Coat Of Many Colors [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
Three decades after Dolly Parton began exploiting (and mythologizing) her hardscrabble East Tennessee childhood, the best of her autobiographical songs, "Coat of Many Colors," which threads the Biblical story of Joseph into her own, remains a moving testimony to mountain pride and ingenuity. It may also be one of the truest pieces of Americana, but the 1971 album on which it appears, long out of print until this 1999 CD reissue, is a real eye-opener, and not just about how deep-dish country used to be. Along with the hit "Traveling Man," a maternal twist on the old farmer's daughter saw, Parton explores such gothic topics as whoring ("She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)"), sexual voyeurism ("If I Lose My Mind"), and good old-fashioned lust ("The Way I See You"). Whew! No wonder she left country for the pop crowd! --Alanna Nash

Coat Of Many Colors,Dolly Parton,Buddha,Country,Country & Western,Country-Folk,Country-Pop,Pop,Progressive Country,Traditional Country

Average customer rating: "Another Dolly Winner!" A perfect Parton LP from 1971 w/bonus tracks Album better than the bonuses. Keep 'em coming!

Coat of Many Colors Dolly Parton Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jolene My Tennessee Mountain Home All I Can Do/New Harvest...First Gathering Great Balls of Fire/Dolly, Dolly, Dolly Burlap & Satin/Real Love ASIN: B000GG4XHE Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

1. Coat Of Many Colors
2. Traveling
3. My Blue Tears
4. If I Lose My Mind
5. The Mystery Of The Mystery
6. She Never Met A Man (She Didn't Like)
7. Early Morning Breeze
8. The Way I See You
9. Here I Am
10. A Better Place To Live
11. My Heart Started Breaking
12. Just As Good As Gone
13. The Tender Touch Of Love
14. My Blue Tears (Acoustic Demo)

Customer Reviews:

"Another Dolly Winner!".......2007-04-08

Rolling Stone magazine named this album last year as one of the top 100 greatest albums of all time by any artist in any genre. Heavily regarded by many critics and Dolly fans as one of the top 3 albums in her career, "Coat of Many Colors" is simply a standout. This collection comes with new liner notes, recoreded dates of the song sessions, beautiful repackaging if the original LP art, and 4 new songs never released, with the exception of "Just as Good as Gone" that was a rare single B-side released back in 1972. A must have for any music fan. The rare Dolly pictures too are the most glamorous I have ever seen of Dolly Parton.

A perfect Parton LP from 1971 w/bonus tracks.......2007-04-05

For an artist of Parton's stature, it's incredible that her towering early achievements are so spottily available on CD. Many of her brilliant solo albums of the '70s - the sides waxed before crossing over to pop stardom - have been left unreissued. The few that have seen CD, such as this classic 1971 release, have moved in and out of print. Buddha provided a straight-up reissue in 1999, and an imported two-fer on BMG paired this title with Parton's "Joshua" LP. The domestic Buddha release is now replaced by this bonus-track augmented Legacy reissue, but fans that want the extra tracks here and "Joshua" on the import will buy themselves some duplication.

Parton's early years under the tutelage of Porter Wagoner were rich in material and performances, and "Coat of Many Colors" contains some of her best. The title track weaves biography, bible verse and gospel soul into one of Parton's most heart-rending compositions. Her words capture the emotional turmoil of childhood through the discovery of an adult's nostalgic memory, and her voice holds both a little girl's confusion and a women's knowingness. It's breathtaking to hear songwriting, singing and production mesh so fully.

The unrivaled quality of Parton's voice is heard on the bluegrass-harmony backed "My Blue Tears" and the forthright "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)." Parton's sassy comedic edge, which would carry her into the mainstream, is heard on "Traveling Man," and the outré "If I Lose My Mind" must have shocked a few country listeners in 1971. The backings include fiddle, steel, twangy guitar, funky swamp beats and even a touch of '70s soul, and it's a testament to Parton's artistic gravity that it meshes so well into an album.

The reissue's four bonus tracks include three cast-offs from the original 1971 sessions, and the a superb acoustic demo of "My Blue Tears." Parton rerecorded her own "My Heart Started Breaking" for her 1975 "Dolly" LP, but this 1971 version's never been heard before. Her "Just as Good as Gone" was left to the songbook, and her rendition of Porter Wagoner's "The Tender Touch of Love" now joins the previously released edition by Jim Ed Brown. All three of the studio-produced bonuses fit the sound and feel of the album, but it's the voice-and-guitar demo of "My Blue Tears" that catapults this disc past earlier reissues.

Legacy's reissue (along with accompanying volumes of "My Tennessee Mountain Home" and "Jolene") fills out the packaging with newly struck liner notes by Chet Flippo and chart and session information that was missing from the earlier Buddha edition. The running time is still short (38 minutes, instead of the original LP's 27), but it's a great place to start a Dolly Parton collection; those who own the earlier CD reissue should consider upgrading for the bonus tracks and new booklet. [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

Album better than the bonuses. .......2007-04-05

This is one of three titles re-issued of Dolly Parton. This one, along with "Jolene" have been issued on CD several times already. So the draw here are the bonus tracks. In this case the album as a whole is better than the bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are good, but nothing that stands out and knocks you over. The acoustic "My Blue Tears" is the best of the bunch though. As for the original album, some classic tracks here. One Dolly's stronger early albums.

Keep 'em coming!.......2007-04-04

I love Dolly, and I am very pleased to see a trend at rereleasing her older albums on CD. I HAD to buy this version of Coat for the bonus tracks, which are wonderful. I have never really been a fan of demo tracks, nor a fan of "My Blue Tears", but this version is remarkable and has proved to me what a great song it is! I am hoping to see more reissues in the futurn; "Bubblin' Over" anyone?

Average customer rating:

Time Is... Leroy Williams Quartet Manufacturer: Jazzchild ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B0007UST1U Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

1. Back Home Blues
2. Nutty
3. My Rosita
4. Impressions
5. Just for You
6. Our Delight
7. Back When
8. Milestone

Average customer rating:

Coat of Many Colors Manufacturer: RHP Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000B3MHOI

Average customer rating: Delightful and inspiring

Coat of Many Colors David Sand , and June Thompson Manufacturer: White-Sand Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0007Y34AM Release Date: 2005-01-01

Tracks:

1. All God's Creatures
2. Two By Two
3. I Walk With Him
4. Brightest Rainbow
5. Coat Of Many Colors
6. I Will Pray
7. You've Had a Dream
8. My Brothers
9. Joseph
10. God Will Take Care of You
11. Gather 'round
12. Never Give Up
13. Watch the Tower
14. Rise
15. Our Work Is Done
16. Quiet Night
17. Down To Egypt
18. Hush Now
19. Not Found
20. Our Son

Customer Reviews:

Delightful and inspiring.......2005-10-12

This CD is an excellent choice for those looking for a collection of Bible-related songs. Both adults and children enjoy David Sand's compositions. I highly recommend these songs. My favorites are those about Christ Jesus.

Joan Koelle Snipes
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Average customer rating: what I thought of the cd Here she is... 1972 Country Music Association Nominee ALBUM OF THE YEAR Classic Dolly Perfect example of Parton's earlier work

Coat Of Many Colors Dolly Parton Manufacturer: Buddha ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jolene/My Tennessee Mountain Home Nightbirds Back Stabbers I Believe White Limozeen ASIN: B00000JYA5 Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

1. Coat Of Many Colors
2. Traveling Man
3. My Blue Tears
4. If I Lose My Mind
5. The Mystery Of The Mystery
6. She Never Met A Man (She Didn't Like)
7. Early Morning Breeze
8. The Way I See You
9. Here I Am
10. A Better Place To Live

Amazon.com

Three decades after Dolly Parton began exploiting (and mythologizing) her hardscrabble East Tennessee childhood, the best of her autobiographical songs, "Coat of Many Colors," which threads the Biblical story of Joseph into her own, remains a moving testimony to mountain pride and ingenuity. It may also be one of the truest pieces of Americana, but the 1971 album on which it appears, long out of print until this 1999 CD reissue, is a real eye-opener, and not just about how deep-dish country used to be. Along with the hit "Traveling Man," a maternal twist on the old farmer's daughter saw, Parton explores such gothic topics as whoring ("She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)"), sexual voyeurism ("If I Lose My Mind"), and good old-fashioned lust ("The Way I See You"). Whew! No wonder she left country for the pop crowd! --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

what I thought of the cd.......2007-01-12

The best song in the album was the title "Coat of Many Colors" Other than that selection there wasn't much more of enjoy ment there.

Here she is..........2006-11-18

Entertainers that endure for forty years or more will inevitably take on multiple personas, endear their willing fans, and, simultaneously, alienate an equal or greater amount of unwilling or vicarious detractors. Many innocents doggedly chase this evasive limelight to find that it dishes out more scorn than praise. Only the strong survive, and Dolly Parton, who has received an enormous share of scorn, has proven her titanic strength and longevity in the face of such adversity. Of course she also has a monumental fan base that strain at every chance to see or hear their larger than life Queen of Country. But Dolly Parton the cultural icon often invokes contradictory binocular images: the "Just Because I'm a Woman" late 1960s feminist versus the self-deprecating glitzy painted lady proudly displaying cleavage the size of supernovae; the brash and unavoidable pop movie crossover mega-superstar versus the demure but astonishingly innovative songwriter who comprised the female part of country music's most famous pair on "The Porter Wagoner Show." Today these dual roles seem hard to reconcile, but Parton has played them masterfully for decades. Not only that, it seems incomprehensible that she ever held a mere supporting role, as she did to Wagoner, but her excellent 1971 album "Coat of Many Colors" helped her to finally burst out on her own when 1974 arrived.

Way back in 1971, Parton's career was on the upswing. By this time she had already released numerous albums stretching all the way back to 1963. A greatest hits album, sans Wagoner, appeared in 1970 along with her first number one country hit, "Joshua." Parton, probably feeling a little dizzy at the peak of fame and groping for footing, turned to her childhood for inspiration. She swears that the story depicted in "Coat of Many Colors" actually happened. The miniscule handwriting included in the CD booklet, made somewhat illegible by today's coaster-sized packaging, tells the entire story - Parton signed the tale with flourishes as full as her celebrity bosom. Bouncing along with a steady unwavering rhythm, the song itself has become a country standard. Parton's voice remains solemnly subdued throughout, almost in reverence or awe of the pride instilled in the patchwork coat her mother made her. The song also finds a source of pride in family, regardless of poverty: "And oh I couldnt understand it / For I felt I was rich / And I told them of the love / My momma sewed in every stitch" and "One is only poor only if they choose to be."

Unfortunately, mother turns a little evil in the second song, "Traveling Man." Here "mama" runs off with the "traveling man" that her daughter had dibs on. Parton plays the shafted offspring bemoaning "Mama, you know you oughtn't a'done that / You just like my daddy / He run off before I ever knowed him / You done run-off with my traveling man / And I really don't think I ever knowed you either." "Traveling Man" adds a new dimension to country music's "cheatin'" theme: this time the cheater is the accuser's own mother! Defiant strings and a driving honky tonk beat give this #20 hit a humorous, playful tone.

The beautiful and folksy "My Blue Tears" mourns lost love. Parton's voice appropriately flutters upward on the second "fly." This song revels in bluegrass instrumentation and riffs. It could fit on any of Parton's most recent releases in which she comes full circle back to her musical roots.

"Coat of Many Colors" also harbors some shocking scenes for 1971. "If I Lose My Mind" deals with abuse and with what then passed as perversion. Mother becomes good again. Less jarring, "The Way I See You" subtly explores the sensual side of love. In "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)" a woman tries to convince her lover that he's fallen for a promiscuous flirt. Mixed with these amorous tragedies are philosophical musings, "The Mystery of the Mystery," a paen to nature, "Early Morning Breeze," and a call for world peace, "A Better Place to Live." "Here I am" boldly pronounces steadfast love and commitment to another. Parton sings it as if she realizes that she's finally come into her own. She was right. "Coat of Many Colors" remains her most praised and acclaimed album. Rolling Stone even declared it number 299 on its list of "500 Greatest Albums Ever."

Parton's personal touch and soaring vocals, the themes the album explores, and the poingant story from her youth make this album a timeless country music classic. Anyone with doubts about Dolly Paton should spin this disc and perhaps reevaluate the dual but complementary personas she created that have boosted her to the level of American pop culture icon. Here she is, indeed.

1972 Country Music Association Nominee ALBUM OF THE YEAR .......2005-10-06

One of the greatest albums of Dolly Parton's legendary career, COAT OF MANY COLORS is a stunning work of art starting with the magnificent oil painting of Dolly as a child on the cover. The title song, despite only charting in the back of the top ten, is perhaps her most famous and certainly greatest song she has ever written. Amazingly, this anthem to motherhood is followed by the racy TRAVELIN' MAN, where mommy becomes a rival for the no good traveling salesman who wanders into their neck of the woods (this song was another hit for Dolly the following year in a new version with a sassier, more comic production that is admittedly superior to the rather straight reading here in both Dolly's vocals and the track's production). Another hit for Dolly, albeit not a major one, was the lovely MY BLUE TEARS, sung Skeeter Davis-style in double-track harmony.

The conservative crowd charmed by the old-fashioned values in the title song probably got through for a major loop with IF I LOSE MY MIND, one of the most risque songs ever in country music in which Dolly escapes the clutches of a husband into kinky sex ("He made me watch him make love to another woman and tried to make me love another man.") And years before she went pop, Dolly's HERE I AM was clearly an attempt to have the country queen sing soul music with an arrangement more at home on a typical Aretha Franklin album than a Tammy Wynette one.

This album earned Dolly a CMA nomination for ALBUM OF THE YEAR in 1972. There are very few country albums from the era now available on CD in exact reproductions today. That alone should tell you COAT OF MANY COLORS was and is something special.

Classic Dolly.......2005-08-23

Short but sweet, COAT OF MANY COLORS is one of Dolly Parton's finest albums. She had some success in the 60s on Porter Wagoner's show, but no huge solo success. That is until this album. The title track is a signature song for Parton. No other song in her catalog speaks volumes like this one. Just a simple, beautiful song about how she grew up poor. It also contains other classics like "My Blue Tears" and "Travelin Man". The album shows her diversity as an artist. A must have!

Perfect example of Parton's earlier work.......2001-12-09

Parton's years under the tutelage (and to a large extent, control) of Porter Wagoner were rich in good material and performances, even if they didn't produce the sort of enormous popular acclaim she would later find. 1971's "Coat of Many Colors" is a perfect example of the brilliant work Parton was recording during these years, including the gospel inflections of the signature title tune, the bluegrass harmonies of "My Blue Tears," and the more outre subject matter of "If I Lose My Mind" and "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)."

The title track attests to Parton's brilliance as a songwriter, capturing the emotional turmoil of childhood through the discovery of an adult's nostalgic memory. Parton's voice holds both a little girl's confusion and a woman's knowingness, underlined by acoustic guitar, a light shuffle beat, and touches of gospel organ and background harmonies. It's breathtaking to hear songwriting, singing and production mesh so fully. Throughout the rest of the album Parton's songs, augmented by a trio of tunes from Wagoner, tell human stories in a language that seems effortlessly plainspoken. The productions remain light and supportive, spanning weepy steel and fiddle ("The Mystery of the Mystery"), twangy electric guitar and a funky swamp beat ("Traveling Man"), and 70s soul ("Here I am").

Buddha's reissue presents a crisp remastering of the album's original ten tracks. Parton's original handwritten liner notes are reproduced in reduced form, necessitating a magnifying glass for most readers. Robyn Flans newly penned notes provide a few short paragraphs of career background, but haven't the room to make much of a dent in explaining the album and its songs. Ironically, the reissue credits for the Buddha staff fill an entire column, while a personnel listing for the original players is missing. And that's a shame, because the studio pickers give welcome, understated performances that support Parton's songwriting without drowning her finely crafted words in countrypolitan dross.

With most of Parton's albums from this era out of print, those wishing to dig deeper than greatest hits compilations will find this a welcome addition to their collections. For those just discovering Parton's early years, this is (despite its brevity - the entire disc clocks in at just over 27 minutes) as good an introduction as you'll find.

Average customer rating:

Classic Country 1970-1974 (2-CD Set) Various Artists Coal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynn/I Ain't Never - Mel Tillis/If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Olivia Newton-John/The Grand Tour - George Jones/Funny Face - Donna Fargo/If We Make It Through December - Merle Haggard/ , For The Good Times - Ray Price/Kiss An Angel Good Mornin' - Charley Pride/Country Sunshine - Dottie West/You've Never Been This Far Before - Conway Twitty , Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich/He Loves Me All The Way - Tammy Wynette/I Love - Tom T. Hall/Coat Of Many Colors - Dolly Parton/Do You Remember These - Statler Brothers//I Can Help - Billy Swan/Paper Roses - Marie Osmond , Hello Darlin' - Conway Twitty/We're Gonna Hold On - George Jones And Tammy Wynette/Empty Arms - Sonny James , You're Hot - Jerry Reed The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A. - Donna Fargo/The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich/Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith/When You're Hot , My Woman, My Wife - Marty Robbins Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett/Lead Me On - Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty/Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker/My Woman , and Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson/Sunday Morning Coming Down - Johnny Cash ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B000NPKIL8

Product Description

R808-04 - Classic Country 1970-1974 - Various Artists [1998] (2-CD set) Coal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynn/I Ain't Never - Mel Tillis/If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Olivia Newton-John/The Grand Tour - George Jones/Funny Face - Donna Fargo/If We Make It Through December - Merle Haggard/For The Good Times - Ray Price/Kiss An Angel Good Mornin' - Charley Pride/Country Sunshine - Dottie West/You've Never Been This Far Before - Conway Twitty/Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich/He Loves Me All The Way - Tammy Wynette/I Love - Tom T. Hall/Coat Of Many Colors - Dolly Parton/Do You Remember These - Statler Brothers//I Can Help - Billy Swan/Paper Roses - Marie Osmond/Hello Darlin' - Conway Twitty/We're Gonna Hold On - George Jones And Tammy Wynette/Empty Arms - Sonny James/The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A. - Donna Fargo/The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich/Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith/When You're Hot, You're Hot - Jerry Reed/Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett/Lead Me On - Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty/Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker/My Woman, My Woman, My Wife - Marty Robbins/Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson/Sunday Morning Coming Down - Johnny Cash

Average customer rating:

The Coat of Many Colors ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005K2LN Release Date: 1997-03-25

Tracks:

1. Days of Wine and Roses
2. All the Things You Are
3. Waiting
4. Alliyah
5. Here's That Rainy Day
6. Milestones
7. My Song of Hope
8. Lifeline
9. Birthright
10. Autumn Leaves
11. Over the Rainbow
12. Someday My Prince Will Come

Album Description

This album marks Dan's first studio recording with a diversity of keyboard expressions that incorporate electric piano and stringbass, Hammond organ, solo piano and a contemporary Jazz sound with the Eden Jazz Quartet. Choice standards are presented in fresh formats and sparkling originals.

Average customer rating: Two great Dolly albums from 1971 Two 1971 solo classics Classic Dolly Two of the finest albums ever recorded - by anybody Pure Dolly

Joshua/Coat of Many Colors Dolly Parton Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jolene/My Tennessee Mountain Home Burlap & Satin/Real Love All I Can Do/New Harvest...First Gathering Great Balls of Fire/Dolly, Dolly, Dolly I Believe ASIN: B00005NOSS Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

1. Joshua
2. The Last One To Touch Me
3. Walls Of My Mind
4. It Ain't Fair That It Ain't Right
5. J.J. Sneed
6. You Can't Reach Me Anymore
7. Daddy's Moonshine Still
8. Chicken Every Sunday
9. The Fire's Still Burning
10. Letter To Heaven
11. Coat Of Many Colors
12. Traveling Man
13. My Blue Tears
14. If I Lose My Mind
15. The Mystery Of The Mystery
16. She Never Met A Man She Didn't Like
17. Early Morning Breeze
18. The Way I See You
19. Here I Am
20. A Better Place To Live

Album Description

Two classic albums both from 1971 on one CD. Standard jewel case in a slipcase.

Album Details

Two classic 70'S albums on one double play CD.

Customer Reviews:

Two great Dolly albums from 1971.......2005-08-23

I've been a lifelong Dolly Parton fan. I still enjoy listening to these early albums. They are a beginning of sorts and it's fun to listen to the evolution of her music. There is something very honest and pure about her from this period. The songs are interesting. I've never heard another singer write or sing songs like these. They are like little stories that she brings to life. This is a worthwhile compilation worth seeking out as it contains her albums JOSHUA and COAT OF MAN COLORS. Both are from 1971 and they contain songs that are very singer/songwriter, even though she writes most of her music, there's something special about these songs. Definately worth getting if you are a Dolly Parton fan.

Two 1971 solo classics.......2005-01-31

For an artist of Parton's stature, it's incredible that her towering early achievements are so spottily available on CD. Her brilliant solo albums of the early '70s - the sides waxed shortly after leaving Porter Wagoner and before crossing over to pop stardom - are mostly out of print. This two-fer provides two classic LPs of 1971, "Joshua" and "Coat of Many Colors." The latter has recently been returned to print in the U.S. by Buddha, but the former is only available on this import two-fer.

Throughout both albums, Parton weds gospel power, bluegrass harmonies and x-ray introspection to craft songs about her hard-scrabble Tennessee upbringing. She writes heartbreaking biography ("Coat of Many Colors"), impressionistic memories ("Walls of My Mind") and transforms personal emotions into dramatic fiction ("J.J. Sneed"). Each of these albums stand on their own as perfect examples of Parton's craft, but as a two-fer they provide nearly unimaginable musical riches in a single package.

Classic Dolly.......2002-09-26

This album features Dolly's two classic albums JOSHUA and COAT OF MANY COLORS. To my knowledge this is the first time JOSHUA has been available on CD, making this a must own CD for avid Dolly fans and collectors. These two albums are classics to me because they are Dolly's roots in music, when she was doing the story songs that had a great underlying message, if you look at her songs here a lot of them apply to simple meanings that unite us all. "Joshua" could be interpreted as a beauty and the beast type story, don't let appearances keep you from loving or getting to know someone. "Coat of Many Colors" is the most famous though, a tale of feeling rich in the rags that her mother sewed together in every stitch. This is the album to own if you want songs like that, simply beautiful simple songs from Dolly. Other highlights on this set include "Traveling Man", "My Blue Tears", "Letter To Heaven", "A Better Place To Live", "Here I Am", "The Last One To Touch me" and more. Overall a must have for all Dolly fans, its worth the extra money.

Two of the finest albums ever recorded - by anybody.......2002-07-08

Dolly has always been my favorite since since I started collected records seriously. Even though my first LP was her stunning pop album, Here you come again, I knew her previous records were different. These two ultra-traditional country albums, both from 1971, help to show why Dolly is my favorite.

Chicken every Sunday is a song based on one of Dolly's favorite themes - that being poor doesn't matter, you can still enjoy life as other things are more important. This is also what Coat of many colors is all about.

There are many great story songs on this collection including Joshua and the two mentioned above. Of the others, I particularly like J J Snead, a love gone wrong song in a Bonnie and Clyde type of setting - very dramatic.

Personally, I think these are two of Dolly's finest ever. Dolly has recorded many different types of album since she first recorded pop in 1977, but has always returned to her roots, though never with such stark production values as you find here.

For that reason, at least the two title tracks should already be familiar to you if you are thinking of buying this twofer. If you haven't got any Dolly music from this era, I suggest you first buy a compilation covering this period. If in doubt which one, I recommend Essential volume 2.

If you don't like both Joshua and Coat of mnay colors, you won't like the rest of this twofer, but if you love those two songs, you'll want to play this over and over.

Pure Dolly.......2001-09-16

I just received this album from Amazon and started to listen to it and it brought me back to the olden days of Dolly when she was pure country, no pop music mixed in. The album is wonderful from beginning to end and a must have for any Dolly fan. I already own Coat of Many Colors on CD so I brought this purely for The Joshua side of the CD and I was not disappointed. Joshua was Dolly's first number one song and you can tell why by listening to it. One of my most favorite Dolly songs " The Last One to Touch Me." is the second track. Dolly's beautiful voice sings the song to the highest and as the song plays on, your mind invisions an angel. Actually your mind will invision many things listening to this album for many of the songs on the Joshua side are "story songs." Songs that tell little stories and each one with a twist here and there, something Dolly is very famous for(Me and Little Andy and To Daddy) Dolly lets her voice run free on this album and once again the pure magic that is indeed her shines through. I listened to this album and the recent release album that has Jolene and My Tenn. Mountain Home. Four albums that magically blend together and shows why Dolly is the best singer(and not just country) of all time.

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