Album cover. RCA Victor (APL1-0473) (1974)
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Dolly Parton
Jolene RCA Victor (APL1-0473) February 4, 1974 Side A
*Previously released on the 1972 album My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner. |
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2007 CD reissue bonus tracks
11. Cracker Jack* (Dolly Parton) 3:17 12. Another Woman's Man* (Dolly Parton) 3:01 13. Barbara on Your Mind* (Dolly Parton) 3;14 14. Last Night's Lovin'* (Dolly Parton) 2:28 |
*Previously unreleased.
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Recording
Recording sessions for the album began on June 12, 1973, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. This session yielded only one track, "I Will Always Love You". The remaining four songs recorded at this session were rejected. "Highlight of My Life" was recorded at a December 3, 1973 session. One additional session followed on December 26, which resulted in five of the album's ten tracks. Three of the album's tracks had been held over from previous sessions. "It Must Be You" was recorded during a January 12, 1972 session for the 1972 album Touch Your Woman. "Lonely Comin' Down" was recorded on May 3, 1972, and had been previously released on the 1972 album My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner. "Jolene", the album's title track, was recorded during the same May 22, 1973 session that yielded the title track of Dolly's previous solo album Bubbling Over.
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January 12, 1972
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December 3, 1973
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Content
Th album's title track tells the tale of Dolly confronting Jolene, a stunningly beautiful woman, who she worries will steal away her husband. Throughout the song, Dolly implores Jolene, "please don't take him just because you can." Dolly wrote "I Will Always Love You" as a farewell to her former business partner and mentor of seven years, Porter Wagoner, following her decision to leave The Porter Wagoner Show and pursue a solo career. The version "Lonely Comin' Down" included on this album is the same recording that had been released two years earlier on the 1972 album My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner. "Early Morning Breeze" is a re-recording of a song that had previously been released on the 1971 album Coat of Many Colors.
Release and promotion
The album was released February 4, 1974, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.
Singles
"Jolene" was released as the album's first single on October 15, 1973. The single debuted at number 98 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated November 3, 1973. It peaked at number one on the chart dated February 2, 2974, its fourteenth week on the chart. The single charted for 19 weeks. It also peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 44 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The single was also successful internationally. It peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart, number 84 on the RPM Singles chart, and number 40 on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart and number 99 in Australia on the Kent Music Report. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 25, 2017. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on March 29, 2019.
The second single, "I Will Always Love You", was released on March 11, 1974. It debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated April 6. It peaked at number one on the chart dated June 8, its tenth week on the chart. It charted for 15 weeks. The single also peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 25, 2017.
The second single, "I Will Always Love You", was released on March 11, 1974. It debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated April 6. It peaked at number one on the chart dated June 8, its tenth week on the chart. It charted for 15 weeks. The single also peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 25, 2017.
Critical reception
A positive review of the album by Billboard said, "With the title taken from her latest hit single, Dolly goes about recording a whole bunch of others—hits, that is. There are perhaps five or six here which could stand on their own, including the exceptional ballad, "Lonely Comin' Down". Most of the writing is her own, as usual, and that's always a plus."
Ronnie D. Lankford Jr. of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars. He called the album both "absorbing musically" and "problematic lyrically." He criticizes Dolly's female protagonists in her songs "Jolene" and "When Someone Wants to Leave" as "downright pitiful." Overall though, he felt that the album is "a fascinating snapshot of an era in transition, and captures Parton at the top of her game."
Ronnie D. Lankford Jr. of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars. He called the album both "absorbing musically" and "problematic lyrically." He criticizes Dolly's female protagonists in her songs "Jolene" and "When Someone Wants to Leave" as "downright pitiful." Overall though, he felt that the album is "a fascinating snapshot of an era in transition, and captures Parton at the top of her game."
Billboard review, February 16, 1974.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated March 9, 1974. It peaked at number six on the chart dated April 20. It charted for 23 weeks. The album charted at number 35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1974.
Accolades
The album's single, "Jolene", was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards.
"I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 and "Jolene" followed in 2014.
"I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 and "Jolene" followed in 2014.
Personnel
Adapted from the 2007 CD reissue liner notes.
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Reissues
The album was reissued on CD in 1999 by Buddha Records. It was reissued on CD again in 2007 featuring four previously unreleased tracks. In 2010, Sony Music reissued the 2007 CD in a triple-feature set with 1971's Coat of Many Colors and 1973's My Tennessee Mountain Home.