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"If I'm gonna be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I'm going to have to earn it," Dolly Parton commented upon her 2022 induction into the Cleveland hall. She promised that a rock and roll album was on the way, and today, she made good on that promise...with what essentially amounts to two such records! On November 17, Dolly's own Butterfly Records in association with Big Machine will release Rockstar, a whopping 2-CD or 4-LP collection with 30 songs featuring some of the biggest names in the genre including Sting, Lizzo, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Simon Le Bon, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, Steve Perry, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton, Joan Jett, Michael McDonald, and many more...oh yeah, and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr!
Rockstar features nine originals and twenty-one classic covers, almost all of which feature one or more special guests. Among the debuts is "What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You," a duet with Stevie Nicks featuring veteran guitarist Waddy Wachtel. The song was demoed (and subsequently bootlegged) by Nicks, but the duet with Parton marks its first official release. "I Dreamed About Elvis" welcomes Ronnie McDowell (who scored a 1977 crossover hit with another tribute to Presley, "The King Is Gone"). Other originals include "World on Fire" and the title track "Rockstar" with ex-Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora.
A number of the guests reinterpret their own classic songs with Dolly, including Blondie's Debbie Harry on "Heart of Glass," Elton John on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," Sting on "Every Breath You Take," Peter Frampton on "Baby, I Love Your Way," Parton's goddaughter Miley Cyrus on "Wrecking Ball," REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on "Keep on Loving You," Heart's Ann Wilson and Howard Leese on "Magic Man," John Fogerty on Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long As I Can See the Light," Steve Perry on Journey's "Open Arms," Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on "Heartbreaker," and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on an all-star "Let It Be" which also welcomes Frampton and Mick Fleetwood. The voice of the late Ronnie Van Zant, who died in 1977, is heard on the album's closing track, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," on which Dolly is also accompanied by Skynyrd's late Gary Rossington (who died on March 5 of this year) and Artimus Pyle.
Parton also revisits Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," which she previously recorded on her 2002 bluegrass album Halos and Horns. She had expressed her hope to get Robert Plant and Jimmy Page reunited on the track, and while that didn't pan out, she's welcomed Lizzo playing the instrument she's dubbed Sasha Flute. Similarly, Parton wished that Mick Jagger would join her on The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Mick was unavailable but P!nk and Brandi Carlile now join Parton on the track. Dolly cuts loose herself on solo covers of Prince's "Purple Rain" and Queen's "We Are the Champions," and pays homage to her Trio friend Linda Ronstadt with a new recording of "You're No Good" with fellow Trio member Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow.
The Dolly-palooza known as Rockstar arrives on November 17 in CD, LP, and digital formats. Target has an exclusive gold LP edition while Vinyl Me, Please will carry the title on white vinyl with an alternate cover. The U.K. has a pink vinyl variant with another different cover. There's still more: independent record stores including Rough Trade will carry an opaque "deep purple" LP with an alternate cover. All formats are available now for pre-order at the links below. The lead track "World on Fire" featuring Richie Sambora hits digital services this Thursday, May 11. Various bundles and a pink vinyl variant are available at Dolly's official store.
Dolly Parton, Rockstar (Butterfly/Big Machine, 2023)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Target-Exclusive 4LP: Target.com
VMP-Exclusive 4LP: Vinylmeplease.com
Indie-Exclusive 4LP: RoughTrade.com
- Rockstar (special guest Richie Sambora)
- World on Fire
- Every Breath You Take (feat. Sting)
- Open Arms (feat. Steve Perry)
- Magic Man (feat. Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese)
- Long As I Can See The Light (feat. John Fogerty)
- Either Or (feat. Kid Rock)
- I Want You Back (feat. Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes)
- What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You (feat. Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel)
- Purple Rain
- Baby, I Love Your Way (feat. Peter Frampton)
- I Hate Myself For Loving You (feat. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
- Night Moves (feat. Chris Stapleton)
- Wrecking Ball (feat. Miley Cyrus)
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (feat. P!nk & Brandi Carlile)
- Keep On Loving You (feat. Kevin Cronin)
- Heart Of Glass (feat. Debbie Harry)
- Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (feat. Elton John)
- Tried To Rock And Roll Me (feat. Melissa Etheridge)
- Stairway To Heaven (feat. Lizzo & Sasha Flute)
- We Are The Champions
- Bygones (feat. Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx & John 5)
- My Blue Tears (feat. Simon Le Bon)
- What's Up? (feat. Linda Perry)
- You're No Good (feat. Emmylou Harris & Sheryl Crow)
- Heartbreaker (feat. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo)
- Bittersweet (feat. Michael McDonald)
- I Dreamed About Elvis (feat. Ronnie McDowell with special guest The Jordanaires)
- Let It Be (feat. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton & Mick Fleetwood)
- Free Bird (feat. Ronnie Van Zant with special guests Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle and The Artimus Pyle Band)
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I don't know about that release...if anything, that is NOT a rock & roll album at all...it's more like a clueless showoff album by a sorta-fan with connections to prove her mettle...it really should have been called "Dollypalooza" than "Rockstar"...the covers are too obvious, not sure if she wrote the originals, and the guests are a mixed bag...I may get it if the overall experience is good, have to see the feedback first...I do love her work, but this thing is an example of trying too hard...just saying...
Someone didn't even bother to read the article and just commented with things that contradict the article showing they are a FOOL.
no I read the article & what I wrote does not contradict it in the least...this thing is a big mistake...the more I look at it, the more I am repulsed by it, as it's a marketing exercise gone totally wrong & clueless...
It's DOLLY...we know what to expect. Like everything else she does, it will be amazing. To suggest she didn't write her own songs is like saying Big Bird isn't yellow. Shame. Shame. Shame...
she's doing a personality record
and has already done gospel, country, pop and dance
so 'rock' is just another belt notch
i don't blame her getting her showbizz chums to help
they all jumped at the chance i bet
sure, but this is NOT a true blue rock & roll album!! it IS a "personality" album, but true rock & roll albums are NOT personality albums!! plus, some of the guests are people I cannot stand, like Lynyrd Skynyrd & Steve Perry...it's a clueless marketing exercise, nothing more nothing less...
The only true rock & roll album with that loads of special guests like that is German band Die Toten Hosen's "Learning English, Lesson One" with all punk covers in English with a key member of the original band as duet partner...now THAT is a fun rock & roll album with loads of cool guests done right!!
she DOES write her own songs...it's her foundation & what got her into the RRHOF, that and her influence...this thing is practically ALL covers...the songs that are not widely known are probably written by the duet partner on the song, like the Stevie Nicks collab...plus at least half of the guests I either hate (Kid Rock, Steve Perry, Lynyrd Skynyrd) or can do without (like Peter Frampton & the half-Beatles)...this project is an unmitigated disaster, sorry...
I thin we should wait to hear it before we pass judgement. She took Stairway To Heaven and Shine and turned them into brilliant bluegrass renditions. I think she's got this. I don't want to hear the originals; as a fan I want her spin on these songs. BT W I pre-ordered the VMP limited version...there's only 1000 copies on vinyl available so they will go quickly.
FYI: the vinyl formats are FOUR LPs, not TWO!
“What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You” is not a Dolly original, it’s a Stevie Nicks song that she wrote in the mid 80’s. Was originally planned for the Fleetwood Mac album “Tango In The Night”.
I am feeling a little "cringey" about this. It could be embarrassing or wonderful. I will need to listen before buying.
the more I look at it, the more cringey I feel...just saw another person on there who is one of the most despicable people in music ever...Kid Rock...even though it is Dolly, I must steer clear on principle, sorry...
I agree she needs to stick to country cause no matter how you spin it it is NOT rock and roll,she doesn't have the voice for it so no she can't pull it off and shame on the real rock stars for even participating. You can blame the Rock and Roll Hall of shame for all of it anyway or should I say the Rock and Roll Hall of Lame
I am not sure about this either. I will reserve judgement until I hear it, but right now I am having flashbacks to 1997 and Pat Boone's "In A Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy" album. My biggest cringe moment was when I saw Stairway To Heaven listed featuring Lizzo. We shall see.
exactly me too...any record like this, that needs special guests to prove its relevance is NOT a rock & roll record by any means...if anything, this record did not have to be made in the first place...she got in the RRHOF because of her songwriting & influence...the best rock & roll records, like Rockpile's "Seconds of Pleasure", have no special guests...it's like she approached this album with a misguided marketing angle, thinking a record dripping with special guests & 21 covers of songs everyone knows will give her credibility...big time errrr....NO!! I may be surprised, but I'm expecting this to be the first steer clear album of 2023...
honey, are you having a breakdown?...or just drink too much caffeine?...i think she probably thought..."how fun...let me sing with some people that i want to, since most of us are old as dirt, and have a good time doing it"...i personally love duet albums...and i'm sure some of the covers will be slightly karaoke...who cares...i have no doubt she wrote the originals...cuz she is constantly writing (as she has said many times)...and even if it was all covers...it's freakin dolly parton...country's biggest diva...and an icon, not just for queers like me, but for everyone...with all the good that she has done, and continues to do...this is just a campy treat as far as i'm concerned...and though i don't like a couple people on here...i'm not going to let it stop me from listening to it, basically for free, on spotify...these days, if you don't want to really "pay for it" go to streaming...i applaud dolly for doing what she wants...as she always has
This is more Scott Borchetta & Big Machine than Dolly really...and no, not having a breakdown, but this thing did give me nightmares!!
Who doesn't love Dolly? But this record is a joke. Her voice just doesn't work on rock records. Listen to her versions of "Help! " and "Great Balls of Fire." They're novelty tunes at best. God bless her effort but where's the audience for this?
this is a mess. run dmc ,missy elliot, james brown,journey, the who, and van halen are the new acts in the country music hall of fame. rock n roll -pat boone agh.
If nothing else, the cover hints at a sense of humor, though.
Agreed. If anything this is promising to be a celebration of camp & style. Dolly has rocked several times on past recordings. Songs like Everyday Hero (a literal ride through Bon Jovi territory), Red Hot Screaming Love (an 80s era Heart homage), Walk The Line (her quasi-metal reading of the Johnny Cash tune), Packin' It Up & Turn Turn Turn (70s & 80s style arena rock tributes, respectively)--all fine examples. I'm looking very forward to this album, expecting it to be a fun, feel good listen. The only thing I'm a bit skeptical of is it veering toward Southern Rock a little too much, especially with the inclusion of Free Bird, Ronnie McDowell & Chris Stapleton--all of which I like, but wasn't expecting. I'm glad Zach Brown doesn't make an appearance, as he was a part of her RRHOF induction & she seems to have included everyone who was with her that night either as a fellow inductee or as someone who was a part of her segment. A few things I see missing are her mentioned recording of Sweet Dreams with Annie Lennox & the participations of Stevie Wonder & Cher. I was kind of hoping Stevie was going to appear on a take of Higher Ground. Oh well, still looking very forward to this.
Dolly is cohosting the Academy of Country Music Awards tonight with Garth Brooks. She is debuting the first single from the album, World On Fire...a song SHE wrote.
Ok, one out of very few non covers here...
Larry, it would be one thing to say, "I don't think the covers are interesting and I don't like some of the guests, so I'll steer clear." But to take the jump to "it's not rock & roll", it's "clueless", to say it's "repulsive" and "an unmitigated disaster", to claim the originals aren't her compositions (they are)... that's all a bit much imo.
No, it's not a true blue rock & roll album a la The Ramones...high energy, concise, no special guests, good AND bad, no obvious & horrible covers...this thing is everything a true blue rock & roll album is NOT supposed to be, a clueless marketing mishmash gone wrong...it's everything I steer clear of...I'm not overreacting here...I was hoping this would be cool & exciting and even interesting, not this...it sounds like Scott Borchetta from Big Machine & Scooter Braun used this as an opportunity to use this as means to show off their connections, to get Dolly & her imprint over to their camp... thought she was with Warner now...it IS a disaster & now another reason to steer clear, to not give Big Machine any more money...what they did to Taylor Swift!!
Who's expecting high energy rock 'n' roll album from the woman who's almost 80? Even the real rockers from the 50's and 60's couldn't do that. And the Ramones in their final years were far from high energy and just the lame version of their heydays. If the original 70's version of the Ramones have been still alive when they have reached same age as Dolly is now they would have been just a total joke!
Actually I am...Dolly at almost 80 is not sluggish in the least,she's still got as much energy than kids in their 20s!! As for the Ramones, I saw their final show in NYC on 2/29/96 and they had as much energy & speed as they did in their 70s prime...so yes, she claimed to be making a true blue rock & roll album, i was expecting a record like Dolly fronting the Ramones or the Dickies...not THAT, a ScottBorchetta helmed joke & marketing disaster...I was expecting credibility, not that...sorry, I'm just quiteangry & let down by what is being released...I thought Dolly would be smarter & more creative about it, not a, um, marketing sellout...
Anything Dolly sings will b great! She has got more talent in her big toe than any of those artist that r on these tracts period!!!
It’s clear that not a lot of people here are aware of Dolly’s output. She’s done cover albums before, in the 80’s she put out “The Great Pretender” an album of 60’s pop covers, in the 90’s “Treasures” which was a mix of country and pop covers, then in the 2000’s she put out “Those Were The Days” which again went back to the 60’s and that album was loaded with guests.
This album is just getting more exposure.
I was under of the impression that the great Dionne Warwick was on this project unless it was cut from it.
I don't believe Dionne was ever intended as a duet partner on "Rockstar," but she and Dolly did release the digital single "Peace Like a River" earlier this year.