Studio Album · No. 21
Real Love Songwriting Credits by Dolly Parton
Holds writing credit on 4 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 4 / 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
Real Love leans almost entirely on outside writers, with David Malloy producing and steering Parton toward a glossy, synth-driven country-pop sound recorded at Rumbo Recorders in late 1984. The title track, written by Malloy with Richard "Spady" Brannon and Randy McCormick, became a number one country duet with Kenny Rogers, the pair's second chart-topper as a duo after "Islands in the Stream." Professional songwriters supplied most of the record, including "Think About Love" by Brannan and Tom Campbell, "Don't Call It Love" by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow, and "Once in a Very Blue Moon" by Pat Alger and Gene Levine. Parton's own pen appears only on the four tracks she kept for herself: "We Got Too Much," "I Can't Be True," "Come Back to Me," and "I Hope You're Never Happy."
Released January 21, 1985 on RCA Records (her final studio album for the label), Real Love was recorded in October-November 1984 at Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California, with sole producer David Malloy shaping the album's country-pop and synth-pop blend. Parton herself wrote four of the songs, with the remaining tracks supplied by writers including Jeff Silbar, Dean Pitchford, Tom Snow, and Pat Alger. The album produced four charting singles: the title duet with Kenny Rogers reached number one on the U.S. country chart, as did 'Think About Love,' while 'Don't Call It Love' peaked at number three. The album reached number 9 on Billboard's Top Country Albums, and both AllMusic and the Encyclopedia of Popular Music awarded it three out of five stars.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Think About Love
#1
|
Tom CampbellRichard "Spady" Brannan | Tom CampbellRichard "Spady" Brannan | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Tie Our Love (In a Double Knot)
#17
|
John ReidJeff Silbar | John ReidJeff Silbar | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
We Got Too Much
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
It's Such a Heartache
|
Hillary KanterEven Stevens | Hillary KanterEven Stevens | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Don't Call It Love
#3
|
Tom SnowDean Pitchford | Tom SnowDean Pitchford | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Real Love
#1
|
Randy McCormickRichard "Spady" BrannanDavid Malloy | Randy McCormickRichard "Spady" BrannanDavid Malloy | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
I Can't Be True
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Once In a Very Blue Moon
|
Gene LevinePat Alger | Gene LevinePat Alger | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Come Back to Me
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
I Hope You're Never Happy
|
Dolly Rebecca Parton | Dolly Rebecca Parton | David Malloy | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |