For God and Country (Dolly Parton album)

Last updated
For God and Country
Forgodandcountrycover.jpg
Studio album by
Dolly Parton
ReleasedNovember 11, 2003
Recorded2003
StudioTwo Monkeys Productions (Nashville)
Genre
Length75:40
Label
Producer
Dolly Parton chronology
Ultimate Dolly Parton
(2002)		For God and Country
(2003)		 Live and Well
(2004)
Singles from For God and Country
  1. "Welcome Home"
    Released: November 2003
  2. "Light of a Clear Blue Morning"
    Released: May 2004

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.

Contents

Background

Parton appeared on the June 3, 2003 episode of MWL Star to premiere the music video for "I'm Gone" from here 2002 album, Halos & Horns . In addition to premiering the music video, she announced that she planned to release a new album in the fall titled For God and Country, containing inspirational and patriotic songs. She performed one song from the album, "I'm Gonna Miss You", and "9 to 5". [1] [2] On June 18, Parton made an appearance at a preview of her Dixie Stampede's new Orlando location, where she performed "Color Me America," which was used as the show's finale. She said she planned to include the song on her next album and that it should be released by September 11. [3] On July 3, Parton appeared on Good Day Live where she announced that the album had been pushed back to early 2004. [4] That evening she was interviewed on Larry King Live where she said that she planned to tour in 2004 to promote the album and that it will be a larger-scale event, describing it as her first big tour in several years. She also announced two more song titles from the album, "Peace in the Valley" and "Whispering Hope". [4] The following night Parton headlined the 2003 A Capitol Fourth Independence Day concert. The special aired live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. She performed two songs from the upcoming album, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", in addition to "9 to 5". [4]

Release and promotion

The album was formally announced by Welk Music Group on August 26 with the album's release date, artwork, and track listing being revealed. [5]

Parton appeared on the September 11 episode of The John Walsh Show where she performed two new songs that would be included on the album, "Color Me America" and "Brave Little Soldier". [6]

On November 5, Parton appeared on The Early Show and performed "Color Me America" and "Welcome Home", which she announced would be the album's first single. [7]

The album was released on November 11. Parton made an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman the following evening, where she performed "Red, White and Bluegrass". [8] On November 13, Parton appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and performed "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" and "I Will Always Love You". [9]

The music video for the album's first single, "Welcome Home", was shot over the January 10–11, 2004 weekend. It was premiered by CMT on February 4. [10]

Parton made an appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly on May 7 where she performed "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" and announced that it would be the album's second single. [11] She performed the song again on the May 20 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show , in addition to "9 to 5". [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]

Brian Mansfield with USA Today gave a mixed review, saying that "Parton apparently saved up all the glitz she left off her recent bluegrass albums for this patriotic collection." He went on to say "the album comes off as her personal USO revue." He concluded by saying that "the album contains enough moving performances to erase any doubts about the sincerity of Parton's intent." [13]

AllMusic's review of the album noted that "after recently recording countrified versions of songs like "Stairway to Heaven", Parton delivers these patriotic songs in a completely straightforward fashion. Other than the inherent twang of her pristine voice, there's little country flavor." The review went on to praise the original songs, saying, "The flag-wavers that fell from Parton's own pen, however, can't help but display the country legend's musical roots, and it's these that are the ultimate standouts." [15]

Commercial performance

For God and Country peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 167 on the Billboard 200. It also peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

The album has sold 87,000 copies in the United States as of October 2005. [16]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Lord Is My Shepherd"Traditional2:09
2."The Star-Spangled Banner" Francis Scott Key 3:03
3."God Bless the USA" Lee Greenwood 3:34
4."Light of a Clear Blue Morning"Dolly Parton4:50
5."When Johnny Comes Marching Home" Louis Lambert 4:19
6."Welcome Home"Parton4:20
7."Gee Ma, I Wanna Go Home"Traditional5:19
8."Whispering Hope"Jim Reeves2:30
9."There Will Be Peace in the Valley for Me"Thomas A. Dorsey4:09
10."Red, White and Bluegrass"Parton4:24
11."My Country 'Tis" Samuel Francis Smith 2:50
12."I'm Gonna Miss You"Parton4:59
13."Go to Hell"Parton6:49
14."The Ballad of the Green Beret"
  • Barry A. Sadler
  • Robert L. Moore Jr.
5:13
15."Brave Little Soldier"Parton4:25
16."Tie a Yellow Ribbon"
  • Russell Brown
  • Irwin Levine
3:21
17."Color Me America"Parton3:54
18."The Glory Forever"Traditional1:58
Total length:75:40

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

Charts

Chart (2003)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [17] 167
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [18] 23
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [19] 6

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References

  1. ↑ "MWL Star - Episode dated 3 June 2003". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ Gordon, Duane. "May 2003 News Archive". Dollymania. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  3. ↑ Gordon, Duane. "June 2003 News Archive". Dollymania. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Gordon, Duane. "July 2003 News Archive". Dollymania. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ Gordon, Duane. "August 2003 News Archive". Dollymania. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  6. ↑ "The John Walsh Show - Episode dated 11 September 2003". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Early Show - Episode dated 5 November 2003". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Late Show with David Letterman - Episode dated 12 November 2003". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Episode #11.35". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  10. ↑ Gordon, Duane. "February 2004 News Archive". Dollymania. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Live with Regis and Kelly = Episode dated 7 May 2004". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  12. ↑ "The Ellen DeGeneres Show - Episode dated 20 May 2004". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Mansfield, Brian (November 10, 2003). "USATODAY.com - Listen up". USA Today. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "For God and Country - Dolly Parton / Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  16. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (October 22, 2005). "Blowin' with a Fresh Wind" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. p. 69. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  19. ↑ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
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