Album cover. RCA Victor (APL1-0950) (1975)

Dolly Parton
The Bargain Store
RCA Victor (APL1-0950)
February 17, 1975

Side A

1. The Bargain Store (Dolly Parton) 2:40
2. Kentucky Gambler (Dolly Parton) 2:36
3. When I'm Gone (Dolly Parton) 2:12
4. The Only Hand You'll Need to Hold (Dolly Parton) 2:07
5. On My Mind Again (Dolly Parton) 2:46

Side B

1. I Want to Be What You Need (Dolly Parton) 2:38
2. Love to Remember (Porter Wagoner) 2:28
3. You'll Always Be Special to Me (Merle Haggard) 2:18
4. He Would Know (Dolly Parton) 2:31
5. I'll Never Forget (Dolly Parton) 2:45

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Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place on December 4, 9, and 11, 1974, at RCA Studio B, in Nashville, Tennessee. "Kentucky Gambler" was the only song recorded during a May 23, 1973 session.

May 23, 1973

• Kentucky Gambler

December 4, 1974

• The Only Hand You'll Need to Hold

The Bargain Store
December 9, 1974

• He Would Know
• I Want to Be What You Need

December 11, 1974

• Love to Remember
• On My Mind Again
• You'll Always Be Special to Me
• When I'm Gone
• I'll Never Forget

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Content

In the self-penned title tune, Dolly used worn, second-hand merchandise in a discount store as a metaphor for a woman damaged by an ill-fated relationship. The song was dropped from a number of country stations' playlists when programmers mistook the line "you can easily afford the price" as a thinly veiled reference to prostitution. Despite the decrease in airplay, the song nonetheless topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in March 1975.

The album was largely made up of Dolly's own compositions, but also contained Merle Haggard's "You'll Always Be Special to Me". Haggard, in turn, covered Parton's "Kentucky Gambler" later in 1975.

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Release and promotion

The album was released February 17, 1975, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.

Singles

"The Bargain Store" was released as the album's single on January 13, 1975. It debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 25. It peaked at number one on the chart dated March 29, its tenth week on that chart. It charted for a total of 13 weeks. The single also peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at number three in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

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Critical reception

Cashbox gave a positive review of the album, which said, "This latest collection from one fo the country's most loved songstress' is a delightful showcase for the lady's talents. With all selections except two written by Dolly, including her recent #1 single "The Bargain Store", the selections also include "I Want to Be What You Need", "On My Mind Again", "You'll Always Be Special to Me", "I'll Never Forget", and our personal favorite, "He Would Know". To quote the liner notes, "You'll be completely satisfied."

​AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Cashbox review, April 12, 1975.

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Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated March 15, 1975. It peaked at number nine on the chart dated April 26, its seventh week on the chart. The album charted for 23 weeks.

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Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes and the 2009 box set Dolly.

• Stu Basore – steel guitar
• Herb Burnette – album graphics, art direction (Pinwheel Art Studios)
• Jimmy Colvard – guitar
• Bobby Dyson – bass
• Bob Ferguson – producer
• D. J. Fontana – drums
• Johnny Gimble – fiddle
• John Hughey – steel guitar
• Dave Kirby – guitar
• The Lea Jane Singers – background vocals
• Larrie Londin – drums

• Mack Magaha – fiddle
• Bruce Osbon – guitar
• Dolly Parton – lead vocals
• Tom Pick – recording engineer
• Hope Powell – cover photo
• Jerry Reed – guitar
• Harris "Pig" Robbins – piano
• Roy Shockley – recording technician
• Bobby Thompson – guitar, banjo
• Buck Trent – banjo
• Porter Wagoner – producer
• Jerry Whitehurst – piano

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Reissues

The album was released as a digital download on December 23, 2013.