Backwoods Barbie
| Backwoods Barbie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Dolly Parton | ||||
| Released | February 26, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 48:02 | |||
| Label | Dolly Records / A2M Distribution | |||
| Producer | Dolly Parton, Kent Wells | |||
| Dolly Parton chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Cracker Barrel Deluxe Edition |
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| Singles from Backwoods Barbie | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Digital Spy | [2] |
| Robert Christgau |  [3] |
| Country Universe | [4] |
Backwoods Barbie is the 40th studio album by Dolly Parton, her first mainstream country album in nearly a decade. It was released on February 26, 2008,[5] and is the first commercial release on Parton's own Dolly Records imprint.[6]
Album information
The album contains nine Parton originals.
"Better Get to Livin'" was the lead off single from the album, released to country radio in September 2007.[7] It peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[8] Parton performed the tune on the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars at the end of September[9] and again at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade[10] A music video was released, employing the talents of comedienne and satirist Amy Sedaris. It enjoyed moderate success on CMT's weekly countdowns.
The second single was "Jesus & Gravity", which also charted (peaking at #56). Parton performed the song live on an episode of the seventh season of American Idol. The week was a tribute to her work as a singer and songwriter. It yielded yet another video, directed by Steven "Flip" Lippman. He had previously directed the video for "Better Get to Livin'".
"Shinola" was released as the third single but failed to chart.[11] A music video was released containing footage from Parton's sold out engagements at London's O2 Arena and Belfast's Odyssey Arena on her 2008 Backwoods Barbie Tour. The video was a success on CMT's digital cable channel, Pure Country, peaking at number one.
Fourth single "Drives Me Crazy" was released solely to Adult Contemporary stations. It peaked at number No. 35 there.
The title track, and fourth country single (fifth overall), was used in the score for the "9 to 5" musical that had its world premiere at the Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre in September, 2008 and is set for a Broadway run in 2009.[12] A video was recently released, directed by acclaimed music video director Trey Fanjoy. It alternates between Parton in her Tennessee Mountain Home, (filmed at the Disney Ranch in California) and on the streets of Hollywood Boulevard, being joined by various street performers. The video debuted at No. 17 on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown in April 2009. The video was also ranked No. 40 on GAC's Top 50 Videos of the Year.
The album includes covers of the Smokey Robinson classic "The Tracks of My Tears" and "She Drives Me Crazy" by the Fine Young Cannibals.[13]
It peaked on the Billboard Country Albums chart at No. 2 and also reached No. 17 on the main Billboard album chart. It was Parton's highest-ever debut on the latter chart; it sold about 27,000 copies in its first week.[14]
Parton toured extensively during much of 2008 to promote the album on the Backwoods Barbie Tour touring the United States, Canada and Europe.[15]
In 2009, a special edition featuring three additional tracks was released exclusively to Cracker Barrel stores. This reissue caused the album to re-enter the Billboard Country Albums chart at No. 9, the Billboard Albums Chart at No. 40, and the Billboard Independent Albums Chart at #3.[16]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Dolly Parton except as noted.| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Better Get to Livin'" (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) | 3:36 | |
| 2. | "Made of Stone" | 4:13 | |
| 3. | "Drives Me Crazy" (Roland Gift, David Steele) | 4:12 | |
| 4. | "Backwoods Barbie" | 3:19 | |
| 5. | "Jesus & Gravity" (Betsy Ulmer, Craig Wiseman) | 4:40 | |
| 6. | "Only Dreamin'" | 5:36 | |
| 7. | "The Tracks of My Tears" (Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Marvin Tarplin) | 3:33 | |
| 8. | "The Lonesomes" | 3:18 | |
| 9. | "Cologne" | 3:42 | |
| 10. | "Shinola" | 4:12 | |
| 11. | "I Will Forever Hate Roses" | 3:26 | |
| 12. | "Somebody's Everything" | 4:17 |
Bonus tracks
The iTunes, Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy all offered special editions of the CD with bonus tracks that were culled from her 2006–2007 European Tour.
In March 2009, Cracker Barrel released an exclusive Deluxe Edition of the CD with three previously unreleased tracks chosen by Parton from her extensive catalog exclusively for the food chain. The release also includes new artwork and cover art.
iTunes bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Will Always Love You" (Live) | Dolly Parton | 3:12 | |
| 2. | "The Grass Is Blue" (Live) | Dolly Parton | 4:14 |
WalMart bonus track
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "9 to 5" (Live) | Dolly Parton | 2:43 |
Target bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jolene" (Live) | Dolly Parton | 3:04 | |
| 2. | "Two Doors Down" (Live) | Dolly Parton | 2:15 |
Best Buy bonus track
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Baby I'm Burning" (Live) | Dolly Parton | 2:38 |
Cracker Barrel Collector's Edition
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Better Get to Livin'" | Dolly Parton, Kent Wells | 3:36 | |
| 2. | "Made of Stone" | Dolly Parton | 4:13 | |
| 3. | "Drives Me Crazy" | Roland Gift, David Steele | 4:12 | |
| 4. | "Backwoods Barbie" | Dolly Parton | 3:19 | |
| 5. | "Jesus & Gravity" | Betsy Ulmer, Craig Wiseman | 4:40 | |
| 6. | "Only Dreamin'" | Dolly Parton | 5:36 | |
| 7. | "The Tracks of My Tears" | Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Marvin Tarplin | 3:33 | |
| 8. | "The Lonesomes" | Dolly Parton | 3:18 | |
| 9. | "Cologne" | Dolly Parton | 3:42 | |
| 10. | "Shinola" | Dolly Parton | 4:12 | |
| 11. | "I Will Forever Hate Roses" | Dolly Parton | 3:26 | |
| 12. | "Somebody's Everything" | Dolly Parton | 4:17 | |
| 13. | "Rose of My Heart" (Previously Unreleased) | Dolly Parton | 2:33 | |
| 14. | "Hallelujah Holiday" (Previously Unreleased) | Dolly Parton | 2:07 | |
| 15. | "Berry Pie" (Previously Unreleased) | Dolly Parton | 2:54 |
Chart performance
Albums
| Chart (2008) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Denmark Albums Top 40[17] | 6 |
| Swedish Album Chart[17] | 57 |
| UK Album Chart[18] | 35 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 17 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Independent Albums | 2 |
Singles
| Year | Single | US Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Better Get to Livin'" | 48 |
| 2008 | "Jesus & Gravity" | 56 |
| "Shinola" | — | |
| 2009 | "Drives Me Crazy" | — |
| "Backwoods Barbie" | — |
References
- ↑ Leggett, Steve. Backwoods Barbie at AllMusic
- ↑ Levine, Nick (June 10, 2008). "Dolly Parton: 'Backwoods Barbie' – Music Album Review – Digital Spy". digitalspy.com.au. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 372". robertchristgau.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ↑ Coyne, Kevin John (December 1, 2008). "Country Universe – A Country Music Blog » Dolly Parton, Backwoods Barbie". countryuniverse.net. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Dolly Parton On-Line / Backwoods Barbie". Dollyon-line.com. February 26, 2008.
- ↑ "Dolly Parton To Lead Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade". Msopr.com.
- ↑ AprilJun 25th, 2009 – 19:42:25 (June 25, 2009). "Dolly Parton releases new single through iTunes Dolly Parton releases new single through iTunes". Music.monstersandcritics.com.
- ↑ Billboard Music Charts
- ↑ "Catch Dolly Parton On Dancing With The Stars Tonight". The9513.com. September 26, 2007.
- ↑ "Dolly Parton Leads Macy's Thanksgiving Parade". Gactv.com.
- ↑ "Artists to Watch in 2008: The Comeback Kids". Gactv.com.
- ↑ "Dolly Parton releases new single". Countrystandardtime.com. October 23, 2007.
- ↑ Dolly's Back!
- ↑ Katie Hasty, "Janet Dethrones Jack To Top Billboard 200", Billboard.com, March 5, 2008.
- ↑ Parton Announces Songwriters Hall of Fame
- ↑ DollyPartonMusic
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "swedishcharts.com – Dolly Parton – Backwoods Barbie". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Chart Stats – Dolly Parton – Backwoods Barbie". chartstats.com. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
External links
- Backwoods Barbie at dollyon-line.com
