| Just Because I'm a Woman, Songs of Dolly Parton - Various Artists | |
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Reviewed by Jolene Downs
Sugar Hill Records is releasing a tribute album to the songs of Dolly Parton. Dolly is an incredible songwriter and this tribute contains hits she has written and recorded over her career. The album is appropriately named Just Because I'm A Woman, Songs of Dolly Parton. The artists that have recorded them are all female, and from different genres of the music field. Dolly appears to sing one new song, the title track. Some other artists you will hear are Alison Krauss, Melissa Etheridge, Norah Jones, Sinead O'Connor, Shania Twain and many more.
As with many tribute albums, the artists have re-arranged the songs to suit their personal style. The lyrics may be the same, but the similarity to the familiar style of Dolly ends there for most of them. If you are originally a Dolly fan, this album will be extremely different from the style you are used to.
Alison Krauss chose the song "9 to 5" to record. She is a bluegrass artist and her voice is smooth and pure and suited to the slow love songs. She has slowed down the song and given it a bluegrass arrangement. It doesn't have that driving, up-tempo beat that the original version had.
Melissa Etheridge recorded a song that a few different people have chosen to cover over the years. "I Will Always Love You" is one of those songs that just 'is', but this version is quite interesting. Melissa comes from the rock music field and has added different instruments and rearranged the song.
"Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" is one of the songs that is fairly close to the original arrangement. Joan Osborne sings this song and does a great job with it.
"Jolene" is a song I have heard throughout my life. No one can sing it like Dolly, but most of the covers I have heard have been acceptable. This version by Mindy Smith isn't too bad. She covers the song well, keeping it fairly close to the original while adding a touch of her personality to it.
Emmylou Harris had a hit a few years ago with "To Daddy." It has always been one of my favorite songs, and what I didn't know was that Dolly had written it. Emmylou chose this song to contribute to the album. It still sounds great.
Shania Twain and Alison Krauss with Union Station team up to do "Coat of Many Colors." This has to be one of the most poignant songs that Dolly has ever written and is very near the top of my list as far as favorite Dolly songs. These two ladies kept the same arrangement and did a wonderful job with the song. Alison's voice is perfect to sing harmony with Shania on the chorus.
Dolly wrote and recorded "Just Because I'm A Woman" just for this album. It is a fairly long song at 5.5 minutes, and she has nailed the trials, tribulations and frustrations of being a woman. She talks about men wanting a bad girl to play with, then trying to find an angel when it is time to talk marriage. She talks about being shot down for things and told you can't accomplish them just because you're a woman. It is a great song, and would make a really nice single for Dolly.
Bottom line is that the songs that were chosen to pay tribute to are excellent choices. Dolly's career is pretty much covered from her early hits up to songs from her latest album. They are just arranged very differently in most cases because of the wide range of genres that are brought together for this album. For those familiar and comfortable with the way Dolly sings them, it may a bit of a shock.
Song List:
- 9 to 5 - Alison Krauss
- I Will Always Love You - Melissa Etheridge
- The Grass Is Blue - Norah Jones
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind - Joan Osborne
- The Seeker - Shelby Lynne
- Jolene - Mindy Smith
- To Daddy - Emmylou Harris
- Coat of Many Colors - Shania Twain with Alison Krauss & Union Station
- Little Sparrow - Kasey Chambers
- Dagger Through the Heart - Sinead O'Connor
- Light of A Clear Blue Morning - Allison Moorer
- Two Doors Down - Me'Shell N'DeGeocello
- Just Because I'm A Woman - Dolly Parton
Album cover used with permission of Sugarhill Records.