Great Balls of Fire (Dolly Parton album)

Great Balls of Fire is the twenty-first solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on May 28, 1979, by RCA Nashville. The album's first single, "You're the Only One", topped the U.S. country charts in mid 1979 (#59 pop), while the follow-up single, "Sweet Summer Lovin'", was a top ten country hit at #7 (#77 pop).[1] The album included two covers: the title song, a remake of the Jerry Lee Lewis hit from 1957; and a bluegrass-inspired recording of The Beatles hit "Help!".

Great Balls of Fire
Studio album by
Dolly Parton
ReleasedMay 28, 1979
Recordedc. December 1978
StudioSound Labs (Los Angeles)
GenreCountry
Length34:34
LabelRCA Nashville
Producer
Dolly Parton chronology
Heartbreaker
(1978)		 Great Balls of Fire
(1979)		 Dolly, Dolly, Dolly
(1980)
Singles from Great Balls of Fire
  1. "You're the Only One"
    Released: May 14, 1979
  2. "Great Balls of Fire"
    Released: August 6, 1979
  3. "Sweet Summer Lovin'"
    Released: August 6, 1979
  4. "Star of the Show"
    Released: December 1979

In conjunction with Parton's 2007 European tour, BMG Germany (a division of Sony/BMG) released the album for the first time on CD. It was paired with 1980s Dolly, Dolly, Dolly on a double CD.

The album ended up being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]

The album received a positive review from Billboard, which said that "Parton has now firmly established herself in the pop field and reinforces her universal appeal with a collection of songs that showcase her versatility." They added that Parton's "sweet vocals" were aided by "a conglomeration of stellar players" that give the music a "needed punch." The review named "You're the Only One", "Help!", "Star of the Show", and "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" as the best cuts on the album and noted that the album's "attractive packag[ing] is a sales stimulant."[4]

Cashbox also gave a positive review of the album, saying that "Dolly proves how evocative she is on her latest RCA release." The review went on to say that Parton "lends her feathery voice to some thought-provoking love ballads, good time country numbers, streamlined rockers, and even throws in a dancin' number." The review concluded by saying that the "countrified version" of "Help!" and "knockout ballad" "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" are the standout cuts on the album.[5]

Writing for AllMusic, Mark Deming gave the album three and a half out of five stars. He felt that "considering how well (and how sympathetically) Parton produced herself on her last few pre-crossover efforts...Dean Parks and Gregg Perry's studio settings [are] a bit disconcerting," but "they thankfully seem aware at all times who is in the spotlight, and Dolly, professional that she is, rises to the challenge on all ten tracks." He also noted that there are only four Parton compositions on the album and said that "it seems ironic that the most purely country cut on the LP is a cover of the Beatles' "Help!," which is given a sprightly neo-bluegrass arrangement."[3]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Star of the Show"Dolly Parton3:56
2."Down"Parton3:35
3."You're the Only One"
3:23
4."Help!"
2:45
5."Do You Think That Time Stands Still"Parton3:56
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sweet Summer Lovin'"
  • Bud Reneau
  • Blaise Totsi
3:17
2."Great Balls of Fire"
3:51
3."Almost in Love"
3:15
4."It's Not My Affair Anymore"Jeanne French3:17
5."Sandy's Song"Parton3:17

Chart performance
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 48

Personnel

References
  1. Great Balls of Fire charts at AllMusic
  2. "American album certifications – Dolly Parton – Great Balls of Fire". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  3. Deming, Mark. "Great Balls of Fire - Dolly Parton". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  4. "Top Album Picks" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. June 9, 1979. p. 96. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  5. "Album Reviews" (PDF). American Radio History. Cashbox. June 9, 1979. p. 17. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 230. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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