Album cover. RCA Victor (APL1-0473) (1974)
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Jolene is the thirteenth solo studio album Dolly Parton. It was released on February 4, 1974, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Both of the album's singles, "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You", peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Jolene" was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards. "Jolene" has been certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, while "I Will Always Love You" has reached Platinum status. Both songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA.
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Track listing
Side A
* Previously released on the 1972 album, My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner.
- Jolene (Dolly Parton) 2:38
- When Someone Wants to Leave (Dolly Parton) 2:04
- River of Happiness (Dolly Parton) 2:17
- Early Morning Breeze (Dolly Parton) 2:45
- Highlight of My Life (Dolly Parton) 2:16
- I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton) 2:53
- Randy (Dolly Parton) 1:53
- Living on Memories of You (Dolly Parton) 2:42
- Lonely Comin' Down* (Porter Wagoner) 3:11
- It Must Be You (Blaise Tosti) 1:48
* Previously released on the 1972 album, My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner.
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.
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.
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
The title track of the album tells the story of Dolly confronting Jolene, a stunningly beautiful woman whom she worries might steal her husband. Throughout the song, Dolly pleads with Jolene, saying, "please don't take him just because you can." Furthermore, Dolly wrote "I Will Always Love You" as a heartfelt goodbye to Porter Wagoner, her former mentor and business partner, after deciding to leave The Porter Wagoner Show to pursue a solo career. The version of "Lonely Comin' Down" included on this album is the same recording that had been released two years earlier on Dolly's 1972 album, My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner. "Early Morning Breeze" is a re-recording of a song that had previously been released on Dolly's 1971 album, Coat of Many Colors.
Dolly has re-recorded "Jolene" several times. She re-recorded it for her 1995 album, Something Special. Dolly provided harmony vocals on Mindy Smith's 2004 version for her One Moment More album. She recorded it as a duet for Mary Sarah's 2014 album, Bridges, Straight No Chaser featured Dolly on their 2014 acapella version on their Under the Influence album. Pentatonix also recorded an acapella version featuring Dolly for their 2017 extended play, PTX, Vol. IV: Classics. Dolly recorded a "New String Version" for the Dumplin' soundtrack album in 2018.
Dolly has also re-recorded "I Will Always Love You" numerous times over the years. The first was for the 1982 soundtrack of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She revisited the song again for her 1995 album, Something Special, this time as a duet with Vince Gill. She was a featured vocalist on Jerry D's saxophone cover of the song for his 2005 album, Sax in the Country. She recorded a new solo version for inclusion on the 2007 UK compilation, Singer, Songwriter & Legendary Performer. Stephanie J. Block recorded a cover of the song featuring Dolly for her 2009 album, This Place I Know. Erinn Abu (formerly known as Jerry D) released two slightly different instrumental versions featuring Dolly on his 2011 albums, Forever in Love and A New Creation (both feature the same vocal take from Dolly that was recorded for his 2005 album). Dolly joined Lulu Roman on the song for her 2013 album, At Last. Michael Bolton recorded the song for his 2017 album, Songs of Cinema, and featured Dolly on his version. Kristen Chenoweth recorded a duet of the song with Dolly for her 2017 album, For the Girls.
Dolly re-recorded "River of Happiness" for the 2007 compilation album, I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs of Faith, and "Early Morning Breeze" as a bonus track for her 2014 album, Blue Smoke.
Dolly has re-recorded "Jolene" several times. She re-recorded it for her 1995 album, Something Special. Dolly provided harmony vocals on Mindy Smith's 2004 version for her One Moment More album. She recorded it as a duet for Mary Sarah's 2014 album, Bridges, Straight No Chaser featured Dolly on their 2014 acapella version on their Under the Influence album. Pentatonix also recorded an acapella version featuring Dolly for their 2017 extended play, PTX, Vol. IV: Classics. Dolly recorded a "New String Version" for the Dumplin' soundtrack album in 2018.
Dolly has also re-recorded "I Will Always Love You" numerous times over the years. The first was for the 1982 soundtrack of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She revisited the song again for her 1995 album, Something Special, this time as a duet with Vince Gill. She was a featured vocalist on Jerry D's saxophone cover of the song for his 2005 album, Sax in the Country. She recorded a new solo version for inclusion on the 2007 UK compilation, Singer, Songwriter & Legendary Performer. Stephanie J. Block recorded a cover of the song featuring Dolly for her 2009 album, This Place I Know. Erinn Abu (formerly known as Jerry D) released two slightly different instrumental versions featuring Dolly on his 2011 albums, Forever in Love and A New Creation (both feature the same vocal take from Dolly that was recorded for his 2005 album). Dolly joined Lulu Roman on the song for her 2013 album, At Last. Michael Bolton recorded the song for his 2017 album, Songs of Cinema, and featured Dolly on his version. Kristen Chenoweth recorded a duet of the song with Dolly for her 2017 album, For the Girls.
Dolly re-recorded "River of Happiness" for the 2007 compilation album, I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs of Faith, and "Early Morning Breeze" as a bonus track for her 2014 album, Blue Smoke.
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. It also peaked at number one on both the Cashbox Country Singles chart and the all-genre Cashbox Top 100 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 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. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
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. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
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.
The album charted at number 35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1974.
Accolades
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 24, 2023, for 500,000 certified units.
The album's single, "Jolene", was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975. It received the Country Award and the Pop Award/Million-Air Award, for over one million broadcast performances, from BMI in 1974. It received an additional Million-Air Award in 2020 for over three million broadcast performances. "Jolene" also received a Songwriter Achievement Award from Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1974 and 1975. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
"Jolene" has received several sales certifications around the world. The single was certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 24, 2023, for 3,000,000 certified units. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on March 29, 2019, for sales of 600,000 copies. It was certified Gold by IFPI Danmark on May 4, 2021, for sales of 45,000 copies.
"I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. It received the Country Award from BMI in 1975 and a Million-Air Award in 2020 for over ten million broadcast performances. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on October 29, 2021, for 1,000,000 certified units. It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry on December 25, 2020, for sales of 200,000 copies.
The album's single, "Jolene", was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975. It received the Country Award and the Pop Award/Million-Air Award, for over one million broadcast performances, from BMI in 1974. It received an additional Million-Air Award in 2020 for over three million broadcast performances. "Jolene" also received a Songwriter Achievement Award from Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1974 and 1975. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
"Jolene" has received several sales certifications around the world. The single was certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 24, 2023, for 3,000,000 certified units. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on March 29, 2019, for sales of 600,000 copies. It was certified Gold by IFPI Danmark on May 4, 2021, for sales of 45,000 copies.
"I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. It received the Country Award from BMI in 1975 and a Million-Air Award in 2020 for over ten million broadcast performances. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on October 29, 2021, for 1,000,000 certified units. It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry on December 25, 2020, for sales of 200,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes and the 2007 CD reissue.
Original album
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2007 CD reissue bonus tracks
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