45 single, Side A. Columbia (38-73711) (1991)
Image credit: TheJudge at 45cat.com
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"Rockin' Years" is a single by Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton. It was released on February 4, 1991, by Columbia Records as the first single from Dolly's thirty-first solo studio album, Eagle When She Flies. The song was written by Dolly's brother, Floyd Parton. It was produced by Steve Buckingham and Gary Smith. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Dolly's twenty-fourth song to top the chart. It was nominated for Best Country Vocal Collaboration at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards.
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Track listing
Side A
- Rockin' Years (duet with Ricky Van Shelton) (Floyd Parton) 3:19
- What a Heartache (Dolly Parton) 3:32
Music video
A music video directed by Michael Saloman was released to accompany the single.
Critical reception
The single was reviewed in the February 16, 1991 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "A mutual pledge of love and devotion-not a vow to boogie. Parton has never had a purer country sound."
Cashbox reviewed the single in their February 23, 1991 issue. It said, "Could this be the duet of '91? If not, "Rockin' Years" is destined to run a close race. A crying steel kicks off this warm ballad of love, and the rest is left up to Parton and Van Shelton who create a tingling harmony magic. Although the dual performance displayed on this deeply traditional-flavored track is an immediate attention grabber, it's the lyrics of a never-ending love story which really steal the show."
Cashbox reviewed the single in their February 23, 1991 issue. It said, "Could this be the duet of '91? If not, "Rockin' Years" is destined to run a close race. A crying steel kicks off this warm ballad of love, and the rest is left up to Parton and Van Shelton who create a tingling harmony magic. Although the dual performance displayed on this deeply traditional-flavored track is an immediate attention grabber, it's the lyrics of a never-ending love story which really steal the show."
Billboard review, February 16, 1991.
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Cashbox review, February 23, 1991.
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Commercial performance
"Rockin' Years" debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 2, 1991. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 4, its tenth week on the chart. The single charted for 20 weeks. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and on the RPM Country Singles chart in Canada.
Accolades
"Rockin' Years" was nominated for Best Country Vocal Collaboration at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards in 1992. The single received two nominations at the 1992 CMT Music Awards (known as the TNN/Music City News Country Awards at the time); for Vocal Collaboration of the Year and Video of the Year.
Personnel
The Eagle When She Flies liner notes do not give credits for individual songs. To view credits for the album as a whole please visit the album's page.