On this day (April 25) in 1970, Dolly Parton recorded her first live album A Real Live Dolly in the gym of her high school alma mater, Sevier County High School. Parton brought Porter Wagoner and comedian Speck Rhodes along to help entertain her hometown crowd.
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Many stars record their live albums while performing at landmark venues. The Ryman Auditorium, Red Rock Amphitheater, or the Budokan in Tokyo are popular settings for live albums. However, Parton wanted to make her first live album a little more personal. So, she chose to go back to her small-town high school in Eastern Tennessee.
The “Jolene” singer wasn’t just performing in her hometown to record the album, though. The show was part of Dolly Days in Parton’s hometown. The celebration included a parade with Parton as grand marshal and many other attractions, including a benefit concert to establish a scholarship fund and buy instruments for the school.
Dolly Parton Brings Nashville to East Tennessee
Dolly Parton didn’t just bring Porter Wagoner and Speck Rhodes along to record A Real Live Dolly. She also brought a band made up of some of the best musicians in Music City. For instance, legendary Western swing fiddle player Johnny Gimble was there. Hargus “Pig” Robbins played piano on the album. Elvis Presley’s drummer, D.J. Fontana, and legendary producer/pedal steel player Pete Drake were both in the band as well.
The musical talent packed into the band shines on the album. While the original pressing of A Real Live Dolly was packed with great songs from Parton’s deep catalog, a pair of classics were omitted. Her live recordings of “Coat of Many Colors” and “Just Because I’m a Woman” didn’t see the light of day until they were added to the 2009 CD reissue along with “Daddy Come Get Me” and “He’s a Go Getter.”
The album peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 154 on the Billboard 200. Parton wouldn’t record another live solo album until 1994 when she captured Heartsongs: Live from Home during a concert at Dollywood.
Featured Image by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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