Coat Of Many Colors

queen i love her this was great

Lovely. Dolly is a legend

I love her singing and listen to her voice all day. Great writing and storytelling on the title track. Great rhythm section. Traveling man and My Blue Tears are great. Great rhythm section. The bass ( baritone?) intro in Early Morning Breeze is sick. “The way I see You” is a perfect song. “Here I am” is such a feel good chorus, probably my favorite tune on here. “The better way to live” another feel good tune. I love that she could do something that sounds so sincerely joyous and

Killer, I especially love the drumming in traveling man and the pedal steel intro to she never met a man.

This woman can do no wrong in my book. Hope to get a lot more of Dolly

Beautifully captured unbreakable spirit. True country.

If anyone rates less than five stars, we will find you and there will be pain

Iconic

My wife is leaving me for Dolly Parton now.

Yes yes yes!!

Here I Am ❤️

Gal got pipes. I wrote off Dolly because "country bad", but honestly this album slaps. There were no bad songs. Nothing overstayed its welcome, the lyrics told clear stories, and again gal got pipes. Likely wont enter my rotation due to religious themes on some tracks. Would love a gay punk version of Traveling Man. Stellar road trip music, 5

Dolly is a national treasure. This is the kind of country music I could listen to all day.

Short and incredibly sweet. Loved this.

Coat Of Many Colors

Just 28 minutes and every song is a classic.

Great

I've never listened to a Dolly Parton album until now and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. I think this is an album that I believe must be heard, as it's a very good listen.

Always love Dolly. Her joy comes through her music.

I love her 5 A joy to listen to

Loved the twist in Travelling Man. Super entertaining and her voice is absolutely one of a kind. Also liked that it was short and sharp.

So groovy, her voice is magic. Makes me want to live in 50s and 60s.

I'm giving this a five because, well, I can. It's clever and engaging, even though there aren't any certified hits on it. Totally would listen to it again.

An absolute pleasure of an album from an absolute pleasure of a person.

Go Dolly go. I love an album under 30 minutes.

Hell yeah, Dolly Parton! 'Nuff said.

Rolling Stone lists this as the best country album of all time. I haven’t listened to enough country albums in full to know if I agree but I can certainly understand why it’s listed so high. There were a lot of well written songs here which told concise personal stories (especially the title track). I can also see why Dolly Parton is considered the Queen. I’m sure this was a very influential albums to lots of later country artists, and singer songwriters.

Classic country by a classic (and classy) singer/songwriter. Iconic.

dolly always shines, early morning breeze is one of my favorites

Ok, I really wasn't expecting to want to give a Dolly Parton album a 5. I hate the "we love you Dolly!" sentiment flying around some parts of the internet, and I thought working 9 to 5 is a lame song. But this was brilliant? The first song in particular was just amazing. It didn't really drop in quality, either. Some really nice thoughtful lyrics and that old school country vibe. I'll play this again for sure. 5/5.

An absolutely wonderful collection of songs, with lots of light and shade and lovely lyrics. The title track might be her best song, in terms of words and music, but I prefer the driving rythym of Travellin Man. Brilliant, and much better (in my opinion) than a lot of her later pop records.

Pure and true and uplifting, like the artist herself. One felt the quality just kept creeping up, overcoming concerns about corniness or sentimentality. She's every bit as distinct a writer, as she is a singer. This is timeless, a masterpiece on its own terms, sounding not at all dated and fully relevant. "Mystery of the Mystery" is tops, but every cut has ample merits, particularly "Early Morning Breeze," and "She Never Met and Man" and title cut, too, of course. Refined and understated playing throughout.

I don't know where to start. There's a good reason why Dolly has the best voice of all time in my opinion. On some of the tracks she can even sound like a bird then she has the biggest range of all time in terms of notes she can sing but also style and tone. Dolly is probably my biggest inspiration in most areas of life to be honest. Then we can move to the song writing, story-telling, from the obvious to the abstract, even the track listing starting with a song about her mother's love then on to a story of a mother's sexuality and a heart breaking story of manipulation and betrayal from the travelling man. Oh my GOD it is heart achingly beautiful. Here I am is an absolute anthem, what a message, what a delivery. This album is no disappointment, I guess it doesn't include any of her big party bangers, that isn't a disappointment to me though I LOVE and appreciate Dolly for all her facets. I know she says Coat of Colours is perhaps her favourite of all the million or so incredible songs she's written and you can feel this is a super special album when you listen. Only sliiiiight down side for me is the songs written by Porter Wagoner but it won't bring my score down because they're still performed to perfection by the Queen herself.

Amazing, far too short. God bless Dolly

Luv u dolly

Love this. Has an authenticity that is sorely lacking in most modern country music. A lot of the songs are short, but they are more effective this way. They don’t overstay their welcome or repeat the chorus over and over again.

Good solid fun country music. Nothing to complain about here

short and sweet, just like the queen of country herself.

Perfection

Dolly is such a national treasure. SO MANY ALBUMS! This album seems as good as any to check out her large volume of work. This album speaks to her blue collar country upbringing. Such a great voice! Great classic early 70s country that ranks up there with other country legends from this era.

Almost-perfect Dolly Parton from the 70s - the only DP album I know so a bit hard to compare it to the rest of her work. The album isn't nonstop 5-star but the first half and quite a few second half songs definitely are.

"And people say she's just a big pair of tits"

My kids have been absolutely obsessed with Dolly Parton lately after I picked up an old hits collection of hers on vinyl a few weeks back - so this one is very timely for me. I must say, in listening to her records with my kids, I have absolutely fallen in love with her music and the story of her life. I find myself singing her songs to myself in my head all the time (and my kids sing them out loud). The eponymous song from this album is perhaps the definitive example of how her life and music intertwined to produce some of her best work. My kids particularly love that track, as she adapted it to a picture book that is given away as part of her Imagination Library program, which gives out free picture books every month to any child under 5 - which, by the way, just might be the single most admirable and meaningful charity program I have ever heard of. If you have kids, or are close to any kids, under the age of 5 in the US, make sure they are signed up for the program. It is a Godsend for both parents and children. All her amazing charity work aside, this is the album where she really came into her own as a songwriter. She then went on an absolute tear from 71-75. And then there is her voice. Her voice is able to pierce me emotionally in a way most other country music isn't able to. She has another album a couple years down the line from this one, also based on her life, called "My Tennessee Mountain Home" that I can't listen to without choking up. "Coat of Many Colors" is her at the outset of her best work. Absolutely quintessential country music and some of the most sincere music of any kind you should ever hope to hear.

Masterpiece

A less than bombastic great album, Coat Of Many Colors just has next to nothing to dislike. Dolly's voice is familiar, of course; I was impressed by the quality of the backing musical material, and the ground covered. In less than half an hour, pretty amazing.

Rafraichissant, un bon album Country d'une merveilleuse chanteuse. J'adore et j'ai trouvé que c'était pas assez long 27 min. Un 5/5 bien mérité

This album further supports my ongoing opinion that some of the best songs ever written in western music, across all genres, can be plucked from the first tracks of albums. The album's title track is brilliant - enough to bring a grown man to tears with its gorgeous vocal harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and beautiful message. Fortunately, the album has plenty more to offer. I haven't listened to much of Dolly Parton but there's just so much to love here. She's an incredible vocalist and songwriter, and there's not a single song on here that isn't worth a listen (or several). 'Travellin' Man', 'My Blue Tears', 'Here I Am' are a few other highlights in my opinion.

Great album. Good old country music fronted by a classic voice.

I'm not sure if this album really deserves the 5 stars. It's not really original, nor is the musicianship particularly outstanding in terms of songwriting. But Dolly Parton just is and always was a treasure to warm the heart. It feels like a sweet, pure and simple pleasure listening to her music and that's enough for me to round up my rating from 4.5 Now I'm going to listen to some more of her stuff.

https://youtu.be/bGv0sMxgLsE Apenas.

Amazing. Surprisingly moving

Beautiful voice, phenomenal songwriting. Iconic

nice

it’s dolly

I listened to this three times. Always happy to listen to Dolly's voice! I found it funny that 'traveling man' followed 'coat of many colors' and definitely believe Dolly was behind that decision. I particularly loved 'here I am.'

Just a masterpiece country album with beautiful production, especially with the vocals and chorus harmonies. Great run time and each song flows beautifully into the next.

Dolly. Love her in so many ways. I hadn't heard most of these songs, and they are very much Dolly, which is a high compliment. At a time when women songwriters and performers had it so tough, she pushed hard. This was genuinely enjoyable to listen to this morning.

Imagine not thinking that Dolly Parton is one of America's finest songwriters

This was the first album in a while I really enjoyed! Dolly Parton is great!

A voice to die for.

The ultimate in feel-good music. While listening to Coat of Many Colors, Early Morning Breeze, and Travelling Man, I found myself smiling for no apparent reason apart from the joy in Parton's voice. Music therapy for sure.

A masterclass in songwriting, arrangement, and production. Dolly Parton expresses a naiveté that is endearing and allows her to inhabit an almost childlike space of wonder and unrequited love. The musicianship on this album is tight. For me, the bass really shines in an album that is a joy to listen to from start to finish.

Clear and beautiful as a bell

Really solid album with great stories told throughout

Dolly is always great. Such a special voice and songwriter. I was surprised by the bass work on these tracks. Just solid gold.

Classic Dolly Parton. Beautiful songs created from her childhood in a poor household which resonate with me greatly.

Así quizá si que me pueda gustar el country. La primera canción es preciosa y el resto es muy divertido y fácil de escuchar, suena a tardecita de verano.

I’ve never gone out of my way to listen to dolly and i loved this!

Dolly P. Kinda like Pauly D. She looks like Ellen on the cover kinda

sometimes it takes great art to make you realize that you only have single coloured coats... gotta change this asap

4/5

dolly parton’s gentle voice juxtaposes so poignantly against the often sad lyrics portraying her childhood familial struggles. yet some streaks of childhood innocence and joy shine through this recording

The opener is a bit mawkish, but then it really kicks up a notch. Dolly's a pretty great singer and songwriter, you know? Weird thing on the version on tidal is that the kick is in one speaker and snare the other on some of the songs.

****A good easy listening album

She’s just so great. Fun, upbeat album.

A pretty great classic country album.

4 stars - absolute heat

miłe nie jestem fanem country ale dolly parton szacun

Everything is just about perfect with this record.

Dolly is such a treat, i don't even like country that much, but Dolly Parton is just that good!!

Dolly is a treasure. The title track to this album is so pure, as was the rest of the offering. We’re lucky to be alive during the time of Ms Parton.

Sweet album

This would have been a good album for Independence Day -- Dolly is a national treasure and a symbol of the best of what we can be as a country. She's done her share of corny country tracks, but on an album like this she gives us pathos, humor, and joy that feels earned.

I was grumpy about having to listen to this. Wow. I'm stunned by how much I liked it.

Coat of Many Colors should be played in every elementary school in the USA and probably Congress too if we're being honest. Great album

Dolly is Dolly! Tout le monde aime Dolly!

Comforting, better than I expected. Especially liked the title track and travelling Also short and makes you eager for more Made me open up a bit for country.

This was pretty good. Dolly's voice is clear and quite lovely. My grid for her was from alter material. But I quite like this.

We should all aspire to have a little more Dolly Parton in us everyday Best Song: Coat of Many Colors Rating: 8.5/10 Stars: 4

This is Dolly right in the pocket. This album is short and sweet, it literally has no fat on any song and almost no room to breathe between any song. Each song just finishes and goes right into the next. It's a very uplifting album for the most part, with Dolly telling her stories throughout. Biggest Hit - Coat of Many Colors Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - The Mystery of the Mystery Hidden Gem - Here I Am

Lovely, joyful album. Some of it is too sweet for me (quoting Hozier) but a charming listen nonetheless

Who doesn’t love Dolly? I find the title track to be a bit on the nose and sentimental- Dolly can be that way). Traveling Man, Here I Am, She Never Met A Man (She Didn’t Like) are really good. Dolly is a treasure and truly one of the great American songwriters.

This was a delight. Although I've been a Dolly fan for decades (after a couple decades of being very skeptical) I did not expect to like such an early album as much as I did. Her sense of humor combined with her earnestness come through very strongly in her songwriting.

Rounding up to 4 because Dolly is an amazing human being.

Her eighth studio album at 25 years old! A very easy album to listen to. It bounces back and forth from naive religious optimism and songs of hurt and scandal…each an example of why Dolly is one of America’s best songwriters.

Warm, easy listen. I’ve always liked the title track and the way she paints that whole story. “Traveling Man” was new to me and legitimately funny — classic Dolly storytelling with a wink. And “A Better Place to Live” hits close to home right now in a good way. Twenty‑seven minutes, smooth ride, and I liked it.

Just beautiful <3

Cool!

Dolly cool

Dolly Parton has such a bright voice and is accompanied well by the backing track in this record. Favourite Track(s): My Blue Tears, Coat Of Many Colours, The Way I See You Least Favourite Track(s): Travelling Man

Sempre bom um countryzinho animado com uma voz boa. Simples, mas bom. Ouviria novamente, principalmente numa roadtrip.

Dolly Parton is underrated. I saw her in concert once because my wife dragged me. Holy shit! She was incredible! Such talented performer who puts on an incredible show! But leaving aside her showmanship and stage presence and aw shucks likability, she’s a damn good musician. Her songs are crafted beautifully and tell vivid stories. The opening track here is the best, but it’s all very good. Not a 5, but excellent nonetheless.

increíble voz y un álbum que personalmente el arte de la tapa me fascino

Dolly Parton is more of a general, unspecified "celebrity" these days, but what's often forgotten about her is her incredible knack for heart-rending ballads and for embodying the great lonesome. Her voice rings clear as a cloudless sky all over this album, even if none of the material is all that energetic. Half of the songs on here were written by Parton herself, which is still sort of a radical thing in the incredibly rigged world of the Nashville sound. Of course, the main concession here is how bog-standard the instrumentation and structure of everything is; after all, country is a traditional genre with a traditional sound. Nevertheless, her voice easily soars past all the ordinary humdrum instrumental, and even some of the more unremarkable songs, to make a distinctly memorable document of early 70s city girl country (countrypolitan, I hear they call it.) I wasn't expecting to be so thoroughly entertained by an album like this; it actually left me wondering if Jolene is also included in this list. Key Tracks: Coat of Many Colors, Traveling Man, She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)

Aside from a song here or there, I don't know much Dolly Parton. I always kinda assumed I wouldn't like her, so I was a bit hesitant on this one. Well, color me shocked because this was great! Will be listening to some more Dolly in the future

Dolly Parton is a national treasure! The songwriting is top notch, the song Coat of Many Colors brings a tear to my eye. It is so full of emotion. It is definitely the standout song on the album for me.

Dolly is great shut up

Very good album. I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did. It's a solid 4 star album. Very good songs: "Coat of many colors", "Travelling man" (probably my favourite), "She never met a man (she didn't like)" (great title), "Early Morning Breeze" (loved the bass intro) or "The Way I See You".

8 / 10

Great listen from the incomparable Dolly Parton

Regressive politics aside this is very pretty.

Surpreendentemente gostei. O facto de ter adormecido a Inês 3 vezes ao longo do dia ajudou.

Number: 150 Date: 06/02/2026 Artist: Dolly Parton Album: Coat Of Many Colors Year: 1971 Style: Country Familiarity: Familiar (3) Rating: 4 Before: ======= Today, the completely new to me streak is broken by Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors. I know I've heard the title track at least once. Not sure about the rest of the songs but I'm definately very familiar with Dolly Parton. Shoot fire, I've even been to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Twice, if you count the time we went to Rebel Railroad, before it became Dollywood. During: ======= 4 Coat Of Many Colors 4 Traveling Man 3 My Blue Tears 4 If I Lose My Mind 4 The Mystery Of The Mystery 4 She Never Met A Man (She Didn't Like) 4 Early Morning Breeze 4 The Way I See You 5 Here I Am 3 A Better Place To Live ----------------------------------------------------- 3.94 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= I'm not really a fan of country music but I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. 4 my personal rating 5 suitability for this list 5 impact ----------------------------------------------- 4.7 composite rating

continuing with well needed delightfulness.

Awww, baby Dolly 😍

beautifully crafted, deep songs, which are also catchy and witty

pretty impressive vocal performance, aside from some wide fast vibrato, and a good set of arrangements and performances from the band, but the lyrics leave something to be desired

Dated material but pours her heart int every verse!

Good Diner music.

Great country music performed well. Was a pleasant surprise to find that Dolly wrote many of her own songs — not a knock on the many 60s and 70s country singers who didn't, but it still wasn't too uncommon those days for blues/folk/country artists to do their own renditions of already popular songs.

Nice

Leuk, heel mooie teksten

There's an infectious energy and charm to this album. I like Country Music but I'm not an aficionado of the genre. In the main it's the female country voice that I like and for my age-group Dolly Parton has probably the most recognisable Country voice - in particular her vibrato is very distinctive. With ten tracks to the original album release, and a run time under thirty minutes it's an album that doesn't out stay its welcome and the arrangements are quite lean, something that appeals to me. That said, I wouldn't class "Coat of Many Colours" as essential but it is a very good Country album. Four stars. Side one 1 "Coat of Many Colors" (5/5) 2 "Traveling Man" (4/5) 3 "My Blue Tears" (5/5) 4 "If I Lose My Mind"(4/5) 5 "The Mystery of the Mystery" (3/5) Side two 1 "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)" (4/5) 2 "Early Morning Breeze" (4/5) 3 "The Way I See You" (4/5) 4 "Here I Am" (3/5) 5 "A Better Place to Live" (4/5) Total - 40 Average - 4 334/1001 182/334 albums reviewed were new to me.

Ok

Lovely stuff

loved the songwriting!!! y la voz de parton es tan mágica y timeless. a true icon <3 guardé varias canciones.

I understood country music this morning.

#136/1001 🇺🇸👢 My 3rd country album this week and by far the best. It's sharp, concise and doesn't have a duff track. In a male dominated genre, Dolly is the shining light. Best tracks: Coat of many Colours, Traveling Man, My Blue Tears, A Better Place to Live.

If these tracks are autobiographical in nature, Ms. Parton certainly had her share of relationship problems. But for Merle Haggard though, this was probably the CMA winner in 72

What can I say, it's Dolly. It's fun!

First, I am not a big country music fan but the more I listened to this album the better it got. Dolly has a great country voice and she is a great songwriter, as you listen more you hear the great harmonies and the cool background guitar licks. If you like country I think this is a must listen. I might even add it to my collection if I can find a copy at the local shop

Despite not being a big country fan, Dolly is a genre unto herself. The humble earnestness in her voice and her songwriting is special. 4/5

I love Dolly Parton

This is a geeat album. Beautiful clear lyrics, wit, heartbreak, matching her stellar voixe. Back band amazing of course.

I really enjoy old country more than I ever think I will! Dolly is a wholesome icon. But I like other albums of hers better I think

I love Dolly and her strong southern storytelling. When I hear people say they want to make America great again, I consider that I could only be on board if Dolly was the architect of that vision

Dolly Parton is an absolute national treasure, and albums like Coat Of Many Colors really cement why that is. Dolly Parton is just an absolute delight across this whole thing. She is wise, charismatic, and genuinely funny at times. She also wrote much of this herself, which I am coming to learn was not really common in country music at the time. Coat Of Many Colors also has more lyrical depth than you'd perhaps think. Parton touches on religion, class, mortality, love and more. And it does so through the medium of varied and very enjoyable country songs. But I don't want to downplay the songwriting here. There's a certain efficiency here; the album runs a mere 27 minutes, but it really feels like it has the full depth and content of a longer project. This is one of the better country and western albums I've ever heard, and I can see myself sitting with these songs and letting them grow on me too.

Dolly is one of the greatest songwriters of all time and her lyrics are filled with warmth and humour that matches her voice perfectly. Country albums at this time were often singles and filler and even though this album has less filler than most, it still suffers from having some songs fall flat.

I expected the homespun tails. I expected all the religious references. But I didn't expect the white trashiness of it all! Lots of weird songs about a young girl running off with the same man as her mother and other trailer park fare. I now see Dolly in a whole new light! And I'm here for it. And of course her amazing voice.

Miss Dolly, I have only ever heard Jolene and 9 to 5. What a treat to hear more of her music. Oh, Miss Dolly. You have me emotional right from the get-go. Coat of many colors.. it warmed my heart. Lovely album. She is truly an American treasure. She’s the people’s princess of country music.

Dolly is a treasure. Her voice has such a unique quality and is very pure. This is a lovely, traditional country album. Nothing too crazy on here but it is all well done.

Excellent country ballads and bangers. Iconic singing and instrumentals. Nothing fancy, just simple and classic

Dolly Parton is an artist that plays very often in our house, though it's mostly the same couple of songs, none of which are on this album. Still, this was a fun listen and I look forward to another Dolly album.

Hell of a personnel list. No clue about the words but killer voice.

A classic.

Heerlijk even naar Dolly luisteren

razmišljao sam da dam trojku i da ju opišem kao jako jako jako visoku trojku, ali nema smisla. dosta mi se svidjelo i baš mi je, koliko god krindž zazvučalo, uljepšalo dan :) za doli parton u stvari sam samo čuo, možda sam znao za neku pjesmu, ne znam, ali ima stvarno divan glas i ovo je bilo lijepo, jednostavno, kratko i slatko

If “Coat of Many Colors” won’t get you to four stars, what will?

good country album

not a big country person in the slightest but her voice is super super sweet and all the lyrics just flow so well

te amo dolly

very soothing, loved dolly's lyricism. if I lose my mind is a kick in the heart, makes me miss my momma. coat of many colors very wholesome. traveling man diabolical. 4/5.

Better than I was expecting! Quick and to the point, and funnier in parts than I would have thought. "Traveling Man" was probably my fave on here, but "Coat of Many Colors" "She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like)" and "Early Morning Breeze were good as well!

Love you, Dolly.

4.5

Fantastic Country Album!

I can’t believe her mum would do that

country encore, c'est beaucoup trop americano-centré pour du 1001 albums.

Some of the more Southern Baptist-tinged numbers make me cringe due to past experiences, but thankfully there's a lot of variety here. She also has an incredible vocal range, hitting every note effortlessly. That said, her vibrato is a little annoying, but doesn't detract too much from the overall experience. Extra points for being only 27 minutes long. 3.5/5.0: Very Good

This is a lovely album that's very well put together. Short & sweet, with catchy hooks and incredible vocal delivery, the record feels like a timeless country hit. There aren't any boring moments or fillers and the runtime is such that you're left wanting more. Really good listen.

I heard so many ”mama”, sweet voice

Absolutely amazing album

🪕

Even though I don't love country, dolly Parton is still amazing. A great album, and the first song in particular is great.

Short and sweet, this album listens like the distillation of the best of 1970s soft country. It tackles themes like poverty, family conflict, and betrayal through sometimes upbeat but often melancholy songs, and the variety throughout keeps it engaging. The album grows more generic after the first handful of tracks, and there's perhaps too many love songs for my taste, but the country twist of each makes them unique and reminds the listener that, despite our best efforts, we sometimes all bear our flaws. Nevertheless, Parton's vocals brilliantly convey a broad range of emotions that support the varied themes of the albums and underscore her talent as one of country's greatest artists.

Classic country doesn't get much better than this.

I haven't heard any of the songs on this album but they all still felt familiar somehow. Dolly is country personified and her voice is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album. Its easy to listen to and fits perfectly in my headphones while doing stuff around the house.

Surprisingly decent, felt like I should be drinking whisky at a bar next to a retired coal miner called Red who's having problems with his wife and missed his sons football match because he was buying more painkillers

Dolly and her mama got me crying laughing and singing while I’m sitting in traffic. These people must think I’m crazy

This is Dolly before the persona became the point — 1971, lean production, Appalachian roots worn openly, and a voice that’s nakedly expressive in a way her later, more carefully constructed work occasionally trades away for polish. Coat of Many Colors is the sound of a genuinely gifted songwriter drawing directly from her own life, and the directness shows in every track. The title track is the obvious centerpiece and one of the most quietly moving pieces of autobiographical storytelling in country music. Its power comes entirely from simplicity — no melodrama, no overreach, just a woman telling a true story about her mother and a coat made of rags with complete conviction. That conviction is Dolly’s defining quality here, and it’s what makes the occasional cliché disarm rather than deflate. “Traveling Man” could cause an eye roll from a lesser artist. From Dolly it just sounds true. What elevates the record beyond Trio — her other appearance in this project — is the arranging. Pedal steel, organ, bass, and backing vocals work together as a genuine conversation rather than decoration, leaving room for the songs to breathe while giving them real warmth and texture. These are musicians listening to each other, and it shows. Early Dolly is a different and better proposition than the polished crossover version. Authentic, well-arranged, and delivered with a sincerity that makes the familiar feel genuinely lived in. A well-earned four.

Not my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it a lot! Fantastic voice, and a downright pleasant morning :)

Loved this. Blue grass and gospel roots.

No snark, no sarcasm. As someone who doesn't like the majority of country and pretty much only knows Jolene and 9 to 5 (off the top of my head) by Dolly Parton.... this is an amazing album from start to end. 8.5/10

Gas🔥

I think it's good country, I really don't have many qualms with this album. I think I'm leaning towards a 4 but it is a hesitant 4 since it's not really the kind of country I personally enjoy listening to, but I'm sure it could grow on me.

Once again as I've said I'm in my Dolly era rn and this is actually not one I had listened to yet. It's pretty good but very short and I just know how much better Dolly can get because I've heard it lol

Really good country album. I enjoyed this more than most.

Un álbum de música Country, para el que la voz de Dolly es perfecta. Tiene una voz particular y bella para el género. En cuanto a las canciones, son relajantes, mantienen el ambiente calmado y pacífico, por lo que la mayoría no tiene sobresaltos musicales, mantienen un mismo ritmo. Por otro lado, algunas canciones tienen un fade out que en cierta medida deja incompleta la canción, es decir, fue aplicado muy pronto. Finalmente, a pesar de que no soy fan del género, me gustó el álbum en su totalidad, recomendado.

She's just such a legend isn't she.

It's Dolly, what can you say. funnily enough every time I found myself "what ARE these lyrics, Dolly", it was one of the Waggoner co-credits - how quickly she outgrew her mentor.

The storytelling and song writing in this album was phenomenal. Dolly is a certified legend!

It’s cute, i loved it!

I really like Dolly but I think I enjoy her newer music a bit better.

I've never been a fan of country music but Dolly is such an icon, I'm so glad I got to listen to one of her albums, otherwise I never would have. Her voice is so calming along with the instruments

Ok melodies. Short songs. Overall not bad. And +1 star for her vocal. Quick and shallow vibratos are so nice especially this was in the 70s. Amazing!

great country album. also, its Dolly, so there is an automatic leg up there. i think Dolly's ability to story tell in her music becomes quickly apparent on this album of hers. something about her writing has you understanding people you've never met, places you've never been and relationships you wouldn't have understood otherwise, all on an average song length of about 2.5 mins. pretty great stuff

Really don’t have any complaints with this album at all. With most of us in the group growing up just a couple hours away from where Dolly did, I’d assume that like me, everyone has had Dolly’s music be a staple in their lives or have been exposed to it more times than they can count, so this album feels nostalgic to me even though I’ve never listened to it. I’m going with a four simply because I think I barely knew the title track so it’s missing the hit factor.

How can you not love Dolly Parton?! Both as a performer and a person she comes across as wholesome and someone who loves their craft. The songs have her distinct twang and emotion. This album is music from a different time, but it's a time where music felt genuine. You don't get many people like Mrs. Parton these days.

That was a very pleasant. She has a great voice, and the songs are good classic country. I'll listen to Dolly all day.

Classic Dolly

These are the kind of albums for which I signed up for 1001 albums generator. An artist that I always wanted to explore but never heard. Loved the bass on the songs, great vibes. Such a great album as a whole. Mystery of a mystery is such a beautiful song. Hearing the album for the first time and I probably would have given it a 5.

Rules. This is maybe the first time I’ve knowingly gender-biased my review: I bet this would be 5 to me if I were a woman. Good songs, some bits of really cool instrumentation, and Parton herself sounds excellent on this one.

Got already

Now this is Lurleen Lumpkin level shit. Simpsons: Yes

Very nice.

Beautiful album. Country isn't always my favorite but it's so hard to resist Dolly's charm on this set of songs.

GIRL’S GIRL

7 - GOOD

very fun

A treat to listen to a full Dolly album. Listened while vacuuming my shag rug.

Voice of a century. Repetitive songs. Felt like they were all about the same man except the coat song. Thoroughly enjoyed tho.

Love a bit of Dolly !

Dolly sure had a lot to say about her momma. This album doesn't fall into those tired country tropes. It's more earnest and intelligent, sweet, funny, and interesting than that. It's not my favorite kind of music, but it's good. 3.7/5

A little one note, but still lovely. This album being so short helps, any longer and I’d have gotten bored. Dolly is so pure of heart and it shows in her music.

Definitely going to be a multiple listens album once I get the time. There's just too many great songs on this one to not sit down and figure out what to playlist. But yeah. Generally I'm not enamored with the country albums this list picks. For the most part, they're generally fine, but due to how incestuous the genre is, even the most revolutionary albums sound dated and overdone as a result of every artist after them completely ripping them off. This album though is just fantastic. No matter how one tries (And they've certainly tried, oh God have they tried), they just can't copy Dolly into oblivion like they do with artists like George Jones. There's only one Dolly.

Pretty good. Title track was the best.

I feel like Dolly Parton is one of the very best of country. Her story telling and voice is so sweet and nice, I could listen to her for ages.

4/5 Dolly dolly dolly your voice is so sweet. I've never really listened to country much, but honestly? What a lovely listen. My only complaint is that it's too short.

Great musicianship. The album definitely shines on the first tracks. But it's short enough to make up for it. 4? sure, for now

Some gorgeous song, and earnestness that is touching. Coat of many colors was on my very first MP3, back when you had to download via youtube in a shitty quality and could only contain 100 songs, so that one is special to me. I do not think it reinvents the wheel, but I like it overall (especially Early Morning Breeze) and here voice is still poignant and clear.

Okay, title track….Is it endearing or eye rolling pandering? Honestly, no idea. Either way, weakest on the album? Traveling Man…picks up so much. The ability for old country to tell a story in 3 mins!

veeeeery nostalgia sound to me. ive always been a big dolly parton fan and she never ever disappoints, but it feels like the songs here were kinda hit or miss ? a few were eh next to peak fav track: if i lose my mind

Very enjoyable.

Great country album - there is like one or two great songs in there and the rest is good

Dolly is a great songwriter, and this collection features some of her best. It's a notch below Jolene as an album, but every song is good, the band is top notch, and Dolly is in her performing prime. I'm not a huge fan of her vibrato, but I can hang with it to hear these great songs

The only thing I don’t especially care for is her vibrato. But even that I feel is unique to her style. This is a great album. I didn’t even know any of the songs but I felt comfortable in them. Am I a Dolly Parton fan?

Don't like most country music, love Dolly. Simple songs with incredibly evocative lyrics.

Although I would never typically reach for this, I did enjoy it. She has such an iconic sound.

Her 8th album in 4 years and it doesn't disappoint, the musicianship is superb and her songwriting is getting stronger. 4⭐ for me

Actually alright, short and sweet

When songs were stories

All the other songs aside, Coat of Many Colors is one of the best country songs ever written. Dolly Parton is gem, and we could all stand to be a bit more like her.

Classic Dolly

Expected to write a p1sstake review consisting of : 1. Digging up a couple of old schoolboy jokes about Dolly's chest 2. a comment that Country & Western being two genres & I really hate both Man was I wrong and this is perhaps the biggest surprise in the 1001 thus far - an absolute masterclass in songwriting (which a quick Google confirmed was from Ms Parton herself). Travelling Man made me chuckle openly, Coat of Many Colours genuinely hit the heart, and would definitely listen to album again in its entirety 4 stars and two tickets to Dollywood please

Finally some country

Dolly is Dolly

Really enjoyed this album, Coat of Many Colours is a timeless track.

Dolly Parton is a living saint. This album has not only songs, but stories as well. It's phenomenal Favorite song: Traveling Man

7/10

Verrassend aangenaam. Openingsnummer is een toptrack

No recomiendo oír si tú mamá te abandono 😜 El piano en The Way I See You fue mi cosa favorita, aparte de la voz

Приятно слышать светлый и добрый голос из пугающего американского захолустья (хотя наверное всё кантри такое)

Nice

Today I listened to my first Dolly Parton album. I don’t know anything about Dolly other than she’s Southern, has a heart of gold, and her tits are as big as her hair. The album was better than I expected. It was heartfelt at times and playful at other times but never pretended to be anything more than it was. Will I listen to it again? No. I don’t like country music. Was it worth the listen? Emphatic yes. I’m better for the experience. 4 stars

Temo che la personalità di Dolly influenzi il giudizio, è proprio un angelo

brilliant music from 1971- great country story songs!

While country will never really be “my thing,” there’s no denying the skill Dolly Parton has as a singer and songwriter. She weaves together these intimate tales and ideas of womanhood in such a satisfying package, it’s hard not to get a smile on your face as you listen. The melodies and rhymes are predictable, but I think that is part of the satisfaction.

I’m not usually one for country music, but my goodness, this is as close to a 5 star country album as possible for me. Solid 4.75 stars!

Never been a fan of the country twang. I do recognize that there are some great voices and lyrics in the genre, Dolly included. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. Her songs are so sweet and sad and funny! Especially this “mama” character that recurs in a few songs. She can be loving, two-timing, or wise, as the particular song requires.

What’s not to like about Dolly?

undeniable

As child, Dolly Parton was the first woman who made me realize the obvious difference between men & women. I'm talking of course about her breasts. It wasn't sexual at the time but at the time my brain had Dolly's Dolls as the baseline for large breasts. Musically she's powerhouse. The songwriting is good & thoughtful. Like in Coat of Many Colors, she knows the difference between being rich & rich in life. 4

Dolly's voice is tender and skillful. She covers a variety of country sub-styles and attitudes deftly. Soulful, rowdy, sincere, melancholic. It's definitely a classic, but a little too serene and safe to warrant a five.

pretty great

A selection of really lovely songs. First time listening to a whole Dolly Parton album and I really enjoyed this. Favourite tracks: Coat of Many Colors, Travelling Man, The Mystery of the Mystery, Early Morning Breeze

Amei o álbum. Uma grande corna contadora de histórias. Muito bom, um dos melhores até agora

Love Dolly the woman, now I love Dolly the musician. Incredibly sweet and aggressively optimistic. 9/10

Ох, этот голос... Кантри для меня это жанр настроения. Там обычно нет каких-то интересных музыкальных решений, а на тексты и истории в них я редко обращаю внимание. Но иногда просто приятно послушать такую музыку, она переносит тебя куда-то далеко, в солнечное место, на свежий воздух, где никто по работе не сможет до тебя дозвониться... Долли легенда по определнию, так что даже если песни не запомнились, ниже 4 ставить нельзя.

Лучшая песня: Coat of many colors Худшая: хз Только что послушал, уже ничего не помню. Слушать приятно, но потом заиграла песня с какого-то другого альбома и она была гораздо прикольнее. Но не тройка точно

Приятный голос Долли, олдскульный кантри, вполне себе приятная музыка

приятно было слушать, хотя возможно были заниженные ожидания.

Lovveeeee Dolly, love her voice. No know songs on this one but loved nonetheless

Dolly Parton is a national treasure.

Why did country ever depart from this

Memories of Dollywood with Liz June 2025

Coat of Many Colors 5/5 Traveling Man 5/5 My Blue Tears 4/5 If I lose My Mind 4/5 The Mystery of The Mystery 4/5 She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like) 4/5 Early Morning Breeze 4/5 The Way I See You 4/5 Here I am 3/5 A Better Place To Live 3/5 Overall Album: 4

Classic country album from one of the greatest.

Strong start, just classic Dolly. Some under the radar bangers in here. Really great album.

Wow! What a nice and short album! This is a very nice album to put on for casual listening. I’m also starting to think that I might like country, I was enjoying this album a lot more than I thought I was. Dolly Parton’s singing is amazing and since it’s a nice a short album, I could, and probably would, listen to it again.

It's stuff like this that affirms my belief that there are no objectively bad genres, at least as far as broad genres are concerned. I've never been a fan of country music. However, the country music I've been exposed to living in the midwest, is primarily what I would call modern bro country. You know, stuff like Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan. I hate that music. It's so bad. I can't stand it. However, country as a genre is not objectively bad, and I know that because of Dolly Parton. Well, okay, there's other important artist like Johnny Cash that also affirm that belief. Dolly Parton is truly an American legend, and for good reason. She’s an amazing musician. This album is quite good. The opening title track is just a great song, but the rest of them aren't bad either. Dolly's vocals are impressive and a joy to listen to. The writing is also solid. The sound is pleasant to listen too. Overall, while country isn't really my thing, there's no doubt that this is a solid album that has a lot going for it. Did I need to hear this before I die? Absolutely

Great record.

Absolutely knockout record, only 27 minutes but very strong. Probably one 10/10 track from a 5

This was actually quite good. Lyrics with an interesting theme, good vocals and some yeehaw. 4/5

Not a country fan but this is easy to listen to. Nothing mind blowing but well done and pleasant. Solid 4

Coat of many colors - 5 Traveling man - 4 My blue tears - 3 If I lose my mind - 3 The mystery of the mystery - 3 She never met a man (she didn't like) - 3 Early morning breeze - 4 The way I see you - 3 Here I am - 4 A better place to live - 3

Cute little gem of an album. Initially I thought I'd just like the title track with the rest of the runtime being basic country conventions with a sweet yet powerful voice over it after hearing the following 2 tracks, but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety in the instrumentals and infectious writing that Dolly provides on here - apparently it was ground-breaking for her to even be writing her own stuff at this time. Highlights: She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like) Coat Of Many Colours

-she always getting cheated on or is poor as a child -I can appreciate the simplicity of the lyrics and instrumentals in this album, it really brings out her voice -probably not her best album, but still fun -pretty short album

Warm and fun as expected! Nice to listen to all the way through. Highlights: "Coat of Many Colors", "My Blue Tears", "Here I Am"

Long live Dolly Parton! I did notice she uses some songs from this album in Jolene.

okay dolly, you know ball. banger after banger here Would I listen again? ya know what, yea Deserves to be on this list: absolutely 4.3

This was a great album. Favorite songs: Coat of Many Colors, My Blue Tears, Early Morning Breeze

There's a lot of Dolly Goodness packed into this album's 27 minutes.

Lots of thoughts with this one. Let's try to map this out. On the one hand, I hate country music; but on the other hand, Dolly's one of the few country artists who's somehow able to bring her art into a more accessible arena. I appreciate that no song (nor the album, itself) overstays its welcome. The subjects are relatable and, through her skillful delivery, avoid falling into the tropes that repulse me about the genre. Her voice can pierce at times, but she's also great at storytelling and articulating emotion. If you don't feel anything when listening to the title track, you're dead inside. Dolly's also a wonderful human being, and while that shouldn't be a factor in album ratings, I've read enough Morrissey reviews to know that that separation isn't always easy to make. Put it all together, and I think we've got a strong 4 here.

Hey, if anyone can break my streak of giving country music a one star rating. It would be Dolly.

I'm not the biggest country person but Dolly Parton makes it hard not to enjoy her music

I can’t say I’m a big Dolly Parton fan, and a lot of her music is hit or miss for me. But this album is one I’ve enjoyed more than others I’ve heard from her. The strings and fiddles bring out a strong folk-inspired sound, while her acoustic guitar strumming is front and center along with her signature vocal style and heartfelt lyrics.

Me likey this album

This coat has two colors, which are country and western. It starts strong but ends up being quite samey. If it was any longer I would have been annoyed by it, but as it is it was still a good time.

Dolly is such a national treasure. 4/5

Dolly! That clear, beautiful voice alone earns her at least 3 stars. I did think it was very funny to hear in the first song that she was singing about her dear mother, making her a beautiful coat, then hearing that her same dear mama stole her man! Ha!

Dolly, puedes cantar sobre adorar la creación de Dios al ver una mariposa, el orgullo obrero o que un cabrón te viole y tu madre te levante el novio, todo lo haces bien, fácil, bonito, que forma de contar historias. La única reina que respeto 4,5/5

Dolly Marx Parton

Just a solid dolly record. She doesnt miss and this is business as usual. The start is killer. The first 5 songs are all great. It cools off somewhat after that but its still pretty good. The title track is probably my favorite but I got a handful of them saved here. She has been good forever and this is no exception. Give it a whirl if you like some good old country ladies

Day751 - lyrics that go from sweet to silly and her voice is one of a kind

Beautiful lyrics, classic storytelling

What a fabulous album to listen to in the car, loving Dolly and this album, made me smile all day!!

Hard not to smile when listening to dolly, makes you want to be a kinder soul.

National treasure!!

Dolly gets away with some stuff I would find annoying from other artists - sing-talking story songs, maudlin lyrics, a specific style of classic country I'm not otherwise super fond of - through a combination of incredible talent and natural charm. Good times.

Dolly is a national treasure

actually pretty good, didnt think i liked dolly parton that much but better than i expected

So good

Enjoyed everything about this album. Dolly has a great voice and the ak getting is solid. Surprised by how melodic the bass playing was throughout.

I am allergic to all country except Dolly

After kicking off with a pious tale about a bible-inspired coat, Dolly bravely tackles all manner of matters of the heart, including competing with your mother for the affections of a travelling salesman, slut-shaming your husbands mistress and, I think, wife-swapping trauma. Never to be accused of lack of scope, she also addresses the mystery of death and world peace. In short, this is a classic country album, and a surprisingly funky one. The band is in excellent form and it’s shocking to read they recorded this mostly over just 2 days. Dolly’s voice is as pure and clean as spring rain. Favorite song: Here I Am

Fun!

Iconic but weird lyrics

In Dolly Parton we trust

No songs knock my socks off, but she just has the sweetest voice in pop music.

I love you dolly