A Real Live Dolly

A Real Live Dolly is the first live album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on June 29, 1970, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson and was recorded on April 25, 1970, at Sevier County High School in Sevierville, Tennessee. It peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 154 on the Billboard 200 chart.

A Real Live Dolly
Live album by Dolly Parton
Released	June 29, 1970
Recorded	April 25, 1970
Venue	Sevier County High School (Sevierville)
Genre	Country
Length	39:51
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Bob Ferguson
Dolly Parton chronology
As Long as I Love (1970) A Real Live Dolly (1970) Once More (1970)

Background

Plans for a live album were first announced in the February 28, 1970 issue of Billboard. The article stated that April 25 would be the second annual Dolly Parton Day in Parton's hometown and that she would give a benefit show at her high school alma mater to establish a scholarship fund and purchase musical instruments for students at the school. They also announced RCA's plans to record the performance for a live album. The article went on to say that two busloads of artists would make the trip from Nashville to Sevierville to take part in the benefit show.[1]

Recording

The album was recorded on April 25, 1970, at Parton's high school alma mater, Sevier County High School in Sevierville, Tennessee. Eight songs performed that day were cut from the album's release: "Just Because I'm a Woman", "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)", "Daddy Come and Get Me", "He's a Go-Getter, "Just the Way I Am", "Coat of Many Colors", "Chicken Every Sunday", and a reprise of "Tall Man".

Release and promotion

The album was released June 29, 1970 on LP and 8-track.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

The review published in the July 11, 1970 issue of Billboard said, "This package has a very homey quality. Dolly is recorded live, doing a show in her home town. Special guest is Porter Wagoner, and together they do several of their noted duets. The tunes include "Wabash Cannon Ball", "Two Sides to Every Story" and "How Great Thou Art". This disk is headed for big sales."[3]

Cashbox also published a review in their July 11 issue, which said, "Dolly Parton went back to her home in Sevier County, Tennessee, recently to be feted by the local folk, to establish a Dolly Parton Scholarship Foundation and to record this album at her alma mater, Sevier County High School, whose students will receive the scholarships. Her many devotees will want to own the set, which features Porter Wagoner in four duets with the songstress. Look for big action on this one."[4]

Record World gave a positive review of the album, saying that "Dolly's a dilly with the hometown Sevierville, Tennessee, crowd."[5]

AllMusic rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.[2]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It would peak the following week at number 32. The album spent four weeks on the chart. It debuted and peaked at number 154 on the US Billboard Billboard 200 chart, where it remained for two weeks.

Reissues

The album was included as a bonus disc with pre-orders of Parton's career-spanning box set Dolly in October 2009. This version of the album includes four bonus tracks recorded during the April 25, 1970 performance; "Just Because I'm a Woman", "Daddy Come and Get Me" and "He's a Go Getter" and Parton's first live performance of "Coat of Many Colors". This expanded version of the album was made available as a digital download on March 23, 2010.

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Introduction by Cas Walker / Wabash Cannonball"	A. P. Carter	1:49
2.	"You Gotta Be My Baby"	George Jones	2:07
3.	"Tall Man"	Billy Strange Juan Esquivel	1:31
4.	"Medley: Dumb Blonde / Something Fishy / Put It Off Until Tomorrow"	Curly Putman Dolly Parton Bill Owens	3:57
5.	"My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy"	Parton	3:40
6.	"You All Come (Y'all Come)"	Arlie Duff	2:23
7.	"Bloody Bones (A Story for Kids)" (Spoken Word)	Parton	3:34

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Don Howser Makes Presentation" (Spoken Word)		2:33
2.	"Comedy by Speck Rhodes" (Spoken Word)		2:30
3.	"Run That by Me One More Time" (with Porter Wagoner)	Parton	3:13
4.	"Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark" (with Porter Wagoner)	Parton	2:58
5.	"Tomorrow Is Forever" (with Porter Wagoner)	Parton	2:28
6.	"Two Sides to Every Story" (with Porter Wagoner)	Parton Owens	1:42
7.	"How Great Thou Art"	Stuart K. Hine	4:27

2009 CD reissue and digital download bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Just Because I'm a Woman"	Parton	3:33
16.	"Daddy Come and Get Me"	Parton	3:19
17.	"He's a Go Getter"	Parton	2:02
18.	"Coat of Many Colors"	Parton	3:20

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes and RCA recording session records.

• Joseph Babcock – background vocals
• Terry Blackwell – guitar
• James Buchanant – fiddle
• Jack Drake – guitar
• Pete Drake – steel
• Bobby Dyson – bass
• Dolores Edgin – background vocals
• Bob Ferguson – producer
• D. J. Fontana – drums
• Johnny Gimble – fiddle
• Edward Howard – guitar
• Dave Kirby – guitar
• Les Leverett – cover photo
• Mack Magaha – fiddle
• George McCormick – guitar
• Al Pachucki – recording engineer
• June Evelyn Page – background vocals
• Dolly Parton – lead vocals
• Hargus Robbins – piano
• Dale Sellers – guitar
• Roy Shockley – recording technician
• Buck Trent – electric banjo
• Hugh "Skip" Trotter – liner notes
• Bill Vandevort – recording technician
• Porter Wagoner – duet vocals

Charts

Chart performance for A Real Live Dolly

Chart (1970)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[6]	154
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[7]	32

Release history

Release dates and formats for A Real Live Dolly

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	June 8, 1970	LP 8-track	RCA Victor	[8]
United States	October 26, 2009	CD	Sony Legacy	[9]
Various	March 23, 2010	Digital download		[10]

References

1. "Dolly Parton Day April 25" (PDF). World Radio History. Billboard. February 28, 1970. p. 42. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
2. A Real Live Dolly at AllMusic
3. "Album Reviews" (PDF). World Radio History. Billboard. July 11, 1970. p. 66. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
4. "Country LP Reviews" (PDF). World Radio History. Cashbox. July 11, 1970. p. 53. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
5. "Country LP Reviews" (PDF). World Radio History. Record World. July 25, 1970. p. 273. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
6. "Dolly Parton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
7. "Dolly Parton Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
8. "Dolly Parton - A Real Live Dolly". Discogs. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
9. "Dolly Parton - A Real Live Dolly (2009 CD reissue)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
10. "A Real Live Dolly by Dolly Parton on Amazon Music - Amazon.com". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.