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The Grass Is Blue

 
Album Review: The Grass Is Blue
 

  • Artist: Dolly Parton
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: October 26, 1999
  • Total Time: 44:35
  • Genre: Country

Review

It was inevitable, especially considering her recent albums, that Dolly Parton would eventually go all the way back to the mountains with a bluegrass project. A child of the southern Appalachians, Parton would have absorbed this music straight through her skin during her formative years. And, indeed, her performance on this CD is impeccable, as is her choice of material. Producer Steve Buckingham has taken care to bring together a group of accomplished bluegrassers to accompany Parton. Alison Krauss, Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Rhonda Vincent, and Bryan Sutton are major contributors, as is Patty Loveless. Parton wrote two songs for the CD -- the title tune and "Endless Stream of Tears" -- and she also reworked two of her previously recorded numbers, "Will He Be Waiting for Me" and "Steady As the Rain" as bluegrass pieces. She convinced her producer that Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer" and Blackfoot's hard-rocking "Train, Train" could work as bluegrass songs and, sure enough, they do. She also reached into the traditional folk repertoire and crafted a beautiful, haunting version of "Silver Dagger." Parton shows a terrific knack for this genre and, as always, her approach is a bit eccentric, but that's one of her gifts as a musician. She's 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. ~ Philip Van Vleck, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Travelin' Prayer Billy Joel Dolly Parton (4:15)
Cash on the Barrelhead Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin Dolly Parton (3:07)
A Few Old Memories Hazel Dickens Dolly Parton (4:01)
I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open Lester Flatt Dolly Parton (3:04)
Steady as the Rain Dolly Parton Dolly Parton (3:04)
I Still Miss Someone Johnny Cash, Roy Cash Dolly Parton (3:37)
Endless Stream of Tears Dolly Parton Dolly Parton (2:39)
Silver Dagger Traditional Dolly Parton (4:54)
Train, Train Shorty Medlocke Dolly Parton (2:49)
I Wonder Where You Are Tonight Johnny Bond Dolly Parton (3:13)
Will He Be Waiting Dolly Parton Dolly Parton (3:25)
The Grass Is Blue Dolly Parton Dolly Parton (3:43)
I Am Ready Dolly Parton (2:44)

Credits

Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Jerry Douglas (Harmony Vocals), Alison Krauss (Harmony Vocals), Rhonda Vincent (Harmony Vocals), Sam Bush (Mandolin), Sam Bush (Harmony Vocals), Patty Loveless (Harmony Vocals), Dolly Parton (Arranger), Dolly Parton (Harmony Vocals), Dolly Parton (Main Performer), Claire Lynch (Harmony Vocals), Barry Bales (Bass), Barry Bales (Harmony Vocals), Steve Buckingham (Guitar (Rhythm)), Steve Buckingham (Producer), Stuart Duncan (Fiddle), Stuart Duncan (Harmony Vocals), Keith Little (Harmony Vocals), Jim Mills (Banjo), Marshall Morgan (Engineer), Louis Dean Nunley (Harmony Vocals), Alan O'Bryant (Harmony Vocals), Gary Paczosa (Engineer), Gary Paczosa (Mixing), Doug Sax (Mastering), Toby Seay (Engineer), Toby Seay (Digital Editing), Dan Tyminski (Harmony Vocals), Darrin Vincent (Harmony Vocals), Tim Campbell (Photography), Robert Draper Jr. (Photography), Dennis Carney (Photography), Sandy Jenkins (Assistant Engineer), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Sue Meyer (Design), Cheryl Riddle (Hair Stylist), Jennie Carey (Assistant Producer), Chuck Turner (Digital Editing)
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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