One of Dolly's finest albums
Dolly recorded for Columbia during the late eighties and early nineties, during which time she had three number one country hits during that period, the last of them (Rocking years) coming from this album. Rocking years was originally intended to be a duet with George Jones but he left the label so Ricky van Shelton became the duet partner. The success of the single may have owed more to Ricky (who was fashionable at the time) than Dolly, as American country radio only showed limited interest in the other singles from this album. Despite a lack of airplay, the album sold in vast quantities (well over a million in the USA) and deservedly so.The songs are mostly excellent, though I confess that the lyrics of Family stretch credibility to the limit. Dolly says that the family is a strong unit and suggests (more eloquently than I can describe) that people will forgive other family members anything. I wish families were as united and strong as Dolly sings, but it's not my experience and I don't know of any family that lives up to the ideals expressed in the song. Maybe Dolly was just doing some wishful thinking when she wrote the song, or maybe her family really is that strong.
The other songs are much more realistic. The two other country hits, Eagle when she flies (an inspiration to women) and Silver and gold (a song about love being more important than money) are among Dolly's finest songs ever. Dolly original recorded What a heartache for the Rhinestone soundtrack but re-recorded it for this album and again for her more recent Halos and horns, so although it wasn't a single it might sound familiar to you, although each recording is distinctive.
Best woman wins, a song about two women fighting over a man, features Lorrie Morgan, although Dolly does most of the singing so perhaps she wins that battle. Other great songs include If you need me, Wildest dreams and Dreams do come true and Runaway feelings, but may favorite here is the upbeat Country road, a song about the love a country woman has for a man from the city.
This overlooked gem will forever be one of my favorite Dolly albums.