Dolly Parton has long been an intriguing artist on the
country music scene. While her roots are unquestionable, it is perhaps the
crossover appeal which has led to her massive genre reach especially here in
the UK. No other artist steeped in East Tennessee heritage will attract the
numbers to her live shows when the Blue Smoke World Tour hits these shores in
June. This will be extended to the now entrenched oldie Glastonbury slot which
I have never felt truly comfortable with, although the commercially savvy Dolly
will embrace the masses waiting for their mainstream rock fix. Quite where
Dolly Parton’s new material sits amongst her admirers is unsure and with this
in mind, the UK release of BLUE SMOKE has been conveniently packaged with a
re-released BEST OF compilation.
BLUE SMOKE is Dolly’s 42nd studio album and like
so much of her back catalogue is put together with an astute cleverness.This ranges from a couple of neo generational duets with two other
artists who she is following in the previously mentioned Glastonbury oldie late
afternoon slot to some more curious cuts. Her duets with Kenny Rogers have been
hugely successful in the past and the inclusion of ‘You Can’t Make Old Friends’ is going to be a sure fire hit on this
record and also was released as a single last year. The other classic collaboration
is with Willie Nelson on ‘From Here To
The Moon And Back’, a fine song which melts two of country music’s most distinguished
voices which, although a touch diminished by time, still possess that old magic
sparkle.
Two of the more interesting tracks on the album see ‘Dolly
Does Dylan’ on the latter’s classic song ‘Don’t
Think Twice’ and a spellbinding version of the much recorded traditional
murder ballad ‘Banks of the Ohio’.
Both these arrangements work really well and Dolly adds her own imprint on
their legendary status. Another couple of decent tracks on the album have a definite
contemporary twist to them with both ‘Home’
and ‘Try’ not sounding far too adrift
from what you would expect from any number of female country performers 20
years the junior of Dolly.
However not all of BLUE SMOKE works and the less said about
the Bon Jovi cover ‘Lay Your Hands On Me’
the better as Dolly tries to stretch her appeal a little too far and suitably
snaps. Also ‘Lover Du Jour’ has a
cringe worthy feel to it which limits the effect of the track. However the
other four songs are all Parton originals and show that Dolly can still be
relevant with her new material and not be confined to a karaoke retro machine. The
title track ‘Blue Smoke’ has a great
feel to it and rolls along in true country tradition while ‘Miss You Miss Me’ has all the sentimental
and traditional traits that over the years have defined country music.
Of the remaining tracks ‘If
I Had Wings’ gives the impression of borrowing its title from some other
song but with implicit orchestrated fiddle develops into a highly appealing
number. This review has saved the best until last as ‘Unlikely Angel’ in my opinion is the album’s unlikely stand out
track. With all the structure of a Dolly classic and a soaring emotive chorus,
this song blends the best of gospel with the roots infused origins of Dolly’s
upbringing. It is tracks like these which still make the new music of Dolly
Parton important and rich.
BLUE SMOKE has sufficient depth and quality to match up well
with the classic material but the coyness of the European twin release shows a
leaning to what is perceived her fan base really wants. Hopefully amongst the
populist stream a few of these numbers can make the set list this summer and
keep the music of Dolly Parton fresh.
