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

Dolly Parton

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 2003)
• Original Release Date: October 14, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sugarhill
• ASIN: B0000C9JD6
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,402 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 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

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:

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

By A Customer

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.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag, March 13, 2004

By	"stormy3" (Austin) - See all my reviews

This album is like the girl with the curl--when it is good, it is very good, when it is bad, it's horrid. That being said the majority of the album is worth the money. However, I will break this down into the good, the bad and what I liked that others might not.
The Bad:
Suprisingly the first track on the album is "9 to 5" by Allison Krauss--a noramlly good song by a normally good singer. However, she slows it way down and mumbles the whole thing, removing the punch the song needs. Another big shocker is the normally good Melissa Etheridge doing an achingly dull "I will always Love You."
The Okay:
Norah Jones does a good version of "the Grass is Blue" but it is really predictable.
Mindy Smith's "Jolene" fell into the good category until I heard the one on One Moment More with it's haunting duet ending.
Shania Twain's "Coat of Many Colors" actually sounds country--unfortunately they cruelly plopped her between country's most heavenly voice Emmylou Harris and twang so sharp it can slice cheese Kasey Chambers. Unfortunately, you can really tell that this song was recorded in four pieces (AKUS instrumentals, Twain's vocals, AKUS vocals, Parton's voclas) and Twain just doesn't have the vocals to really let go and give this song the emotional push it needs.
Dolly Parton's "Just Because I'm A Woman" (bonus Track) is slightly dated, but more than anything else the open and emotional version she did originally is far superior than this overproduced attempt at empowerment. (If she wanted female empowerment she should have sung "Eagle When She Flies" and not simply added an R&B backdrop to a song involving the lyrics "Now a man will take a good girl/and you ruined her reputation/but when he wants to marry that's a different situation.")
The Good:
Surprisingly, the best cover on the album is from soulful rocker Joan Osbourne on a remarkable back-yard sounding "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind." Here is a rock singer who has talked about doing a country album that shows the vocal chops and musical knowledge to do it.
Shelby Lynne pulls a whole river full of Alabama gospel to turn out a moving "The Seeker."
Emmylou Harris' "To Daddy" disappoints by being the only track on the album previously recorded, but it is one of the best female country songs ever, so, what can you say.
Kasey Chambers does a driving version of "Little Sparrow." Musically, this is pretty much what you would expect form her, but she brings an amazing level of anger to her vocals, so different from the wounded hurt we have grown used to.
Allison Moorer's "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" suffers slightly from the retro production (read record scratchy) yet, the simple, quite joy she brigns to the lyrics takes your breath away.
Stuff I loved which may be off putting:
Sinead O' Connor's "Daggar Through The Heart" starts off stilted, but gets into the rage of he song really well.
I am a HUGE Me'shell N'degeocello fan and I love her rendition of "Two Doors Down," but others might find the funky, sultry mix way too non-country.