These recordings, made between 1967 and 1970, were not successful for Dolly at the time, although she was successful as duet partner of Porter Wagoner. Seven of the nine songs were written by Dolly.

The first two songs (Just the way I am and Little bird) are brilliant upbeat, happy songs, yet it is the seven extremely sad songs that follow which show Dolly's real qualities.

My favorite track (indeed, my favorite Dolly song - and I've heard them all) is My blue ridge mountain boy. It is about a girl yearning for the boy back home, instead of the ones she meets in the city.

Mama say a prayer and Daddy come and get me are also songs about someone yearning to be back home because of problems with men.

In the good old days is a bittersweet song about her childhood experiences.

Gypsy Joe and me is a song about death for all three.

The Carroll county accident is a cover of a Porter Wagoner hit about a road accident, but with a twist.

In the ghetto is the Mac Davis song made famous by Elvis. I enjoy both versions (I am a huge fan of both Elvis and Dolly) but I think Dolly has a better feel for the song. Listen to both and judge for yourself.

If you are a fan of Dolly's early seventies music, particularly if you enjoy Coat of many colors, you'll like this. If you find that song too depressing, you should give this a miss.

What a pleasure to see this record on cd. There's not a bad song on here, and a number of gems. The title track, "Just the Way I Am," is a rollicking introduction to this cd, which is a showcase of her talents at their best and most diverse. "Mama Say a Prayer" (the best track on this cd, in my opinion) is reminiscent of Dolly's earliest recordings; "Gypsy, Joe and Me" is a classic Dolly story song. Notable, also, is "In the Good Old Days," "Little Bird," and "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy."

In Alanna Nash's biography, Dolly lamented that she never got to sing with Elvis, and that thwarted ambition is poignantly evoked in her cover of "In The Ghetto." It sits nicely with "Carol County Accident," probably my second favourite track. I like the cover, too: an exuberant, plump Dolly who is just the way she is.

This reissue of a fairly obscure budget Parton compilation would seem pretty pointless if it weren't for the fact that it rescues several solid songs from the out of print limbo they have been in for several years. Chief among them are the title track, the harrowing "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy," the presumably autobiographical "In The Good Ol' Days," and the sharp example of Parton's story telling capabilities in "Gypsy, Joe, and Me." One can gripe about the mere 25 and a half minute running time (in an age when CDs can hold 80 minutes of music), the complete lack of liner notes, as well as the tacky and embarrassing cover photos, but the remastered sound is impressive and the list price can't be beat.

One hopes that the indivivdual albums that originaly contained these songs will be made available again soon, but for now this will have to do.

IM GLAD TO SEE SOME OLD DOLLY ALBUMS BEING PUT ONTO CDS!I LOVE ALL THE SONGS ON THIS CD! MY FAVORITES ARE "JUST THE I AM" AND" GYPSY,JOE AND ME" HEY BUDDHA,IF YOUR READING THIS,PLEASE RELEASE THESE DOLLY ALBUMS ON CD! "NEW HARVEST,FIRST GATHERING-DOLLY,DOLLY,DOLLY-GREAT BALLS OF FIRE AND MY TENNESSEE MOUNTIAN HOME! "

I agree....let's see some more of the older recordings not on CD.....Dolly always makes every song her own. Really want to see "New Harvest, First Gathering" with AppleJack.......most of the old timers on that song are gone but not forgotten. Thanks Buddah for re-mastering all of these great classic albums!