The Only Dolly Parton Album You'll Ever Need
This is the essential Dolly Parton cd.

My favorite singer live from her own theme park
Dolly established her theme park in the region of East Tennessee where she was born and raised, and sometimes performs there herself. These recordings were made in 1994, and remind us of Dolly's musical as well as her geographical roots.

Dolly performs several of her own oldies. It would have been interesting to hear some of her pop-country hits like Here you come again given a traditional country treatment, but Dolly avoided those. However, it is nice to hear new versions of My blue tears, Applejack, Coat of many colors and My Tennessee mountain home. Longer than always is a song Dolly first recorded as a duet with Porter Wagoner, but titled Is forever longer than always. Smoky mountain memories was originally recorded for Burlap and satin, but titled Appalachian memories.

Most interesting of all is the inclusion of To daddy. Dolly originally recorded this in 1976 for the All I can do album, then let her friend Emmylou hear it. Emmylou immediately recorded it herself and Dolly dropped it from the album, replacing it with another song. The original version eventually appeared on a compilation, The essential Dolly Parton.

Traditional songs are also included, among them Mary of the wild moor, In the pines, Barbara Allen and Wayfaring stranger, as well as a couple of country golden oldies - I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes and Night train to Memphis.

Essential Dolly Parton listening
This is a live album of a concert Dolly performed at Dollywood in 1994. There's a great mixture of old hits, new material, and other songs. There's quite a few guests all over the concert including Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, Darrin Vincent, Suzanne Cox, Altan, Carl Jackson, and more. She sings classics like "My Tennessee Mountain Home", "My Blue Tears", "Coat Of Many Colors", "Smoky Mountain Memories", "To Daddy", and more. There's some great songs like "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes", "Barbara Allen", "Night Train To Memphis", "Applejack", "Wayfaring Stranger", etc. "Heartsong" is a great new song, but the closing "PMS Blues" steals the show, it's hilarious! Dolly puts on a great show. It's very personal, as she shares stories about growing up and her family, talking to the audience between most songs. Overall a treat to listen to, and worth its place in any Dolly collection.

Trip Down Memory Lane-LIVE at Dollywood!
'Heartsongs' was a wonderful discovery I found at a souvenir shop at Dollywood in Pidgeon Forge, Tennessee. It's a LIVE album done on the Dollywood grounds at The Pines theater. It's a real treat to see one of Dolly Parton's LIVE performances and if you're ever fortunate please do so. Dolly can really put on a fabulous show. Not all the flash of any other concerts you go to. Dolly is down home flair and makes you feel like you never left home. This album is a collections of Dolly's show that stems from many of her past works in TV, radio and her roots.

Her guests are the Irish band, Altan who accompanies her on "Barbara Allen." Some of the musicals pieces are witty and funny. And, others are a blend of old-timey folk tunes, a little of the blues and traditional spirituals like, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "Hold Fast to the Right." and "Brave Little Soldier." Some of her songs reflect the closeness and love of family like, "To Daddy" and her childhood memories, "Coat of Many Colors" and "Smoky Mountain Memories." Dolly's electic mixture of songs will keep you entertained every minute. It will bring back memories of her musical endevours on the Porter Waggoner show. Remember her promoting products like Cas Walker store and Black Draught. Well, like she said much as she hated that Black Draught commerical she had to make a living. For some of you yun'uns who don't know what Black Draught is-it's a laxative! :). You'll fall all over yourself silly when you listen to the hiliarious, poking fun of "PMS Blues." If you're a Dolly Parton fan or just love old time good entertainment I'd recommend this. It's a trip down memory lane.