Although Dolly Parton had already become a household name and scored a number of country hits at the time this show was recorded for the popular Live At The Bottom Line radio concert series, it was an important show for her career. She was quickly making a transition to world-class performer and her chart topping hit single, "Here You Go Again," released the same year, would take her where she wanted to go. The last of three nights at the legendary music room, this show was essentially Parton’s New York coming out. "They…entire summary
Dolly Parton - vocals, guitar, banjo
Rod Smarr - guitar
Unknown - bass
Unknown - drums
Unknown - keyboards
Although Dolly Parton had already become a household name and scored a number of country hits at the time this show was recorded for the popular Live At The Bottom Line radio concert series, it was an important show for her career. She was quickly making a transition to world-class performer and her chart topping hit single, "Here You Go Again," released the same year, would take her where she wanted to go. The last of three nights at the legendary music room, this show was essentially Parton’s New York coming out. "They told me people in New York City don’t like country music,” Parton exclaims early on in the show, "and you people LOVE country, dontcha?”
By the time this performance was recorded, Parton was extremely comfortable with her audience and any apprehension she had coming into the Big Apple was long gone. In fact, the only aspect of the show that people might question is the fact that Parton talks so much in between numbers. Speaking as if she was performing to family and friends in her own living room, Parton tells the audience about everything – who inspired each song; the fact that she went that afternoon to friend Lily Tomlin’s one-woman Broadway show; and that she took the time to buy new shoes while in Manhattan. Her banter is charming, but the music is the real selling point to this show.
Working with a pop/rock savvy band, Gypsy Fever, and opening with a country/pop hybrid arrangement of the Jackie Wilson classic, "Higher & Higher,” (which had been a Top 10 hit just the year before for Rita Coolidge), Parton goes through a number of her best loved songs, including "All I Can Do,” "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?,” "Light of A Clear Blue Morning,” "Holding On To You,” and even the sappy but endearing story song, "Me And My Little Andy.”
This show proves why Parton has successfully made the crossover from traditional country artist to full-blown international music and film superstar. She plays guitar on part of the show and showcases her extraordinary songwriting ability with tracks such as "Applejack,” where she plays banjo, and the original version of "I Will Always Love You.” Dolly Parton wrote the original song long before it was a smash #1 hit for pop diva Whitney Houston as the central theme for the film Bodyguard
Parton does the traditional "There’s No Place Like Home,” which she uses to break into a soulful version of "My Tennessee Mountain Home.” But the highlight of the show is also arguably the best song she ever wrote: "Jolene,” her plea to another woman to stop stealing her man. Even those who are not necessarily country fans will like this show for its pure entertainment appeal and Dolly’s undeniable charisma.
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