Just Because I'm a Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sugarhill
• ASIN: B0000C9JD6
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,067 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #39 in Music > Country > Bluegrass > Traditional
  • #69 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Country Folk
  • #80 in Music > Country > Bluegrass > Contemporary

Track Listings

1. 9 To 5 - Alison Krauss

2. I Will Always Love You - Melissa Etheridge

3. The Grass In Blue - Norah Jones

4. Do I Ever Cross Your Mind - Joan Osborne

5. The Seeker - Shelby Lynne

6. Jolene - Mindy Smith

7. To Daddy - Emmylou Harris

8. Coat of Many Colors - Shania Twain

9. Little Sparrow - Kasey Chambers

10. Dagger Through The Heart - Sinead O'Connor

11. Light Of A Clear Blue Morning - Allison Moorer

12. Two Doors Down - Me'Shell N'Degeocello

13. Just Because I'm A Woman - Dolly Parton

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It’s Joan Osborne who sums it up best in the promotional material accompanying this tribute album: " Dolly Parton is a gifted artist cleverly disguised as a media superstar and sex bomb." Osborne’s got it right. Beyond and beneath Parton’s well-publicized and oft-caricatured curves and angles, lurks the heart and soul of one of modern country music’s very best songwriters--the best, perhaps, since the great Loretta Lynn. In fitting celebration of the 35th anniversary of the release of Just Because I’m A Woman, Parton’s very first solo album, contemporary leading ladies of country and pop, including Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain, Joan Osborne, Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, and Sinead O’Connor have offered up worthy new interpretations of some of Parton’s classic compositions. That said, some of the highlights here are from lesser-known singers: Mindy Smith’s haunting rendition of "Jolene," Kasey Chambers’ bitter-sweet take on "Little Sparrow," and Allison Moorer’s tender turn on "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning." --Bob Allen

Product Description

DOLLY PARTON Just Because Im A Woman (2003 US 13-track CD album featuring well known artists covering Dollys tracks includes tracks from Melissa Etherisge Joan Osborne Shania Twain and Emmylou Harris also includes the title track performedby Dolly herself complete with lyric booklet picture sleeve SUG-CD-3980-A)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Dolly, you done good.", October 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Just Because I'm a Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton (Audio CD)

Some of Dolly's best songs are given warm and soulful treatments by a number of talented women on this great new cd. It's interesting how many of them have found an earthy, bluesy vibe in the songs ,a marked contrast with Doll'ys original versions, and given them a distinct personal stamp. Alison Krauss kicks things off with a slowed down, bluesed up "9 To 5". Norah Jones' take on "The Grass Is Blue" could easily fit right into her own repertoire. Joan Osborne stands out on a version of " Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" that ranks among the best I've heard, and showcases her remarkable talent. Shelby Lynne takes a gutsy swing at "The Seeker" . Newcomer Mindy Smith gives "Jolene" an edgey, desperate interpretation that is perfect. Emmylou's classic take on "To Daddy" finds it's way back into our hearts. While Sinead O'Connor sounds like Lady MacBeth on a raging and vengeful "Dagger Through The Heart" ( a far cry from Dolly's own sad and tearful version). But the highlight of the record is Allison Moorer's version of "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning". It's intimate and tender, slow and comforting. Conjuring the warmth of the sun and the hope of a brand new day it is truly evocative and incredibly sensual. A comparison to Dusty Springfield may be overused but is truly in order. Can't say enough. Overall, a wonderful tribute record to a talented songwriter and singer.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't really a Dolly Parton fan, but love this CD, November 11, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Just Because I'm a Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton (Audio CD)

I haven't been a fan of Dolly Parton (really out of ignorance; I haven't seriously listened to her music), but when I saw Shania Twain talk about and sing Coat of Many Colors w/Dolly Parton on Oprah, then saw Norah Jones & DP sing The Grass is Blue on the Country Music Awards, I had to get this CD. Because the songs are sung by musicians I already appreciated (Twain and Jones), I knew it wouldn't be a bad purchase. It has actually proven to be a great purchase. For someone who isn't that familiar w/DP, it is a great way to get introduced to what a great songwriter she is. The lyrics and tunes are really awesome. On the critical side, I would say that in my opinion, I do not like the Kasey Chambers number. The rest are great. Some are greater than others. The best in my opinion are the songs sung by Twain, Kraus, Osborne, Jones, Lynne, & Smith. I will be replaying those over and over for a long time. Because of this CD, I have come to appreciate DP and am now looking around for her older stuff.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of Dolly's Songwriting Skills, October 14, 2003

By 

Karl Miller "kemspeaks" (Phoenixville, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Because I'm a Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton (Audio CD)

Long before Dolly became America's favorite punch line, she was an accomplished songwriter, who never got her due because of the roots/country nature of her songs. After 35 years, someone has finally figured out what it takes to show the rest of the world (read: non-Dolly fans) what huge talent this woman was gifted with.
The songs on "Just Because" represent some of the best female authored country songs of the last 50 years, and the talent lined up to perform on this tribute should guarantee some major recognition of this project. And with all of the stars appearing here, it is wonderful to see that a relative unknown steals the spotlight - Mindy Smith's take on Dolly's best song "Jolene" is vocalized in just the manner the lyrics require - this story of a woman pleading for a homewrecker to leave her man alone requires both forthrightness and hurt, and Mindy nails the performance.
Melissa Ethridge's take on "I Will Always Love You" helps you realize what a perfect pop song this is - of course, it is rougher than Dolly's original, and more musically interesting than Whitney's remake.
Love hearing Joan Osbourne and Meshelle Ndegeocello on this project - they have two of the most unique voices in music, and have been given songs that meet their talent very nicely. And its great to hear Shelby Lynne's quite updated take on "The Seeker" - gospel type music (though this is a vastly different arrangement than the original) suits Shelby's husky vocalizing.
Even Shnia Twain's version of "Coat Of Many colors" (a personal Dolly favorite) is well rendered - its suprising to hear what happens when Shania takes it down a notch from her usual grandstanding.
The album closes with Dolly performing the title track of this tribute - this song is from her debut, released 35 years ago, and while updated for this project, the song remains soft and gorgeous - just like Dolly herself.
Great project with a number of outstanding contributions - let's hope this gets enough play that people discover these great old songs, and also get more of an insight into Dolly's many musical talents.