Album cover. RCA Victor (LSP-4603) (1971)
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Dolly Parton
Coat of Many Colors RCA Victor (LSP-4603) October 4, 1971 Side 1
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2007 CD reissue bonus tracks
11. My Heart Started Breaking (Dolly Parton) 3:02
12. Just as Good as Gone (Dolly Parton) 2:28
13. The Tender Touch of Love (Porter Wagoner) 2:26
14. My Blue Tears (Acoustic Demo) (Dolly Parton) 2:24
11. My Heart Started Breaking (Dolly Parton) 3:02
12. Just as Good as Gone (Dolly Parton) 2:28
13. The Tender Touch of Love (Porter Wagoner) 2:26
14. My Blue Tears (Acoustic Demo) (Dolly Parton) 2:24
Recording
Recording sessions for the album took place at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 16 and 27, 1971. Three tracks on the album were recording during sessions for previous albums. "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)" and "A Better Place to Live" were recorded during the October 30, 1969 session for 1970's The Fairest of Them All and "Early Morning Breeze" was recorded during the January 26, 1971 session for 1971's Joshua.
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October 30, 1969
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April 27, 1971
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Content
The album's title track, "Coat of Many Colors", tells of how Dolly's mother stitched together a coat for her out of rags given to the family. As she sewed, she told her child the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. The excited young Dolly, "with patches on my britches and holes in both my shoes," rushed to school, "just to find the others laughing and making fun of me" for wearing a coat made of rags. "Traveling Man" involves an unusual love triangle between a traveling salesman, a woman, and her mother. The album was written entirely by Dolly except for three tracks written by Porter Wagoner.
Over the years, Dolly would re-record a number of songs from the album. "Traveling Man" was re-recorded in 1973 for Dolly's Bubbling Over album. "My Blue Tears" was re-recorded in 1978 with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for a ill-fated Trio album. The recording would eventually surface on Ronstadt's 1982 album Get Closer. Dolly also cut the song for a third time, including it on her 2001 album, Little Sparrow. Dolly re-recorded "Early Morning Breeze" for 1974's Jolene and again for inclusion as a bonus track on the Walmart edition of her 2014 album, Blue Smoke. "My Heart Started Breaking", a bonus track on the 2007 CD reissue, was later re-recorded and included on Dolly's 1975 album, Dolly. She re-recorded "Here I Am" as a duet with Sia for the 2018 soundtrack album, Dumplin'.
Over the years, Dolly would re-record a number of songs from the album. "Traveling Man" was re-recorded in 1973 for Dolly's Bubbling Over album. "My Blue Tears" was re-recorded in 1978 with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for a ill-fated Trio album. The recording would eventually surface on Ronstadt's 1982 album Get Closer. Dolly also cut the song for a third time, including it on her 2001 album, Little Sparrow. Dolly re-recorded "Early Morning Breeze" for 1974's Jolene and again for inclusion as a bonus track on the Walmart edition of her 2014 album, Blue Smoke. "My Heart Started Breaking", a bonus track on the 2007 CD reissue, was later re-recorded and included on Dolly's 1975 album, Dolly. She re-recorded "Here I Am" as a duet with Sia for the 2018 soundtrack album, Dumplin'.
Release and promotion
The album was released October 4, 1971, on LP and 8-track.
Singles
The album's first single, "My Blue Tears", was released on June 14, 1971, and debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated July 17, 1971. It peaked at number 17 on the chart dated September 4, its eighth week on the chart. The single charted for 12 weeks. It also peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
The second single, "Coat of Many Colors", was released on September 27, 1971, and debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated October 30, 1971. It peaked at number four on the chart dated December 25, its ninth week on the chart. It charted 16 weeks. The single also peaked at number 15 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart and number 60 in Australia.
The second single, "Coat of Many Colors", was released on September 27, 1971, and debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated October 30, 1971. It peaked at number four on the chart dated December 25, its ninth week on the chart. It charted 16 weeks. The single also peaked at number 15 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart and number 60 in Australia.
Critical reception
The review published in the October 16, 1971 issue of Billboard said, "The top stylist's new single, the touching ballad "Coat of Many Colors", kicks off what should prove to be her biggest selling album to date. Most of the material is her own, with a few strong numbers penned by Porter Wagoner. The recent hit single, "My Blue Tears", is spotlighted along with other standouts such as "She Never Met a Man" and "The Way I See You"."
Cashbox published a review in the October 9, 1971 issue, which said, "It's hard to believe it's possible, but Dolly's releases still get better and better each time you listen and each time a new one hits the market. This one's another bulleye–with her new single as the title track and her previous hit "My Blue Tears" for drawing power, an extraordinary self-penned tune (even for Dolly) in "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)" for programming appeal and a trio of Porter Wagoner tunes to put the icing on the country cake. Bound for top chart honors."
Robert Christgau's review in his 1981 book, Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, said, "Beginning with two absolutely classic songs, one about a mother's love and the next about a mother's sexuality, and including country music's answers to "Triad" ("If I Lose My Mind") and "The Celebration of the Lizard" ("The Mystery of the Mystery"), side one is genius of a purity you never encounter in rock anymore. Overdisc is mere talent, except "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)," which is more."
In 2007, John Metzger, reviewing for The Music Box, said that the album "firmly remains the artistic pinnacle of her career" because it is "brave, bold, and emotionally pure."
Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album 5 stars and said that the album "announced Parton as a major talent in her own right, not merely a duet partner."
Cashbox published a review in the October 9, 1971 issue, which said, "It's hard to believe it's possible, but Dolly's releases still get better and better each time you listen and each time a new one hits the market. This one's another bulleye–with her new single as the title track and her previous hit "My Blue Tears" for drawing power, an extraordinary self-penned tune (even for Dolly) in "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)" for programming appeal and a trio of Porter Wagoner tunes to put the icing on the country cake. Bound for top chart honors."
Robert Christgau's review in his 1981 book, Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, said, "Beginning with two absolutely classic songs, one about a mother's love and the next about a mother's sexuality, and including country music's answers to "Triad" ("If I Lose My Mind") and "The Celebration of the Lizard" ("The Mystery of the Mystery"), side one is genius of a purity you never encounter in rock anymore. Overdisc is mere talent, except "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)," which is more."
In 2007, John Metzger, reviewing for The Music Box, said that the album "firmly remains the artistic pinnacle of her career" because it is "brave, bold, and emotionally pure."
Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album 5 stars and said that the album "announced Parton as a major talent in her own right, not merely a duet partner."
Billboard review, October 16, 1971.
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Cashbox review, October 9, 1971.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 41 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated October 30, 1971. It would peak at number seven on the chart dated January 22, 1972, its thirteenth week on the chart. The album charted for 23 weeks. It charted at number 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1972.
Accolades
The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1972 Country Music Association Awards.
In 2006, the album appeared on Time Magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2003 the album was ranked number 299 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, with the ranking dropping to number 301 in the 2012 update and climbing to number 257 in the 2020 reboot of the list. In 2017, National Public Radio ranked the album number 11 on their list of the 150 greatest albums made by women.
In 2006, the album appeared on Time Magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2003 the album was ranked number 299 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, with the ranking dropping to number 301 in the 2012 update and climbing to number 257 in the 2020 reboot of the list. In 2017, National Public Radio ranked the album number 11 on their list of the 150 greatest albums made by women.
Personnel
Adapted from the album's 2007 CD reissue liner notes
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Reissues
The album was reissued on cassette in Canada in 1985. It was reissued on CD for the first time in 1999. It was reissued on CD in Europe in 2001 with 1971's Joshua. The album was reissued on CD again in 2007 featuring four previously unreleased tracks. In 2010, Sony Music reissued the 2007 CD in a triple-feature set with 1973's My Tennessee Mountain Home and 1974's Jolene.