Studio Album · No. 27
Treasures Songwriting Credits by Dolly Parton
Holds writing credit on 0 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Dolly Parton carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Treasures contains no Dolly Parton originals; every one of its eleven tracks is a cover of a song made famous by another artist, with writers ranging from Cat Stevens ("Peace Train") and Neil Young ("After the Goldrush") to Merle Haggard ("Today I Started Loving You Again") and Kris Kristofferson ("For the Good Times"). Parton and producer Steve Buckingham reworked pop and country standards alike, recasting Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine" and Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors" in her own voice. Guest performers shape several arrangements, most notably Ladysmith Black Mambazo on the Zulu-inflected "Peace Train" and Alison Krauss elsewhere on the record. The album is best read as an interpretive project rather than a writing one, showcasing Parton as a vocalist drawing connections across genres rather than as a songwriter.
Released September 24, 1996 on Rising Tide Records and Blue Eye Records, Treasures marked Parton's first album after her Columbia Records contract expired, following a deal with Universal Records' Nashville branch. Steve Buckingham produced this covers album, on which Parton interpreted rock and country classics from the 1960s through the 1980s by artists including Merle Haggard, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, and Cat Stevens. The most distinctive recording is 'Peace Train,' a duet with South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which Parton described as the realization of a long-held musical vision, with sessions spread across five studios in Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. A dance remix of 'Peace Train' reached number 23 on the dance chart, and the album peaked at number 21 on Billboard's Top Country Albums and number 122 on the Billboard 200. AllMusic and the Encyclopedia of Popular Music each awarded it three out of five stars.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Peace Train
#23
|
Joseph ShabalalaCat Stevens | Joseph ShabalalaCat Stevens | Steve Buckingham | Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Vocals) |
| 2 |
Today I Started Loving You Again
|
Bonnie OwensMerle Haggard | Bonnie OwensMerle Haggard | Steve Buckingham | John Popper (Vocals) |
| 3 |
Just When I Needed You Most
#62
|
Randy VanWarmer | Randy VanWarmer | Steve Buckingham | John Sebastian (Vocals)Alison Krauss (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Something’s Burning
|
Mac Davis | Mac Davis | Steve Buckingham | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Before the Next Teardrop Falls
|
Vivian KeithBen Peters | Vivian KeithBen Peters | Steve Buckingham | David Hidalgo (Vocals) |
| 6 |
After the Goldrush
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Steve Buckingham | Viktor Krauss (Vocals)Suzanne Cox (Vocals)Alison Krauss (Vocals) |
| 7 |
Walking on Sunshine
|
Kimberley Rew | Kimberley Rew | Steve Buckingham | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Behind Closed Doors
|
Kenny O’Dell | Kenny O’Dell | Steve Buckingham | Mel Robbins (Vocals) |
| 9 |
Don’t Let Me Cross Over
|
Penny Jay | Penny Jay | Steve Buckingham | Raul Malo (Vocals) |
| 10 |
Satin Sheets
|
John Volinkaty | John Volinkaty | Steve Buckingham | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
For the Good Times
|
Kris Kristofferson | Kris Kristofferson | Steve Buckingham | Dolly Parton (Lead Vocals) |