Album cover. RCA Victor (LSP-3926) (1968)
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Just Between You and Me is the first collaborative studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. It was released on January 15, 1968, by RCA Victor. It was produced by Bob Ferguson. The album peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The only single released, "The Last Thing on My Mind", peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
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Track listing
Side 1
- Because One of Us Was Wrong (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:04
- The Last Thing on My Mind (Tom Paxton) 2:34
- Love Is Worth Living (Dolly Parton) 2:32
- Just Between You and Me (Jack Clement) 2:18
- Mommie, Ain't That Daddy (Dolly Parton) 3:11
- Four O Thirty Three (Bill Owens, Earl Montgomery) 2:45
- Sorrow's Tearing Down the House (That Happiness Once Built) (Mel Tillis, Kent Westberry) 2:23
- This Time Has Gotta Be Our Last Time (Bill Owens) 2:26
- Before I Met You (Charles L. Seitz, Joe Lewis, Elmer Rader) 1:52
- Home Is Where the Hurt Is (Fred MacRae, Marge Barton) 2:10
- Two Sides to Every Story (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:17
- Put It Off Until Tomorrow (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:27
Background
Billboard, September 9, 1967.
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When Norma Jean announced that she was leaving The Porter Wagoner Show in August 1967, Porter asked Dolly to replace her as the "girl singer" on his television series and road show. Dolly made her first TV appearance on September 5 and the duo made their first concert appearance on September 14, in Lebanon, Virginia. The crowd greeted Dolly with boos and chants for Norma Jean, which led Porter to begin singing duets with Dolly on the show. Monument Records released Dolly's debut album on September 18. In addition to having her join his show as a regular, Porter was instrumental in persuading RCA Victor to sign Dolly to a recording contract. The duo had their first recording session on October 10 at RCA Studio B in Nashville. Dolly's first three session 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. Porter and Dolly made their first Grand Ole Opry appearance together on November 25.
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Recording
Recording sessions for the album took place at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 10, 11, and 12, 1967.
"Put It Off Until Tomorrow" was first recorded by Bill Phillips with uncredited harmony vocals from Dolly for his 1966 album, Put It Off Until Tomorrow. Dolly would record a solo version of the song for her 1967 album, Hello, I'm Dolly. This version of the song would be overdubbed with new instrumentation and vocals from Kris Kristofferson for the 1982 compilation album, The Winning Hand. Dolly would revisit the song again with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette for their 1993 album, Honky Tonk Angels. Dolly also recorded an alternate version titled "I'll Put It Off Until Tomorrow" from the perspective of the person leaving the relationship. It was included as the B-side of "The Little Things" in 1966. The most recent version of the song was released in 2024 on Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables and is a duet by Dolly and her uncle Bill Owens, created using a 1983 recording of Bill with contemporary vocals from Dolly.
Dolly recorded a solo version of "The Last Thing on My Mind" for the 2023 compilation album, I Am a Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100.
"Put It Off Until Tomorrow" was first recorded by Bill Phillips with uncredited harmony vocals from Dolly for his 1966 album, Put It Off Until Tomorrow. Dolly would record a solo version of the song for her 1967 album, Hello, I'm Dolly. This version of the song would be overdubbed with new instrumentation and vocals from Kris Kristofferson for the 1982 compilation album, The Winning Hand. Dolly would revisit the song again with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette for their 1993 album, Honky Tonk Angels. Dolly also recorded an alternate version titled "I'll Put It Off Until Tomorrow" from the perspective of the person leaving the relationship. It was included as the B-side of "The Little Things" in 1966. The most recent version of the song was released in 2024 on Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables and is a duet by Dolly and her uncle Bill Owens, created using a 1983 recording of Bill with contemporary vocals from Dolly.
Dolly recorded a solo version of "The Last Thing on My Mind" for the 2023 compilation album, I Am a Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100.
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October 10, 1967
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October 12, 1967
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Release and promotion
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The album was released January 15, 1968, on LP and 8-track.
SinglesThe album's only single, "The Last Thing on My Mind", was released on October 30, 1967, and debuted at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 2. It peaked at number seven on the chart dated February 10, 1968, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 17 weeks. It also peaked at number seven on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number four on the RPM Country Singles chart in Canada.
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Cashbox advertisement, January 6, 1968.
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Critical reception
Billboard gave a positive review of the album, calling it "enjoyable." The review praised the duo's singing as "exceptional" and the arrangements as "groovy."
AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars.
AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars.
Billboard review, January 27, 1968.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated February 3, 1968. It peaked at number eight on the chart dated March 9, its sixth week on the chart. The album charted for 27 weeks.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes and the 2014 box set, Just Between You and Me: The Complete Recordings, 1967–1976.
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