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45 single, Side A. RCA (PB-12119) (1980)
Image credit: BandBox244 at 45cat.com
"If You Go, I'll Follow You" is a single by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. It was released on October 13, 1980, by RCA Records as the second single from the duo's final collaboration album, Porter & Dolly. It would be Porter and Dolly's final duet single. The song was written by Dolly and Porter. It was produced by Porter Wagoner. The single peaked at number 12 on the Billboard hot Country Songs chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • If You Go, I'll Follow You (Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner) 2:39
Side B
  • Hide Me Away (Dolly Parton) 3:05

Recording

"If You Go, I'll Follow You" was recorded on September 29, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, with overdub sessions taking place on December 3, December 11, and December 14, 1979, at Fireside Studio in Nashville. "Hide Me Away" was recorded on May 24, 1974, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, with overdub sessions on November 23, December 7, and December 14, 1979, at Fireside Studio in Nashville.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the October 25, 1980 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "The harmonies are so true and the sentiments so plain that this pledge of love sweeps across the emotions like an old Appalachian hymn. This is still an awesome duo."

Cashbox did not formally review the single, but included their Hits – Out of the Box section.
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Billboard review, October 25, 1980.

Commercial performance

"If You Go, I'll Follow You" debuted at number 61 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated November 8, 1980. It peaked at number 12 on the chart dated January 10, 1981, its tenth week on the chart, where it remained for an additional week. The single charted for 14 weeks. It also peaked at number eleven on the Cashbox Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the 2014 box set, Just Between You and Me: The Complete Recordings, 1967–1976.
"If You Go, I'll Follow You"
  • Joe Babcock – background vocals
  • George Binkley III – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Sudie Callaway – background vocals (overdub session; December 11, 1979)
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • ​Marvin D. Chantry – viola (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Roy Christensen – cello (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • ​Charles Cochran – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Pete Drake – steel guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass (original session and overdub session; December 3, 1979)
  • Dolores Edgin – background vocals
  • Bob Ferguson – producer (original session)
  • Rita Figlio – background vocals (overdub session; December 11, 1979)
  • Carl Joseph Gorodetzky – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Lennie Height – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Jimmy Isbell – drums (overdub session; December 3, 1979)
  • Dave Kirby – electric guitar
  • Shelly Kurland – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • Dennis Molchan – viola (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • June Page – background vocals
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano, organ
  • Buddy Spicher – fiddle
  • Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young) – rhythm guitar
  • Samuel Terranova – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Buck Trent – electric banjo
  • Gary F. Vanosdale – viola (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Porter Wagoner – lead vocals, producer
  • Stephanie Woolf – violin ​(overdub session; December 14, 1979)​
  • ​Curtis Young – background vocals (overdub session; December 11, 1979)
"Hide Me Away"
  • Stu Basore – steel guitar (original session and overdub session; December 7, 1979)
  • Lea Jane Berinati – background vocals
  • George Binkley III – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Thomas R. Brannon – background vocals
  • ​Marvin D. Chantry – viola (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Roy Christensen – cello (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • ​Charles Cochran – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Jimmy Colvard – electric guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass (original session and overdub session; November 23, 1979)​
  • Bob Ferguson – producer (original session)
  • Carl Joseph Gorodetzky – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Lennie Height – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Jimmy Isbell – drums (overdub session; November 23, 1979)
  • Dave Kirby – electric guitar (overdub session; December 7, 1979)
  • Shelly Kurland – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Larrie Londin – drums
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • Dennis Molchan – viola (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Fred Newell – guitar (overdub session; December 7, 1979)
  • Bruce Osbon – guitar
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Samuel Terranova – violin (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Bobby Thompson – banjo
  • Gary F. Vanosdale – viola (overdub session; December 14, 1979)
  • Sharon Vaughn – background vocals
  • Porter Wagoner – lead vocals, producer
  • Ernest D. West – background vocals
  • Stephanie Woolf – violin ​(overdub session; December 14, 1979)