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1977 studio album by Dolly Parton From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Harvest...First Gathering is the eighteenth solo studio album by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released on February 14, 1977, by RCA Victor. It is significant for being Parton's first self-produced album, as well as her first effort aimed specifically at the pop charts.
| New Harvest...First Gathering | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 14, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | August 19–December 17, 1976 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Country, disco | |||
| Length | 38:30 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer |
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| Dolly Parton chronology | ||||
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| Singles from New Harvest...First Gathering | ||||
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In addition to her own compositions, Parton included the Temptations classic "My Girl" (sung as the gender-neutral "My Love"), and "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher", originally a Jackie Wilson hit. "Applejack" features an all-star lineup of country legends singing background vocals, including Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Chet Atkins and Minnie Pearl.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
| Record Mirror | [4] |
In the issue dated February 26, 1977, Billboard published a review calling the album "Parton's most progressive and individualistic LP ever. Changes in producer (Gregg Perry co-produces this with Dolly), studio, publisher and mental outlook are bound to have a significant effect on the ultimate product. The changes are dramatic and result in some of the most memorable work yet – in writing and singing – by Parton. She wrote most of the songs and vividly displays her stunning powers as a writer. This could be the album that shoves Parton from a country-only base to the category of across-the-board talents like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt who emulate and admire her."[5]
Cashbox published a review in the February 26, 1977, issue, which said, "Breaking from her country roots, Dolly has put together this package of tailor-mades for the progressive rock listener. Her versatility and natural talents combined with her excellent production as well as arrangement comes crystal clear here."[6] The New York Times noted that "the inflated, bathetic rhetoric of the arrangements will appeal to the Barry Manilow crowd, and to reject them (or him) somehow brands one antidemocratic."[7]
The album peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country LPs chart and No. 71 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
"You Are" was released as the first single from the album in March 1977 in Europe, but did not chart. However, in 1983 it reached the number 1 position in Dutch charts, at the time it was released from a complication album titled "The Love Album".
The first single in North America, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was released in March 1977 and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It peaked at number one on the RPM Top County Singles chart.
"Applejack" had been issued as the B-side of "You Are" in Europe and would be re-promoted as the A-side later in 1977 and did not chart.
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was released as a single in Germany, but did not chart; it was not released as a single in the US, due, in part, to Rita Coolidge's cover of the song, which had reached the US top ten earlier in 1977.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" | August 19, 1976 | 4:53 | |
| 2. | "Applejack" | December 10, 1976 | 3:20 | |
| 3. | "My Girl (My Love)" | William Robinson, Ronald White | December 3, 1976 | 3:44 |
| 4. | "Holdin' on to You" | August 22, 1976 | 2:46 | |
| 5. | "You Are" | August 20, 1976 | 5:14 |
All tracks are written by Dolly Parton, except as noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "How Does It Feel" | November 21, 1976 | 3:13 | |
| 2. | "Where Beauty Lives in Memory" | December 10, 1976 | 3:50 | |
| 3. | "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" | Gary Jackson, Carl Smith | December 16, 1976 | 2:52 |
| 4. | "Getting in My Way" | August 21, 1976 | 2:40 | |
| 5. | "There" | December 17, 1976 | 5:32 |
Adapted from the album liner notes.
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | US Hot Country Albums (Billboard)[8] | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[9] | 71 | |
Singles
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" | Best Country Vocal Performance, Female | Nominated |
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