I Believe in You (Dolly Parton album) explained

I Believe in You
Type:studio
Artist:Dolly Parton
Cover:DollyPartonIBelieveInYou.jpg
Released:September 29, 2017
Studio:Westpark Sound (Franklin)
Genre:Children's · Country
Length:31:23
Producer:
  • Richard Dennison
  • Tom McBryde
  • Tom Rutledge
Prev Title:The Complete Trio Collection
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Dumplin'
Next Year:2018

I Believe in You is the forty-sixth solo studio album and first children's album by American country music singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released digitally on September 29, 2017, and physically on October 13, 2017, by Dolly Records and RCA Records. All proceeds from the album's sales will go to benefit Parton's Imagination Library.[1]

Background

The album was originally announced on July 5, 2014, with the release of the title track, "I Believe in You", as a free download on Parton's official website. The release stated, "All families who receive the gift of Imagination Library books were also presented with a free download of Parton's song, "I Believe in You", that she wrote for the Imagination Playhouse at Dollywood. Eleven additional songs will soon be made available for purchase, with 100 percent of sales supporting the longevity of the Dollywood Foundation."[2]

On October 18, 2016, Parton re-released her children's book, Coat of Many Colors, based on her hit song of the same name. This new version of the book featured new cover art and illustrations, as well as a free download of the song "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny".[3] This version of the song features different instrumentation than the version featured on the album.

On August 15, 2017, Parton formally announced the album's upcoming release at a press conference at her management's Nashville office in front of reporters and their children, saying "I love kids and I am so excited. It just seems like the right time [to release a children's album]. Since I'm getting so old, I'm getting back into my second childhood." She also revealed the album's cover and track listing, as well as singing three songs from the album and reading a story to the children.[4]

The album was made available for pre-order on September 15, 2017, along with the release of the album's title track, "I Believe in You".

Following the album's release, Parton released animated lyric videos for all thirteen of the album's tracks via her Vevo channel on November 17, 2017.

Critical reception

The album has received mixed to positive reviews from critics. James Christopher Monger of AllMusic felt that Parton's "effusive personality and seemingly ageless voice lend themselves well to the [children's] genre", that her "natural charisma and easy demeanor help keep things from becoming too cloying", and "with all proceeds from the album going to her bookworm charity, it's awfully hard to find fault with any of it." Elizabeth Andrews of The Spill Magazine judged Parton's first foray into children's music a successful one, and that the album "is a gift to share with parents, kids, the young at heart among us, and anyone needing a bit of a pick-me-up." Drowned in Sound, however, criticized the production of the album, saying it was "as counterfeit as much of Parton's idealised America has been throughout the years, and sounds like it was made on a Casio keyboard for the most part"; nevertheless, "there's plenty for children to like about this album and it's hard to turn up the nose at the moral message which is at the core of the songs."

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Kid Albums chart,[5] and peaked at number 3 in its third week.[6] It also peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in its third week, with 4,800 copies sold.[7] It has sold 25,500 copies in the United States as of April 2018.[8]

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[9] 80
US Kid Albums (Billboard)3

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
WorldwideSeptember 29, 2017Digital download
October 13, 2017CD

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dolly Parton Announces Her First Children's Album. Taste of Country.
  2. Web site: I Believe in You – Free Children's Music Download – Dolly Parton. dollyparton.com.
  3. Web site: "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny" By Dolly Parton. dollyparton.com.
  4. Web site: staff. WKRN web. Dolly Parton announces first-ever children's album to benefit Imagination Library. WKRN.com. August 15, 2017.
  5. Web site: Kid Albums – October 21, 2017. Billboard. October 21, 2017. October 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181031061039/https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2017-10-21/kid-audio. dead.
  6. Web site: Kid Albums – November 4, 2017. Billboard. November 9, 2017. October 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181031061051/https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2017-11-04/kid-audio. dead.
  7. News: TOP 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 24, 2017. Matt . Bjorke . October 24, 2017 . Roughstock .
  8. News: Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: April 9, 2018 . Matt . Bjorke . April 9, 2018 . Roughstock . April 10, 2018.
  9. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #443. auspOp. October 21, 2017. October 21, 2017.