Album cover. RCA Victor (APL1-2188) (1977)
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New Harvest...First Gathering is the eighteenth solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on February 14, 1977. The album was produced by Dolly and Gregg Perry. It was Dolly's first album since her 1967 debut to not be produced by Bob Ferguson or Porter Wagoner. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 71 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album's lead single, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning", peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "You Are" and "Applejack" were released as singles in Europe, while "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was released exclusively in Germany. It was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards.
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Track listing
Side A
- Light of a Clear Blue Morning (Dolly Parton) 4:53
- Applejack (Dolly Parton) 3:20
- My Girl (My Love) (William Robinson, Ronald White) 3:44
- Holdin' on to You (Dolly Parton) 2:46
- You Are (Dolly Parton) 5:14
- How Does It Feel (Dolly Parton) 3:13
- Where Beauty Lives in Memory (Dolly Parton) 3:50
- (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher (Gary Jackson, Carl Smith) 2:52
- Getting in My Way (Dolly Parton) 2:40
- There (Dolly Parton) 5:32
Recording
Recording sessions for the album began on August 19, 1976, at Soundshop Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Four additional sessions followed on August 20, 21, 22, and November 21. The remainder of the album was recorded at Creative Workshop in Nashville on December 3, 10, 16, and 17.
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August 19, 1976
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December 3, 1976
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Content
In addition to her own compositions, Dolly included The Temptations classic "My Girl" (sung as the gender-neutral "My Love"), and the Jackie Wilson hit "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher". "Applejack" features an all-star lineup of country legends singing background vocals, including Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Chet Atkins, and Minnie Pearl.
Dolly re-recorded "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" for the 1992 soundtrack album, Straight Talk,and her 2004 album, For God and Country. She re-recorded "Holdin' on to You" as a duet with Elle King for the 2018 soundtrack album, Dumplin'.
Dolly re-recorded "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" for the 1992 soundtrack album, Straight Talk,and her 2004 album, For God and Country. She re-recorded "Holdin' on to You" as a duet with Elle King for the 2018 soundtrack album, Dumplin'.
Release and promotion
The album was released February 14, 1977, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.
Singles
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was released as the first single on March 21, 1977. It debuted at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated April 9. It peaked at number 11 on the chart dated June 11, its tenth week on the chart. The single charted for 13 weeks. It also peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also peaked at number nine on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
"You Are" was released as the first single in Europe on March 25, 1977, and did not chart. A promotional video featuring footage of Dolly on tour was produced to accompany the 1983 re-release of the single in the Netherlands to promote the compilation The Love Album.
"Applejack" was released as the second European single on August 27, 1977, and also failed to chart. It had previously been released as the B-side of "You Are".
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was released as single exclusively in Germany in late 1977 and did not chart.
"You Are" was released as the first single in Europe on March 25, 1977, and did not chart. A promotional video featuring footage of Dolly on tour was produced to accompany the 1983 re-release of the single in the Netherlands to promote the compilation The Love Album.
"Applejack" was released as the second European single on August 27, 1977, and also failed to chart. It had previously been released as the B-side of "You Are".
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was released as single exclusively in Germany in late 1977 and did not chart.
Critical reception
In the issue dated February 26, 1977, Billboard published a review calling the album "Parton's most progressive and individualistic LP ever." The review notes that the changes "in producer, studio, publisher and mental outlook are bound to have a significant effect on the ultimate product." The review called the changes "dramatic," resulting in "some of the most memorable work yet – in writing and singing – by Parton." The review concluded by saying that "this could be the album that shoves Parton from a country-only base to the category of across-the-board talents like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt who emulate and admire her."
Cashbox published a review in the February 26, 1977 issue, which said, "Breaking from her country roots, Dolly has put together this package of tailor-mades for the progressive rock listener. Her versatility and natural talents combined with her excellent production as well as arrangement comes crystal clear here."
Mark Deming of AllMusic rated the album 4 out of 5 stars. He felt that "in retrospect, New Harvest...First Gathering sounds like a dry run for Dolly's later crossover career, but it's also full of fine songs and produced with intelligence and restraint, and it has stood the test of time far better than much of her work of the 1980s."
Cashbox published a review in the February 26, 1977 issue, which said, "Breaking from her country roots, Dolly has put together this package of tailor-mades for the progressive rock listener. Her versatility and natural talents combined with her excellent production as well as arrangement comes crystal clear here."
Mark Deming of AllMusic rated the album 4 out of 5 stars. He felt that "in retrospect, New Harvest...First Gathering sounds like a dry run for Dolly's later crossover career, but it's also full of fine songs and produced with intelligence and restraint, and it has stood the test of time far better than much of her work of the 1980s."
Billboard review, February 26, 1977.
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Cashbox review, February 26, 1977.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Hot Country Albums chart dated March 12, 1977. The album peaked at number one on the chart dated May 14, its tenth week on the chart, The album charted for 29 weeks. It also peaked at number 71 on the Billboard 200, Dolly's first album to appear on that chart since Joshua in 1971.
Accolades
The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the CMT Awards in 1977 (known as the Music City News Awards at the time) and Favorite Country Album at the American Music Awards of 1978.
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" received the Country Award from BMI in 1978.
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978.
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" received the Country Award from BMI in 1978.
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Background vocals on "Applejack"
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Production
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Other personnel
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