Dolly Parton’s Career Explored with Box Set

Dolly Parton made her very first recording at age 11. Five decades later, she's still writing, recording and making musical history. Now for the first time ever, Dolly's musical legacy is being celebrated in a four-CD box set which will spotlight her entire career and also offer fans the chance to hear some rare demos and never-before-released tracks from the superstar.

Simply titled 'Dolly,' the 99-track collection, due out Oct. 27, will include all 21 of the Country Music Hall of Famer's No. 1 country hits, and 11 of her smash duets with the late Porter Wagoner. Also featured will be young Dolly's first recordings at the Louisiana-based Goldband label, early recordings on the Mercury label when she was 16, and tracks recorded in the mid-'60s for Monument Records. The RCA years (1967 to 1985) are well-represented, as are Dolly's efforts for Columbia, from 1985 to the mid-'90s.

Among the rare tracks are 'Gonna Hurry (As Slow As I Can),' circa 1957-62, a song co-written by Dolly and her uncle Bill Owens; 'Nobody But You' (with the Merry Melody Singers), 'It's Sure Gonna Hurt' and 'The Love You Gave,' all recorded for Mercury in 1962; 'I've Known You All My Life,' a little-known track written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, recorded by Dolly in 1965, and produced and arranged by Ray Stevens; 'Everything Is Beautiful (In Its Own Way)' (not to be confused with the Ray Stevens hit, this is an original Dolly tune from 1969); an earlier version of 'God's Coloring Book,' recorded in April 1971; 'Eugene Oregon' and 'What Will Baby Be,' both outtakes from Dolly's album, 'My Tennessee Mountain Home'; and 'Comin' for to Carry Me Home,' Dolly's arrangement of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' which hit No. 23 on the country chart but has never released been on an album until now.

The box set will also include a 60-page booklet with never-before-seen photographs and memorabilia, an introduction by singer-songwriter Laura Cantrell, and a biographical essay from renowned writer Holly George-Warren.

More information on the box set is available at Dolly On-Line, where fans will also have the opportunity to order the album and receive an exclusive bonus album download with purchase.

Check out the latest Dolly news at her official website.