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45 single, Side A. RCA Victor (PB-10652) (1976)
Image credit: 45stalker at 45cat.com
"Is Forever Longer Than Always" is a single by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. It was released on April 26, 1976, by RCA Victor. It would be Porter and Dolly's final single until "Making Plans" in 1980. The song was written by Porter and Frank Dycus. Porter also produced and arranged the track. The single peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • Is Forever Longer Than Always (Porter Wagoner, Frank Dycus) 2:30
Side B
  • ​If You Say I Can (Dolly Parton) 2:23

Recording

"Is Forever Longer Than Always" was recorded on April 15, 1975, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. "If You Say I Can" was recorded on December 5, 1973, during a solo Dolly session. Porter added his vocals on May 24, 1974. An overdubbed version would be included on the 1980 album, Porter & Dolly. The original, undubbed version would not be available outside of this single until the release of the 2014 box set, Just Between You and Me: The Complete Recoding, 1967–1976.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the May 8, 1976 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "The time-proven duet scores with another strong love ballad. Porter's steady production on the song he co-wrote, and Dolly's sensitive singing, mold this effort into a natural chart item."

Cashbox also reviewed the single in the May 8, 1976 issue. They said, "Porter and Dolly are together again in a tender love ballad which was produced, arranged, and co-written by Porter. Their first duet since August of 1975, it should see good chart action."
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Billboard review, May 8, 1976.
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Cashbox review, May 8, 1976.

Commercial performance

"Is Forever Longer Than Always" debuted at number 79 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated May 15, 1976. It peaked at number eight on the chart dated July 24, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 14 weeks. The single also peaked at number nine 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.
"Is Forever Longer Than Always"
  • Stu Basore – steel guitar
  • Lea Jane Berinati – background vocals
  • Thomas Brannon – background vocals
  • Jimmy Colvard – electric guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass
  • Janie Fricke – background vocals
  • Dave Kirby – electric guitar
  • Larrie Londin – drums
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • Bruce Osbon – guitar
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals, producer (uncredited on label)
  • ​Sharon Vaughn – background vocals
  • Porter Wagoner – lead vocals, producer
  • Ernest West – background vocals
  • Jerry Whitehurst – piano
"If You Say I Can"
  • Stu Basore – steel guitar
  • Jimmy Colvard – electric guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • Johnny Gimble – fiddle
  • Dave Kirby – electric guitar
  • Larrie Londin – drums
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals, producer (uncredited on label)
  • Bobby Thompson – rhythm guitar, banjo
  • Buck Trent – electric banjo
  • Porter Wagoner – lead vocals, producer
  • Jerry Whitehurst – piano