual songs that would become ultra classics there are at least a couple that are very good with some substance. Those would be "Starting Over Again", a song written by Donna Summer and her husband. Its a very good heartbreak song about divorce. The description may sound like a classic country theme but after listening to the lyrics its much more of a heartbreak thats much more city than country. On the other hand the other song with substance is "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle To You". This song is very good, though kinda out of place on this CD. Its very country and it makes you wonder how Dolly got this included. Its pretty obvious that Dolly did have some control on this album by having this song included. It is just so different than the other songs here. Honestly, those are really the only 2 songs that merit a discussion. Again, on the surface that doesn't sound like a great review, but again, though the other songs are not individually great you will enjoy this album much. Dolly's vocals are top notch on the slow songs and her energy is boundless on the fast tracks. It may be hard to convice people on an album without individual masterpieces but I still highly recommend this fantastic ablum.

"Great Balls of Fire" has always been my favorite Dolly album, and "Dolly,Dolly, Dolly" shows her ability to cross over into pop music with ease. This cd is a must have for any Dolly fan.

SonyBMG (UK) release in March 2007 a series of three 2on1 (twofer) CDs to coindide with Dolly's 2007 European tour. Each feature some of Dolly's most sought after albums from her days signed to RCA Records. Any fans of the Country Queen will love these CDs. Plus all the albums have been beautifully remastered from the original American tapes

A remake of the Jerry Lee Lewis classic "Great Balls Of Fire" became the title song for Dolly's 1979 album. The album blended her country roots sound with rock and disco rhythms reaching #4 on the Country charts. It also became a `Top 40' Pop hit propelling sales to Gold status. The lead single, "You're the Only One", topped the country charts, while the follow-up, "Sweet Summer Lovin", went `Top 10'!

In 1980, Dolly played Vegas in an elaborate `glitzy' stage show. She also released, in April 1980, "Dolly, Dolly, Dolly". The album portrayed an artist at a proverbial crossroads in her quest for Pop success. This was to be her least `Country' sounding album, inevitably because she did not write any songs for it. The album did however include two chart topping Country singles, "Starting over Again" (co-written by Disco-diva Donna Summer and her husband) and "Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You)". These packed a mighty punch in the stakes of chart success with "Starting over Again" also entering the `Top 40' Pop charts. Critics may have panned this album but fans stayed loyal and "Dolly, Dolly, Dolly" made the `Top 10' Country charts!

Tracklisting:-

1. Star Of The Show

2. Down

3. You're The Only One

4. Help

5. Do You Think That Time Stands Still

6. Sweet Summer Lovin'

7. Great Balls Of Fire

8. Almost In Love

9. It's Not My Affair Anymore

10. Sandy's Song

11. Starting Over Again

12. Same Old Fool

13. Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You)

14. You're The Only One I Ever Needed

15. Say Goodnight

16. Fool For Your Love

17. Even A Fool Would Let Go

18. Sweet Agony

19. I Knew You When

20. Packin' It Up