Dolly Parton Covers: Good and Bad?

Question

Another in the series of good and bad covers questions. (Surprised that someone else can ask a Dolly question?)

Dolly Parton writes a lot of her own songs, but she has also recorded a lot of covers. What are your favorite and least favorite versions that Dolly has covered?

My list is:

GOOD: "It's My Time," originally by John D. Loudermilk. She did a marvelous version of it, turning the gender very well.

BAD: "Stairway to Heaven" (the Led Zeppelin song, but I don't think I would've appreciated her version of the Neil Sedaka song by the same name any more). What on this earth was she thinking? She also really did a sorry version of the Louvin Brothers' "Cash on the Barrel Head" (but then, it's difficult for ANYONE to do a good version of a Louvin Brothers song when you have Ira and Charlie as a reference point!).

How about you?

Answer 1

In my opinion, GOOD covers by Dolly Parton are "Muleskinner Blues" (inspired by Frankie Laine?), and "Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You", which had been a hit for Joe Sun 2 years before Dolly took it to the Top Spot..



NOT GOOD covers by Dolly are "Save The Last Dance For Me" and "House Of The Rising sun".



I have not come across Dolly Parton's version of "It's My Time", so a search party is out! I have the song in my collection by George Hamilton IV. I have always thought John D. Loudermilk to be a much underrated Country songwriter.



I have been listening to the Louvins this morning. I don't think anybody could do ANY of their songs

as well as they could.

Answer 2

GOOD: "Harper Valley PTA", by Jeannie Riley. Out of all of the versions of this song, Dolly's is my favourite. She really puts great strength into it. Also, "But You Know I Love You", by The First Edition. I think that she really connected with the lyrics. She and her husband have spent many years apart, due to her traveling.



BAD: I have to agree with you. Dolly should have never covered that song. I don't really like the song at all, even the original. Listening to that was almost unbearable. Don't hate her though, lol, she had good intentions; see below:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcUq0rqF_8I&feature=related



If I may just include an UNDECIDED category: "Drive Me Crazy", by the Fine Young Cannibals. I am not sue whether I love or hate that, lol.

Answer 3

Matt, is that you?



I'm sorry, but I am not a fan of Dolly Parton's; therefore, I don't keep track of her enough to have an opinion on her material. I did have a look at her version of "Stairway to Heaven" and it was terrible. Led Zep and Led Zep only are worthy of even attempting that one.

Answer 4

Celine Dion overlaying AC DC's You Shook Me All Night Long. Ugh.... BQ: The overdue Kevin Gilbert doing a extraordinary duvet of LZ's Kashmir. BQ2 - James Brown has been sampled mostly through numerous rap artists.

Answer 5

I can only come up with a bad list off the top of my head



"Time For Me To Fly" - R.E.O

"Help" - Beatles

"Seven Bridges Road" - Eagles

"Shine"-Collective Soul

There's a couple of Neil Young songs she mutilated that I can't remember right now,and most definitely "Drive me Crazy" and "Stairway"

Answer 6

Good

Answer 7

NOT AN ANSWER:



Good heavens, I can't imagine her singing Zep's song. I just can't.



She is good at what she does, but........