The Grass Is Blue

Last updated
The Grass Is Blue
Grassisblue.jpg
Studio album by
Dolly Parton
ReleasedOctober 26, 1999
RecordedAugust 1999
Studio
  • The Sound Kitchen (Nashville)
  • The Doghouse (Nashville)
Genre Bluegrass
Length44:59
Label
Producer Steve Buckingham
Dolly Parton chronology
Precious Memories
(1999)		The Grass Is Blue
(1999)		 Little Sparrow
(2001)
Singles from The Grass Is Blue
  1. "A Few Old Memories"
    Released: October 25, 1999
  2. "Silver Dagger"
    Released: February 2000

The Grass Is Blue is the thirty-seventh solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 26, 1999, by Sugar Hill and Blue Eye Records. The album won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and "Travelin' Prayer" was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Contents

Background

Parton found herself without a record label for the second time in a year when Decca Records closed its Nashville office in early 1999, just months after the release of Hungry Again . Throughout the 1990s, she had been losing ground with country radio, though her album sales had remained strong for much of that time. The idea for the project was brought to Parton's attention one night in July 1999 when she was having dinner with Steve Buckingham. He mentioned to her that bluegrass fans, when asked which artist they would most like to make a bluegrass album, overwhelmingly cited her. Parton told Billboard , "We were both shocked, but then I thought, since I manage myself now and have my own label and can do what I want, why not do it?" By the end of August 1999, Parton had recorded the album in Nashville with Buckingham producing and top musicians such as Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Alison Krauss, and Rhonda Vincent accompanying. Speaking about the song selection, Parton said, "I've always loved bluegrass, having grown up in and around mountain music and bluegrass, so I chose some songs I've been singing all my life." Parton said of the recording process, "It went really fast because these are the world's best bluegrass pickers and singers, who've been doing these songs forever!" [1]

Content

The album includes a mixture of Parton originals and folk and bluegrass standards, as well as a Billy Joel cover. "Silver Dagger", a late nineteenth century ballad, had been popularized by Joan Baez during the early 1960s. Parton had originally written "Steady as the Rain" for her younger sister Stella Parton, who had a top 40 country hit with the song in 1979. "Will He Be Waiting for Me" is an updated version of a song which Parton originally recorded for her 1972 album, Touch Your Woman . The album also includes a cover of the Blackfoot song "Train, Train".

Release and promotion

The album was announced by Sugar Hill Records on August 24, 1999. In the press release, Parton was quoted saying,

"It's perfectly natural for me to do a bluegrass album as I have loved that style of music all my life. So much of my own music, the songs I write and sing, have so many of the same colors. For years I have looked forward to doing a bluegrass album. Although I have done some bluegrass songs scattered around in shows and in certain albums, this is one of the most exciting things I have done in years and one of the most exciting things ever." [2]

Parton made several television appearances to promote the album. The day of the album's release she made an appearance on Live with Regis & Kelly . [3] She appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on November 2 and performed "Train, Train". [4] Television appearances continued in February 2000 to promote the album's second single, "Silver Dagger". Parton performed the single February 28 on the Late Show with David Letterman [5] and February 29 on Live with Regis & Kelly. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [7]
Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Upon its release, the album received much praise among music critics. James Hunter of Rolling Stone gave a positive review of the album, saying, "On recent recordings like Trio II, with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, Parton has gone home, but not with the curled-tongue abandon she brings to The Grass Is Blue, where she re-tackles bluegrass, country and traditional songs with brio...it leaves the earth often...Without that almost punk-style independence, you can't have new legends, country or otherwise." [11] Writing for AllMusic, Philip Van Vleck gave to album 4.5 out of 5 stars and said that Parton has "always followed her own muse; this time it has led her to a singular interpretation of bluegrass that is one of the important bluegrass releases of 1999." [7] Jerry Renshaw reviewed the album for the Austin Chronicle and gave the album 3 stars, saying that "Parton's familiar vibrato soars over the mountain-music instruments like it was born to do just that." [8]

In addition to rejuvenating Parton's career, the album, along with the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and the work of Alison Krauss, is credited with making bluegrass a hugely popular musical genre during the early 2000s.

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 24 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 198 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album peaked at No. 8 on the UK OCC Country Albums chart. As of December 2003, the album has sold 195,000 copies in the United States. [12]

The first single, "A Few Old Memories", was sent to country radio stations in October 1999 [13] and did not chart. "Silver Dagger" was sent to folk stations as the album's second single in February 2000 [14] and did not chart.

Accolades

At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, the album won Best Bluegrass Album and "Travelin' Prayer" was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. [15] The album won Album of the Year at the 2000 International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Travelin' Prayer" Billy Joel 4:16
2."Cash on the Barrelhead"
3:08
3."A Few Old Memories" Hazel Dickens 4:02
4."I'm Gonna Sleep with One Eye Open" Lester Flatt 3:05
5."Steady as the Rain" Dolly Parton 3:05
6."I Still Miss Someone"
3.38
7."Endless Stream of Tears"Parton2.40
8."Silver Dagger"Traditional4:55
9."Train, Train" Shorty Medlocke 2:50
10."I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" Johnny Bond 3:14
11."Will He Be Waiting for Me"Parton3:26
12."The Grass Is Blue"Parton3:45
13."I Am Ready" Rachel Dennison 2:45
Total length:44:59

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes. [16]

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
UK Country Albums (OCC) [17] 7
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [18] 38
US Billboard 200 [19] 198
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [20] 24

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
US & CanadaOctober 26, 1999
 [21]
EuropeMarch 1, 2000 [22]
VariousJanuary 3, 2006 Digital download [23]
US & CanadaApril 18, 2015 LP [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton</span> American country musician (born 1946)

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album debut in 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly, which led to success during the remainder of the 1960s, before her sales and chart peak arrived during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Some of Parton's albums in the 1990s did not sell as well, but she achieved commercial success again in the new millennium and has released albums on various independent labels since 2000, including her own label, Dolly Records.

<i>Coat of Many Colors</i> 1971 studio album by Dolly Parton

Coat of Many Colors is the eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 4, 1971, by RCA Victor. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1972 CMA Awards. It also appeared on Time magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time and at No. 257 on Rolling Stone's 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Parton has cited the title track on numerous occasions as her personal favorite of all the songs she has written.

<i>Trio II</i> 1999 studio album by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt

Trio II is the second collaborative studio album by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. It was released on February 9, 1999, by Asylum Records.

<i>Forget About It</i> 1999 studio album by Alison Krauss

Forget About It is a studio album by Alison Krauss, released in 1999. It reached number 5 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The lead single, "Forget About It", peaked at number 67 on the Country Singles Chart, and "Stay" reached number 28 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<i>Eagle When She Flies</i> 1991 studio album by Dolly Parton

Eagle When She Flies is the thirty-first solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on March 7, 1991, by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Steve Buckingham and Gary Smith, with Parton serving as executive producer. It continues Parton's return to mainstream country sounds following 1989's White Limozeen. The album features collaborations with Lorrie Morgan and Ricky Van Shelton, with additional supporting vocals provided by Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris. The album was a commercial success, becoming Parton's first solo album to peak at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart since 1980s 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. It was certified Platinum in by the RIAA in 1992. The album spawned four singles, the most successful being "Rockin' Years" with Ricky Van Shelton, which topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. In support of the album, Parton embarked on the Eagle When She Flies Tour, her only concert tour of the 1990s.

<i>Hello, Im Dolly</i> 1967 studio album by Dolly Parton

Hello, I'm Dolly is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on September 18, 1967, by Monument Records. The album was produced by Fred Foster. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album spawned two top 40 hits, "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy", which peaked at numbers 24 and 17, respectively.

<i>Hungry Again</i> 1998 studio album by Dolly Parton

Hungry Again is the thirty-fifth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Decca Records and Blue Eye Records. The album was produced by Parton and her cousin, Richie Owens. It is seen as a predecessor to Parton's critically acclaimed bluegrass trilogy, The Grass Is Blue, Little Sparrow, and Halos & Horns.

<i>Little Sparrow</i> 2001 studio album by Dolly Parton

Little Sparrow is the thirty-eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on January 23, 2001, by Sugar Hill and Blue Eye Records. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and "Shine" won Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album is dedicated to Parton's father, Lee Parton, who died in November 2000.

<i>Treasures</i> (Dolly Parton album) 1996 studio album by Dolly Parton

Treasures is the thirty-fourth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on September 24, 1996, by Rising Tide Records and Blue Eye Records. The Steve Buckingham-produced album is made up of covers of rock and country hits from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and spawned three singles: "Just When I Needed You Most", which peaked at number 62 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart; a dance remix of "Peace Train", which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Dance Music chart; and a dance remix of "Walking on Sunshine". The album's release was accompanied by a CBS television special, Dolly Parton: Treasures.

<i>Halos & Horns</i> 2002 studio album by Dolly Parton

Halos & Horns is the thirty-ninth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on July 9, 2002, by Sugar Hill Records and Blue Eye Records. It is the third album in Parton's critically acclaimed bluegrass trilogy, continuing her experimentation with folk and bluegrass sounds. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Album in 2003, while "Dagger Through the Heart" and "I'm Gone" were both nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Parton embarked on her first tour in 10 years in support of the album. The sold-out Halos & Horns Tour played 25 shows throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. The album tracks "These Old Bones" and "Sugar Hill" were adapted into episodes of Dolly Parton's Heartstrings in 2019.

<i>For God and Country</i> (Dolly Parton album) 2003 studio album by Dolly Parton

For God and Country is the fortieth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on November 11, 2003, by Welk Music Group and Blue Eye Records. The album was produced by Parton with Kent Wells and Tony Smith. It is considered Parton's musical attempt to deal with the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Included are covers of famous patriotic songs and new Parton originals. The album is perhaps best remembered for its cover photo, depicting Parton posing as though appearing in a vintage USO poster.

<i>Those Were the Days</i> (Dolly Parton album) 2005 studio album by Dolly Parton

Those Were the Days is the forty-first solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 11, 2005, by Sugar Hill Records and Blue Eye Records. The album is a collection of covers of 1960s and 1970s folk and pop songs performed in a bluegrass style, some featuring the artists who originally recorded them. Parton supported the album with The Vintage Tour from August through December 2005.

<i>Backwoods Barbie</i> 2008 studio album by Dolly Parton

Backwoods Barbie is the forty-second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on February 26, 2008, by Dolly Records. The album was Parton's first mainstream country album in nearly a decade and marked the first release on Parton's own label. Parton embarked on the Backwoods Barbie Tour with 64 dates across North America and Europe from March through November 2008 to support the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton albums discography</span>

The albums discography of American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton includes 49 studio albums, four collaborative albums, nine live albums, six soundtrack albums, one extended play and approximately 222 compilation albums globally. Popularly referred as the "Queen of Country" by the media, she is also widely recognized as the most honored woman in country music history. She has charted 25 Number One songs, 41 Top 10 country albums and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best selling female country artists in history. As of January 2022, Parton's catalog has amassed more than 3 billion global streams.

<i>Better Day</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Dolly Parton

Better Day is the forty-third solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on June 28, 2011, by Dolly Records and Warner Music Nashville. The album was produced by Parton and Kent Wells. To promote the album, Parton embarked on her Better Day World Tour. With 49 shows, the tour visited North America, Europe, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton includes over 200 singles and touches on eight decades. Parton has released 198 singles as a lead artist, 49 as a featured artist, six promotional single and 68 music videos. Parton also released 21 singles with Porter Wagoner from 1968 to 1980, bringing her total number of singles to 243.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travelin' Prayer</span> 1974 single by Billy Joel

"Travelin' Prayer" is a song written and performed by singer Billy Joel, and released as the third US single from his 1973 album Piano Man as its opening track. The song is "urgent" and "banjo-fueled". It reached number No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 34 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1974. It was a slightly bigger hit in Canada, where it reached No. 61.

<i>Pure & Simple</i> (Dolly Parton album) 2016 studio album by Dolly Parton

Pure & Simple is the forty-fifth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released worldwide on August 19, 2016 by Dolly Records and RCA Records. "Pure & Simple" is Dolly Parton's seventh #1 country album. It is her first #1 country album in 25 years.

<i>Run, Rose, Run</i> 2022 studio album by Dolly Parton

Run, Rose, Run is the forty-eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released March 4, 2022, through Parton's own Butterfly Records. The album was produced by Parton with Richard Dennison and Tom Rutledge. It is a companion album to the novel of the same name, co-written by Parton and James Patterson. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Big Dreams and Faded Jeans" and "Blue Bonnet Breeze". On March 21, 2022, it was announced that Parton would star in and produce a film adaptation of the novel from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine.

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard - September 25, 1999" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. p. 34. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. ↑ "The Grass Is Blue - Press release". www.dollymania.net. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Live with Regis & Kelly - Episode #12.42" . Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Episode #7.186" . Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "Late Show with David Letetrman - Episode dated 28 February 2000" . Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Live with Regis & Kelly - Episode dated 29 February 2000" . Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  7. 1 2 Van Vleck, Phillip. The Grass Is Blue at AllMusic
  8. 1 2 Renshaw, Jerry. "Dolly Parton The Grass Is Blue (Sugar Hill)". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  9. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Dolly Parton". Robert Christgau.
  10. ↑ Colin Larkin (2006). "Parton, Dolly". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Vol. 6 (4th ed.). Muze, Oxford University Press. p. 435–6. ISBN   978-0-19-531373-4.
  11. ↑ Hunter, James (3 February 2000). "The Grass Is Blue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  12. ↑ Gordon, Duane (December 26, 2003). "December 2003 Archive". Dollymania. Dollymania. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Dollymania October 1999 News Archive". www.dollymania.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  14. ↑ "Dollymania February 2000 News Archive". www.dollymania.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  15. ↑ "Dolly Parton". GRAMMY.com. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  16. ↑ "Dolly Parton - The Grass Is Blue". Discogs. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  17. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company.
  18. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Dolly Parton - The Grass Is Blue - Amazon.com Music". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  22. ↑ "Dolly Parton - The Grass Is Blue (Europe) - Amazon.com Music". Sugar Hill. 1 March 2000. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  23. ↑ "Dolly Parton - The Grass Is Blue (Digital Download) - Amazon.com Music". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  24. ↑ "Dolly Parton - The Grass Is Blue (LP)". Discogs. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.