REVIEW: DOLLY PARTON - ROCKSTAR

4/5

Dollyrock.

A Parton in a peartree. 'Tis the season and time of year to be putting that Dolly Parton 'Christmas On The Square' movie musical she gifted us with, during our quarantined 2020 during the planet's pandemic that sometimes feels like worlds away now, back up. But the 77-year-old country legend with her 49th set is no rerun, hey, hey, what's happening? Even with this album of classic covers. Since lockdown, she's being doing exactly that, locking it down. One of the greatest across generations, is still nine 'till five'ing it. Whether releasing some of her best work to date with albums like 'Run Rose Run', or co-authoring books with legend James Patterson (like President, Bill Clinton did) and her own country twang. Now, she's proving she's a 'Rockstar', baby, like Nickleback, as Dollywood flips the script. Spreading her wings on Butterfly records, she collaborates with everyone from The Beatles to her own god-daughter. Taking the leopard print steering wheel on this Big Machine of 30 tracks in all their gold, Dolly has never looked better. Rock with this star. Because following last year's greatest hits collection of 'Diamonds and Rhinestones', she takes it to the great American songbook that was thwacked on stage along with that smashed guitar and kicked drum.

The flaming 'World Of Fire' or tricks of the 'Magic Man' meet the 'Bygones' of previous eras. All in a melody for the Queen over Olympic achievements that say 'We Are The Champions' after she rocks you to the Mercury and May beat. 'What's Up?', even the great stage presence of Adam Lambert couldn't last this long. 'Let It Be' like another last song from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr 'Now and Then', following Macca writing 'Feeling The Sunlight' for the Japanese for apples 'Rewind Forward' EP last month. And just wait until she comes in like a 'Wrecking Ball' with Miley like their 'Rainbowland' collaboration for the 'Younger Now' country. Collaborating with the respective likes of Ann Wilson, Rob Halford, Nikki Sixx, John 5, and Linda Perry on these seven signed and sealed singles. All for the clever concept of a career left turn, in the same week Andre 3000 proves he's even more of an outcast with his outstanding woodwind instrument inspired turn on 'New Blue Sun'. His first album in 17 tears that's already hit 3 million streams with nary a punch or promotion, save a graceful GQ interview, videoed in a Los Angeles laundromat the times are chasing and turning like your laundry's load. But what spurred this fork in the long and winding road? Last year, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Initially, she declined the nomination. Not because she was being a diva, but because she thought she wasn't 'Wayne's World' worthy. Being a little bit country. So she decided to right this wrong herself and rock out over an album of guitar hero riffs forged from the God's. She's all rock and roll now. Pave the hall for her most famous deceleration yet. She is THE woman in music, hear her roar over electrics, like when Dylan put on those specs.

After her original 'Rockin'' song at the induction, Dolly decided to take it back on the classics and what result is a massive monster truck of an album that breathes fire into her greatest stunt that sticks the landing. Reaching out to all the stars to make this an actual rock and roll Hall of Fame record. She collaborated with everyone from Sting for 'Every Breath You Take' (an absolute classic like Diddy's take, but someone call The Police like LCD Soundsystem over these lyrics. And you thought, 'Baby It's Cold Outside' was bad this time of year) to this generation's greatest closest to her P!nk, and the next one in Brandi Carlile. Fellow HOF inductees including Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Simon Le Bon and Rob Halford and guest like Sheryl Crow, ready for her turn, being at the ceremony helped. Then calls were made to the likes of Peter Frampton ('Baby, I Love Your Way') and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith ('I Want You Back') for some real magic. Chris Stapleton stepped in for Bob Seger stapling together 'Night Moves' after Seger's sessions experienced and exposed some problems with his voice. The 'Hackney Diamonds' of Mick Jagger had a scheduling conflict, not getting any satisfaction (it's never a guarantee). Whereas Parton tried but couldn't reunite Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for a new 'Stairway To Heaven' (denied). 

You can imagine the compelling calls, "come on, sugar!" And as for the dearly departed Prince, Parton will move you to the eyes of doves with her powerful 'Purple Rain' cover. All before, she flirts with the ghost of King Presley for 'I Dreamed About Elvis' ("He was standing in the light/Looking radiant and beautiful, just like he did in life/I said, "E, it's good to see you, look so healthy and at peace"/He said "You know, I’m really happy here, how's things in Tennessee?"/Well, I told him we all missed him, that the whole world loved the King/He said "You know, if things were different, I'd ask you to wear my ring"/I said, "El, uh, can I call you El?"/"Ah, Elvis, El, or E"/I said, "Am I just dreamin’, or were you just flirtin' with me?"). Highlight after highlight like the 'Bittersweet' voice of Michael Mcdonald that you just can't forget like the one you lost. Or the notch that will never retire (and we hope so too), Elton John coming in like the strongest chord, on an album similar to when he remixed his own classics with the industry's finest, to show the sun will never go down on this record or the artist making it and all the hits her very own. Never to be taken again like 'Jolene' as a bonus. See, she already was a rock star like a White Stripe. This one just goes even harder. Greet the end of this Journey with 'Open Arms', this talent that can't stop has to be seen and heard to be believed. Covering all bases and knocking it out the park, no one could clone this Dolly. With a 'Heart of Glass' like fellow Blonde, Debbie Harry, 'What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done To You' she asks? This! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You', 'Purple Rain', 'Let It Be (Feat. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr).