Search - Dolly Parton :: Rca Country Legends

Does RCA/BMG just not get it, or do they just not care?

Robert L. Henry Jr. | 02/28/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Sigh. I've pretty much given up on RCA/BMG (at least the American division) to have anything remotely resembling a clue as to what jewels they have in the back catalog of Dolly Parton. Take a look at the plethora of Parton compilations that they currently have in print and you will find that there are already no less than half a dozen of them containing the songs "Here Your Come Again," "9 to 5," and "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You." Don't even ask how many "I Will Always Love You" can be found on. Yet each and every one of those songs can also be found on yet another Parton compilation while virtually all of her albums from her pre-pop RCA period remain out of print in this country aside from JOLENE and the indispensable COAT OF MANY COLORS. As a result there are countless classic songs from Parton's country period that remain unavailable, some of which have NEVER been issued on CD in this country. A handful of these albums are indeed available as imports, but why, oh why, does BMG insist on ignoring domestic issues for these and countless other Parton albums and songs?This compilation DOES solve part of that problem, but it does not go nearly far enough and aside from a couple of songs that have never been available on CD this collection once again relies far too heavily on the same handful of songs that have been collected to death. Enough already!"

Just a Ok Collection, 4 songs making CD debut

Robert L. Henry Jr. | Paden City, WV United States | 06/24/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This collection offers 4 songs unavailable on other collections, but that is the only thing refreshing about this collection. This collection covers much of her older recordings for RCA but for some reason, COAT OF MANY COLORS,one of her biggest hits, and her signature tune, the one tune that everyone thinks of when they think of Dolly has been left off, A OVERSIGHT, no way. Dolly early on wrote songs about her childhood, and along with TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME, COAT OF MANY COLORS display this quite well, but neither song appears on this collection. RCA has made a history of putting out useless, thoughless collections of their greatest singers. RCA used to re-release greatest hits packages with 3 songs cut off. Dolly's career, the RCA years, needs separated into 2 parts, Pre-1977 Dolly and then 1977 to the mid 80's. RCA takes a handful of early 70's tunes then throws on 9-5 with Tennessee Homesick Blues. Coat of Many Colors needs to be on every collection, this is her most remembered tune, along with, "I will Always Love you", the orginal version, forget about the re-made 80's version. Dolly's best work appears on Essential Vol. 2 which should be Volume 1, because it contains most of her greatest early work, but RCA released the 80's works on a CD first before the quality 70's material and called it Essential Volume 1. RCA has always seem to ignore Dolly's early work because most of her early albums remain out of print. The 1975 Best of CD still remains the CD to get introducted to Dolly but now it is getting scare, why who knows. If the 1975 Best of is unavailable, check out the Essential Volume 2 if this CD is hard to find, the 2 CD box set "RCA Years" is the way to go. If the 3 collections mention above are unavailable, buy this "RCA Country Legends" CD and then be prepared to buy 3 or 4 other CD's to go with it, to get all of Dolly's quality material or keep waiting for RCA to release Dolly's old albums on cd."

Same Old, Same Old

Robert L. Henry Jr. | 03/07/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm afraid I have to agree with the two star review below. The problem with this collection is that it is just more of the same old same old that RCA has been releasing for years. Of the 16 tracks here, all but 3 or 4 are already available on many, many, MANY other collections and so we are left being asked to pay some 12 bucks for a handful of songs. Why won't RCA either release all of Dolly's older albums or at least give us a comprehensive compilation of that period instead of repackaging the same songs over and over and over and over and over........."