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45 single, Side A. Monument (45-982) (1966)
Image credit: fortyfivesfrank at 45cat.com
"Dumb Blonde" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on November 7, 1966, by Monument Records. The song was written by Curly Putman, while the B-side, "The Giving and the Taking", was written by Dolly with her uncle Bill Owens. Both sides were produced by Fred Foster. It was Dolly's first country single for the label after a string of unsuccessful pop singles. The single was Dolly's first to chart on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 24. Both sides of the single would be included on her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, in September 1967.

Track listing

Side A
  • Dumb Blonde (Curly Putman) 2:27
​Side B
  • The Giving and the Taking (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:24​​
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Cashbox advertisement, February 4, 1967.

Background

Dolly had wished to pursue country music since signing with Monument Records in 1964, but Fred Foster felt that due to the high pitch of her voice she would be more marketable as a pop singer. After a string of unsuccessful pop singles for the label from November 1964 to June 1966, Foster was finally convinced to allow her to record county music after Decca recording artist Bill Phillips scored a top ten hit on the country charts with the Parton-Owens composition "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", which featured harmony vocals by Dolly.

Recording

"Dumb Blonde" was recorded on September 23, 1966, at Fred Foster Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. "The Giving and the Taking" had been recorded during the April 1966 session that had yielded Dolly's previous single, "The Little Things", and its B-side.

Dolly re-recorded "Dumb Blonde" as a duet with Miranda Lambert in 2018 for the Dumplin' soundtrack album.

Audio

Critical reception

Cashbox gave a positive review of the single, which said, "Pretty Dolly Parton lets the world know that she's nobody's fool in this catchy lid." They said the song has "a cute, stompin' sound" and "could very well be the biggie that will establish her."

Record World called Dolly a "not-so-dumb blonde" and said she should "get lots of mileage out of this tune." They concluded by saying that it "sounds like blondes have more fun."

​Billboard did not review the single, but they did include it in their Spotlight Singles section, predicating that it would chart on the Hot Country Songs chart.
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Cashbox review. November 19, 1966.
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Billboard review, November 19, 1066.

Commercial performance

"Dumb Blonde" was Dolly's first single to appear on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It debuted at number 64 on the chart dated January 21, 1967. It peaked at number 24 on the chart dated March 18, its ninth week on the chart. The single charted for a total of 14 weeks. ​It also peaked at number 10 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the 2009 box set, Dolly.
"Dumb Blonde"
  • Fred Foster – producer
  • ​Lloyd Green – steel guitar
  • Buddy Harman – drums
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Dean Porter – guitar
  • Norbert Putnam – bass
  • Jerry Reed – guitar