Great Balls of Fire (Dolly Parton album)
Dolly Parton's twenty-first solo studio album, released in 1979.
Dolly Parton's twenty-first solo studio album, Great Balls of Fire, arrived on May 28, 1979, under RCA Victor. It reached number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 40 on the Billboard 200, earning a Gold certification in the United States.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Dolly Parton
- Released
- May 28, 1979
- Recorded
- December 1978
- Studio
- Sound Lab, Los Angeles
- A&M, Los Angeles
- Salty Dog, Los Angeles
- Genre
- Country, pop
- Length
- 34:34
- Label
- RCA Victor
- Producer
- Dean Parks
- Gregg Perry
- Dolly Parton (exec.)
- Charles Koppelman (exec.)
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star of the Show | Dolly Parton | 3:56 |
| 2 | Down | Parton | 3:35 |
| 3 | You're the Only One | Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts | 3:23 |
| 4 | Help! | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 2:45 |
| 5 | Do You Think That Time Stands Still | Parton | 3:56 |
Side two
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweet Summer Lovin | Bud Reneau, Blaise Totsi | 3:17 |
| 2 | Great Balls of Fire | Otis Blackwell, Jack Hammer | 3:51 |
| 3 | Almost in Love | Dean Parks, Doug Thiele | 3:15 |
| 4 | It's Not My Affair Anymore | Jeanne French | 3:17 |
| 5 | Sandy's Song | Parton | 3:17 |
Track listing from the source article.
Release and promotion
The album was issued on LP, 8-track, and cassette on May 28, 1979. Its first single, "You're the Only One", came out in May 1979 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, Parton's eleventh chart-topper there; it also peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, the single hit number one on both the RPM Country Singles and RPM Adult Contemporary charts, and number 63 on the RPM Top Singles chart; in Australia it peaked at number 33 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. "Great Balls of Fire" was aimed at pop radio and did not chart independently, only appearing on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart as the flip-side of "Sweet Summer Lovin'". "Sweet Summer Lovin'" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, number 47 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100; in Canada it peaked at number six on the RPM Country Singles chart and number eight on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The fourth single, "Star of the Show", was released in December 1979 in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, peaking at number 99 in Australia on the Kent Music Report.
Critical reception
Billboard gave the album a positive review, stating that Parton had firmly established herself in the pop field and reinforced her universal appeal with a collection of songs showcasing her versatility. The review noted that her sweet vocals were aided by a conglomeration of stellar players giving the music a needed punch, and named "You're the Only One", "Help!", "Star of the Show", and "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" as the best cuts, also remarking that the album's attractive packaging was a sales stimulant. Cashbox also offered a positive review, describing how Dolly proves how evocative she is on this RCA release, lending her feathery voice to thought-provoking love ballads, good time country numbers, streamlined rockers, and a dancin' number; the review highlighted the countrified version of "Help!" and the knockout ballad "Do You Think That Time Stands Still" as standout cuts. The New York Times determined that the album is not an instance of a great talent being slicked up and distorted, but is trivial in the most depressing sort of way. Writing for AllMusic, Mark Deming felt that considering how well 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 rises to the challenge on all ten tracks; he also noted that only four Parton compositions appear on the album and found it ironic that the most purely country cut is a cover of the Beatles' "Help!", given a sprightly neo-bluegrass arrangement.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated June 23, 1979, and peaked at number four on the chart dated July 28, where it remained for five non-consecutive weeks, charting for a total of 26 weeks. It also peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200. In Canada, the album reached number one on the RPM Country Albums chart and number 28 on the Top Albums chart, and in Australia it peaked at number 48 on the Kent Music Report. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the album Gold on November 13, 1979.
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