Few albums in the country music canon carry the weight of Jolene. Released on 4 February 1974 on RCA Victor, Dolly Parton’s thirteenth studio album arrived at a pivotal moment in her career — just as she was stepping out from seven years as co-host of Porter Wagoner’s television show to establish herself as a solo force. The album delivered not one but two consecutive number-one country singles in the title track and “I Will Always Love You”, cementing Parton’s status as one of Nashville’s most gifted songwriters. Recorded at the legendary RCA Studio B in Nashville and produced by Bob Ferguson, Jolene showcases Parton at her most emotionally direct — vulnerable, witty, and searingly honest — and remains one of the defining records of the classic country era.
About the Album
Recording sessions for Jolene took place at RCA Studio B in Nashville between January 1972 and December 1973. Producer Bob Ferguson, who had guided many of Parton’s earlier RCA recordings, shaped the album’s warm, sparse sound — allowing her voice to carry the emotional narrative with minimal adornment. The title track, committed to tape on 22 May 1973, was inspired by a flame-haired bank teller whom Parton believed was flirting with her husband; its narrator’s raw, unguarded plea to a romantic rival became one of the most distinctive openings in popular music. The second single, “I Will Always Love You” — recorded in a single session on 12 June 1973 — would later become globally recognised through Whitney Houston’s 1992 recording, though Parton’s original country reading is widely regarded as the definitive version. Both singles reached number one on the US Hot Country Singles chart, and the album itself climbed to number six on the US Hot Country Albums chart. Jolene is certified Gold in the United States, Gold in New Zealand, and three-times Platinum in Australia.
Track Listing
Side One
- Jolene
- When Someone Wants to Leave
- River of Happiness
- Early Morning Breeze
- Highlight of My Life
Side Two
- I Will Always Love You
- Randy
- Living on Memories of You
- Lonely Comin’ Down
- It Must Be You
This Pressing
This is the 2019 ‘We Are Vinyl’ reissue, released via Legacy Recordings (Sony Music) on 23 August 2019. Pressed on 140-gram black vinyl by Memphis Record Pressing, it is mastered from approved sources and presented in a faithful reproduction of the original sleeve artwork. It is an authorised reissue intended to bring this landmark album back to the record shelf in a quality format suitable for regular play.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Artist | Dolly Parton |
| Album | Jolene |
| Format | LP, 140g Black Vinyl |
| Label | Legacy Recordings / RCA Victor |
| Year | 2019 (original 1974) |
| Barcode | 190759589618 |
