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Album cover. RCA Victor (LSP-4507) (1971)
Joshua is the seventh solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on April 12, 1971, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 198 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album's title track was the only single released and it was Dolly's first to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The single ​was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards

Track listing

Side 1
  1. Joshua (Dolly Parton) 2:59
  2. The Last One to Touch Me (Dolly Parton) 2:59
  3. Walls of My Mind (Dolly Parton) 2:31
  4. It Ain't Fair That It Ain't Right (Janice Eggers, Bob Eggers) 2:17
  5. J.J. Sneed (Dolly Parton, Dorothy Jo Hope) 2:50
Side 2
  1. You Can't Reach Me Anymore (Dolly Parton, Dorothy Jo Hope) 2:38
  2. Daddy's Moonshine Still (Dolly Parton) 3:28
  3. Chicken Every Sunday (Charlie Craig, Betty Craig) 2:35
  4. The Fire's Still Burning (Dolly Parton, Dorothy Jo Hope) 2:48
  5. Letter to Heaven (arr. by Dolly Parton) 2:24

Recording

Recording sessions for the album began at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 20, 1970. Three additional sessions followed on October 21, 1970, January 26, and February 11, 1971. "Walls of My Mind", "You Can't Reach Me Anymore", and "The Fire's Still Burning" were recorded during the October 31, 1969 session for 1970's The Fairest of Them All.
October 31, 1969
  • ​The Fire's Still Burning
  • Can't Reach Me Anymore
  • Walls of My Mind
April 20, 1970
  • It Ain't Fair That It Ain't Right
October 21, 1970
  • Joshua
  • Chicken Every Sunday
​January 26, 1971
  • Daddy's Moonshine Still
  • Letter to Heaven
  • J.J. Sneed
February 11, 1971
  • The Last One to Touch Me

Release and promotion

​​The album was released April 12, 1971, on LP and 8-track.

Singles

The album's single, "Joshua", was released on November 9, 1970, and debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 12, 1970. It would become Dolly's first song to top the chart when it peaked at number one on the chart dated February 6, 1971, its ninth week on the chart. The single charted for 15 weeks. It peaked at number 108 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. The single also peaked at number two on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. It peaked at number two in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Critical reception

The review published in the April 24, 1971 issue of Billboard said, "Dolly Parton took "Joshua" right to the top of the country singles chart, and she should now take him right to the top of the LP chart as well, with this exceptional album followup. Most of the tunes are originals, and there are many standouts, among them "You Can't Reach Me Anymore", "The Last One to Touch Me", and "Chicken Every Sunday"."

The April 10, 1971 issue of Cashbox featured a review that said, "Dolly Parton's "Joshua" has to be one of the all-time best country records ever recorded. Now the title tune of her latest album, it enables those who missed it the first time around to hear it along with nine other fine selections. Always a best seller, this LP containing "The Last One to Touch Me", "Walls of My Mind", "Chicken Every Sunday", "Letter to Heaven", and "J.J. Sneed", which are outstanding tracks, is sure to top the charts shortly."

AllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Billboard review, April 24, 1971.
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Cashbox review, April 10, 1971.

Commercial performance

​The album debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated May 1, 1971. It peaked at number 16 on the chart dated May 22, its fourth week on the chart. The album charted for 12 weeks. It also peaked at number 198 on the Billboard 200 chart and at number 24 in Canada on the RPM Country Albums chart.

Accolades

​The album's single, "Joshua", was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards in 1972. It also received the Country Award at the 1971 BMI Awards. "The Last One to Touch Me" received the Country Award at the 1972 BMI Awards.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes and the 2009 box set, Dolly ("Joshua", "The Last One to Touch Me", and "Daddy's Moonshine Still"), and may not represent the personnel for all tracks.
  • Bobby Dyson – bass, liner notes
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • D.J. Fontana – drums
  • Dave Kirby – guitar​
  • Bill Myers – cover art
  • Al Pachucki – recording engineer
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Roy Shockley – recording technician

Releases

FORMAT / TITLE / LABEL & CATALOG # / REGION / RELEASE DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)​​​​
  • LP / Joshua / RCA Victor LSP-4507 / US & Canada / 04-12-1971
  • 8-track / Joshua / RCA Victor P8S-1715 / US & Canada / 04-12-1971
  • LP / Joshua / RCA Victor LSP-4507 / Germany / 1971
  • LP / Joshua / RCA Victor 38.296 / South Africa / 1971
  • LP / Joshua / RCA Victor LSA 3037 / UK / 1971
  • CD / Joshua & Coat of Many Colors / Camden Deluxe 74321 869642 / Europe / 07-28-2001
  • Digital download / Joshua / Sony Music Entertainment / Various / 12-04-2015
  • Streaming / Joshua / Sony Music Entertainment / Various / 12-04-2015