Album cover. Blue Eye (400119217496) (1999)
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Precious Memories is the thirty-sixth solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on April 17, 1999, by Blue Eye Records. The album was sold exclusively at Dollywood and was released to coincide with the opening of the park's fourteenth season (1999–2000) with all proceeds going to the Dollywood Foundation. It was produced by Dolly's cousin Richie Owens. The album features several of Dolly's relatives, including uncles Louis Owens, Bill Owens, and John Henry Owens; aunt Dorothy Jo Owens; bother Randy Parton; and sister Rachel Dennison. Dolly promoted the album with a television special on TNN titled Dolly Parton's Precious Memories.
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Track listing
- Precious Memories (J.B.F. Wright) 3:15
- Power in the Blood (Lewis E. Jones) 2:11
- In the Sweet Bye & Bye (S. Fillmore Bennett, Joseph P. Webster) 3:37
- Church in the Wildwood (William S. Pitts) 2:39
- Keep on the Firing Line (Bessie F. Hatcher) 2:54
- Amazing Grace (John Newton) 3:48
- Old Time Religion (Traditional) 1:36
- Softly and Tenderly (Will L. Thompson) 3:14
- Farther Along (Traditional) 3:43
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Joseph M. Scriven, Charles C. Converse) 3:47
- In the Garden (C. Austin Miles) 2:54
- When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (James Milton Black) 2:03
Recording
The album was recorded in Nashville at Studio 19 with additional overdubs recorded at Studio 20 and Southern Sound in Knoxville.
Dolly re-recorded "In the Sweet Bye & Bye" with Altan for her 2001 album Little Sparrow. An unused vocal take from the Precious Memories session was used to create the version included on the 2021 compilation Country Faith Bluegrass.
Dolly has previously recorded "Softly and Tenderly" with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronosatdtin 1994 for Trio II, but it was not include don't he album. It would be release do the 2016 compilation album The Complete Trio Collection.
"Farther Along" was previously recorded by Dolly with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for their 1987 album Trio.
Dolly re-recorded "In the Sweet Bye & Bye" with Altan for her 2001 album Little Sparrow. An unused vocal take from the Precious Memories session was used to create the version included on the 2021 compilation Country Faith Bluegrass.
Dolly has previously recorded "Softly and Tenderly" with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronosatdtin 1994 for Trio II, but it was not include don't he album. It would be release do the 2016 compilation album The Complete Trio Collection.
"Farther Along" was previously recorded by Dolly with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for their 1987 album Trio.
Release and promotion
The album was released by Blue Eye Records on April 17, 1999, the opening of the Dollywood's fourteenth season (1999–2000). It was sold exclusively at the park with all proceeds going to the Dollywood Foundation. The album was reissued digitally by Dolly Records on December 13, 2024.
Dolly performed many songs from the album on a TNN special, Dolly Parton's Precious Memories, that aired on April 1, 1999, as a part of TNN's 20th Century Hitmakers Week. The special also included performances by Alison Krauss and Union Station and The Cox Family. Dolly's siblings Randy Parton and Rachel Dennison also appeared on the show.
Dolly spoke in an interview about how close her roots in religion, family, and music are, saying:
"Gospel was an important part of life in the Smoky Mountains where I grew up...and religion was a part of everyday life. There's something unique about family harmony singing, "blood harmonies," we call 'em, and not surprisingly, many of our greatest groups are families who started out singing in church together. There was even a group called The Parton Family Traveling Band."
— Dolly Parton, Country Weekly - March 23, 1999
Dolly performed many songs from the album on a TNN special, Dolly Parton's Precious Memories, that aired on April 1, 1999, as a part of TNN's 20th Century Hitmakers Week. The special also included performances by Alison Krauss and Union Station and The Cox Family. Dolly's siblings Randy Parton and Rachel Dennison also appeared on the show.
Dolly spoke in an interview about how close her roots in religion, family, and music are, saying:
"Gospel was an important part of life in the Smoky Mountains where I grew up...and religion was a part of everyday life. There's something unique about family harmony singing, "blood harmonies," we call 'em, and not surprisingly, many of our greatest groups are families who started out singing in church together. There was even a group called The Parton Family Traveling Band."
— Dolly Parton, Country Weekly - March 23, 1999
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
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