Just Between You and Me

Album cover. RCA Victor (LSP-3926) (1968)

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
Just Between You and Me
RCA Victor (LSP-3926)
January 15, 1968

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

Side 2

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 Ever Story (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:17
Put It Off Until Tomorrow (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens) 2:27

Background

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. Parton's first three session for RCA were limited to duets with Wagoner 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.

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 10, 11, and 12, 1967.

October 10, 1967

Just Between You and Me
Before I Met You
Two Sides to Every Story
Mommie, Ain't That Daddy

October 11, 1967

Four O Thirty Three
Love Is Worth Living
The Last Thing on My Mind
Sorrow's Tearing Down the House (That Happiness Once Built)

October 12, 1967

Home Is Where the Hurt Is
This Time Has Gotta Be Our Last Time
Put It Off Until Tomorrow
Because One of Us Was Wrong

Release and promotion

The album was released January 15, 1968, on LP and 8-track.

Singles

The 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. The single also peaked at number four on the RPM Country Singles chart in Canada.

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.

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

Adapted from the album liner notes and RCA recording session records.

Jerry Carrigan – drums
Anita Carter – background vocals
Pete Drake – pedal steel
Dolores Edgin – background vocals
Bob Ferguson – producer
Roy M. Huskey, Jr. – bass
Mack Magaha – fiddle
Jim Malloy – recording engineer

George McCormick – rhythm guitar
Wayne Moss – electric guitar
Dolly Parton – lead vocals
Hargus Robbins – piano
Buck Trent – banjo
Bill Turner – liner notes
Porter Wagoner – lead vocals

Reissues

The album was reissued on CD in 1995 as 2Gether on 1 with Parton's 1968 album, Just Because I'm a Woman. It was released as a digital download on March 3, 2017. The album was included in the 2014 box set Just Between You and Me: The Complete Recordings, 1967–1976. BGO Records reissued the album on CD in 2020 on a two CD set with Always, Always, Porter Wayne and Dolly Rebecca, and Love and Music.