Album cover. Dolly / Sony Masterworks (88843 03269 2) (2014)
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Dolly Parton
Blue Smoke Dolly / Sony Masterworks (88843 03269 2) May 13, 2014
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Walmart edition bonus tracks
13. Get Up, Get Out, Get On (Dolly Parton) 2:55 14. Olive Branch (Dolly Parton) 3:09 15. Early Morning Breeze (Dolly Parton) 2:56 16. Angels in the Midst (Dolly Parton) 3:11 OVC bonus disc: Dolly Parton Live
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UK edition bonus disc: Blue Smoke: The Best of Dolly Parton
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Background
Dolly mentioned working on a new album in July 2013. In December 2013, she announced that the album would be released through a partnership between Dolly Records and Sony Masterworks.
The title Blue Smoke was inspired by the mist that covers the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. The title song was previously performed by Dolly on The Vintage Tour in 2005 and was originally to appear on what became the Those Were the Days album. When the direction of this album changed to be a covers album, the song was shelved for almost a decade.
The title Blue Smoke was inspired by the mist that covers the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. The title song was previously performed by Dolly on The Vintage Tour in 2005 and was originally to appear on what became the Those Were the Days album. When the direction of this album changed to be a covers album, the song was shelved for almost a decade.
Previous recordings
Three songs featured on the album had previously been recorded by Dolly. "Unlikely Angel" was originally written and recorded for the 1996 film of the same name. The version featured in the film was never commercially released. "From Here to the Moon and Back" was previously recorded by Dolly with Jeremy Jordan and Kris Kristofferson for the 2012 film Joyful Noise and was released on the film's soundtrack album. The bonus track "Early Morning Breeze" was originally recorded by Dolly for her 1971 album Coat of Many Colors and again for her 1974 album Jolene.
Recording
The majority of the album was recorded at Kent Wells Productions in Franklin, Tennessee. Additional recording took place at Starstruck Studios in Nashville, Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Digital Audio Post in Nashville, Ben's Studio in Nashville, Sound Emporium Recording Studios in Nashville, the Sound Kitchen in Franklin, and Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
Content
Blue Smoke features a duet with Kenny Rogers on "You Can't Make Old Friends", which was originally released on his 2013 album of the same name. The album also includes a new recording of "From Here to the Moon and Back" with Willie Nelson, which was also on Nelson's 2013 album, To All the Girls.... Blue Smoke also includes covers of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and Bon Jovi's "Lay Your Hands on Me".
Release and promotion
The album was first released on CD, digital download, and streaming on January 31, 2014, in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with Dolly's tour in those countries. The album was released on CD, LP, digital download, and streaming on May 13, 2014, in the North America. Walmart stores offered a deluxe edition featuring four bonus tracks. A bonus CD containing five tracks from Dolly's Live from London album was offered through the QVC shopping network. A special edition of the album titled Blue Smoke: The Best of Dolly Parton was released in Europe to coincide with the European leg of the tour on June 9, 2014, with a bonus disc featuring 20 of Dolly's biggest hits.
Singles
The album's title track, "Blue Smoke", was released as the first single on December 20, 2013, in Australia and New Zealand. It would be released March 18, 2014, in North America and Europe.
"Home" was released as the second single on April 19, 2014, on a 45 single exclusively available at record stores for Record Store Day. It was released as a digital download on April 22 and a music video for the song was released on May 28. The song was sent to country radio in the United States on June 16.
Following Dolly's performance at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival, "Try" was released as a single in the United Kingdom on July 4.
"Unlikely Angel" was released as the album's fourth and final single on February 16, 2015, exclusively in the United Kingdom.
"Home" was released as the second single on April 19, 2014, on a 45 single exclusively available at record stores for Record Store Day. It was released as a digital download on April 22 and a music video for the song was released on May 28. The song was sent to country radio in the United States on June 16.
Following Dolly's performance at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival, "Try" was released as a single in the United Kingdom on July 4.
"Unlikely Angel" was released as the album's fourth and final single on February 16, 2015, exclusively in the United Kingdom.
Tour
Dolly embarked on the Blue Smoke Would Tour to promote the album in January 2014. The tour spanned 47 should across North America, Australia, and Europe. Dolly perfumed during the Glastonbury Festival on June 29, 2014; reportedly drawing the largest crowd of the festival. The tour concluded in July 2014, grossing over $20 million.
Television appearances
Dolly appeared on The Queen Latifah Show on October 21, 2013 where she performed "Miss You, Miss Me" and announced the Blue Smoke Would Tour. In December 2013, Dolly discussed the album and tour on Access Hollywood. On April 14, 2014, Dolly appeared on AXS TV's The Big Interview to discuss the album, tour, and other aspects of her career with Dan Rather. On April 27, 2014, Dolly appeared on QVC's Q Sessions Live, where she performed "Blue Smoke", "Don't Think Twice", "If I Had Wings", "Jolene", "Banks of the Ohio", "Home", and "I Will Always Love You". Dolly appeared on Today on May 13 and performed "Blue Smoke", "Home", and "9 to 5".
Critical reception
Blue Smoke received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, they assign a rating out of 100 to selected reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 81, based on 8 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". At Country Weekly, Jon Freeman graded the album an A-, stating that "On Blue Smoke, the country legend travels many different paths and sounds only like herself." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing that "Perhaps there are no permanent additions to her canon here, but the remarkable thing is how satisfying an album this is: it sounds good and the songs are sturdy, proof that Parton is far from resting on her laurels." At Paste, Holly Gleason rated the album an 8.3 out of 10, saying that "Finding a strong balance between art and slick, Parton continues walking a line of what people expect and her heart. She just gets better with age." Marah Eakin of The A.V. Club graded the album a B+, stating that the release shows how Dolly "handily harnesses those charms...coupled with that stellar musicality, of course...to produce an absolutely lovely LP."
At The Boston Globe, James Reed gave a positive review of the album, writing that "even when Parton goes camp and piles on the gloss, there's still a big heart beating beneath the album's surface, much like the artist herself." At American Songwriter, Eric Allen rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that "Blue Smoke easily hits its mark of making us look within ourselves while laughing through our tears." Joe Sweeney of Slant Magazine rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying that in "the vividness and genuine conviction in that timeless, still-powerful voice finds the humanity in all of it", and in so doing "the country legend mainlines one greeting-card sentiment after another, singing about angels, rainbows, moons, and fishing holes with reckless abandon." At Exclaim!, Thierry Côté rated the album a 7 out of 10, writing that "It is an album of small pleasures, an eclectic collection of songs that showcases many of the qualities that have made the Tennessee singer such a vital force in country music for five decades." Andy Argyrakis of CCM Magazine rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, commenting how "Parton's cheer, humor and candor continue on this stripped-down, catchy collection" that "continues her popularity resurgence with another rootsy record consisting of many personally penned tunes."
At The Boston Globe, James Reed gave a positive review of the album, writing that "even when Parton goes camp and piles on the gloss, there's still a big heart beating beneath the album's surface, much like the artist herself." At American Songwriter, Eric Allen rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that "Blue Smoke easily hits its mark of making us look within ourselves while laughing through our tears." Joe Sweeney of Slant Magazine rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying that in "the vividness and genuine conviction in that timeless, still-powerful voice finds the humanity in all of it", and in so doing "the country legend mainlines one greeting-card sentiment after another, singing about angels, rainbows, moons, and fishing holes with reckless abandon." At Exclaim!, Thierry Côté rated the album a 7 out of 10, writing that "It is an album of small pleasures, an eclectic collection of songs that showcases many of the qualities that have made the Tennessee singer such a vital force in country music for five decades." Andy Argyrakis of CCM Magazine rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, commenting how "Parton's cheer, humor and candor continue on this stripped-down, catchy collection" that "continues her popularity resurgence with another rootsy record consisting of many personally penned tunes."
Commercial performance
The album debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with first-week sales of 37,000 copies. At the time it was her highest peak position on the chart in 23 years. It also peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 chart. The album peaked at number four on the UK Country Albums chart, number two on the UK Albums charts, and number one on the UK Country Compilations chart (due to the inclusion of the bonus disc contains Dolly's greatest hits). In Australia, the album peaked at number one on the ARIA Australian Country Albums chart and number seven on the ARIA Australian Albums chart. It peaked at number 13 on the Danish Albums chart, number 21 on the Irish Albums chart, number one in New Zealand Albums, number two on the Scottish Albums chart, and number 43 on the Swedish Albums chart. The album has sold 88,000 copies in the United States as of July 2016 and 401,584 copies in the United Kingdom as of August 2016.
The album placed at number 60 on the 2014 Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart and number 60 on the 2014 UK Albums year-end chart,
The album placed at number 60 on the 2014 Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart and number 60 on the 2014 UK Albums year-end chart,
Accolades
The album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry on July 4, 2014, for sales of 60,000, Gold on July 18 for sales of 100,000 copies, and Platinum on December 12 for sales of 300,000 copies. It also received a Platinum certification in Russia from the National Federation of Phonographic Producers for sales of 20,000 copies.
Personnel
Adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
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