Better Day (album)
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Better Day is the forty-third solo studio album by American singer-songwriter
Background
Parton first mentioned plans for a new album in October 2010 during an interview with The Huntsville Times. She said she was currently working on the album which will "have some uplifting gospel flavor and some country." She went on to say that she plans to tour "in the fall and winter" in Europe and Australia.[3] It was announced in January 2011 that the album's title would be Better Day.[4]
Content
Better Day contains entirely original material, her first since Hungry Again.[2] However, only six of the album's twelve tracks are exclusively new.[5] Four of the songs on Better Day, "I Just Might", "Shine Like the Sun", "Get Out and Stay Out" and "Let Love Grow" are Parton's personally recorded versions of songs she wrote for the Broadway adaptation of her 1980 movie 9 to 5.[2] "Holding Everything" was previously written for and recorded by Randy Owen on his debut album, One on One.[5]
In an interview with
Release and promotion
The first single from the album, "Together You and I," was premiered on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 27, 2011.[7] Parton has already begun promotion of the tour and album, including across the BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom in April 2011.[8] The album was released on CD, vinyl and digital download.
The album's lead single, "
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Paste Magazine | [20] |
USA Today | [21] |
The Washington Post | (mixed)[22] |
Better Day has received positive reviews from most music critics. At
The Washington Post's Allison Stewart stated that Better Day is a "restless jumble of styles weighted toward mainstream country", and that the album "is only as great as it needs to be".[22] Carla Gillis of NOW panned the album's "eye-rolling Dollyisms", but complimented that Parton's vocals were "as strong, clear and distinct as ever."[19]
Commercial performance
Better Day debuted at number 51 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with first week sales of 17,500. The album also debuted at number 11 on the Billboard
Track listing
All tracks are written by Dolly Parton, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "In the Meantime" | 4:04 | |
2. | "Just Leaving" | 3:00 | |
3. | "Somebody's Missing You" | 3:43 | |
4. | "Together You and I" | 3:56 | |
5. | "Country Is as Country Does" | Parton, Mac Davis | 3:20 |
6. | "Holding Everything" (with Kent Wells) | 3:36 | |
7. | "The Sacrifice" | 3:26 | |
8. | "I Just Might" | 3:57 | |
9. | "Better Day" | 3:22 | |
10. | "Shine Like the Sun" | 3:12 | |
11. | "Get Out and Stay Out" | 3:05 | |
12. | "Let Love Grow" | 3:41 | |
Total length: | 42:22 |
Personnel
Adapted from the album liner notes.
- Kii Arens – Art Direction
- Mike Brignardello – Bass guitar
- Matt Coles – Assistant
- Jamie Dailey – Background Vocals
- Christian Davis – Background Vocals
- Michael Davis – Hammond B3 Organ, Synthesizer
- Richard Dennison – Background Vocals
- Kyle Dickinson – Assistant
- Allen Ditto – Assistant
- Peter Dokus – Photo Assistance
- Steel Guitar
- Andy Hall – Dobro
- Vicki Hampton – Background Vocals
- Emmylou Harris – Background Vocals on track 3
- Aubrey Haynie – Fiddle, Mandolin
- Steve Hinson – Steel Guitar, Slide Guitar
- Paul Hollowell – Hammond B3 Organ, Keyboards, piano
- Becky Isaacs – Background Vocals
- Sonya Isaacs – Background Vocals
- Randy Kohrs – Dobro
- Alison Krauss – Background Vocals on track 3
- Rob McNelley – Electric guitar
- Jerry McPherson – Electric guitar
- Steve Mackey – Bass guitar, Upright Bass
- Stephen Marcussen – Mastering
- Brent Mason – Electric guitar
- Jimmy Mattingly – Fiddle, Mandolin
- Patrick Murphy – Engineering, Mixing
- Jennifer O'Brien – Background Vocals
- Richie Owens – Harmonica
- Dolly Parton – Composer, Executive Producer, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals
- Cheryl Riddle – Hair Stylist
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – Piano
- Ben Schmitt – Assistant
- Tony Smith – Engineer
- Fran Strine – Photography
- Steve Summers – Costume Design
- Acoustic Guitar
- Dave Talbot – Banjo
- Steve Turner – Percussion
- Darrin Vincent – Background Vocals
- Biff Watson – Acoustic Guitar
- Kent Wells – Acoustic Guitar, Electric guitar, Producer, Background Vocals
- Stewart Whitmore – Digital Editing
Charts
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
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Australian Country Albums Chart | 1 |
Australian Albums Chart | 29 |
Irish Albums Chart | 68 |
Scottish Albums Chart | 6 |
UK Albums Chart | 9 |
UK Country Albums Chart[26] | 1 |
UK Download Albums Chart
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18 |
U.S. Billboard 200 | 51 |
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 11 |
Release history
Country | Date | Label | Format |
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Canada | June 28, 2011 |
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United States | |||
Canada | August 16, 2011 | LP | |
United States | |||
Australia | August 26, 2011 |
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Ireland | August 29, 2011 |
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United Kingdom |
References
- ^ Dunham, Nancy (May 23, 2011). "Dolly Parton Has 'Better Day' Planned for June". The Boot. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Gallo, Phil (July 4, 2011). "Dolly Parton Talks Worldwide Tour, New Record 'Better Day'". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ Cure, Sarah (October 17, 2010). "'9 to 5: The Musical' debuts at the Von Braun Center Friday". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Gordon, Duane. "January 2011 News Archive". Dollymania. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Flippo, Chet (July 7, 2011), "NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Dolly Parton: Never Count Her Out", www.cmt.com
- ^ a b Kaplan, Ben (July 5, 2011). "Dolly Parton still working nine to five at 65". National Post. Retrieved July 5, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Dolly Parton is Always Ready! – The Ellen DeGeneres Show". ellen.warnerbros.com. May 27, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ http://www.dollypartonmusic.net/news.html?item§ionID=1&articleID=413 [dead link]
- ^ iTunes, "Together You and I" by Dolly Parton
- ^ Dolly Parton's Official website: The Making of "Together You And I" Behind the Scenes Photos![permanent dead link]
- ^ Dolly Parton's Official Site: Dolly's "Together You & I" Video World Premiere on CMT![permanent dead link]
- ^ Nunn, Jerry (July 5, 2011). "Q&A: Dolly Parton". Out & About. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ a b Critical Reviews for Better Day at Metacritic
- ^ Leggett, Steve (June 28, 2011). "Better Day – Dolly Parton". Allmusic. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Gallo, Phil (June 17, 2011). "Dolly Parton, "Better Day"". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Tucker, Ken (June 30, 2011). "Better Day (2011)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Wood, Mikael (June 27, 2011). "Album review: Dolly Parton's 'Better Day'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Chinen, Nate (June 27, 2011). "New Music, Better Day". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Gillis, Carla (June 30, 2011). "Dolly Parton – Better Day". Now Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Gleason, Holly (June 28, 2011). "Dolly Parton: Better Day". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Gardner, Elysa (June 27, 2011). "Listen Up: Big Sean, Dolly Parton, more". USA Today. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Stewart, Allison (June 28, 2011). "Quick spins: Dolly Parton, Big Sean, Jill Scott". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (July 5, 2011). "Dolly Parton: No 'Better Day' Than Today". Fresh Air on NPR. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ "Better Day – Dolly Parton". July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company (UK) Dolly Parton discography". Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2012.