The Best of Dolly Parton is a compilation album by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...

, released in November 1970.

Featuring much of her early RCA

RCA

RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...

 material, the compilation album included the biggest hit she'd had to that point, her cover of Jimmie Rodgers

Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)

James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...

' "Mule Skinner Blues

Mule Skinner Blues

"Mule Skinner Blues" is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers; "George Vaughn" is sometimes listed as co-author; the name is a pseudonym for Vaughn Horton, who wrote Bill Monroe's "New Mule Skinner Blues" the second version recorded by Monroe.The song was first recorded by Rodgers in...

", which peaked at #3 on the U.S. country charts in early 1970. This recording was also released later by Time/Life Records - the other tracks were previously released on other albums.

The Best of Dolly Parton was released just three years after Parton signed with the label and thus features several songs that were not single releases, "Down From Dover", "Gypsy Joe and Me", "Just the Way I Am", and the gospel standard "How Great Thou Art

How Great Thou Art (hymn)

"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by...

".

The album is occasionally confused with the 1975 RCA release Best of Dolly Parton. (Sometimes the albums are differentiated by their being referred to as Best of...Volume I and Best of...Volume II) and the 2007 compilation album The Very Best of Dolly Parton.

"Mule Skinner Blues

Mule Skinner Blues

"Mule Skinner Blues" is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers; "George Vaughn" is sometimes listed as co-author; the name is a pseudonym for Vaughn Horton, who wrote Bill Monroe's "New Mule Skinner Blues" the second version recorded by Monroe.The song was first recorded by Rodgers in...

" earned Parton her first ever Grammy nomination for Best Female Country Vocal.

The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America

Recording Industry Association of America

The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...

.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Dolly Parton; except where indicated

1. "Mule Skinner Blues
   Mule Skinner Blues
   "Mule Skinner Blues" is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers; "George Vaughn" is sometimes listed as co-author; the name is a pseudonym for Vaughn Horton, who wrote Bill Monroe's "New Mule Skinner Blues" the second version recorded by Monroe.The song was first recorded by Rodgers in...
   
   " (Jimmie Rodgers
   Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)
   James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
   
   ) 3:10
2. "Down From Dover" 3:42
3. "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" 3:27
4. "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" 2:46
5. "Gypsy, Joe, and Me" 3:07
6. "In the Ghetto
   In the Ghetto
   "In the Ghetto" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1969. It was written by Mac Davis and made famous by Elvis Presley who had a major comeback hit with the song in 1969. It was released in 1969 as a 45 rpm single with "Any Day Now" as the flip side...
   
   " (Mac Davis
   Mac Davis
   Mac Davis is a country music singer, songwriter, and actor originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much crossover success...
   
   ) 2:46
7. "Just Because I'm a Woman" 3:01
8. "Daddy Come and Get Me" (Parton, Dorothy Jo Hope) 2:59
9. "How Great Thou Art
   How Great Thou Art (hymn)
   "How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by...
   
   " (Carl Boberg
   Carl Boberg
   Carl Gustav Boberg was a Swedish poet, writer, and elected official, best known for writing the Swedish language poem of "O Store Gud" from which the English language hymn "How Great Thou Art" is derived....
   
   ) 3:27
10. "Just the Way I Am" 2:27

Chart position

Chart (1970)	Peak Position
U.S. Top Country Albums	12

External links

• The Best of Dolly Parton at Dolly Parton On-Line