Album cover. Columbia (CK 53199) (1993)
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Slow Dancing with the Moon is the thirty-second solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on February 23, 1993, by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Dolly and Steve Buckingham. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 16 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album's first single, "Romeo", peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, while the second single, "More Where That Came From", reached number 58. The album has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
- Full Circle (Dolly Parton, Mac Davis) 3:57
- Romeo (with Billy Ray Cyrus, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Pam Tillis) (Dolly Parton) 3:35
- (You Got Me Over) A Heartache Tonight (duet with Billy Dean) (Dolly Parton, Larry Weiss) 3:04
- What Will Baby Be (Dolly Parton) 3:24
- More Where That Came From (Dolly Parton) 3:14
- Put a Little Love in Your Heart (with the Christ Church Choir) (Jackie DeShannon, Randy Myers, Jimmy Holiday) 2:28
- Why Can't We (Allen Shamblin, Austin Cunningham, Chuck Cannon) 3:49
- I'll Make Your Bed (Dolly Parton) 3:17
- Whenever Forever Comes (duet with Collin Raye) (Dolly Parton) 3:27
- Cross My Heart (Rachel Dennison, Randy Parton, Frank Dycus) 3:32
- Slow Dancing with the Moon (Mac Davis) 3:28
- High and Mighty (with the Christ Church Choir) (Dolly Parton) 3:09
Recording
The album was recorded in Nashville at Nightingale Studio and Sound Stage Studios & Recording Arts.
Dolly first recorded "What Will Baby Be" in 1972, but this recording remained unreleased until the 2009 box set, Dolly.
Aaron Crisler recorded "High and Mighty" as a duet with Dolly for his 2003 album, In Good Hands.
Dolly first recorded "What Will Baby Be" in 1972, but this recording remained unreleased until the 2009 box set, Dolly.
Aaron Crisler recorded "High and Mighty" as a duet with Dolly for his 2003 album, In Good Hands.
Release and promotion
The album was released February 23, 1993, on CD and cassette.
Singles
"Romeo", a collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Pam Tillis, was released as the first single on January 25, 1993. It debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated February 13. It peaked at number 27 on the chart dated March 27, its seventh week on the chart. The single charted for 20 weeks. It also peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single peaked at number 33 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas and premiered February 18 on CMT.
The second single, "More Where That Came From", was released on April 12, 1993, and debuted at number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated May 1. It peaked at number 58 on the chart dated May 29, its fifth week on the chart. It charted for nine weeks. Randee St. Nicholas directed the accompanying music video.
"Full Circle" was released as the third single on June 21, 1993, and failed to chart. Unlike the previous two singles, no music was produced.
The second single, "More Where That Came From", was released on April 12, 1993, and debuted at number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated May 1. It peaked at number 58 on the chart dated May 29, its fifth week on the chart. It charted for nine weeks. Randee St. Nicholas directed the accompanying music video.
"Full Circle" was released as the third single on June 21, 1993, and failed to chart. Unlike the previous two singles, no music was produced.
Television appearances
Dolly held a satellite press conference from the Grand Ole Opry House on February 1. It was recorded for broadcast across 20 key markets. Entertainment Tonight featured a behind the scenes look at the "Romeo" music video on February 18. Throughout the month of March, Dolly appeared on several television shows, including Good Morning America, Live with Regis & Kathy, CBS This Morning, The Joan Rivers Show, Today, Donahue, Larry King Live, The David Letterman Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Saturday Night Live.
Critical reception
Billboard said the "album looks to be headed for great things" thanks to its "imaginative marketing and promotion campaign, an A-list of guest artists, and a wealth of finely crafted songs." The review said that "Parton's one-of-a-kind vocals sparkle" on the album, making special note of "Full Circle", "I'll Make Your Bed", "What Will Baby Be", "High and Mighty", and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart".
In a positive review for Cashbox, Joseph Stanley said, "Dolly Parton's latest album is nothing short of amazing." He singled out "What Will Baby Be", "Romeo", "(You Got Me Over) A Heartache Tonight", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Slow Dancing with the Moon", and "Whenever Forever Comes" as the standout selections on the record. His review concluded by saying, "This album will surely rank as one of Dolly's best ever."
Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Alanna Nash gave the album a rating of B-. She described lead single "Romeo" as "vulgar dance-groove bilge." She made note of Dolly's use of guest artists on the album, saying that "such contemporary company should help her record sales, but they probably also overshadow the album’s most thoughtful song, the Celtic-flavored ”What Will Baby Be,” about how family tensions mold a child." She felt this was a pity as it is "the only creative risk from a superstar who now seems content to play it safe."
Jason Ankeny of AllMusic rated the album 2.5 out of 5 stars. He said the album "features a who's who of country music circa 1993," but "it's the simpler, sparer songs that work best here." He felt that "Parton's emotional vocals...really shine through" on the tracks that are "stripped of all the gloss and star power."
In a positive review for Cashbox, Joseph Stanley said, "Dolly Parton's latest album is nothing short of amazing." He singled out "What Will Baby Be", "Romeo", "(You Got Me Over) A Heartache Tonight", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Slow Dancing with the Moon", and "Whenever Forever Comes" as the standout selections on the record. His review concluded by saying, "This album will surely rank as one of Dolly's best ever."
Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Alanna Nash gave the album a rating of B-. She described lead single "Romeo" as "vulgar dance-groove bilge." She made note of Dolly's use of guest artists on the album, saying that "such contemporary company should help her record sales, but they probably also overshadow the album’s most thoughtful song, the Celtic-flavored ”What Will Baby Be,” about how family tensions mold a child." She felt this was a pity as it is "the only creative risk from a superstar who now seems content to play it safe."
Jason Ankeny of AllMusic rated the album 2.5 out of 5 stars. He said the album "features a who's who of country music circa 1993," but "it's the simpler, sparer songs that work best here." He felt that "Parton's emotional vocals...really shine through" on the tracks that are "stripped of all the gloss and star power."
Billboard review, March 6, 1993.
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Cashbox review, May 1, 1993.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated March 13, 1993. It peaked at number four on the chart dated March 20, it's second week on the chart, and remained there for three additional weeks. The album charted for 35 weeks. It also peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200. The album peaked at number seven in Canada on the RPM Country Albums chart. It also reached number 137 in Australia on the ARIA Albums chart.
The album charted at number 29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1993.
The album charted at number 29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1993.
Accolades
"Romeo" won Vocal Event of the Year at the 1994 CMT Music Awards (known as the TNN/Music City News Country Awards at the time) and Video Event of the Year at the 1994 CMT Video Awards. It was also nominated for Best Country Song at the American Music Awards of 1994 and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in 1994.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on April 19, 1993, for shipment of 500,000 copies. It was certified Platinum on October 5, 1993, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. The album was certified Gold by Music Canada on September 24, 1993, for shipment of 50,000 copies.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on April 19, 1993, for shipment of 500,000 copies. It was certified Platinum on October 5, 1993, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. The album was certified Gold by Music Canada on September 24, 1993, for shipment of 50,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
Additional musicians
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Additional vocalists
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Production
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Other personnel
- David Blair – hair, makeup
- Tony Chase – styling
- Gallin-Morey & Associates – management
- Jennifer Gibbs – art assistance
- Bill Johnson – art direction
- Tanya Owen – photo tinting
- Randee St. Nicholas – photography
- Kim Stanton – studio pictures
- Rollow Welch – design