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45 single, Side A. RCA (PB-12200) (1981)
Image credit: boyjohn at 45cat.com
"But You Know I Love You" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on March 16, 1981, by RCA Records as the second single from Dolly's twenty-third solo studio album, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. The song was written by Mike Settle and produced by Mike Post. It had previously been a hit in 1969 for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition who took it to number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and for Bill Anderson who had a number two hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Dolly's version peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her fifteenth song to top the chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • But You Know I Love You (Mike Settle) 3:16
Side B
  • Poor Folks Town (Dolly Parton) 2:55

Recording

"But You Know I Love You" was recorded on June 16, 1980, at Audio Media in Nashville, Tennessee. "Poor Folks Town" was recorded at the same studio on an unknown date.

Dolly had previous recorded "Poor Folks Town" as a duet with Porter Wagoner on their 1972 album, Together Always.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the March 28, 1981 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "Parton continues her crossover trend with this lively cover of an old First Edition tune. The flip side carries an original, upbeat country number, led by jazzy piano and percussion."

Cashbox did not review the single, but did include it in their Hits Out of the Box section in the March 28, 1981 issue.
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Billboard review, March 28, 1981.

Commercial performance

"But You Know I Love You" debuted at number 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated April 11. It peaked at number one on the chart dated June 20, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 17 weeks. The single also peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 47 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The single peaked at number two in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs liner notes.
"But You Know I Love You"
  • Anita Ball – background vocals
  • Eddie Bayers – drums
  • Richard Dennison – background vocals
  • Joe McGuffee – steel guitar
  • Ron Oates – keyboards
  • Sonny Osborne – banjo
  • Doug Parry – mixing
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Mike Post – synthesized flute, producer
  • Mike Reese – mastering
  • Rick Romano – mixing assistant
  • Joey Scarbury – background vocals
  • Leland Sklar – bass
  • Ian Underwood – synthesizer
  • Reggie Young – guitars
  • "Poor Folks Town"
  • Anita Ball – background vocals
  • Eddie Bayers – drums
  • Richard Dennison – background vocals
  • Joe McGuffee – steel guitar
  • Ron Oates – keyboards
  • Sonny Osborne – banjo
  • Doug Parry – mixing
  • Gregg Perry – organ
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Mike Post – producer
  • Mike Reese – mastering
  • Rick Romano – mixing assistant
  • Joey Scarbury – background vocals
  • Leland Sklar – bass
  • Ian Underwood – synthesizer
  • Reggie Young – guitars

Alternate artwork

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Netherlands 45 single, picture sleeve. RCA (PB-2200) (1981)
Image credit: leonard at 45cat.com