Better Day

At Christmas I gave my 12-years-old granddaughter a record player. For her birthday in January, she requested more records. She specifically requested a Dolly Parton record. She had seen Dolly for the first time on a television program and was very impressed with her music. She really likes the songs on Dolly's Better Day album. There were no physical problems with the record such as skips, scratches, or warping.

After waiting nearly three and a half years fans of Dolly Parton can rejoice in the fact that Dolly has a brand new studio album out called "Better Day", with her last full album being 2008's "Backwoods Barbie", although Dolly did release the live record "Dolly-Live From London" in 2009 and a year before that she had released "Sha-kon-O-Hey" which was sold exclusively at Dollywood to benefit the "Friends of the Smokies" organization. "Better Day" features 12 original Dolly Parton-penned songs with their themes being very uplifting. She wanted to do an album at this time with a positive angle because of the hard times in the world. The record has been released to coincide with her "Better Day World Tour" which will see her perform in concert starting in July in the U.S., then it's off to Europe, then back to America for a few more dates, then in November she will play Australia for the first time in over 20 year. In 2012 she will also be performing in Canada and finish off the tour in the states. The first single from the CD, "Together You and I", is actually a beautiful remake of a song she had recorded with her former mentor and duet partner Porter Wagoner for their 1974 LP "Porter "n" Dolly". It has a new tempo and has been contemporized to suit today's country music sound. Other tracks include "Holding Everything" that was recorded by "Alabama" lead singer Randy Owen; "Missing You" was originally recorded by Dolly for the film "First Dog"; and "I Just Might", "Shine Like The Sun", "Get Out", and "Let Love Grow" were songs she had wrote for her Tony-nominated score of "9 to 5-The Musical. The five remaining tracks were written especially for this set and include the beautiful "In The Meantime", "Country Is", "The Sacrifice", and the title song. Dolly's voice is impeccable here as well as ageless and the CD is sure to be a huge seller. The sound is very much "today's country" as Dolly shows no signs of slowing down. The production is flawless and hopefully country radio will give the singles a chance. The reviews of "Better Day" are glowing with the "New York Times" saying "It's Dolly to the bone. It's Miss Parton's voice that matters and she sounds almost ageless: expressive even at a whisper and glorious at full cry". The "L.A. Times" notes "The album contains a dozen bright-eyed originals about painting rainbows in the sky and finding satisfaction with both champagne and chocolate milk...Parton's irrepressible personality is the star attraction, and on "Better Day" it shines. They give the album 3 and a half out of 4 stars. For fans of vinyl recordings they will be ecstatic to know that Dolly's record label, "Dolly Records", will be releasing a vinyl version of "Better Day" on August 16, 2011. This will be the first time in 20 years a recording of Miss Parton's has seen a release in the vinyl format, her last album on vinyl being 1991's "Eagle When She Flies" that was only available through Columbia House. The Doll is indeed back where she belongs singing country music only the way our Miss Dolly knows how. On the July 7, 2011 Billboard Charts it was announced Dolly's "Better Day" CD cracked the Top 20 Country Album's List coming in at a very impressive #11, and coming in at #51 on the Pop Chart. Congratulations Dolly!!! Although "Better Day" sold pretty well here in North America it fared even better in the U.K. with the album debuting at #1 country and #9 pop, the first time a Dolly in-studio record ever broke into that nation's Top 10 Pop Chart. An A+ record! Welcome back Doll!

I LOVE THE MUSIC on this album!!!!I HATE THE AMAZON VERSION PURCHASE!!!!I bought the Deluxe Edition with Digital booklet.Amazon will not let me listen to it on iTunes/nor GoogleMusicplayer, just AmazonMusicplayer...which CAN'T OPEN the Digital booklet...AUGH!I can't transfer [copy] it to my iPOD, I can't transfer it to my iPHONE. I can't transfer it to my Android with Google Music.IF Amazon is so afraid of piracy, why do they sell ANY MUSIC?The music is ambitious, even for [a newcomer, let alone] a seasoned singer with a firmly established fan base.It is bright and POP-py.

Dolly Parton's new set is another strong set of self-penned originals. Dolly keeps her look with a figure and smile on that back cover photo that would make a 16-year-old girl blush. The music is bubbly, hook filled country. At the same time, there is something a bit deeper going on. On "Just Leaving," Dolly takes what sounds like a breakup song and shifts the focus to anticipating an exit from this life to the next, "I know I'll be all right out there; Even so, I'm just a little scared." "Together You & I" is another stellar track with Dolly's vocals supple & fluid, "My love for you is deeper than the depth of any ocean & as faithful as the stars that grace the night." To my ear, one of the very best songs on the disc is "Holding Everything" with a great hook-filled chorus and Kent Wells lending a strong male voice on a lovely melody with a heartbeat percussion emphasizing the emotions, "When you're touchin' me, I feel a sudden change; When you're kissin' me, I taste the sun and rain." "Shine Like the Sun" seems to be Dolly's positive thinking anthem. Mac Davis helped co-write "Country Is As Country Does." All songs are strong. Enjoy!

Sure, it is Dolly all the way but this particular collection sounds different and, perhaps, better than usual. Her vocals, to my ear, seem less frantic, more thoughtful.. Even her voice seems a bit more subdued and richer.Whatever the case, this album is a winner. I find that most days I am putting on this CD while I am working and truly enjoying her astounding talent. The songs are top-notch and they will stick in your head.Go ahead and buy it, you will not be disappointed; I think that this might well be my favorite Dolly album now.

Dolly, you should feel very proud of a 'Better Day'. You wrote all the songs (one with Mac Davis)and I feel like you've shared a big part of yourself with us. It's like we know you a little better and what you feel. I saw you in CT at Mohegan Sun a few years ago and you were wonderful on stage in your high heels. You sat down for a few numbers and played a small stringed instrument which shone like diamonds in the lights. You related to us the audience like we were your friends and you've known us all your life. It was great. Love your new CD and am so very proud of you!

If you're a Dolly fan this CD is a must for you! Her beautiful voice is captured so amazingly with each song on this CD. Dolly is such an amazing, talented artist. This CD is beautifully done.Amazon did a great job with the timing of shipping and the condition of my package. When my package arrived, it was in mint condition and it arrived at my door in prompt manner. Thanks Amazon for putting customer service first!

I love Dolly and her music, but have to admit I was greatly disappointed in this effort. After playing through it a few times, there is no strong desire to go back to any of the song. They just don't have the magic of many of her other albums. Hopefully the next will be better.

Dollys neues Album ist sehr gelungen und wahrscheinlich eines der besten der letzten Jahren (dies bestätigen auch die Kritiken). Die Auswahl der Lieder, die alle ihrer Feder entspringen, wurde sehr gut aufeinander abgestimmt und ergibt ein harmonisches Gesamtbild, auch wenn die Stärke der Einflüsse von Pop- bzw. Countryelementen variieren. Sehr schön ist auch die Botschaft, die sich durch die ganzen Aufnahmen zieht: Nach vorne schauen und positiv handeln und denken, auch wenn wir von schlechten Nachrichten und Katastrophen überhäuft werden. Mit dabei ist auch ein Booklet, in dem die Songtexte und zwei Bilder von Dolly vorzufinden sind.

One of dolly’s Best release! Must buy!!

Good cd !

戦争、大災害、忌まわしい事件などの悲しみあふれる暗い世の中ですが、悲観ばかりせず、希望を持って、未来をみつめ自分のできる限り世の中を良い方向へ導く努力を少しずつでも個人個人、頑張りましょうというドリー•パートンのポジティブなメッセージ。3.11の年に発売されたこのアルバム。特にアルバムタイトル曲『Bette Day』や『I Just Might』には、歌詞が身にしみて大変、感動しました。『In The Meantime』も、いつかはこの世の終わりがくるかもしれないけど、とりあえず今日は大丈夫なんだから、一日を大事にして無駄にしないで、生きましょう♪みたいな歌詞の元気で楽しい歌です。