Studio Album · No. 11
Dolly Songwriting Credits by Dolly Parton
Produced by Porter Wagoner
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 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 Parton wrote all ten songs on this album, which RCA Victor issued as Dolly with the cover subtitle "The Seeker / We Used To" (catalog APL1-1221). Porter Wagoner produced the sessions, drawing on tracks recorded across several years at RCA Studio A in Nashville. "The Seeker" stands out as the centerpiece, a gospel-tinged song about spiritual searching and self-doubt that Parton framed as a personal plea, and it became the album's biggest hit. The collection leans heavily on themes of lost love and memory, with Parton's writing carrying the emotional weight while Wagoner's production keeps the arrangements in a polished countrypolitan style.
Released September 15, 1975 on RCA Victor, Dolly was produced by Porter Wagoner, who had been Parton's professional partner and mentor throughout the early part of her career. Parton wrote all of the tracks herself, making it a showcase of her prolific songwriting ability at a time when she was beginning to assert her creative independence. The album is largely composed of love songs and ballads focused on remembering lost love, with only a handful of uptempo cuts breaking the reflective mood. The lead single 'The Seeker' reached number 2 on the U.S. Hot Country Singles chart and number 1 in Canada, while the follow-up 'We Used To' peaked at number 9 domestically. The album charted at number 14 on Billboard's Top Country Albums, and Billboard praised the collection as beautifully done.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
We Used To
#9
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
The Love I Used to Call Mine
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
My Heart Started Breaking
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Most of All, Why?
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Bobby's Arms
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
The Seeker
#2
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Hold Me
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Because I Love You
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Only the Memory Remains
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
I'll Remember You as Mine
|
Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton | Porter Wagoner | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |