Album cover. RCA Victor (LSP-4499) (1970)
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The Best of Dolly Parton is a compilation album by Dolly Parton. It was released on November 9, 1970, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It includes several of Dolly's early hits, some non-single album tracks, and two tracks previously unreleased on LP. The album peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The single, "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned Dolly a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards. The album has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
Side 1
* Previously unreleased.
- Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)* (Jimmie Rodgers, George Vaughn) 3:10
- Down from Dover (Dolly Parton) 3:42
- My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy (Dolly Parton) 3:27
- In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) (Dolly Parton) 2:46
- Gypsy, Joe and Me (Dolly Parton) 3:07
- In the Ghetto (Mac Davis) 2:46
- Just Because I'm a Woman (Dolly Parton) 3:01
- Daddy Come and Get Me (Dolly Parton, Dorothy Jo Hope) 2:59
- How Great Thou Art* (Stuart K. Hine) 3:27
- Just the Way I Am (Dolly Parton) 2:27
* Previously unreleased.
Recording
Two previously unreleased songs were included on the album. "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)" was the only song recorded at the May 4, 1970 session at RCA Studio B in Nashville. "How Great Thou Art" was recorded on May 12, 1970, during the second of three sessions for Dolly's 1971 album, The Golden Streets of Glory.
Release and promotion
The album was released November 9, 1970, on LP and 8-track.
Singles
The album's only single, "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)", debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated July 4, 1970. It peaked at number three on the chart dated August 29, its ninth week on the chart. The single charted for 16 weeks. It also peaked at number two on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
Critical reception
The review published in the November 21, 1970 issue of Billboard said, "This LP teams with big hits, including "Mule Skinner Blues", "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)", and "Just Because I'm a Woman". Every tune is packed with that special emotion only Dolly Parton can render in a song. "Down from Dover" is a real tearjerker."
Cashbox published a review in the November 14, 1970 issue which said, "It becomes difficult to choose the selections for a best hits album for Dolly, because almost everything she's recorded has been a hit! Nevertheless, this new album is just a small sampling of the enormous talent she has. "Mule Skinner Blues", "Down from Dover", "Gypsy, Joe and Me", "In the Ghetto", "Just Because I'm a Woman", "How Great Thou Art," and "Just the Way I Am" are included."
AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Cashbox published a review in the November 14, 1970 issue which said, "It becomes difficult to choose the selections for a best hits album for Dolly, because almost everything she's recorded has been a hit! Nevertheless, this new album is just a small sampling of the enormous talent she has. "Mule Skinner Blues", "Down from Dover", "Gypsy, Joe and Me", "In the Ghetto", "Just Because I'm a Woman", "How Great Thou Art," and "Just the Way I Am" are included."
AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Billboard review, November 21, 1970.
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Cashbox review, November 14, 1970.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 44 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated December 5, 1970. It peaked at number 12 on the chart dated February 6, 1971, its tenth week on the chart. It charted for 21 weeks.
Accolades
Dolly earned her first solo Grammy nomination for the album's single, "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)". It was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of 500,000 copies in June 1978. It was certified Gold in Australia in August 2021, for sales and streams in excess of 35,000 copies.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of 500,000 copies in June 1978. It was certified Gold in Australia in August 2021, for sales and streams in excess of 35,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
- Bob Ferguson – producer
- Les Leverett – cover photo
- Al Pachucki – recording engineer
- Dolly Parton – lead vocals
- Roy Shockley – recording technician
- Bob Simpson – remastering
- Bill Vandevort – recording technician
- Porter Wagoner – liner notes