With a catalogue of over fifty studio albums, both solo and as a duet partner, and a reported 3,000+ songs, it's hard to dispute Dolly Rebecca Parton's standing as a reigning queen of country music. Still, such an appellation sells Parton short, seeing as she's also an actress, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist with multiple Grammy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, the National Medal of Arts, and Oscar and Tony nominations. Even when crossing over onto the pop charts or courting a wide audience, however, Parton has never lost sight of her Tennessee mountain home and Southern roots. In 1969, another Tennessee icon arrived on the scene, the Cracker Barrel restaurant and country store. Though the chain hasn't been without its share of controversy over the years, it's endured as a favorite destination of travelers with over 600 locations nationwide. Parton first teamed with Cracker Barrel for an exclusive edition of her 2008 album Backwoods Barbie, and has recently delivered to the chain a new CD/DVD set via her Dolly Records label. An Evening with...Dolly is essentially a reissue of the singer's 2009 CD/DVD Live from London with a number of changes.
An Evening with...Dolly, like Live from London, is drawn from the superstar's concerts at London's O2 Arena on July 5 and 6, 2008. At those shows, Parton played a variety of her greatest hits including songs by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil ("Here You Come Again") and the Brothers Gibb ("Islands in the Stream") and of course, her own songbook ("9 to 5," "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" and the inevitable "I Will Always Love You," which has recently taken on a new resonance). She also tapped Backwoods Barbie for a number of new songs including its title track from the 9 to 5 stage musical, "Shinola," "Only Dreaming" and "Better Get to Livin'."
How does the Cracker Barrel edition differ from the original release? Hit the jump!
The Cracker Barrel edition only features 13 audio tracks vs. the original's 15 songs. "Better Get to Livin'," "Shinola," "Backwoods Barbie" and "Jesus and Gravity," all from Backwoods Barbie, have been dropped from the track listing. Two previously unreleased bonus tracks have been added, live versions of "My Tennessee Mountain Home" from Parton's 1973 album of the same name and "Shattered Image" from 1976's All I Can Do. The DVD's 15 tracks echo the original song line-up.
Parton commented of the new release, "I think my fans and Cracker Barrel guests have a great deal in common even when I'm performing in Europe. I'm just an old fashioned Tennessee girl, so no matter where I am, that part of me reaches straight into the audience and we have a grand old time together. I'm happy to be able to bring this London concert back home to share with Cracker Barrel's guests." Retailing exclusively at Cracker Barrel for $11.99, An Evening with...Dolly offers good value for those who might have missed out the first time or those who are Parton completists. It's available at Cracker Barrel stores now, and can be ordered at the link below!
Dolly Parton, An Evening with...Dolly (Dolly Records 925, 2009 - reissued Cracker Barrel/Dolly Records 2012)
CD:
- Two Doors Down
- Jolene
- Coat of Many Colors
- Only Dreaming
- Little Sparrow
- The Grass is Blue
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
- Here You Come Again
- Islands in the Stream
- 9 to 5
- I Will Always Love You
- Shattered Image (previously unreleased live bonus track)
- My Tennessee Mountain Home (previously unreleased live bonus track)
DVD:
- Two Doors Down
- Jolene
- Backwoods Barbie
- Coat of Many Colors
- Only Dreaming
- Better Get to Livin'
- Shinola
- Little Sparrow
- The Grass is Blue
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
- Here You Come Again
- Islands in the Stream
- 9 to 5
- I Will Always Love You
- Jesus and Gravity
Shaun says
Being sold at Cracker Barrel because, of course it is.