Those Were the Days
Like 1996'sTreasures, this covers collection by Dolly Parton might seem, on the surface, to be a gimmicky filler in her prestigious catalog of some of country's finest originals. Yet it's a vast improvement.Those Were the Days, largely bluegrass-inspired and featuring a plethora of famous duet and harmony partners, has more than a few sterling moments. And that's not just because songs like "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?," "Blowin' in the Wind," "Both Sides Now," and "Twelfth of Never" find her paired with the likes ofNorah Jones,Lee Ann Womack,Nickel Creek,Judy Collins, andKeith Urban. If Parton takesJohn Lennon's "Imagine" too far over the top, she rescuesTommy James's overly processed "Crimson and Clover" from its original reverb hell, her understated banjo/Dobro/fiddle arrangement imbuing it with dignity. Other selections seem an obvious fit. "Me and Bobby McGee" (with a charmedKris Kristofferson) resonates with longing and loss, while "If I Were a Carpenter," a duet withJoe Nichols, finds sensual heat smoldering above its solid musical underpinning. But the gem here is her rendering of "The Cruel War," on whichAlison Krauss,Dan Tyminski, andMindy Smithadd feathery harmony vocals to Parton's gossamer lead--a performance so authentically poignant and heartfelt as to melt an Arctic ice cap. No matter how this odd collection hits you, give the Cantilevered One credit for being brave enough to tackle it, as well as extra kudos for coaxing two very special guests into the studio--Parton's old partner and one-time nemesisPorter Wagoneron the title track, andYusuf Islam, a.k.a.Cat Stevens, who plays acoustic guitar on his own "Where Do the Children Play." You just never know what the Wigged Wonder will do next.--Alanna NashRecommended Dolly PartonTrio, with Emmylou Harris and Linda RonstadtThe Grass Is BlueLittle SparrowThe Essential Dolly PartonMission Chapel Memories 1971-197520 Greatest Hits, with Porter Wagoner