I bought this album when it first came out, and perhaps it is a bit late to be writing a review, but with Dolly's recent success with "The Grass is Blue" and "Little Sparrow", I am hoping to spark some interest in great past albums that never did as well as they should have. "Something Special" is a great album! From the first song, "Crippled Bird" the harmonies (here with Alison Krauss) and beautiful melodies begin. "Change", "Teach me to Trust", and the magnificent duet version with Vince Gill of "I Will Always Love You" (Oh that last note!)are songs as wonderful as Dolly has ever recoded, sung, or written. As a matter of fact, she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album. "Green Eyed Boy", "Something Special", and "Speakin' of the Devil" are great fun, and there is a wonderful new arrangement of her classic "Jolene" as well as another take on the gospel-charged "The Seeker". There isn't a clunker in the bunch, and it is a well rounded album where the voices and harmonies are in the forefront. It isn't bluegrass, but for the most part it is acoustic and just great, plain, simple music. Also highly reccomended: "Heartsongs-Live from Home"---possibly Dolly's greatest, though least heard, album.

This has got to be one of my favorite Dolly albums ever. When she first came out in the 60's, she was very dark and depressing. She was an artist of rare form. This album shows that she hasn't changed. They talk about how heavy metal songs drive teenagers to commit suicide, but "Crippled Bird" is even more dangerous. It is filled with hopelessness and despair. If you are depressed when she says "Oh to die would be a pleasure", you want to search for a knife. This songs says you have nowhere to go. You feel the emotions and the pain. "Something Special" has a mellow Mowtown sound with a nice positive message about not forgetting to let someone know that you love them. "Change" We all wish we could end a relationship peacefully with understanding. Instead, we hang on because we don't want to be alone. Sometimes, we need a change. We're better off that way. "I Will Always Love You" If you haven't heard it, you've been in a coma. The original was very sweet, touching and honest. The second version, for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" had a happy ending,... in the movie. Whitney Houston's version was more successful, but if you listen to it very carefully, you hear Dolly's original version. Who was tickling her anyway? This version, with Vince Gill could be the best version yet, because you get to feel both sides of the story, the way it was intended. The next two songs make you remember your first love. Tight jeans, untucked shirt and messy hair. When he tilted his head and smiled, you didn't care about the rest. "Jolene" The haunting melody and emotion are gone. "No Good Way of Saying Good-bye is another 'we need to separate' song, but different from the others on this album. The vocals and music are louder, but they need to be. It's like she's thinking, 'you're not listening to me and you can't make me change my mind.' "The Seeker" is a good upbeat religious song about needing direction. "Teach Me to Trust" We've all been here before. In a new relationship and still hurting from the last one. It's a plea to save a relationship. 'I love you, but I'm afraid. Please understand' If you can't say it yourself, play this song to the one you love. It will help. Although this album is filled with depressing material, it is very peaceful and cleansing. It can give you courage to make a change if you let it.

This is a more obscure release from Dolly Parton. Not her best, but there's some great gems here. On this 1995 release, she gives some of her older songs a new flair and style. Songs that were reworked include "The Seeker", "Jolene" and the classic "I Will Always Love You". Her reworking of "I Will Always Love You" is especially good, since this time it is remade as a duet with Vince Gill. The song was a mild hit with country radio, and one of her last to crack the top 20. The rest of the album is a mixed bag. "Crippled Bird" is an incredibly poetic but sad ballad. "Change" is a nice ballad that is very honest about wanting a change in a relationship. "Teach Me To Trust", the album closer, is another nice song. The rest of the songs are ok, but nothing too special really. Not an essential release from Parton by any means but the avid fan will want it.

Dolly's 1995 album SOMETHING SPECIAL was a album which took time to grow on me, but I appreciate it for what it is now. It's worth the price of the CD alone for "Crippled Bird", one of the most depressing songs Dolly has ever sung. On SPECIAL we get vamped up versions of past hits, which she has been known to do. This time "Jolene", "The Seeker" and "I Will Always Love You" get the treatment. They are nice versions, but especially the new version of "I Will Always Love You" which features Vince Gill. Songs like "Something Special", "Green Eyed Boy" and "Speakin of the Devil" are fun quirky songs, which are just great. Perhaps the most poignant songs come from "Crippled Bird", "Change", "No Good Way Of Saying Goodbye", and the closing "Teach Me To Trust". Overall not her best but its worth owning, give it a listen.

The first track on this Cd is priceless.Dolly sings with such emotion that you can feel her pain.Truly one of her best pieces of music