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45 single, Side A. RCA (PB-13703) (1983)
Image credit: TheJudge at 45cat.com
"Save the Last Dance for Me" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on November 28, 1983, by RCA Records as the first single from Dolly's twenty-sixth solo studio album, The Great Pretender. The song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was produced by Val Garay. The song had previously been a Billboard Hot 100 number one hit for the Drifters in 1960 and Emmylou Harris took the song to number four on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1979. Dolly's cover peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Track listing

Original 45 single
Side A
  • Save the Last Dance for Me (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman) 3:50
Side B
  • Elusive Butterfly (Bob Lind) 2:44

US 12" promo single
Side A
  • Save the Last Dance for Me (Long Version) (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman) 5:20
Side B
  • Save the Last Dance for Me (Instrumental) (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman) 3:50
  • Save the Last Dance for Me (Short Version/Album Version) (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman) 3:50

Recording

"Save the Last Dance for Me" was recorded on October 31, 1983, at Record One in Los Angeles, California. "Elusive Butterfly" was recorded at the same studio on an unknown date.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the December 10, 1983 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "Pop whiz Garay's wall-of-sound dynamics update a classic tune that was a top 5 country hit for Emmylou Harris in 1979."

Cashbox also reviewed the single in their December 10, 1983 issue. It said, "Parton teams up with producer Val Garay on this well known Drifters hit for the first single release of her upcoming LP, The Great Pretender. An intense synthesizer and drum machine dominate the instrumental sound throughout the song, while Parton's smooth vocals are aided by backup singers, The Jordanaires."
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Billboard review, December 10, 1983.
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Cashbox review, December 10, 1983.

Commercial performance

"Save the Last Dance for Me" debuted at number 69 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 24, 1983. It peaked at number three on the chart dated March 17, 1984, its thirteenth week on the chart. The single charted for 19 weeks. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number two on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 50 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The single peaked at number two in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart and number three on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at number 31 in Australia.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from The Great Pretender liner notes.
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
  • Jeff Colella – Jupiter synthesizer
  • Ron Elliott – electric guitar
  • Val Garay – producer
  • Brian Glascock – percussion
  • Steve Goldstein – DMX drum machine, Prophet synthesizer, Jupiter synthesizer, arrangement
  • Craig Hull – electric guitar
  • The Jordanaires – background vocals
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • David Platshon – drums
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Leland Sklar – bass
"Elusive Butterfly"
  • Jeff Colella – synthesizer
  • Lee Dresser – harmonica
  • Ron Elliott – electric guitar
  • Val Garay – producer
  • Brian Glascock – percussion
  • Steve Goldstein – synthesizer
  • Craig Hull – electric guitar
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • David Platshon – drums
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Leland Sklar – bass

Alternate artwork

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Germany 45 single, picture sleeve. RCA Victor (PB 3703) (1983)
Image credit: jimmyx at 45cat.com
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Netherlands 45 single, picture sleeve. RCA Victor (PB-3703) (1983)
Image credit: leonard at 45cat.com