Search - Dolly Parton :: Mission Chapel Memories: 1971-1975

Odd but welcome selection of Dolly's artistic best years

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a lovely compilation, obviously compiled by a Dolly fan (John Dowler) frustrated at the lack of Dolly music from this period available on CD. The few original albums which have been released in Britain and America haven't been released in Australia, otherwise the compiler may have come up with a slightly different selection. There are three famous songs here (Coat of many colors, Jolene and Bargain store), no doubt put there to make the CD saleable to a wider public. (We still await the definitve greatest hits for this period of Dolly's music.)So, tracks 1 to 4, 15 to 18 and 22 were already available on CD.Tracks 5 to 8 are taken from the Touch your woman LP, including Love is only as strong as your weakest moment (an obvious truth, but very well done).Tracks 9 to 12 are taken from the My favorite songwriter Porter Wagoner LP, which I consider to be the weakest album Dolly recorded during this period - it's still a great album by normal standards, but Dolly's standards during this period were exceptional.Tracks 13 and 14 are from the brilliant but under-rated Bubbling over album. My kind of man and Pleasant as May are much appreciated, but why just the two? Another track from this album, Love you're so beautiful tonight, was added as a bonus track to the British twofer, Jolene/My Tennessee mountain home.Tracks 19 to 21 are from Love is like a butterfly, an album full of rural images.Tracks 23 and 24 are from Bargain store, which was mostly filled with romantic love songs (the only exception being Kentucky gambler, not included here, which was covered by Merle Haggard).You will notice that no tracks are taken from My Tennessee mountain home. John Dowler thinks these tracks are less good taken separately. I disagree, but that album is available on CD anyway, so it doesn't matter.The sleeve notes are extensive, but don't mention or show a picture of the Touch your woman LP, although it is credited in the track listing. I think a section got cut out by mistake, but it's the music that counts.This is a collection compiled primarily for Dolly's legions of fans, but it will also appeal to fans of traditional country music who want some Dolly music without any of the pop-flavored music she later became famous for."

Nostalgic Dolly

Peter Durward Harris | 10/29/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't expect this to be another greatest hit album. Instead, this album is a combination of songs that show the best of Dolly's writing and pure country sound. For the majority, only two songs will stand out, Coat of Many Colors and Jolene. The others were never hits, and probably not even released to radio. For the most part this is a very decent album, and a must have for any Dolly fan. There are some songs that it is great that they have finally seen the light, but you just have to wonder if there were others one out there better. Some of the songs dont display the perfection of Dolly's voice, such as "Love is Only Strong and "Loneliness Found Me." The selection of songs are not that great but among them a few do stand out, such as "Mission Chapel Memories," which you can just visualize Dolly standing in a church singing this song. "Will he be Waiting" stands out for here you can listen to a young Dolly sign this song and than pop in the album The Grass is Blue and hear her sign that same song bluegrass style. A very lovely and unique song is "Sacred Memories" where Dolly tells a story and interjects hymns in the song. A very touching song. I would not recommend this album to someone who wants to hear the strength of Dolly's voice, but I would recommend it to someone who wants to experience the brillance of her songwriting ability."

Finally Hard Core Dolly On CD!!!!!!!!!

Allen Chapman | STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT USA | 10/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, here are the tracks on this Australian compilation:
Coat Of Many Colors, If I Lose My Mind, The Mystery Of The Mystery, She Never Met A Man, Love Is Only As Strong, Will He Be Waiting?, Loneliness Found Me, Mission Chapel Memories, Comes & Goes, Oh He's Everything, He Left Me Love, Still On Your Mind, My Kind Of Man, Pleasant As May, Jolene, When Someone Wants To Leave, Living On Memories Of You, Lonely Comin' Down, Highway Heading South, Once Upon A Memory, Sacred Memories, The Bargain Store, On My Mind Again, When I'm Gone.
Now you probably see that there aren't too many hit singles in this collection. What these are, some of Dolly's great album cuts from her early 70's period. Most of these songs have never been released on CD. The albums sampled are: "Coat Of Many Colors", "Touch Your Woman", "My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner", "Bubbling Over", "Jolene", "Love Is Like A Butterfly" and "The Bargain Store". This is all hard core Dolly, prior to here pop crossover success in the mid 70's. The majority of these tracks were written by Dolly herself, with a handful by Porter Wagoner and one by her Uncle Bill Owens. If all you know of Dolly is "9 to 5" or "Here You Come Again" you may not be too impressed with this collection. But if you remember Dolly when she was more known for her songwriting skills and plantive singing style, then you'll want to pick this disc up. These are some great rare tracks from albums that haven't seen the light of day in years!!!"