Songs That Helped Define Dolly Parton’s Career
Here’s a look back at some of the tracks that defined Dolly Parton’s career... In 1973, Parton released ‘Jolene,’ which grew into one of her most famous songs and a defining staple of country music. Parton told NPR in 2008 that the song was inspired by a flirtatious bank teller who seemed interested in her husband, Carl Dean. The result was a desperate plea to another woman to leave her partner alone, delivered with Parton’s instantly recognizable vocal style. Parton found another major hit with ‘Here You Come Again,’ an unusual entry in her catalog because it was written by the songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Producer Gary Klein brought the song to Parton after hearing an unreleased version of the track by BJ Thomas. Her version became a major pop crossover hit, showing she could move comfortably beyond country music without losing her signature sound.
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It’s inconceivable to sum up Dolly Parton’s catalog in just an LP’s worth of tunes, but here are 10 songs to start with.
