Parton's years under the tutelage (and to a large extent, control) of Porter Wagoner were rich in good material and performances, even if they didn't produce the sort of enormous popular acclaim she would later find. 1971's "Coat of Many Colors" is a perfect example of the brilliant work Parton was recording during these years, including the gospel inflections of the signature title tune, the bluegrass harmonies of "My Blue Tears," and the more outre subject matter of "If I Lose My Mind" and "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)."

The title track attests to Parton's brilliance as a songwriter, capturing the emotional turmoil of childhood through the discovery of an adult's nostalgic memory. Parton's voice holds both a little girl's confusion and a woman's knowingness, underlined by acoustic guitar, a light shuffle beat, and touches of gospel organ and background harmonies. It's breathtaking to hear songwriting, singing and production mesh so fully. Throughout the rest of the album Parton's songs, augmented by a trio of tunes from Wagoner, tell human stories in a language that seems effortlessly plainspoken. The productions remain light and supportive, spanning weepy steel and fiddle ("The Mystery of the Mystery"), twangy electric guitar and a funky swamp beat ("Traveling Man"), and 70s soul ("Here I am").

Buddha's reissue presents a crisp remastering of the album's original ten tracks. Parton's original handwritten liner notes are reproduced in reduced form, necessitating a magnifying glass for most readers. Robyn Flans newly penned notes provide a few short paragraphs of career background, but haven't the room to make much of a dent in explaining the album and its songs. Ironically, the reissue credits for the Buddha staff fill an entire column, while a personnel listing for the original players is missing. And that's a shame, because the studio pickers give welcome, understated performances that support Parton's songwriting without drowning her finely crafted words in countrypolitan dross.

With most of Parton's albums from this era out of print, those wishing to dig deeper than greatest hits compilations will find this a welcome addition to their collections. For those just discovering Parton's early years, this is (despite its brevity - the entire disc clocks in at just over 27 minutes) as good an introduction as you'll find.

COAT OF MANY COLORS is the first solo album of Dolly Parton, released in October 1971. The CD presents already seven songs composed by Dolly. The song that gives its name to the CD - " Coat of Many Colors " - has become a classic and is truly a little masterpiece partly because one feels that Dolly Parton has put in it a bit of her own blood. Other all-time classics include such songs as " Traveling Man ", " My Blue Tears " and " Here I Am ".

It's astonishing to see how Dolly Parton already masters in her first album the sweet ballads as " Early Morning Breeze " as well as the gospel style for " Here I Am ". In comparison, the three songs composed by her mentor at that time - Porter Wagoner - look very pale if not slightly ridiculous like " The Mystery of the Mystery " . One can also regret that the producers of this BUDDHA and BMG re-release didn't judge necessary to print the texts of the songs nor the names of the great musicians who were behind Dolly Parton during the recordings. A little respect doesn't cost a lot.

A CD for a Dolly future fan.

I must fully agree with those who are praising the reissue of this album. It seems that many of Parton's earlier more country oriented work will gradually be reissued. Now that she seems to be rediscovering her roots with albums like "Hungry Again," and "The Grass is Blue," it is time for the rest of the world who seems to think that Shania Twain is the real deal, the understand what a real country album sounds like. This is the place to start!

For too long, RCA/BMG has treated the catalog of Dolly Parton with incompetence and indifference. Albums from her early country period have been out of print for years while collection after collection contain the same songs from her uninteresting pop phase of her career. With the long overdue reissue of this album, BMG may be sending signals that it is ready to treat this music with the respect and honor it deserves.

If there was no other song here then the title track, this CD would be worth having, but as it turns out the entire disc is full of the kind of music Dolly Parton has always done best. Now that commercial radio has turned their backs on her, Parton seems to be headed back in the place she should have never left. Let us hope that BMG's reissue of this classic album is a sign of good things to come from them. Here's to more Parton reissues.

Finally!!! After umpteen "best of" compilations doing nothing but recycling the same pop sellout songs we at long last get a reissue of some of Dolly Parton's more compelling early work - and not a moment too soon!

Kicking off with the title track, which is one of the best country songs ever, this reissued, remastered album is a superb showcase for the talent that originally put Parton on the map. Forget the image she has cultivated over the past twenty years or so. This is genuinely moving songwriting, beautifully sung and exquisitely produced. Let us hope that with the reissue BMG is FINALLY putting to rest the four gajillion compilations with "Here You Come Again," "Islands In The Stream," and the woefully over exposed "I Will Always Love You," and will give us more reissued of Parton's back country catalog.