Picture
Album cover. Somerset (SF-19700) (1963)
Hits Made Famous by Country Queens is a compilation album by Faye Tucker and Dolly Parton. It was released on April 13, 1963, by budget labels Somerset Records and Stereo-Fidelity. The record features Faye Tucker on side one singing four selections made famous by Patsy Cline, plus one original song. Side two features Dolly singing three selections made famous by Kitty Wells, two traditional ballads, and one original song. Dolly's tracks from this album have been re-released many times by many different low budget record labels over the years. 

Dolly would go on to re-record three songs featured on this album. "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" was re-recorded with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette for their 1993 collaborative studio album, Honky Tonk Angels; "Release Me" was re-recorded in 1982 for the Heartbreak Express album; and "Letter to Heaven" was re-recorded for her 1971 album, Joshua.

Track listing

Side 1: Faye Tucker Sings Hit Songs Made Famous by Patsy Cline
  1. Crazy (Willie Nelson) 2:39
  2. I Fall to Pieces (Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard) 2:45
  3. Bill Bailey, Please Come Home (arr. by David Kleiber) 2:47
  4. Walkin’ After Midnight (Don Hecht, Alan Block) 2:33
  5. Since You Went Away (Don Falls) 2:54
Side 2: Dolly Parton Sings Hit Songs Made Famous by Kitty Wells
  1. It Wasn’t Got Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (J.D. Miller) 2:26
  2. Making Believe (Jimmy Work) 2:40
  3. Letter to Heaven (Dolly Parton, arr. by David Kleiber) 2:39
  4. Release Me (Eddie Miller, Dub Williams, Robert Yount) 2:14
  5. Two Little Orphans (arr. by David Kleiber) 2:43
  6. Little Blossom (arr. by David Kleiber) 2:51

Background

After "It's Sure Gonna Hurt", her single for Mercury Records, failed to chart, Dolly had returned home to finish school. During this time she heard about these cheaply made tribute albums or "supermarket LPs" that unknown artists were recording of other people's songs. Because her voice was nasally, the label suggested she record Kitty Wells songs. Dolly said she was paid $200 or $300 for recording the six tracks and that the session lasted about an hour to an hour and a half. She remembered in her Songteller book that she used the money to go to Key West, Florida, with her aunt. She went on to say that the recordings on this album have gone on forever and she doesn't think they are good. She said, "They are terrible, actually. They're awful. I hate the way I sound on them. But I do love Kitty Wells, and I love those songs. And those are the stepping-stones to a bigger career."

Releases

FORMAT / TITLE / LABEL & CATALOG # / REGION / RELEASE DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)
  • LP / Hits Made Famous by Country Queens / Somerset; Stereo-Fidelity (SF-19700) (stereo) / US / 04-13-1963
  • LP / Hits Made Famous by Country Queens / Somerset; Stereo-Fidelity (P-19700) (mono) / US / 04-13-1963
  • LP / Hits Made Famous by Country Queens / Somerset; Stereo-Fidelity (S197) (stereo) / Canada / 04-13-1963
  • LP / Hits Made Famous by Country Queens / Somerset (S197) (mono) / Canada / 04-13-1963
  • Digital Download / Hits Made Famous by Country Queens / Countdown Media GmbH; BMG / Various / 05-11-2018
  • Streaming / Hits Made Famous by Country Queens / Countdown Media GmbH; BMG / Various / 05-11-2018