Studio Album · No. 18
Dolly, Dolly, Dolly Songwriting Credits by Dolly Parton
Holds writing credit on 0 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Dolly Parton carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Dolly, Dolly, Dolly is a deliberate pop and soft rock turn produced by Gary Klein, and it leans almost entirely on outside songwriters rather than Parton originals. The opener "Starting Over Again" came from Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano, and the rest of the record draws from pop and rock writers like Rupert Holmes, Leo Sayer, Michael Omartian, Tom Snow, and Sandy Farina. The lone song rooted in Parton's own world is "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You," written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt, which reached back to her country base. The album shows Parton working as an interpreter and stylist here, choosing material from Los Angeles studio circles instead of writing her own.
Released April 14, 1980 on RCA Victor, Dolly, Dolly, Dolly was produced by Gary Klein and recorded in December 1979 at Sound Labs in Hollywood, steering Parton toward a polished country-pop sound. Unusually for Parton, the album contains no compositions written by her, a fact Billboard highlighted at the time and which many critics and fans later cited as a significant creative shortcoming. Klein's arrangements leaned on piano and percussion, balancing frenetic uptempo tracks with soft ballads that displayed the range of Parton's voice. Commercially the album was a success: it peaked at number 7 on Billboard's Hot Country LPs, reached number 71 on the Billboard 200, and hit number 1 on Canadian Country Albums, while both released singles ('Starting Over Again' and 'Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You') topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Critical reception was divided, with Cashbox praising its slick packaging while others regarded it as one of the least artistically satisfying albums of her career precisely because of the absence of her own songwriting.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Starting Over Again
#1
|
Bruce SudanoDonna Summer | Bruce SudanoDonna Summer | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Same Old Fool
|
Jim HelmerGreg LeroyGlenn Sutton | Jim HelmerGreg LeroyGlenn Sutton | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You)
|
Hugh MoffattPebe Sebert | Hugh MoffattPebe Sebert | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
You’re the Only One I Ever Needed
|
Linda MallahRobbie Patton | Linda MallahRobbie Patton | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Say Goodnight
|
Susan SheridanGary Portnoy | Susan SheridanGary Portnoy | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Fool for Your Love
|
Leo SayerMichael Omartian | Leo SayerMichael Omartian | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Even a Fool Would Let Go
|
Kerry ChaterTom Snow | Kerry ChaterTom Snow | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Sweet Agony
|
Susan SheridanDavid Wolfert | Susan SheridanDavid Wolfert | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
I Knew You When
|
Rupert Holmes | Rupert Holmes | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Packin’ It Up
|
Lisa RatnerSandy Farina | Lisa RatnerSandy Farina | Gary Klein | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |