Picture
45 single, Side A. RCA Victor (74-0192) (1969)
Image credit: gamrhein at 45cat.com
"In the Ghetto" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on June 23, 1969, by RCA Victor as the second single from her fourth solo studio album, My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy. The song was written by singer-songwriter Mac Davis and first recorded by Elvis Presley. At the time Dolly recorded the song and RCA released it just 21 days later, Presley's version was high on the charts. Dolly's Bob Ferguson produced version of the song peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • In the Ghetto (Mac Davis) 2:46
Side B
  • The Bridge (Dolly Parton) 2:32

Recording

"In the Ghetto" was recorded on June 2, 1969, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. The flip side of the single contains "The Bridge", a Dolly composition from her first RCA album, Just Because I'm a Woman. It was recorded at RCA Studio B on December 20, 1967.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the July 5, 1969 issue of Billboard. It said, "Although climbing the chart via the Presley version, this poignant material delivered in the fine Parton style has all the ingredients to spiral her high on the country chart."
Picture
Billboard review, July 5, 1969.

Commercial performance

"In the Ghetto" debuted at number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated July 26, 1969. It peaked at number 50 on the chart dated September 6, its seventh chart week. The single charted for eight weeks. It also peaked at number 37 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number 12 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the single labels and the 2009 box set, Dolly ("The Bridge").
  • David Briggs – piano
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • ​Lloyd Green – steel guitar
  • Roy Huskey Jr. – bass
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • George McCormick – rhythm guitar
  • Wayne Moss – electric guitar
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young) – rhythm guitar
  • Buck Trent – electric banjo

Alternate artwork

Picture
Spain 45 single, picture sleeve. RCA Victor (3-10443) (1969)
Image credit: grevebie at 45cat.com.