Dolly Parton's Top Five Super-Hits Everyone Should Know.

By Casey Jarman

"Jolene"

One of the best-recorded, catchiest and most emotionally subtle songs of its era also happens to have been among Parton's biggest hits.

"The Seeker"

Dolly’s “Come to Jesus” song, tightly wrapped in back-porch funk. 

"I Will Always Love You"

Unlike the majestic Whitney Houston version, Dolly's lower-key 1974 rendering is appropriate for more than just weddings and funerals.

"Here You Come Again"

A crassly produced disco-era mega hit that's also terribly catchy and lyrically ambiguous: Does Parton's "here I go" mean she's finally leaving her manipulative ex, or is she falling for him all over again?

"Islands in the Stream"

Perhaps the greatest karaoke-bar duet fodder of all time. It's really the quivering little vocal tics ("ah-hah-uh-ah!") that twist the knife here.

SEE IT: The sixth annual Dolly Parton Hoot Night is Saturday, June 11, at the Mission Theater. 8 pm. $10-$12. 21+. See music listings for details.

WWeek 2015

Casey Jarman

Casey Jarman

Casey Jarman is a freelance editor and writer based in East Portland, Oregon. He has served as Music Editor at Willamette Week and Managing Editor at The Believer magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He is currently working on his first book. It's about death.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office.

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