Dance With Dolly...

So here's another download post. (Is anybody even downloadin' em? Let me know if ya are!)

When "Heartbreaker" was released in 1978, Dolly's popularity was really coming into it's own. She was ALL over the place. It was only natural and only a matter of time really before extended mixes of singles were released. And that's just what happened with two tracks from "Heartbreaker."

It's a very eclectic album, I think, that never really got it's due. It was pretty thoroughly trashed by critics. They felt that Dolly had gone pop. And I guess she had. ("Sure Thing" is about as far away from country as you one can get.) But to dismiss "Heartbreaker" is to miss the beauty and simplicity of "The Man." Or to miss the honesty and truth in "Nickels and Dimes." Or to miss the heartbreak and palpable hurt in my favorite track from the album, "It's Too Late to Love Me Now."

But I digress. This is not a review of "Heartbreaker."

Anyway, with the release of the album and the success of "Baby I'm Burnin'" on the pop charts, RCA released "Dance With Dolly" on special pink vinyl. It contained two special extended mixes of the hit single and "I Wanna Fall In Love." (Which, by the way, contains Dolly's raciest lyric ever. Bonus prize for the first person who posts it!)

I've also included extended mixes of "Save the Last Dance For Me" from "The Great Pretender" and "Potential New Boyfriend" from "Burlap & Satin." And from the 90's, the line dance mixes of "Romeo" and "More Where That Came From."

And as an added bonus, I've also uploaded a white label mix of "Baby I'm Burnin'." (The 5'10 Mix.) I kinda like it and I hope you do to.

Here's the link...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/1502y5

Don't Stop Dreamin'...

Okay... so I promised gifts in exchange for your having to put up with reading this blog. (Hopefully I'll have a reader one time or another.)

The link below will lead you to a download for all the songs included on Episode 6 of Miss Dolly's ill fated 80's variety show, "Dolly!" Honestly, I do not have anything but good memories of the show. It was the time that I fell in love with the buxom blonde from Sevierville. And even if the show was corny and was dated, it still showcased some of Dolly's classic songs. Plus, she never looked better. All of the costumes designed for the show, (Tony Chase was an absolute genius.) were absolutely beautiful. And her hair never looked better either. (God bless David Blair.)


She was incredibly thin though. There was that one episode with Tammy Wynette where she wore the green pantsuit and practically looked anorexic. But she put the weight back on gradually.

And I digress.

Episode 6 has always been my favorite. The dress in the above picture is the one she wore. Her hair was a little bigger and more bleach blonde. It's my absolute favorite Dolly look of all time.

The songs included are "Don't Stop Dreamin'," a never before released song. It's Dolly penned I believe. It's very catchy and a little bit corny. Sounds as if it might have been a "Rainbow" cast-off. "The Night Life" was one of those very embarassing performances that Sandy Gallin had Dolly do. You know the ones! Where she's standing on this huge ass star and singing torch songs. (She did three, actually. The others will be posted somewhere down the line.) She actually did "The Night Life" on her 70's show as well. This version is pretty good. It definitely re-inforces my belief that she should one day do a standards album. (Can you imagine her version of "Moon River?" Makes me shiver.)

"I'm a Drifter" comes from the Dixie's Place segments. The best part of the show for me. Showcased Ms. Dolly's acting talents. And in this instance, showcased a song that needs to be redone. "Appalachian Memories" is, of course, one of her better known songs. (It's "Smoky Mountain Memories" now.) It's probably in my top ten of her best written songs.

"Look on the Bright Side" is a short little piece that she used to open the (very rehearsed I might add) Q&A section of the show. It appeared originally (with more verses) in "Smoky Mountain Christmas." (I'll post that sometime too.) "The Seeker" is a Dolly standard. This version is probably my favorite of all the ones she's done. I just love her vocals on it.

And finally, there's "I Will Always Love You." She ended every show with the final chorus of the song. (This version happens to my favorite of the 22 versions I have from the 80's show as well.)

Alrightee... so there ya go.

If you happened to stumble upon this blog... and you're a Dolly fan... you're probably in Dolly nirvana right now. And if ya are, let me know.

The link is below. I think I did it right.

Enjoy!

http://www.sendspace.com/file/dmy0ga

And get to livin'!

Better get to bloggin'...

So I've never blogged before. Well... that's not true. But never in this "my official blog" capacity. It's actually kind of exciting actually. For me, at least. But then again, a good steak is known to excite me. So take that as you will.

What will I blog about? Who knows? I don't.

Dolly Parton, of course. That'll probably be what most of these posts will be about. Or at least related to. Most of the things and the happenings in my life are often related to Dolly in one way or another.

I'll gush about how much I absolutely adore Ms. Dolly's version of "This Ole House" from her ill fated 80's show. Or how excited I am that "Backwoods Barbie" is finally seeing the light of the day. And be prepared to hear about my love for the song "Blue Smoke" and the fact that it's never been released commercially. And lest I forget the fact that I'm probably one of twelve Dolly fans who actually like the album "Rainbow." You'll hear about that once or twice.

And as a reward for listening to my incessant Dolly drivel, I'll be posting some of my Dolly treasures for everybody's listening pleasure. Dolly memorabilia collecting is a very dangerous hobby and I've been at it for years.

As a rule, though, I'll never post anything that's still commercially available. Don't want the fabu Ms. Parton losing out on any money. (It does take a lot to look that cheap after all.) But I have oodles and oodles of audio concert footage. And many, many other goodies as well.

So... if you like incredibly random, nearly schizophrenic blogs, you're very much in luck. And if you love, love, love Ms. Parton as much as I do, then you should be one happy camper.

And there'll be other stuff as well. So don't fret if Ms. Dolly doesn't exactly melt your better.

I'll end this one with some advice. If you haven't already done so, click the link on the bottom of the page or head on over to iTunes and download the fabulous new single, "Better Get to Livin'." It's definitely worth the 99 cents.

And well... get to livin'.