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Album cover. RCA Victor (AHL1-3546) (1980)
Dolly, Dolly, Dolly is the twenty-second solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on April 14, 1980, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Gary Klein and executive produced by Charles Koppellman. Like Dolly's previous three albums, it was recorded in Los Angeles. The album peaked at number seven on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 71 on the Billboard 200. Two of the album's singles, "Starting Over Again" and "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You", peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Packin' It Up" was released exclusively in Australia. 

Track listing

Side A
  1. Starting Over Again (Donna Summer, Bruce Sudano) 3:56
  2. Same Old Fool (Glenn Sutton, Greg Leroy, Jim Helmer) 3:20
  3. Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You (Pebe Sebert, Hugh Moffatt) 3:28
  4. You're the Only One I Ever Needed (Robbie Patton, Linda Mallah) 2:57
  5. Say Goodnight (Gary Portnoy, Susan Sheridan) 4:04
Side B
  1. Fool for Your Love (Leo Sayer, Michael Omartian) 3;05
  2. Even a Fool Would Let Go (Tom Snow, Kerry Chater) 3:18
  3. Sweet Agony (David Wolfert, Susan Sheridan) 3:40
  4. I Knew You When (Rupert Holmes) 3:09
  5. Packin' It Up (Sandy Farina, Lisa Ratner) 3:30

Recording

The album was recorded in December 1979 at Sound Lab Studios and Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Release and promotion

The album was released April 14, 1980, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.

Singles

"Starting Over Again" was released as the album's first single on March 3, 1980. It debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 22. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 24, its tenth week on the chart. It charted for 14 weeks. The single also peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 36 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also peaked at number three on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 57 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The single peaked at number two in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

The second single, "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You", was released on June 23, 1980. It debuted at number 78 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated July 19. It peaked at number one on the chart dated September 27, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 16 weeks. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number two in Canada on the RPM County Singles chart.

"Packin' It Up" was released in Australia as the third single from the album and did not chart.

Critical reception

Billboard gave a mixed review of the album, calling it "another set of varied Parton vocals," while noting that Klein's production puts emphasis on piano and percussion. They went on to say that "the frenetic up-tempo songs provide balance in pacing, but Parton's strength remains soft, powerful ballads—the type of song she used to write. Unfortunately, the LP carries no Parton-written songs." They closed by saying that hopefully the lack of songs written by Parton is "only a temporary development in the career of this outstanding writer-performer."

The album received a more positive review from Cashbox, saying that "Parton comes out with a very smooth LP in a very slick and classy package." Although, they also noted that Dolly "didn’t write a single tune," they felt that "every cut is high quality with a nice mixture of ballads and up tempo numbers." They concluded the review by saying, "There's something for everyone here."

Mark Deming of AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars. He noted the lack of Parton compositions, calling it her "slickest and most mainstream-oriented album up to the time." He praised Dolly's ability of "finding emotions in songs that would seem to have little visible heart or soul, letting her pure Appalachian soprano cut through the orchestra."
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Billboard review, April 26, 1980.
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Cashbox review, April 26, 1980.

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated May 10, 1980. It peaked at number seven on the chart dated May 31, its fourth week on the chart, where it remained for one additional week. The album charted for 30 weeks. ​It also peaked at number 71 on the Billboard 200 chart and number one in Canada on the RPM Country Albums chart.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
  • Jeff Baxter – vocoder, electric guitar
  • Ben Benay – electric guitar
  • Lenny Castro – percussion
  • Nick DeCaro – synthesizer
  • Buzzy Feiten – electric guitar
  • ​Jim Gilstrap – background vocals
  • Jay Graydon – acoustic guitar
  • Stephen Hague –synthesizer programming
  • David Hungate – bass
  • Myrna Matthews – background vocals
  • Denise Maynelli – background vocals
  • Marti McCall – background vocals
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Michael Omartian – keyboards, synthesizer
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Randy Parton – background vocals
  • Bill Payne – keyboards
  • Herb Pedersen – background vocals
  • Al Perkins – pedal steel guitar
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Tom Saviano – saxophone
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • Jay Winding – keyboards
Production
  • John Arrias – recording, mixing
  • Frank DeCaro – musical contractor
  • Nick DeCaro – arrangements, conductor
  • Sheridan Eldridge – recording assistant
  • Don Henderson – recording assistant
  • ​Gary Klein – producer
  • Charles Koppelman – executive producer
  • Michael Omartian – arrangements, conductor
  • ​Mike Reese – mastering
Other personnel
  • Tim Bryant – art direction
  • Lynne Morse – A&R coordination
  • Susan Germaine – hair
  • Bobbe Joy – makeup
  • Ann Roth – clothing design
  • Ron Slenzak – photography
  • ​Henry Vizcarra – art direction, design
  • Freda Wheatley – design assistant