The Essential Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 18, 1996)
• Original Release Date: June 18, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002WXA
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,237 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #40 in Music > Country > Classic Country > Nashville Sound

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Before George (Jones) and Tammy (Wynette), before Conway (Twitty) and Loretta (Lynn), there was Porter and Dolly (1967-1974), originally brought together on Porter's laxative-sponsored TV show. With Wagoner's steady baritone anchoring Parton's gossamer soprano, the two breathed such emotional life into their songs of heated love and marital strife that many of their fans thought the pompadoured Porter and the cantilevered Dolly were husband and wife. While the majority of their duet albums included a dead-baby-gone-to-Jesus special, this compilation happily eschews all religious references except Dolly's gospelish tribute to her grandfather, "Daddy Was an Old-Time Preacher Man." What satisfies most is the carefully constructed harmonies, the two voices sliding in and out of prominence, then launching into a thrilling mix and breaking and gliding again. When they hit their stride on "Holding on to Nothin'," the most dramatic and cathartic performance here, they take a back seat to no other duet team in history. -Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best available introduction to Porter and Dolly's duets, July 26, 2002

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton (Audio CD)

Dolly has been my favorite singer since I started collecting music seriously, but quite apart from the brilliance of her own music, she also has an outstanding catalog of recordings made with others - in recent years with Kenny, Linda, Emmylou, Tammy and Loretta as well as numerous guest appearances with many different singers. Yet, some of the best recordings Dolly ever made were her duets with Porter.

They recorded a lot of albums, all of which I bought on vinyl. This is the strongest compilation of their music so far released. Fifteen of the tracks can also be found on 20 greatest hits, yet if you use Billboard as a guide, the 20 tracks here were actually their 20 greatest hits. None of their songs about unlucky children are included here, but if you want those, two of them (Silver sandals and Jeannie's afraid of the dark) can be found on the other collection, along with Just between you and me, Before I met you and Forty miles from Poplar Bluff. To make may for those without increasing the number of tracks, they dropped Always always, The right combination, Together always, We found it and Say forever you'll be mine.

Many of the songs Porter and Dolly recorded were written by Dolly, including (on this set) Tomorrow is forever, Daddy was an old time preacher man, Lost forever in your kiss, Together always, Say forever you'll be mine. Porter also contributed by writing The right combination, Burning the midnight oil and We found it. Two of their biggest hits (Please don't stop loving me and If you go I'll follow you) were written by Porter and Dolly together.

They also recorded covers - not as many as was the custom in those days, but always well chosen. They had hits with The last thing on my mind (Tom Paxton), Yours love (previously a hit for Waylon), Just someone I used to know (originally a hit for George Jones, but titled A girl I used to know), If teardrops were pennies (first a hit for Carl Smith) and Making plans, written by Johnny Russell (who later also did a duet with Dolly on the song).

The other songs are excellent originals, written by a variety of writers. Every song on this collection is a masterpiece. Anybody who claims to be a true Dolly fan needs some of her duets with Porter, a fine singer with a nice baritome voice, but who will be forever remembered for his work with Dolly, despite being the first to have a hit with Green green grass of home and making many other wonderful records.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unamtched duo, June 29, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton (Audio CD)

In August of 1999, TNN will present Dolly Parton and Vince Gill paying tribute to Porter Wagoner. In spite of Dolly's tumultuous relationship with Porter, these two created a snappy, in sync sound that would in many ways foreshadow modern country. One of my favorite songs on the album is "Better Move It On Home," a song in which Dolly and Porter create an image of the modern couple that resonated with working class families to the point that many who watched THE PORTER WAGONER SHOW thought that they were married.

Dolly would eventually write "I Will Always Love You," to explain her feelings to Porter once she left the show.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable compilation!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Porter and Dolly had what something special, April 1, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Louisville, kY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton (Audio CD)

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton had a special combination that can't be matched! While listening to these wonderful songs you remeber the days of country music that was all about the song! Today's country tries to be a fashion show while older country songs tell stories! Porter and Dolly tell many beautiful stories through thsi compilation! Only make you long more for a reunion album!!!! END