Brown eyed women quote
Beginning notes
Book reviews
In memory of Dolly Parton, here are a few of the reviews featuring her work that we’ve published over the years.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s Dolly returned to her roots with a series of bluegrass albums. David reviewed the second in the series, Little Sparrow. ‘The songs range from gospel hymns to country classics, from Dolly originals to Cole Porter! Each song, whether swinging or melancholic, utilizes the band well but ultimately centers on the crystal clear voice of Dolly Parton.’
A little while back I reviewed The Complete Trio Collection, a compilation of the recordings made by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, a three CD set of the two Trio albums plus a bonus disc of pre-Trio releases, which I liked best. ‘You can also get this disc separately, which I’d recommend. It has “Mr. Sandman,” “Cowgirls,” and A.P. Carter’s “Are You Tired Of Me,” plus a superb alternate version of “Wildflowers,” a great version of “Waltz Across Texas Tonight,” a stepped-up, fast gospel style version of Dolly’s “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” plus a rocking version of the Staple Singers “You Don’t Knock.” ‘
I’ve also reviewed a couple of various artists projects that Dolly contributed to, including Divided & United, The Songs Of The Civil War, on which she sang with Stuart Duncan on “Listen To The Mockingbird.” ‘This album made my list of the Top 10 of 2013, and I’m surprised, nay shocked it didn’t make more such lists. All fans and supporters of American vernacular music ought to be listening to Divided & United, The Songs Of The Civil War. It’s that important, and it’s that good.’
The other VA compilation is a tribute to Dolly, Just Because I’m A Woman, from 2003. I said it had a pretty high ratio of good covers to mediocre ones, as these things go. ‘The highlights of this collection are Norah Jones’ cool, piano-driven cover of the title track from Parton’s 1999 bluegrass breakout, The Grass is Blue; and Joan Osborne’s classy take on one of Dolly’s folkier songs, “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.” Jones’ particular brand of understated balladry is perfectly suited to this bluesy song, and Osborne’s warm vocals are deftly anchored in a simple, rootsy arrangement.’
Dolly sang an amazing song of hers with a then very young Emmy Rossum on a compilation taken from and inspired by the movie Songcatcher. It remains one of my favorite songs of the past 25 years, and the whole album is pretty good, too. ‘Sandwiched in between “Pretty Saro” and “Barbara Allen” is “When Love is New,” an utterly charming duet between Rossum and Dolly Parton, who wrote the song. Rossum’s achingly clear and unaffected alto blends perfectly with Parton’s sharp but undeniably mature “high-lonesome” soprano in this song that pits youthful passion against the wisdom of age in matters of love.’
Teddy Thompson is a big Dolly fan, and he included one of hers in his superb 2023 album My Love of Country. It’s a duet with Aoife O’Donovan on the song “Love And Learn” which she recorded in the ’60s. ‘On this album he rolls out a bunch of classics, a couple of deep cuts, and one well-placed surprise, and he does it all with tears in your beer authenticity that reveal his own love of the music.’
“Brown-Eyed Women”
Beginning notes
Book reviews
Music reviews
Brown eyed women as performed by Robert Hunter, who composed aNd it.
