45 single, picture sleeve. RCA Victor (74-0538) (1971)
Image credit: BandBox244 at 45cat.com
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"Coat of Many Colors" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on September 27, 1971, by RCA Victor as the second single from Dolly's album of the same name. It was written by Dolly and produced by Bob Ferguson. The single peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
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Track listing
Side A
- Coat of Many Colors (Dolly Parton) 3:03
- Here I Am (Dolly Parton) 3:10
The replica of Dolly's Coat of Many Colors created by her mother on display at the Chasing Rainbows museum at Dollywood in 2017.
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BackgroundComposed on the back of one of Porter Wagoner's dry cleaning receipts, "Coat of Many Colors" poignantly recounts the story of how Dolly's mother created a coat for her from fabric scraps the family had been given by a neighbor. While sewing, she shared the biblical tale of Joseph and his colorful coat. A spirited young Dolly, "with patches on my britches and holes in both my shoes," eagerly headed to school, only to be mocked by her classmates for wearing a coat made from discarded materials.
In her 2020 book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, Dolly said, "At the time, I thought, 'Why is this happening?' Now I know it was so I could write that song. It really is true that 'God works in strange and mysterious ways His wonders to perform.' You never know when you're going through things what is actually going to turn out to be a blessing. So it's worth the suffering." |
Recording
Both sides of the single were recorded on April 27, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee.
The very first studio recording of the song pre-dates Dolly's own classic recording. Porter Wagoner recorded the track on April 15, 1969, with Dolly providing harmony vocals. Although not released at the time, it was eventually issued on Porter's 1983 album, One for the Road. Dolly's first public performance of the song occurred at her high school gymnasium on April 25, 1970, during a concert which was recorded for her 1970 live album, A Real Live Dolly. She provided harmony vocals, along with Alison Krauss & Union Station, on Shania Twain's cover for the 2003 tribute album, Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton. Dolly recorded a new version for inclusion on the 2007 UK compilation, Singer, Songwriter & Legendary Performer. She recorded another version for her 2012 audiobook, Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You. Another version was recorded for Dolly's 2017 children's album, I Believe in You.
The very first studio recording of the song pre-dates Dolly's own classic recording. Porter Wagoner recorded the track on April 15, 1969, with Dolly providing harmony vocals. Although not released at the time, it was eventually issued on Porter's 1983 album, One for the Road. Dolly's first public performance of the song occurred at her high school gymnasium on April 25, 1970, during a concert which was recorded for her 1970 live album, A Real Live Dolly. She provided harmony vocals, along with Alison Krauss & Union Station, on Shania Twain's cover for the 2003 tribute album, Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton. Dolly recorded a new version for inclusion on the 2007 UK compilation, Singer, Songwriter & Legendary Performer. She recorded another version for her 2012 audiobook, Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You. Another version was recorded for Dolly's 2017 children's album, I Believe in You.
Audio
Critical reception
The single was reviewed in the October 9, 1971 issue of Billboard. They described the "Coat of Many Colors" as a "moving ballad" and predicted it would chart even higher than Dolly's previous single, "My Blue Tears".
Cashbox also reviewed the single in their October 9, 1971 issue. It said, "Once again, Dolly dips back into her childhood to come up with a winner in the tradition of "Joshua" and others of her numerous chart-winners. Should easily top her most recent success."
Cashbox also reviewed the single in their October 9, 1971 issue. It said, "Once again, Dolly dips back into her childhood to come up with a winner in the tradition of "Joshua" and others of her numerous chart-winners. Should easily top her most recent success."
Billboard review, October 9, 1971.
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Cashbox review, October 9, 1971.
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Commercial performance
"Coat of Many Colors" 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 for 16 weeks. It also peaked at number six on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number 15 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart and number 60 in Australia.
Accolades
"Coat of Many Colors" received a Songwriter Achievement Award in 1972 from Nashville Songwriters Association International. It was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2012 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019. It was also awarded a Million-Air Award from BMI in 2020 for reaching over one million broadcast performances.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the 2009 box set, Dolly, and the 2007 CD reissue of Coat of Many Colors.
- Joseph Babcock – background vocals
- Dolores Edgin – background vocals
- Bob Ferguson – producer
- June Page – background vocals
- Dolly Parton – lead vocals, guitar
- Other personnel unknown