Live and Well (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Dolly Parton (vocals); Kent Wells (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Richard Dennison (vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards); Randy Kohrs (vocals, dobro); Gary Davis (acoustic guitar, banjo); Brent Truitt (mandolin); Jimmy Mattingly (fiddle); Jay Weaver (acoustic bass guitar); Steve Turner (drums).

Audio Mixer: Danny Joe Brown Band.

Recording information: Dollywood's Celebrity Theater, Pigeon Forge, TN (12/12/2002/12/13/2002).

Photographer: Dennis Carney.

Released simultaneously on CD and DVD (both feature the same program), Dolly Parton's 2002 tour, her first in a decade, is captured for posterity for the majority of her fans who couldn't make it to one of the only 13 shows she did. Riding high from a well-received trilogy of late-'90s/early-'00 albums that found the singer/songwriter reinvigorated both artistically and commercially by a return to her hillbilly origins, the show is an especially exuberant performance. Backed by a predominantly acoustic group only identified as Gary Davis and the Blueniques (individual members are anonymous), Parton runs through two hours of faithfully reproduced but agreeably stripped down, bluegrassy versions of hits such as "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" and "9 to 5" with a healthy dose of more recent rootsy fare. Dolly is in fine fettle throughout, chatting with the rapturous audience, making jokes and generally hamming it up with her good-natured but obviously rehearsed between-song patter. While some of this is fine and captures the joyous mood, more judicious pruning would make this a better listening experience, especially after the first time around when the jokes and asides are no longer fresh. Having to endure hearing the audience stumble through a "9 to 5" singalong is no fun and should have been cut from the running time. Ditto for a quick run-through of songs that didn't make it, which was probably amusing at the time but not something you'd want to relive. A sprightly a cappella medley of once-slick hits, a terrific version of Collective Soul's "Shine," and an ebullient set closing cover of Zepp's "Stairway to Heaven" -- all of which tap into Parton's spiritual and gospel roots -- best show her and the band's talents. Although this effectively documents the gig and the star's irrepressible personality, better editing could have reduced the album to a stunning single disc instead of a bloated and occasionally inconsistent double. ~ Hal Horowitz

Recorded in 2002, this live performance by singer Dolly Parton proves that the 56-year-old crooner could still sing with the same vim and vigor as she did in her youth. The concert begins with a blistering version of "Orange Blossom Special," which displays the awesome technical abilities of Parton's bluegrass band. The ensemble then moves through 22 fantastic country tunes, including material from Parton's album HALOS & HORNS, which was new at the time.

The crowd goes wild for Parton's famous "9 to 5," from the movie of the same name. She gets the audience cooing along with her on this ditty, and the band gives this pop song a much more traditional "mountain music" feel. Nonetheless, Parton's "A Cappella Medley" is the most endearing selection on this two-disc set. Comprised of four delicate country ballads, including Parton's own "Two Doors Down," this medley is marked by exquisite four-part harmonies and many subtle lyrical nuances. The most peculiar track on LIVE AND WELL is Parton's cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," a tune she converts into a bluegrass ballad with a light backbeat. Her rendition of this rock classic is insightful, warm, and (as it turns out) quite a crowd-pleaser. minimize