Dolly Parton: Live From London
Dolly Parton: Live From London
Tuesday, 09, Feb 2010 03:55
By Tom Williams
Sony Music, out now.
What's it all about?
Double CD/DVD set covering Parton's July 2008 show from the O2 Arena in London. Breast enthusiasts take note.
Who's it by?
One of, if not the most famous females in country music, songs such as Jolene and 9 to 5 are such staples of music it's easy to forget what an impact she's had on the genre over the five decades she's been performing.
As an example.
"Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living, barely getting by, it's all taking, and no giving, they just use your mind, and they never give you credit." - '9 to 5'
What the others say
"All the hits, a couple of newish ones, and Dolly whooping, hollering and chattering for all she's worth." - BBC Music
"Live from London covers all the bases as an entry level introduction to a career worthy of much closer investigation." - allgigs.co.uk
So is it any good?
Reviewing a Dolly Parton record is a tricky task. Everyone has a preconceived notion, mostly centred around breasts and 9 to 5, and no one wants to know anything to the contrary. A live record panders to these clichés, offering essentially a greatest hits collection which ramps up the camp, yelling and bluster to fever pitch.
What it also does is showcase Parton's greatest strength; the ability to offer well-worn lyrical wisdom, coated in heaps of glossy make-up. Witness the pick yourself up off the floor call to arms that is Better Get To Living for full proof.
Even 9 to 5 offers more frustration, rage and anger than any measure of emo bands could possibly muster. That Parton does it all on such a grand scale and level simply serves to illustrate just why she can still fill venues such as the London O2 gig documented here.
The band are as tight throughout as you would expect from an arena-straddling superstar, but never detract from Parton herself, who remains star of the show throughout.
Criticise at your own peril.
8 /10