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Album cover. MCA (MCA-6112) (1982)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the film of the same name. It was released on July 12, 1982, by MCA Records. The soundtrack was produced by Gregg Perry. It peaked a number 36 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's first single, "I Will Always Love You", peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Dolly's sixteenth song to top the chart, and her second time to reach the top with the song, following the original 1974 recording. "Hard Candy Christmas" was released as a single to promote Dolly's Greatest Hits compilation in October 1982 and peaked at number eight.

Track listing

Side 1
  1. 20 Fans   Jim Nabors and Chorus (Carol Hall) 4:33
  2. A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place   Dolly Parton, Teresa Merritt, and the Whorehouse Girls (Carol Hall) 5:26
  3. Sneakin' Around   Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds (Dolly Parton) 1:53
  4. Watchdog Report / Texas Has a Whorehouse in It   Dom DeLuise and the Dogettes (Carol Hall) 3:04
  5. Courtyard Shag    Instrumental (Carol Hall) 3:29
Side 2
  1. The Aggie Song   Chorus (Carol Hall) 7:43
  2. The Sidestep   Charles Durning (Carol Hall) 3:43
  3. Hard Candy Christmas   Dolly Parton and the Whorehouse Girls (Carol Hall) 3:50
  4. I Will Always Love You   Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 3:03
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Billboard advertisement, July 24, 1982.

Release and promotion

​The album was released July 12, 1982, on LP and cassette.

Singles

"I Will Always Love You" was released as the first single on July 12, 1982. It was released as a double A-side single with "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" from Dolly's 1982 album, Heartbreak Express. "I Will Aways Love You" debuted at number 88 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated July 31, 1982. It peaked at number one on the chart dated October 16, its twelfth week on the chart. The single charted for 19 weeks. It also peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart, number two on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart, and number eight on the RPM Top Singles chart. The single only reached number 72 in Australia on the  Kent Music Report.

"Hard Candy Christmas" was released as a single by RCA on October 11, 1982, to promote their Dolly compilation album, Greatest Hits. It debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated November 6. It peaked at number eight on the chart dated January 22, 1983, its twelfth week on the chart. The single charted for 19 weeks. It also peaked at number 27 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Critical reception

Billboard gave a mixed review of the album saying that the film "has fallen a mite short of producing the best little soundtrack." The review went on to say the even with recurring Parton compositions, "the project still manages to be variously cute, strident and self-conscious." The review concluded by saying that "Sneakin' Around", Dolly's duet with Burt Reynolds, "has strong commercial possibilities."

The review in Cashbox was also less than positive, describing Dolly's vocals as a "shrill warble" which is "clearly apparent above the choruses and show settings." The review went on to say that the album would likely not produce any singles beyond "I Will Always Love You", but "can be expected to capitalize on the high volume film studios are experiencing this summer."

AllMusic rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Billboard review, July 24, 1982.
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Cashbox review, July 31, 1982.

Commercial performance

The soundtrack debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated August 28, 1982. It peaked at number five on the chart dated October 9, its seventh week on the chart, where it remained for an additional week. The album charted for 27 weeks. It also peaked at number 63 on the Billboard 200.

Accolades

​The soundtrack was nominated for Best Song Score at the Fennecus Awards in 1982.

Dolly's re-recording of "I Will Always Love You" for the soundtrack earned her a Pop Award from BMI in 1982 and a Country Award in 1983.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
  • Mike Bradley – recording engineer
  • Mickey Crofford – recording engineer
  • Customers – vocals
  • Dom DeLuise – lead vocals
  • The Dogettes – vocals
  • Charles Durning – lead vocals
  • Arnie Frager – recording engineer
  • Jack Hayes – orchestrations
  • Teresa Merritt – vocals
  • Jim Nabors – Narration
  • George Osaki – art direction
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Gregg Perry – producer, orchestrations
  • Burt Reynolds – load vocals
  • Herb Ritts – photos
  • Danny Wallin – recording engineer, remix engineer
  • Ernie Winfrey – recording engineer
  • The Whorehouse Girls – vocals