Great Balls of Fire (Dolly Parton album)

Great Balls of Fire is the twenty-first solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on May 28, 1979, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Dean Parks and Gregg Perry with Parton and Charles Koppelman serving as executive producers. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 40 on the Billboard 200. Two of the album's four singles charted in the top ten of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "You're the Only One" topped the chart, while"Sweet Summer Lovin'" peaked at number seven. The album has been certified Gold in the United States.

Great Balls of Fire
Studio album by
Dolly Parton
ReleasedMay 28, 1979
Recordedc. December 1978
Studio
  • Sound Labs, Inc. (Los Angeles)
  • A&M Recording (Los Angeles)
  • Salty Dog (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length34:34
LabelRCA Victor
Producer
Dolly Parton chronology
Heartbreaker
(1978)		 Great Balls of Fire
(1979)		 Dolly, Dolly, Dolly
(1980)
Singles from Great Balls of Fire
  1. "You're the Only One"
    Released: May 14, 1979
  2. "Great Balls of Fire"
    Released: August 6, 1979
  3. "Sweet Summer Lovin'"
    Released: August 6, 1979
  4. "Star of the Show"
    Released: December 1979

Content

The album includes four Parton compositions. There are two notable covers on the album: the title song, a remake of the Jerry Lee Lewis hit from 1957; and a bluegrass-inspired recording of The Beatles hit "Help!".

Release and promotion

The album was released May 28, 1979 on LP, 8-track, and cassette.

Singles

The album's first single, "You're the Only One", was released in May 1979.[1] It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, Parton's eleventh song to do so. It also peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also a hit in Canada, peaking at number one on both the RPM Country Singles chart and the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at number 63 on the RPM Top Singles chart. The single peaked at number 33 in Australia on the Kent Music Report.

The second and third singles, "Great Balls of Fire" and "Sweet Summer Lovin'", were released as a double A-side in August 1979.[2][3] "Great Balls of Fire" was aimed at pop radio and failed to chart on its own. Its only chart appearance was on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it charted as the flip-side of "Sweet Summer Lovin". "Sweet Summer Lovin'" was released to country radio and was Parton's eleventh song to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" was also a hit in Canada, peaking at number six on the RPM Country Singles chart and number eight on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart.

Th fourth single, "Star of the Show", was released in December 1979 in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.[4][5] It peaked at number 99 in Australia on the Kent Music Report.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]

The album received a positive review from Billboard, which said that "Parton has now firmly established herself in the pop field and reinforces her universal appeal with a collection of songs that showcase her versatility." They added that Parton's "sweet vocals" were aided by "a conglomeration of stellar players" that give the music a "needed punch." The review named "You're the Only One", "Help!", "Star of the Show", and "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" as the best cuts on the album and noted that the album's "attractive packag[ing] is a sales stimulant."[7]

Cashbox also gave a positive review of the album, saying that "Dolly proves how evocative she is on her latest RCA release." The review went on to say that Parton "lends her feathery voice to some thought-provoking love ballads, good time country numbers, streamlined rockers, and even throws in a dancin' number." The review concluded by saying that the "countrified version" of "Help!" and "knockout ballad" "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" are the standout cuts on the album.[8]

Writing for AllMusic, Mark Deming gave the album three and a half out of five stars. He felt that "considering how well (and how sympathetically) Parton produced herself on her last few pre-crossover efforts...Dean Parks and Gregg Perry's studio settings [are] a bit disconcerting," but "they thankfully seem aware at all times who is in the spotlight, and Dolly, professional that she is, rises to the challenge on all ten tracks." He also noted that there are only four Parton compositions on the album and said that "it seems ironic that the most purely country cut on the LP is a cover of the Beatles' "Help!," which is given a sprightly neo-bluegrass arrangement."[6]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated June 23, 1979. It would peak at number four on the chart dated July 28, where it would remain for five non-consecutive weeks. The album charted for a total of 26 weeks. It also peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200. In Canada, the album peaked ay number one on the RPM Country Albums chart and number 28 on the Top Albums chart. The album also peaked at number 48 in Australia on the Kent Music Report.

The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 13, 1979.

Reissues

The album was reissued on CD for the first time in February 2007, paired with her 1980 album Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. It was made available as a digital download in March 2007.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Star of the Show"Dolly Parton3:56
2."Down"Parton3:35
3."You're the Only One"
3:23
4."Help!"
2:45
5."Do You Think That Time Stands Still"Parton3:56
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sweet Summer Lovin'"
  • Bud Reneau
  • Blaise Totsi
3:17
2."Great Balls of Fire"
3:51
3."Almost in Love"
3:15
4."It's Not My Affair Anymore"Jeanne French3:17
5."Sandy's Song"Parton3:17

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 48
Canada Country Albums (RPM) 1
Canada Top Albums (RPM) 28
US Billboard 200[10] 40
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11] 4

Year-end charts
Chart (1979) Peak
position
US Hot Country Albums (Billboard)[12] 34

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

References
  1. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). World Radio History. Billboard. May 26, 1979. p. 87. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  2. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). World Radio History. Billboard. August 18, 1979. p. 67. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  3. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). World Radio History. Billboard. August 25, 1979. p. 75. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  4. "Dolly Parton - Star of the Show". 45cat. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  5. "Dolly Parton - Star of the Show". 45cat. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  6. Deming, Mark. "Great Balls of Fire - Dolly Parton". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  7. "Top Album Picks" (PDF). World Radio History. Billboard. June 9, 1979. p. 96. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  8. "Album Reviews" (PDF). World Radio History. Cashbox. June 9, 1979. p. 17. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 230. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Dolly Parton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  11. "Dolly Parton Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  12. "Billboard Top Country Albums - Year-End Charts (1979)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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