Rock Bands & Pop Stars
Dolly Parton Pictures
Artist:
Dolly Parton
Origin:
United States, Locust Ridge - TennesseeUnited States
Born date:
January 19, 1946
Dolly Parton Album: «Treasures»
Dolly Parton Album: «Treasures» (Front side)
    Album information
  • Customers rating: (4.7 of 5)
  • Title:Treasures
  • Release date:
  • Type:Audio CD
  • Label:
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Customers rating
Review - Amazon.com
A thumbnail description of Treasures makes it sound like a most unpromising comeback vehicle. It contains no compositions by Parton herself, one of the finest country songwriters of her generation. It does feature such gimmicky propositions as Parton singing Cat Stevens' anti-war anthem, "Peace Train," with a South African choral group, and Neil Young's science-fiction fantasy, "After the Goldrush," with Alison Krauss and Suzanne Cox of the Cox Family. When you actually listen, however, it turns out to be Parton's most consistent and most satisfying studio album since 1983's "Burlap & Satin" (her best overall album of the '80s and '90s is the 2 CD live set, Heartsongs). --Geoffrey Himes
Customer review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
- An overlooked gem

By the time Dolly recorded this album, her new singles were no longer being played on radio, so she took the opportunity to record covers of some of her favorite songs. With a star-studded cast of guests, the results are impressive.

The album opens with Peace train (a Cat Stevens song), backed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Some of Dolly's fans may feel that the arrangement is a little over the top, but anybody who has listened to LBM's own music (as I have) will appreciate it.

After that, the rest of the album sounds more typical of Dolly's music, including excellent covers of Today I started loving you again (the often-covered Merle Haggard song that provided Sammi Smith with a top ten American country hit in the seventies), Something's burning (Kenny Rogers and the first edition), Before the next teardrop falls (Freddy Fender), Walking on sunshine (Katrina and the waves), Behind closed doors (Charlie Rich), Don't let me cross over (Carl and Pearl Butler), Satin sheets (Jeanne Pruett) and For the good times (Kris Kristofferson).

After the goldrush (a Neil Young song) was recorded by Dolly with Linda and Emmylou for their second Trio album, but after a decision was taken not to release it, Dolly recorded a solo version and included it on this album. The second Trio album was eventually released, several years after it was originally recorded, complete with the Trio version of After the goldrush.

All those songs are wonderful, but best of the lot is Just when I needed you most, a Randy Van Warmer hit from the seventies, which features Alison Krauss and John Sebastian. Dolly originally wanted this to be a Trio song, but it didn't work that way. However, it works superbly here.

This album was not commercially successful, but if there were any justice in this world, it would have been.

Customer review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
- Country & Rock & Roll Love Affair

As only Dolly can do it and she brings the band and her listeners along with her. She proved how well she can rock with her version of 'Great Balls of Fire' in the early 80's which unfortunatly is not available on CD. Fortunatly with this CD we have her version of 'Somethings Burning', a rock and roll gem. She took a Kenny Roger's classic and infused it with a stunning jolt of high voltage R&R and the results are astounding. Not to shabby either is her version of 'Walking on Sunshine'. Other gems include 'Today I Started Loving You Again', 'Just When I Needed You Most', 'Before the Next Teardrop Falls', and 'After the Goldrush'.'Satin Sheets'is real fine also and the rest of the CD is good. But I can't think of too many other albums released in the last 10 years with this many great versions of great songs. 'For the Good Times' is O.K. but try Jerry Lee Lewis or Willie Nelson's versions. As far as 'Behind Closed Doors', even Dolly can't come close to the Silver Fox. 'Peace Train'I never liked by Cat or anyone so I'll leave that one alone and skip to track 2 when I listen. Theres just too much quality stuff here to not rate it my favorite Dolly album.

Customer review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
- A gift that made someone happy

I can't vouch for this cd personally because it wasn't purchased for me--it was a gift for my niece. But according to her the quality was just fine and she's happy.

Customer review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
- Delightful.

Not normally a country fan but this is not country. This is Dolly singing her best on some very excellent classics. Love it. Recommend it.

Customer review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
- A Look In The Treasure Chest.

This is truly a unique collection of cover songs from Dolly Parton. By the time it was released, radiostations weren't playing Dolly's music anymore, but none the less Dolly knew what she was doing. This is probarly her best cover album to date, it's full mostly country & rock songs made famously by other artists before like, Merle Haggard, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Mac Davis. The album received mixed reviews and reached #21 on the U.S. country album charts. "Treasures" featured a number of famous guest artists too, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, John Popper of Blues Traveler, David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, and Alison Krauss. The album released "Peace Train" and "Walking On Sunshine" as maxi-singles, which featured dance club music.

1. Peace Train - originally released from Cat Stevens, is a uplifting & powerful song & just like the song Dolly's vocals are so uplifting and powerful on here. also this song features a South Africa chorus group called "Ladysmith Black Mambazo".

2. Today I Started Loving You Again - is a song that probarly sparked the sound for most of the songs on "Hungry Again". It's a smooth song, but still up beat enough to dance with your love one.

3. Just When I Needed You Most - is a very sad & slow song, about needing someone who isn't there for you. Since the song is sad, Dolly seems sad on this song, but she does it in a beautiful way, (it's called acting). Also Alison Krauss is on this song as background vocals.

4. Something's Burning - is a excellent song, that starts off very low & calm then builds to a kickin' rock sound. This song is a mixture of country & rock music. Also it's another song that shows Dolly's vocals off very powerfully. Don't skip this one.

5. Before The Next Teardrop Falls - is a song that has Spanish (I guess) & country mixed together, it features Dolly's special singing guest David Hidalgo. The song is alot like "Today I Started Loving You Again" smooth, but still up beat enough to dance with your love one.

6. After the Gold Rush - originally appearing on "Trio 2" with Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt. Dolly re-recorded this song especially for this album. The song is more upbeat and a little faster then the original one, but all the same is a great song, full of moving music and lyrics. Alison Krauss makes another appearence on here as background vocals, but this time with Suzanne Cox and Viktor Krauss (who I guess is Alison's brother or husband?).

7. Walking On Sunshine - originally released from Katrina And The Waves' 1985 album and written by Kimberly Rew, "Walking On Sunshine" is a fun, playful & uplifting song, that will surely make you feel like your walking on sunshine.

8. Behind Closed Doors - has a great traditional country rhythm to it. The song reminds me of something that you might hear from Dolly's 1991 album "Eagle With She Flies". Pig Robbins also appears on this song playing the piano.

9. Don't Let Me Cross Over - is another traditional country song, that has a old feel to it. Raul Malo is on background vocals.

10. Satin Sheets - is a traditional country, that has a great old rhythm to it. For some the song will bring back memories of great old country music.

11. For The Good Times - originally written & performed by actor Kris Kristofferson, who also wrote the song "Me & Bobby McGee" which was made famously by Janis Joplin, is probarly the most boring out of all the songs on this album, however I will say that it is the perfect song to end this excellent album with and Dolly's voice is so calm and smooth on it too.

P.S. - Better late then never.