The Dolly Parton Discography
  • Home
  • Albums
    • Studio albums
    • Extended plays
    • Live albums
    • Soundtrack albums
    • Compilation albums >
      • Notable compilation albums
      • Compilation albums, 1963–1989
      • Compilation albums, 1990–1999
      • Compilation albums, 2000–2009
      • Compilation albums, 2010–present
    • Audiobooks
    • Radio albums
    • Other album appearances >
      • Other album appearances, 1966–1999
      • Other album appearances, 2000–2009
      • Other album appearances, 2010–2019
      • Other album appearances, 2020–present
  • Singles
    • Singles, 1959–1969
    • Singles, 1970–1979
    • Singles, 1980–1989
    • Singles, 1990–1999
    • Singles, 2000–2009
    • Singles, 2010–2019
    • Singles, 2020–present
  • Songs
  • Certifications
  • Owens-Parton Family
    • The Owens-Parton Family Discography
  • About
Picture
45 single, Side A. RCA Victor (47-9657) (1968)
​Image credit: shetler at 45cat.com
"In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on October 14, 1968, by RCA Victor as the single from Dolly's album of the same name. The track was written by Dolly and produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) (Dolly Parton) 2:46
Side B
  • Try Being Lonely (Buck Trent, George McCormick) 2:40

Background

"In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" was written by Dolly about her experiences growing up in Appalachia. She recalls living in cold houses where the snow would come in through cracks in the walls and her parents working hard to provide for their children. She credits her poor upbringing with the inspiration to write many of her songs, but while she is thankful for the experience, she wouldn't want to go back and re-live those days.

Recording

"In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" was recorded on September 9, 1968, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. "Try Being Lonely" was recorded on December 20, 1967, and had previously been released on Dolly's first RCA album, Just Because I'm a Woman.

Dolly re-recorded "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" for her 1973 studio album, My Tennessee Mountain Home.

Audio


Critical reception

Billboard reviewed the single in the October 26, 1968 issue. The review said that Dolly "has a sure-fire sales winner in this well-thought out message rhythm ballad."

The review in the October 26, 1968 issue of Cashbox said, "Dolly Parton...should have a real winner on her hands with "In the Good Old Days", which she wrote herself." The review described the track as "an ironic, effective ditty about a poverty-stricken youth."
Picture
Billboard review, October 26, 1968.
Picture
Cashbox review, October 26, 1968.

Commercial performance

"In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" debuted at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated November 16, 1968. It peaked at number 25 on the chart dated December 21, its sixth week on the chart. It charted for 11 weeks. It also peaked at number 30 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the 2009 box set, Dolly, and the 2003 CD reissue of Just Because I'm a Woman.
"In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)"
  • Joe Babcock – background vocals
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • Dolores Edgin – background vocals
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • Lloyd Green – steel guitar
  • Roy Huskey Jr. – bass
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • George McCormick – rhythm guitar
  • Wayne Moss – electric guitar
  • June Page – background vocals
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young) – rhythm guitar
  • Buck Trent – electric banjo
"Try Being Lonely"
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • Anita Carter – background vocals
  • Dolores Edgin – background vocals
  • 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
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young) – rhythm guitar
  • Buck Trent – electric banjo

← Previous
Next →
This is a non-profit, unofficial fansite.​
​All album covers and photos are copyrighted to their respective owners and are reproduced here in a sufficient resolution for commentary and identification, but lower resolution than the original image, and are intended for educational purposes only. Their use here is believed to qualify as fair use under the copyright law of the United States.
All original text and content is © The Dolly Parton 
Discography.
​All rights reserved.

This website is not affiliated with Dolly Parton.
​​Privacy Policy​ • Cookie Policy
  • Home
  • Albums
    • Studio albums
    • Extended plays
    • Live albums
    • Soundtrack albums
    • Compilation albums >
      • Notable compilation albums
      • Compilation albums, 1963–1989
      • Compilation albums, 1990–1999
      • Compilation albums, 2000–2009
      • Compilation albums, 2010–present
    • Audiobooks
    • Radio albums
    • Other album appearances >
      • Other album appearances, 1966–1999
      • Other album appearances, 2000–2009
      • Other album appearances, 2010–2019
      • Other album appearances, 2020–present
  • Singles
    • Singles, 1959–1969
    • Singles, 1970–1979
    • Singles, 1980–1989
    • Singles, 1990–1999
    • Singles, 2000–2009
    • Singles, 2010–2019
    • Singles, 2020–present
  • Songs
  • Certifications
  • Owens-Parton Family
    • The Owens-Parton Family Discography
  • About