Favorite Dolly Parton Song

How could you have left one of her most popular crossover hits?

Can anyone suggest some old skool Parton joints? Similar to "Potential New Boyfriend" or "Here you come again"? Something with heavy crossover appeal.

It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right

Old Flame Can’t Hold A Candle To You

These Old Bones, and/or her cover of If, both on Little Sparrow

Me & Little Andy

I'd buy a loop of her quotes from 9 to 5. "I'll change you from a rooster to a hen in one shot!"

Always loved "Heartbreaker"

I love "Coat of Many Colors", it used to make me cry when I was little, for some reason.

I like all the sad ones like "Bargain Store"

I'm not really a big fan of her music, but I really like Dolly Parton the person.

And "Down from Dover."

One of America's greatest songwriters.

R8 Me too. Every time.

Sorry, OP. Dolly didn't write "Hard Candy Christmas." Carol Hall did.

Please amend your poll.

Baby I'm Burning

The Grass is Blue is lovely, ditto My Blue Tears and Wildflowers.

I Will Always Love You, Linda Ronstadt's version

There are too many great songs by Dolly. Like Marvin Gay, The Beatles, James Brown, RETHA, The Stones, I'm an eldergay don't you know.

Thanks, R16, for the reminder of just how rich Linda Ronstadt's voice was in its prime. She was a glorious singer.

At the moment, my favorite is "I Don't Want to Throw Rice".

Before Whitney Houston had made the song famous, I was sipping champagne on a flight from CA to NY. I put on headphones, and a song came on that I'd never heard "I Will Always Love You." It was Dolly Parton singing.

I had just left the love of my life, who had decided to marry a woman for career reasons. As I listened to the song, tears started streaming down my face. Thank God I had the window seat and was able to pretend I was transfixed by the setting sun.

I never listened to that version again. I don't think I could.

From a current Texas Monthly article about progressive country music, Willie Nelson, etc.:

TOM T. HALL had his first top ten country hit with “Ballad of Forty Dollars” in 1968. Kris (Kristoffersen) came to town and created an illusion of literacy. Somebody said once that he and I were the only guys in Nashville who could describe Dolly Parton without using our hands.

"Bargain Store" is my favorite.

Dolly is as a great a songwriter as Berlin, Porter, and Rodgers

"The Grass Is Blue" is the saddest, most depressing song I've ever heard.

I love it but the words are way too close to home.

Just hopeless and depressing.

Her very first hit, "Dumb Blonde," is a fun little tune.

Certainly not 9 to 5.

"Jolene", and all the songs on the "Trio" album with Linda and Emmylou.

R15, did you ever hear the duet on "The Grass is Blue" Dolly did with Norah Jones on a Country Music Awards show about ten or twelve years ago? So beautiful.

It's hard to choose a favorite, but I think mine is Smoky Mountain Memories.

I vote Islands In The Stream. Upbeat and slightly brash...

I love her really early stuff like "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" and "Down From Dover".

Coat of Many Colors.

Silver Dagger.

“Hello God” and “He’s Alive” are two of my favorites.

And I am not religious AT ALL.

Corny as it is, "Better Get To Livin'" got me through a rough patch a few years back.

Love Is Like A Butterfly used to be considered Dolly's signature song. I didn't know the song existed until it was used as theme song for the Britcom Butterflies and it aired on PBS.

Me four for "Coat of Many Colors" OP, how could you leave that one of the list?

[quote]Dolly is as a great a songwriter as Berlin, Porter, and Rodgers

She is very talented, but this is a preposterous assertion.

"I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open"

"You Ain't Hung Like Jesus, But You'll Do Just Fine Tonight., Lil' Darlin'"

Jolene, followed by Coat of Many Colors.

For the sheer amusement factor

From Here to the Moon and Back

I think Dolly really wrote it for Judy.

“Little Sparrow”

I saw Dolly perform it at the Hollywood Bowl, a cappella. I was high as a kite, and I remember “what is this angel, in her sparkling dress, gloriously singing this sad sad song?”

I marvel at Dolly playing guitar and singing so effortlessly in her ultra long nails every single time.

My favorite is 'Jolene' too.

Here is a male Voice contestant performing it, giving it a whole different twist. I really liked this.

Sorry, everybody, but wrong, wrong, wrong.

Get Emmylou Harris' album "Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town," and listen to her take on the devastating "To Daddy."

It's a song Parton has never recorded. And yet, it's her masterpiece.

Abomination R44

r45 I'm pretty sure Dolly has recorded To Daddy on her Heartsongs album.

In any case, you're right, it's a wonderful song

Love is Like a Butterfly

You are a far, far better Dolly fan than I, R47. Mea culpa.

"Touch Your Woman" is a great song. After Whitney struck paydirt with IWALY, I thought there'd be a gaggle of young, upwardly mobile pop and R&B starlets raiding Dolly's back catalogue for material, and I always thought "Touch Your Woman" would lend itself well to a soul or R&B remake.

"It's All Wrong but It's All Right" is a great song about a hookup.