The Bottom Line
Dolly recorded this live at her theater in Dollywood. It is a great album, and one that pays tribute to her roots. It is the album that started her return to the music she loves. One of Ireland's top musicians, Altan, is a guest on the album and contributes an authentic flavor to the Celtic sound that is a large part of today's Bluegrass. Of my many Dolly albums, this is probably my favorite.
Pros
- "Coat of Many Colors"
- "PMS Blues"
- "Barbara Allen"
Cons
- None.
Description
- 23 tracks of career spanning material.
- A live Dolly concert complete with commentary.
- Produced by Dolly Parton and released by Blue Eye Records.
Guide Review - Dolly Parton - Heartsongs
'Heartsongs' was recorded live in 1994 in Dollywood. It is probably my favorite album out of the many, many Dolly albums I have. Dolly started out with a pure country sound, and after awhile, she crossed over to more of a pop sound to sell her records. This record was a homecoming for her, both in location and in material. One of the comments she makes in the album is that now she can record the music she loves because she doesn't need the money anymore. One of the things I've always loved about Dolly, other than her incredible singing voice, is her simplistic honesty. During this show, she acknowledges her mom and dad who are in the audience and throughout the show she talks a lot about the love of her family.She sings a few of her chart toppers like "Coat of Many Colors," "AppleJack" and "My Tennesse Mountain Home." She throws in some old songs she sang with her family while she was growing up (including background stories as to why they are special for her). Songs like "In The Pines," Mary of the Wild Moor" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus." Altan joins her for "Barbara Allen." And she talks a little about her days starting out when she was part of the Cas Walker Radio show. She sings a few commercials from that era. And she also sings a song called "PMS Blues." Yes indeed, it is exactly what you think it is. Dolly has a great sense of humor. This album is a great addition to any music collection.