Album cover. RCA Victor (AHL1-3361) (1979)
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Great Balls of Fire is the twenty-first solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on May 28, 1979, by RCA Victor. The album was co-produced by Dean Parks and Gregg Perry, with Dolly and Charles Koppelman serving as executive producers. Like her previous two pop albums, Dolly chose to record the project in Los Angeles. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 40 on the all-genre Billboard 200. "You're the Only One" and "Sweet Summer Lovin'" peaked at number one and number seven, respectively, on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Star of the Show" was issued as a single in Australia and peaked at number 99 on the Kent Music Report. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
Side A
- Star of the Show (Dolly Parton) 3:56
- Down (Dolly Parton) 3:35
- You're the Only One (Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts) 3:23
- Help! (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) 2:45
- Do You Think That Time Stands Still (Dolly Parton)
- Sweet Summer Lovin' (Blaise Tosti) 3:56
- Great Balls of Fire (Otis Blackwell, Jack Hammer) 3:17
- Almost in Love (Dean Parks, Doug Thiele) 3:15
- It's Not My Affair Anymore (Jeanne French) 3:17
- Sandy's Song (Dolly Parton) 3:17
Recording
The album was recorded in December 1978 at Sound Labs Studio, A&M Recording Studio, and Salty Dog Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Release and promotion
The album was released May 28, 1979, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.
Singles
The album's first single, "You're the Only One", was released on May 14, 1979. It debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 9. It peaked at number one on the chart dated July 28, its eighth week on the chart, where it remained for a second week. It charted for 14 weeks. It also peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 68 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The song was a hit in Canada as well, peaking at number one on both the RPM Country Singles chart and the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at number 63 on the RPM Top Singles chart. The single peaked at number 33 in Australia on the Kent Music Report. A promotional video was filmed for the track featuring Dolly performing the song in a white dress against a hazy gray backdrop.
The second and third singles, "Great Balls of Fire" and "Sweet Summer Lovin'", were released as a double A-side on August 6, 1979. "Great Balls of Fire" was aimed at pop radio and failed to chart on its own. Its only chart appearance was on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it charted as the flip-side of "Sweet Summer Lovin". "Sweet Summer Lovin'" was released to country radio and debuted at number 46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated September 1. It peaked at number seven on the chart dated October 27, its ninth week on the chart, It charted for 13 weeks. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" also peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number nine on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. It was a hit in Canada as well, peaking at number six on the RPM Country Singles chart and number eight on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. Promotional videos were filmed for both tracks. "Great Balls of Fire" features Dolly performing the song in a white dress against a black backdrop with purple and pink lights surrounding her. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" shows Dolly performing in a peach colored dress while sitting in a gazebo.
The fourth single, "Star of the Show", was released in December 1979 in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. It peaked at number 99 in Australia on the Kent Music Report. A promotional video was filmed for the track featuring Dolly performing in a blue dress against a black backdrop with multi-colored lights flashing behind her.
Additional promotional videos were also filmed for "Help!" and "Down". The video for "Help" features three different shots of Dolly performing the song side by side, while "Down" depicts Dolly performing the song in a white dress against a gray backdrop surrounded by pink flowers.
The second and third singles, "Great Balls of Fire" and "Sweet Summer Lovin'", were released as a double A-side on August 6, 1979. "Great Balls of Fire" was aimed at pop radio and failed to chart on its own. Its only chart appearance was on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it charted as the flip-side of "Sweet Summer Lovin". "Sweet Summer Lovin'" was released to country radio and debuted at number 46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated September 1. It peaked at number seven on the chart dated October 27, its ninth week on the chart, It charted for 13 weeks. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" also peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number nine on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. It was a hit in Canada as well, peaking at number six on the RPM Country Singles chart and number eight on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. Promotional videos were filmed for both tracks. "Great Balls of Fire" features Dolly performing the song in a white dress against a black backdrop with purple and pink lights surrounding her. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" shows Dolly performing in a peach colored dress while sitting in a gazebo.
The fourth single, "Star of the Show", was released in December 1979 in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. It peaked at number 99 in Australia on the Kent Music Report. A promotional video was filmed for the track featuring Dolly performing in a blue dress against a black backdrop with multi-colored lights flashing behind her.
Additional promotional videos were also filmed for "Help!" and "Down". The video for "Help" features three different shots of Dolly performing the song side by side, while "Down" depicts Dolly performing the song in a white dress against a gray backdrop surrounded by pink flowers.
Critical reception
The album received a positive review from Billboard, which said that "Parton has now firmly established herself in the pop field and reinforces her universal appeal with a collection of songs that showcase her versatility." They added that Dolly's "sweet vocals" were aided by "a conglomeration of stellar players" that give the music a "needed punch." The review named "You're the Only One", "Help!", "Star of the Show", and "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" as the best cuts on the album and noted that the album's "attractive packag[ing] is a sales stimulant."
Cashbox also gave a positive review of the album, saying that "Dolly proves how evocative she is on her latest RCA release." The review went on to say that Dolly "lends her feathery voice to some thought-provoking love ballads, good time country numbers, streamlined rockers, and even throws in a dancin' number." The review concluded by saying that the "countrified version" of "Help!" and "knockout ballad" "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" are the standout cuts on the album.
Writing for AllMusic, Mark Deming gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars. He felt that "considering how well (and how sympathetically) Parton produced herself on her last few pre-crossover efforts...Dean Parks and Gregg Perry's studio settings [are] a bit disconcerting," but "they thankfully seem aware at all times who is in the spotlight, and Dolly, professional that she is, rises to the challenge on all ten tracks." He also noted that there are only four Parton compositions on the album and said that "it seems ironic that the most purely country cut on the LP is a cover of the Beatles' "Help!," which is given a sprightly neo-bluegrass arrangement."
Cashbox also gave a positive review of the album, saying that "Dolly proves how evocative she is on her latest RCA release." The review went on to say that Dolly "lends her feathery voice to some thought-provoking love ballads, good time country numbers, streamlined rockers, and even throws in a dancin' number." The review concluded by saying that the "countrified version" of "Help!" and "knockout ballad" "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" are the standout cuts on the album.
Writing for AllMusic, Mark Deming gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars. He felt that "considering how well (and how sympathetically) Parton produced herself on her last few pre-crossover efforts...Dean Parks and Gregg Perry's studio settings [are] a bit disconcerting," but "they thankfully seem aware at all times who is in the spotlight, and Dolly, professional that she is, rises to the challenge on all ten tracks." He also noted that there are only four Parton compositions on the album and said that "it seems ironic that the most purely country cut on the LP is a cover of the Beatles' "Help!," which is given a sprightly neo-bluegrass arrangement."
Billboard review, June 9, 1979.
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Cashbox review, June 9, 1979.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated June 23, 1979. It would peak at number four on the chart dated July 28, its sixth week on the chart, where it would remain for five non-consecutive weeks. The album charted for a total of 26 weeks. It also peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200. In Canada, the album peaked at number one on the RPM Country Albums chart and number 28 on the RPM Top Albums chart. The album also peaked at number 48 in Australia on the Kent Music Report.
The album charted at number 34 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1979.
The album charted at number 34 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1979.
Accolades
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 13, 1979, for shipment of 500,000 copies.
"You're the Only One" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in 1980.
"You're the Only One" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in 1980.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
- Distorted Reflections – album cover costume
- Ed Caraeff Studio – art direction, photography, design