Album cover. Columbia (CK 46882) (1991)
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Eagle When She Flies is the thirty-first solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on March 7, 1991, by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Steve Buckingham and Gary Smith, with Dolly serving as executive producer. It was Dolly's first solo album to peak at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's first single, "Rockin' Years", peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Silver and Gold" peaked at number 15, while the title track peaked at number 33. "Country Road", the fourth and final single, peaked at number 46. "Rockin' Years" was nominated for Best Country Vocal Collaboration and "Eagle When She Flies" was nominated for Best Country Song at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards. The album has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
- If You Need Me (Dolly Parton) 2:44
- Rockin' Years (duet with Ricky Van Shelton) (Floyd Parton) 3:25
- Country Road (Dolly Parton, Gary Scruggs) 3:27
- Silver and Gold (Carl Perkins, Greg Perkins, Stan Perkins) 3:54
- Eagle When She Flies (Dolly Parton) 3:11
- Best Woman Win (duet with Lorrie Morgan) (Dolly Parton) 3:08
- What a Heartache (Dolly Parton) 3:32
- Runaway Feelin' (Dolly Parton) 2:56
- Dreams Do Come True (Bill Owens) 3:26
- Family (Dolly Parton, Carl Perkins) 3:47
- Wildest Dreams (Dolly Parton, Mac Davis) 4:30
Recording
The album was recorded from November 1990 to January 1991 at Nightingale Studio and The Doghouse in Nashville.
"What a Heartache" is a re-recording of a song Dolly originally wrote and included on the 1984 soundtrack album Rhinestone. She would later record the song again for her 2002 album Halos & Horns.
Dolly also recorded "Dreams Do Come True" as a duet with her uncle Bill Owens. It was included on his album Dreams Do Come True that was sold in the early 1990s at Dollywood and public appearances he made.
Dolly originally recorded "Rockin' Years" as a duet with George Jones, but this version remained unreleased until Jones included it on his 2008 album Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets.
Dolly later re-recorded "Eagle When She Flies" in 2021 as a duet with José Feliciano.
"What a Heartache" is a re-recording of a song Dolly originally wrote and included on the 1984 soundtrack album Rhinestone. She would later record the song again for her 2002 album Halos & Horns.
Dolly also recorded "Dreams Do Come True" as a duet with her uncle Bill Owens. It was included on his album Dreams Do Come True that was sold in the early 1990s at Dollywood and public appearances he made.
Dolly originally recorded "Rockin' Years" as a duet with George Jones, but this version remained unreleased until Jones included it on his 2008 album Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets.
Dolly later re-recorded "Eagle When She Flies" in 2021 as a duet with José Feliciano.
Billboard advertisement, February 16, 1991.
Release and promotion
The album was released March 7, 1991, on CD, LP, and cassette.
Singles
"Rockin' Years", a duet with Ricky Van Shelton, was released as the album's first single on February 4, 1991. It debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 2. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 4, its tenth week on the chart. The single charted for 20 weeks. It also peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. A music video directed by Michael Saloman was released to accompany the single.
The second single, "Silver and Gold", was released on May 20, 1991. It debuted at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 15. It peaked at number 15 on the chart dated August 10, its ninth week on the chart. It charted for 20 weeks. The single peaked at number seven in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV directed the single's accompanying music video.
The album's title track, "Eagle When She Flies", was released as the third single on September 16, 1991. It debuted at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated October 19. It peaked at number 33 on the chart dated December 14, its ninth week on the chart. The single charted for 20 weeks. It also peaked at number nine in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single's music video was directed by Mary Lambert.
"Country Road" was released as the album's fourth single on January 6, 1992. It debuted at number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 25. It peaked at number 46 on the chart dated March 7, its seventh week on the chart. It charted for 10 weeks. The single peaked at number 33 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. Unlike the previous three singles, a music video was not produced for "Country Road".
The second single, "Silver and Gold", was released on May 20, 1991. It debuted at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 15. It peaked at number 15 on the chart dated August 10, its ninth week on the chart. It charted for 20 weeks. The single peaked at number seven in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV directed the single's accompanying music video.
The album's title track, "Eagle When She Flies", was released as the third single on September 16, 1991. It debuted at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated October 19. It peaked at number 33 on the chart dated December 14, its ninth week on the chart. The single charted for 20 weeks. It also peaked at number nine in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single's music video was directed by Mary Lambert.
"Country Road" was released as the album's fourth single on January 6, 1992. It debuted at number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 25. It peaked at number 46 on the chart dated March 7, its seventh week on the chart. It charted for 10 weeks. The single peaked at number 33 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. Unlike the previous three singles, a music video was not produced for "Country Road".
Critical reception
Billboard said that "to a great degree, this is the Dolly of old; easily amazed, easily moved, always the tough country innocent." The review named "Rockin' Years", "If You Need Me", and "Eagle When She Flies" as the best cuts on the album.
Cashbox said, "There's no denying that Dolly Parton's lyrics and music reflect her own magnetic personality - strong, adventurous and thoroughly realistic." The review said the album "unleashes Parton's scorching, vocal quivers with full spice and energy." Noting nine of the album's eleven songs are Parton compositions, the review said the album "reveals the strength and sensitivity discovered in women" as well as Dolly's "dedication to her roots and family pride." The review concluded by saying that the record "brings back home the traditional country elements which originally launched Parton's career, and also represents many of the new directions and realizations which have delivered her to the unlimited realms of superstardom."
In a review for Entertainment Weekly, Alanna Nash said that with this album Dolly "is finally free of the flaunted sexuality and tacky production that marred her past few releases." Although she found fault with "Dreams Do Come True", describing it as "atrocious" and a "musical version of a far too breathless romance," she praised Dolly's performance on "What a Heartache", "Wildest Dreams", and "Family" as "exquisite." She concluded by saying it "seems there’s a new spark in the old Dolly yet."
Michael McCall of AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars. He said the album "confirms that [Dolly has] returned to the country fold." He described the title track as "a powerful female anthem."
Cashbox said, "There's no denying that Dolly Parton's lyrics and music reflect her own magnetic personality - strong, adventurous and thoroughly realistic." The review said the album "unleashes Parton's scorching, vocal quivers with full spice and energy." Noting nine of the album's eleven songs are Parton compositions, the review said the album "reveals the strength and sensitivity discovered in women" as well as Dolly's "dedication to her roots and family pride." The review concluded by saying that the record "brings back home the traditional country elements which originally launched Parton's career, and also represents many of the new directions and realizations which have delivered her to the unlimited realms of superstardom."
In a review for Entertainment Weekly, Alanna Nash said that with this album Dolly "is finally free of the flaunted sexuality and tacky production that marred her past few releases." Although she found fault with "Dreams Do Come True", describing it as "atrocious" and a "musical version of a far too breathless romance," she praised Dolly's performance on "What a Heartache", "Wildest Dreams", and "Family" as "exquisite." She concluded by saying it "seems there’s a new spark in the old Dolly yet."
Michael McCall of AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars. He said the album "confirms that [Dolly has] returned to the country fold." He described the title track as "a powerful female anthem."
Billboard review, March 23, 1991.
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Cashbox review, March 9, 1991.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated April 6, 1991. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 18, its seventh week on the chart. The album charted for 73 weeks. It also peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The album reached number 185 in Australia on the ARIA Albums chart.
The album charted at number 13 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1991, and number 51 on the chart for 1992. It also charted at number 82 on the Billboard 200 year-end chart for 1991.
The album charted at number 13 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1991, and number 51 on the chart for 1992. It also charted at number 82 on the Billboard 200 year-end chart for 1991.
Accolades
Two songs from the album were nominated at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards in 1992. "Rockin' Years" was nominated for Best Country Vocal Collaboration and "Eagle When She Flies" was nominated for Best Country Song. "Rockin' Years" received two nominations at the 1992 CMT Music Awards (known as the TNN/Music City News Country Awards at the time); for Vocal Collaboration of the Year and Video of the Year. "Eagle When She Flies" also received a Songwriter Achievement Award from Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1991.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 2, 1991, for shipment of 500,000 copies. It was certified Platinum on August 4, 1992, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. Music Canada certified the album Gold on November 21, 1991, for shipment of 50,000 copies.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 2, 1991, for shipment of 500,000 copies. It was certified Platinum on August 4, 1992, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. Music Canada certified the album Gold on November 21, 1991, for shipment of 50,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
Additional musicians
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Additional vocalists
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Production
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Other personnel
- David Blair – hair
- Tony Chase – fashion, styling
- Rachel Dennison – makeup
- Gallin-Morey Associates – management
- Bill Johnson – art direction
- Jodi Lynn Miller – design assistance
- Randee St. Nicholas – photography