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Album cover. RCA Victor (LSP-3949) (1968)
Just Because I'm a Woman is the second solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on April 15, 1968, RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's title track was the only single released and it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Song chart.

Track listing

Side 1
  1. You're Gonna Be Sorry (Dolly Parton) 2:15
  2. I Wish I Felt This Way at Home (Harlan Howard) 2:25
  3. False Eyelashes (Demetris Tapp, Bob Tubert) 2:27
  4. I'll Oilwells Love You (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:13
  5. The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me) (Neal Merritt) 2:42
  6. Little Bit Slow to Catch On (Curly Putman) 2:16​
​Side 2
  1. The Bridge (Dolly Parton) 2:32
  2. Love and Learn (Bill Owens) 2:30
  3. I'm Running Out of Love (Bill Owens) 2:07
  4. Just Because I'm a Woman (Dolly Parton) 3:01
  5. Baby Sister (Shirl Milete) 2:36
  6. Try Being Lonely (Buck Trent, George McCormick) 2:40
2003 CD reissue bonus tracks
    11.   Just Because I'm a Woman* (Dolly Parton) 3:30
    12.  Coat of Many Colors* (Dolly Parton) 3:19
​*Previously unreleased live version.

Background

​When Dolly joined The Porter Wagoner Show in September 1967, she was still signed to Monument Records. In addition to having her join his show, Porter was instrumental in persuading RCA Victor to sign Dolly to a recording contract. Dolly's first three sessions for RCA were limited to duets with Porter, as she could not record for RCA as a solo artist until her contract with Monument expired. Once the contract had expired Dolly began recording her first solo RCA album in December 1967.

Recording

​Recording sessions for the album took place on December 11, 18 and 20, 1967, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee.
December 11, 1967
  • I Wish I Felt This Way at Home
  • You're Gonna Be Sorry
  • The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)
December 18, 1967
  • Little Bit Slow to Catch On
  • I'm Running Out of Love
  • Just Because I'm a Woman
  • Baby Sister
December 20, 1967
  • Try Being Lonely
  • False Eyelashes
  • The Bridge
  • Love and Learn
  • I'll Oilwells Love You

Content

​The title song, in which a woman admonishes her boyfriend for passing judgment on her previous sexual encounters even though he is guilty of the same behavior, was regarded as something of a daring statement to make at the time. It was written by Dolly in response to her husband's questioning (and subsequent reaction) if she'd ever been with a man before him. "The Bridge", distinctive because of its subject matter and rather abrupt ending, details the story of a woman who falls in love with a man and becomes pregnant with his child. His abandonment leads the woman back to the bridge where she apparently commits suicide. The last verse states, "My feet are moving slowly, Closer to the edge, Here is where it started, And here is where I'll end it..." before simply ending midway through the verse.
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Dolly re-recorded "Just Because I'm a Woman" for the 2003 tribute album, Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton.

Release and promotion

​The album was released April 15, 1968, on LP.

Singles

​The album's only single, "Just Because I'm a Woman", was released on May 27, 1968, and debuted at number 46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 29. It peaked at number 17 on the chart dated September 14, its twelfth week on the chart. The single charted for 14 weeks. It also peaked at number three on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number eight in Canada on the RPM County Singles chart.

Critical reception

​Billboard reviewed the album in the issue dated April 27, 1968, saying that "Dolly really makes it with this package. Her performances are packed with sincerity and style. The songs include "You're Gonna Be Sorry", "False Eyelashes", "Try Being Lonely", and some more earthy, realistic tunes."

Cashbox published a review of the album which said, "After one duet smash with Porter Wagoner, and another just beginning to make the climb, Dolly Parton makes her first RCA solo flight with this LP. Soaring to some pretty heady heights with a dozen well-chosen tracks, the lark spreads her wings like a veteran, especially on such tracks as "Try Being Lonely" and "You're Gonna Be Sorry", as well as the title track, and can count on some excellent response."

Mark Deming of AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "one of Parton's best early albums and a superb showcase for her gifts as both a singer and songwriter." He noted that although there are only four Parton compositions on the album, they are four of the best songs included. He concluded by saying that "the album still sounds like a winner decades after its initial release."
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Billboard review, April 27, 1968.
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Cashbox review, April 27, 1968.

Commercial performance

​The album debuted at number 44 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated May 4, 1968. It peaked at number 22 on the chart dated June 15, its seventh week on the chart. The album charted for nine weeks.

Accolades

The single "Just Because I'm a Woman" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa in 1971, for sales of 10,000 copies.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes and the 2003 CD reissue.

Original album

  • David Briggs – piano
  • 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
  • Al Pachucki – recording engineer
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young) – rhythm guitar
  • Buck Trent – electric banjo
  • ​Porter Wagoner – liner note

2003 CD reissue bonus tracks

  • Joe Babcock – background vocals
  • Terry Blackwell – guitar
  • James Buchanan – fiddle
  • Jack Drake – guitar
  • Pete Drake – steel guitar
  • ​Bobby Dyson – bass
  • Dolores Edgin – background vocals
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • D.J. Fontana – drums
  • Johnny Gimble – fiddle
  • Dave Kirby – electric guitar
  • Edward Howard – rhythm guitar
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • George McCormick – guitar
  • Al Pachucki – recording engineer
  • June Page – background vocals
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Dale Sellers – electric guitar
  • Buck Trent – banjo

Releases

FORMAT / TITLE / LABEL & CATALOG # / REGION / RELEASE DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)​
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Victor (LSP-3949) (stereo) / US & Canada / 04-15-1968
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Victor (LSM-3949) (mono) / US & Canada / 04-15-1968
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Victor (38.376) / South Africa / 1968
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Victor (LSP-3949) / US & Canada / 1968 or later (orange labels)
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Victor (TRC 3084) / South Africa / 1981
  • Cassette / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA (ZTRC 3084) / South Africa / 1981
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA (NL89853) / Europe / 1986
  • ​Cassette / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA (NK89853) / Europe / 1986
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA/Ariola (NL89893) / Germany / 1986
  • CD / 2Gether on 1 (Just Because I'm a Woman & Just Between You and Me) / RCA (74321 29456 2) / Europe / 1995
  • CD / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Nashville; BMG Heritage (82876 56123 2) / US / 10-07-2003
  • 5xCD / Original Album Classics (Just Because I'm a Woman • Coat of Many Colors • My Tennessee Mountain Home • Jolene • 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs) / RCA; Sony; Legacy (88697271112) / Europe / 04-08-2008
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA Victor; Music On Vinyl (MOVLP1921) / Europe / 2017
  • LP / Just Because I'm a Woman / Vinyl Me, Please (VMP – LTDP004) / US / 07-2023
  • 8-track / Just Because I'm a Woman / RCA (DRS1-0018) / US / Unknown (abridged to 9 songs)