Album cover. Columbia (CK 53414) (1993)
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Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn
Honky Tonk Angels Columbia (CK 53414) November 2, 1993
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Background
The album had been a long-rumored project between the country singers for over a decade. It was mostly Dolly's idea to bring together the women who made their musical breakthroughs in the 1960s. These were also the women who changed the texture of the music by weaving strands of modern life into the traditional country patterns they grew up with and helped enlarge the audience for country music. Once Dolly talked the others into doing the project – an easy argument, by all accounts – she asked Steve Buckingham to co-produce the record with her.
Recording
The album was recorded at three studios in Nashville, Tennessee; Nightingale Studio, Masterfonics, and The Doghouse.
Content
The album features many country standards, including "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" (which features a guest appearance by the song's originator and original country queen, Kitty Wells), "Wings of a Dove" (a 1960 hit for Ferlin Husky), "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" (a 1953 hit for the Davis Sisters), "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" (a 1966 Bill Phillips hit that was Dolly's first success as a songwriter), "Lovesick Blues" (a pop standard known for Hank Williams' 1949 rendition; here the trio sings along with a vintage recording of the song by Patsy Cline), and "I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven", Tex Ritter's 1962 classic that features new spoken dialogue written by Dolly.
The original compositions by Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette are solo performances by each of them with harmony vocals by Dolly and "Sittin' on the Front Porch Swing" is a Dolly solo. The album features liner notes written by Ralph Emery.
Dolly previously recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" for the 1963 compilation, Hits Made Famous by Country Queens.
Bill Phillips recorded a version of "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" featuring uncredited harmony vocals by Dolly for his 1966 album. Dolly included a solo version on her 1967 album, Hello, I'm Dolly. That version of the song would be overdubbed with new instrumentation and vocals from Kris Kristofferson for the 1982 compilation album, The Winning Hand. Dolly also recorded a duet version with Porter Wagoner for their 1968 album, Just Between You and Me. Dolly recorded an alternate version titled "I'll Put It Off Until Tomorrow" from the perspective of the person leaving the relationship. It was included as the B-side of "The Little Things" in 1966.
The original compositions by Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette are solo performances by each of them with harmony vocals by Dolly and "Sittin' on the Front Porch Swing" is a Dolly solo. The album features liner notes written by Ralph Emery.
Dolly previously recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" for the 1963 compilation, Hits Made Famous by Country Queens.
Bill Phillips recorded a version of "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" featuring uncredited harmony vocals by Dolly for his 1966 album. Dolly included a solo version on her 1967 album, Hello, I'm Dolly. That version of the song would be overdubbed with new instrumentation and vocals from Kris Kristofferson for the 1982 compilation album, The Winning Hand. Dolly also recorded a duet version with Porter Wagoner for their 1968 album, Just Between You and Me. Dolly recorded an alternate version titled "I'll Put It Off Until Tomorrow" from the perspective of the person leaving the relationship. It was included as the B-side of "The Little Things" in 1966.
Release and promotion
The album was released November 2, 1993, on CD and cassette.
Singles
The album's single, "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", was released on November 8, 1993. It debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 25, 1993. It peaked at number 68 on the chart dated January 15, 1994. These were the only two weeks the single charted. A music video directed by Deaton Flanigen was released to accompany the single.
Critical reception
The review published in the November 27, 1993 issue of Billboard said that the album is "a spirited collaboration that brings together three country music cornerstones and throws in a pinch of Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells for good measure." The review went on to say, "There are a few musically inspired moments here, notably Parton's "Sittin' on the Front Porch Swing" and Wynette's "That's the Way It Could Have Been". But, for the most part, this is more of a nostalgic look back than a celebration of present–day glories."
Alanna Nash gave the album a B rating in her review for Entrainment Weekly. She described Dolly, Loretta, and Tammy's voices as "creating a choir of angels from the voices that defined the third generation of female country singers." She said that "nearly everything about this album, including its production, has a '50s and '60s feel to it."
Kelly McCartney of AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying that "for fans of traditional country or great singers, this is a fun listen because it nicely captures three of the best voices around."
Alanna Nash gave the album a B rating in her review for Entrainment Weekly. She described Dolly, Loretta, and Tammy's voices as "creating a choir of angels from the voices that defined the third generation of female country singers." She said that "nearly everything about this album, including its production, has a '50s and '60s feel to it."
Kelly McCartney of AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying that "for fans of traditional country or great singers, this is a fun listen because it nicely captures three of the best voices around."
Billboard review. November 27, 1993.
Commercial performance
The album debuted and peaked at number six on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated November 20, 1993 and charted for a total of 24 weeks. It also debuted and peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart dated November 20 and spent 16 weeks on the chart. In Canada, the album peaked at number six on the RPM Country Albums chart and number 44 on the RPM Top Albums chart. The album peaked at number 177 in Australia.
Accolades
The album and its single were nominated for several awards. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1994 CMT Awards (known as the TNN/Music City News Country Awards at the time) and "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" was nominated for Vocal Collaboration of the Year. "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" also received a nomination at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995 for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 4, 1993, for shipment of 500,000 copies. It was certified Gold by Music Canada on April 11, 1994, for sales of 50,000 copies.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 4, 1993, for shipment of 500,000 copies. It was certified Gold by Music Canada on April 11, 1994, for sales of 50,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
- Steve Buckingham – liner notes
- Ralph Emery – liner notes
- Bill Johnson – art direction, design
- Beth Kindig – art assistance
- Rollow Welch – art direction, design
- Bruce Wolfe – cover painting
Releases
FORMAT / TITLE / LABEL & CATALOG # / REGION / RELEASE DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)
- CD / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia CK 53414 / US / 11-02-1993
- CD / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia / CCK 53414 / Canada / 11-02-1993
- Cassette / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia CT 53414 / US & Canada / 11-02-1993
- Cassette / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia ACC 53414 / US / 1993 (promo)
- Minidisc / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia CM 53414 / US / 11-02-1993
- CD / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia 474626 2 / Australia & Europe / 1993
- Cassette / Honky Tonk Angels / Columbia 474626 4 / Australia & Europe / 1993
- LP / Honky Tonk Angels / ZMC; Columbia LP 53414 / Zimbabwe / 1993
- 5xCD / Original Album Classics (Rainbow • White Limozeen • Eagle When She Flies • Honky Tonk Angels • Something Special) / Columbia; Sony; Legacy 88697928832 / Europe / 08-09-2011
- Digital download / Honky Tonk Angels / Sony Music Entertainment / Various / Unknown
- Streaming / Honky Tonk Angels / Sony Music Entertainment / Various / Unknown