My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy

Did You Know?

• Recording sessions for the album began at RCA Studio B in Nashville on May 14, 1969, with additional sessions on May 20, 21, and June 2.
• "Daddy" was recorded on September 9, 1968, during a session for the 1969 album In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad).
• The album debuted at number 43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated October 11, 1969, and charted for 28 weeks.

Content

The title track tells of a small-town girl who moves to New Orleans and becomes a prostitute while dreaming of the boy she left behind. "Gypsy, Joe and Me" describes a woman, her lover, and their small dog, all of whom die. "Evening Shade" concerns an orphanage run by the cruel headmistress Mrs. Bailey, which the orphans burn down with her inside. Parton's composition "Daddy" is a daughter's plea for her father not to leave her mother for a younger woman. The album includes covers of Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto" and Joe South's "Games People Play," as well as current country hits by Porter Wagoner and Jan Howard. Parton confirmed in a CMT interview that the man on the album cover is her husband, Carl Dean. She re-recorded the title song for her 1982 album Heartbreak Express.

Release and promotion

The album was issued on LP and 8-track on September 8, 1969. The first single, "Daddy," was released in March 1969, debuted at number 97 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated April 12, peaked at number 40 on the chart dated May 31, and spent ten weeks on the chart. The second single, "In the Ghetto," came out in June 1969, debuted at number 73 on the chart dated July 26, peaked at number 50 on the chart dated September 6, and charted for eight weeks; it also reached number 12 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The third single, "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy," was released in September 1969, debuted at number 61 on the chart dated October 18, peaked at number 45 on the chart dated November 15, and spent eight weeks on the chart; it peaked at number 22 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Critical reception

A review in the September 20, 1969 issue of Billboard called it the best composite album Parton had created, noting her country version of "In the Ghetto" and highlighting "Daddy," "Gypsy, Joe and Me," and "Home for Pete's Sake" as traditional tearjerkers, with "Games People Play" also a strong contender. Cashbox stated that Parton effectively changes moods and tempos throughout the set, which includes her latest singles and other offerings, and predicted rapid chart action. AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars. Rolling Stone listed the title track at number 31 and "Evening Shade" at number 23 on a list of the top 50 Dolly Parton songs.