''New Harvest...First Gathering'' is the eighteenth solo studio album by American entertainer

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

. It was released on February 14, 1977, by RCA Victor. It is significant for being Parton's first self-produced album, as well as her first effort aimed specifically at the pop charts.

Content

In addition to her own compositions, Parton included

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

classic " My Girl" (sung as the gender-neutral "My Love"), and " (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher", originally a Jackie Wilson hit. "Applejack" features an all-star lineup of country legends singing background vocals, including Roy Acuff,

Kitty Wells Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier to women in country music with her 1952 hit recording " It Wasn't God ...

, Johnny Wright,

Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nashville sound, the country music ...

and

Minnie Pearl Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (October 25, 1912 – March 4, 1996), known professionally as her stage character Minnie Pearl, was an American comedian who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years (1940–1991) and on the television ...

Critical reception

In the issue dated February 26, 1977, '' Billboard'' published a review calling the album "Parton's most progressive and individualistic LP ever. Changes in producer (Gregg Perry co-produces this with Dolly), studio, publisher and mental outlook are bound to have a significant effect on the ultimate product. The changes are dramatic and result in some of the most memorable work yet – in writing and singing – by Parton. She wrote most of the songs and vividly displays her stunning powers as a writer. This could be the album that shoves Parton from a country-only base to the category of across-the-board talents like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt who emulate and admire her." '' Cashbox'' published a review in the February 26, 1977 issue, which said, "Breaking from her country roots, Dolly has put together this package of tailor-mades for the progressive rock listener. Her versatility and natural talents combined with her excellent production as well as arrangement comes crystal clear here."

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 1 on the US '' Billboard'' Hot Country LPs chart and No. 71 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart. "You Are" was released as the first single from the album in March 1977 in Europe, but did not chart. However, in 1983 it reached the number 1 position in Dutch charts. The first single in North America, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was released in March 1977 and peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard''

Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sa ...

chart. It peaked at number one on the ''

RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or with the notation min−1) is a unit of rotational speed or rotational frequency for rotating machines. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 defines a unit of rotation as the dimensionl ...

'' Top County Singles chart. "Applejack" had been issued as the B-side of "You Are" in Europe and would be re-promoted as the A-side later in 1977 and did not chart. "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was released as a single in Germany, but did not chart; it was not released as a single in the US, due, in part, to

Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on ''Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and the ...

's cover of the song, which had reached the US top ten earlier in 1977.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes. * Roy Acuff – backing vocals *Rich Adler – engineer *

– backing vocals *Anita Ball – backing vocals *Bashful Brother Oswald – backing vocals *Stu Basore – steel *Lea Jane Berinati – background vocals *Clyde Brooks – drums, percussion, tambourine, backing vocals *Mark Casstevens – banjo *Charlie Chappelear – bass, backing vocals *Ralph Childs – tuba *Jimmy Colvard – acoustic guitars, electric guitar *Jimmy Crawford – steel, backing vocals *Richard Dennison – backing vocals *Bobby Dyson – bass *Bob Ferguson – Applejack's voice *Mary Fielder – backing vocals *Janie Fricke – backing vocals *Hubert Gregory and the Fruit Jar Drinkers – backing vocals *Joe and Rose Lee Maphis – backing vocals *

Shane Keister Shane Keister is an American musician. He is known for his work as a studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. He plays synthesizer, piano, Hammond B3, Synclavier, Fairlight CMI, Fender Rhodes, and others. History Keister was born in Huntin ...

– organ synthesizer, organ *The Kelly Kirkland Strings – string *Dave Kirby – acoustic guitars *Jerry Kroon – drums, percussion *

Larrie Londin Ralph Gallant (October 15, 1943 − August 24, 1992), better known by the stage name Larrie Londin, was an American drummer and session musician. According to journalist James Byron Fox, "If not the best known, Larrie is one of the most liste ...

– drums *Brent Maher – engineer *Kirk McGee – backing vocals *Joe McGuffee – dobro, steel *

Terry McMillan Terry McMillan (born October 18, 1951) is an American novelist. Her work centers around the experiences of Black women in the United States. Early life McMillan was born in Port Huron, Michigan. She received a B.A. in journalism in 1977 from ...

– harmonica *Farrell Morris – percussion *The Nashville Horns – horns *Jamie Nichol – conga *Avie Lee Parton – backing vocals *Dolly Parton – producer, lead vocals, backing vocals, banjo *Lee Parton – backing vocals *Randy Parton – backing vocals *Minnie Pearl – backing vocals *John Pell – acoustic guitar, classical guitar, backing vocals *Gregg Perry – producer, piano, tambourine, keyboards, backing vocals, string arrangements, string conductor *Debbie Joe Puckett – backing vocals *Dwight Puckett – backing vocals *Billy Puett – flute, piccolo, horns *Jimmy Riddle – Jew's (juice) harp *Don Roth – electric guitars *Tom Rutledge – acoustic guitars *Rod Smarr – electric guitar, acoustic guitars, slide guitar, backing vocals * Buddy Spicher – fiddle * Bobby Thompson – banjo, acoustic guitars *

Ernest Tubb Ernest Dale Tubb (February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984), nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, " Walking the Floor Over You" (1941), ...

– backing vocals *Ray Walker – backing vocals *Don Warden – backing vocals *Kitty Wells – backing vocals *The Willis Brothers – backing vocals *Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper – backing vocals *Casey Worden – backing vocals *Kelly Worden – backing vocals *Mickie Worden – backing vocals *Johnny Wright – backing vocals

Chart positions

Album Singles

Accolades

20th Annual Grammy Awards The 20th Annual Grammy Awards were held February 23, 1978, and were broadcast live on American television. They were hosted by John Denver and recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1977. Award winners *Record of the Year **Bil ...

, - , 1978 , "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" , Best Country Vocal Performance, Female , , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Harvest - First Gathering Dolly Parton albums 1977 albums RCA Records albums