The Grass Is Blue

( 5 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Kerry Dexter
The high lonesome sound of her Smoky Mountain upbringing has run like a clear stream through Dolly Parton's career. But it wasn't until THE GRASS IS BLUE that Parton brought it all back home with an album of traditional bluegrass. Though grounded in the music of her childhood, this isn't a nostalgic trip. Instead, it's a vigorous and delightful collection of traditional tunes ("Cash on the Barrelhead," "I'll Sleep with One Eye Open") and newgrass ("Train, Train" and Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer"). She reworks the Appalachian folk ballad "Silver Dagger" (a hit for Joan Baez in the '60s) as a bluegrass lament and takes the Johnny Cash standard "I Still Miss Someone" to ...
See more details below
CD
$15.64
BN.com price
(Save 13%)$17.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (19) from $1.99   
  • New (12) from $5.00   
  • Used (7) from $1.99   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Kerry Dexter
The high lonesome sound of her Smoky Mountain upbringing has run like a clear stream through Dolly Parton's career. But it wasn't until THE GRASS IS BLUE that Parton brought it all back home with an album of traditional bluegrass. Though grounded in the music of her childhood, this isn't a nostalgic trip. Instead, it's a vigorous and delightful collection of traditional tunes ("Cash on the Barrelhead," "I'll Sleep with One Eye Open") and newgrass ("Train, Train" and Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer"). She reworks the Appalachian folk ballad "Silver Dagger" (a hit for Joan Baez in the '60s) as a bluegrass lament and takes the Johnny Cash standard "I Still Miss Someone" to a natural home among the mountains. Several tracks, including the the title, are Parton originals; the bluegrass gospel gem "I Am Ready" was penned by Parton's sister Rachel Dennison. Parton has also assembled an outstanding cast of players and harmony vocalists, among them bluegrass Grammy favorites Claire Lynch, Alison Krauss, Stuart Duncan, and Sam Bush, as well as country star Patty Loveless. United in supporting Parton and the music, their stellar backup work is a testament to the power of tradition and the taste of its folk masters.
All Music Guide - Philip Van Vleck
It was inevitable, especially considering her recent albums, that Dolly Parton would eventually go all the way back to the mountains with a bluegrass project. A child of the southern Appalachians, Parton would have absorbed this music straight through her skin during her formative years. And, indeed, her performance on this CD is impeccable, as is her choice of material. Producer Steve Buckingham has taken care to bring together a group of accomplished bluegrassers to accompany Parton. Alison Krauss, Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Rhonda Vincent, and Bryan Sutton are major contributors, as is Patty Loveless. Parton wrote two songs for the CD -- the title tune and "Endless Stream of Tears" -- and she also reworked two of her previously recorded numbers, "Will He Be Waiting for Me" and "Steady As the Rain" as bluegrass pieces. She convinced her producer that Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer" and Blackfoot's hard-rocking "Train, Train" could work as bluegrass songs and, sure enough, they do. She also reached into the traditional folk repertoire and crafted a beautiful, haunting version of "Silver Dagger." Parton shows a terrific knack for this genre and, as always, her approach is a bit eccentric, but that's one of her gifts as a musician. She's always followed her own muse; this time it has led her to a singular interpretation of bluegrass that is one of the important bluegrass releases of 1999.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/26/1999
  • Label: Sugarhill
  • UPC: 015891390024
  • Catalog Number: 3900
  • Sales rank: 10,224

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Dolly Parton Primary Artist, Primary Artist, Vocal Harmony
Jerry Douglas Dobro, Vocal Harmony
Alison Krauss Vocal Harmony
Rhonda Vincent Vocal Harmony
Sam Bush Mandolin, Vocal Harmony
Patty Loveless Vocal Harmony
Claire Lynch Vocal Harmony
Barry Bales Bass, Vocal Harmony
Steve Buckingham Rhythm Guitar
Stuart Duncan Fiddle, Vocal Harmony
Keith Little Vocal Harmony
Jim Mills Banjo
Louis Dean Nunley Vocal Harmony
Alan O'Bryant Vocal Harmony
Dan Tyminski Vocal Harmony
Darrin Vincent Vocal Harmony
Bryan Sutton Guitar
Technical Credits
Dolly Parton Arranger
Joan Baez Composer
Steve Buckingham Producer
Marshall Morgan Engineer
Gary Paczosa Engineer
Doug Sax Mastering
Toby Seay Engineer, Digital Editing
Chuck Turner Digital Editing
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 5 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(4)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    An Amazing Comeback

    When Dolly Parton released this first of her bluegrass trilogy, she had all but fallen off the radar. By going back to her roots and making shrewd picks of folk and pop songs to cover, she revived her career. These acoustic settings show off her mountain voice. I especially like Silver Dagger. (Note; I purchased this CD as part of her Acoustic Collection 1999-2002 set.)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Just amazing!

    Wow! I've got Dolly's two other bluegrass CDs (Little Sparrow and Halos & Horns) and this just might be the best. All the tracks are great, but the final track ("I Am Ready") is an acapella number that will just blow you away. Buy this CD!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Grass is Great!

    My husband and I (from Minnesota, home of The Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association)are big fans of Bluegrass and now big fans of Dolly's Bluegrass sound. Dolly helps popularize a music form that many love but is hardly heard and recognized in the commercial scene. Thanks Dolly for a wonderful Bluegrass Album and for helping people recognize how wonderful Bluegrass Music is!!! We love you and keep on makin' the Grass Blue !!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great Album

    This is an excellent album - if you like bluegrass you won't be disappointed!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Terrific!!!

    I have never purchased a Dolly Parton album or a Bluegrass CD before but I read a good review of this one and decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did because I would rate this one of the best CDs I've ever listened to. The music is great, the lyrics are great, the singing is great and the musicians are great! The sound was much more technically complex than I expected and Dolly has the perfect voice to pull it off with style. I recommend this tape to anyone who loves music. It's just beautiful!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews