SANCD074

Following in the wake of Dolly's greatly successful bluegrass album last year, The Grass Is Blue, the richly textured Little Sparrow succeeds in a similar mood. Released in January on the Sanctuary label, Little Sparrow has already gathered rave reviews. 14 tracks, superbly combining six of Dolly's own songs with choice covers, creating an expressive album of bluegrass and folk music.

Dolly says of the album: "Little Sparrow is kind of a bridge. After everybody responded so well to The Grass is Blue, I started to do a complete album of folk songs, and then I thought, no, I'd better try to bridge it somewhere in between. So I'm doing some bluegrass things that I wrote and some traditional things. And then I wrote a few pieces that lend themselves to an Irish treatment, still in the old mountain sound."

Opening with Dolly's own newly written title track, we move along at a steady pace with the gospel tinged Shine, heavily dominated by the banjo of Jim Mills. The gospel theme is later continued with Dolly's own sweet arrangement of the traditional In The Sweet By And By with the inclusion of an Irish verse sung by Mairead NiMhaonaighi.

One of the most thrilling tracks on the album, I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby, is presented slightly slower than the Louvin Brothers 1956 hit version, though much faster than that of Alison Krauss on her Now That I've Found You album. Dolly sets the pace as she speeds along with her bluegrass version of Steve Young's 'Seven Bridges Road', a thoroughly exhilarating track.

There are impressive remakes of Dolly's hits My Blue Tears and Down From Dover and heading for Bluer Pastures, Dolly passionately conjures up visions of her earlier Tennessee mountain heritage. Dolly pays homage to the father of bluegrass on this track, with a mention of Mr Bill Monroe and his mandolin, in this second new song from the pen of Ms.Parton. The delicate beauty of Randy Sharp's A Tender Lie fits Dolly's gentle vocals perfectly and setting the senses reeling with emotion.

There are approximately 33 musicians and guest artistes contributing their talents to Little Sparrow. This who's who includes legendary names such as Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Barry Bales, Alison Krauss, Ronda Vincent, Claire Lynch and the band Altan. There are so many gems in this box of jewels, that it is impossible to highlight each and every track. Dolly has always been synonymous with story songs and Mountain Angel tells of the wild lady who roams the mountains after her life is turned upside down by tragedy. A complete change of style sees an exciting acoustic swing version of Cole Porter's I Get A Kick Out Of You. An exquisite album and I'm certain that you'll get a kick out of Little Sparrow.

Graham Lees, Dewesbury, W.Yorks Write to | Website

5th April 2001