Essential Dolly Parton Rounds Up Timeless Treasures

NASHVILLE, TN. (SONY BMG) - Blessed only with the voice of an angel, a true storyteller's gift, a keen wit, a sparkling personality, an hourglass shape and fierce ambition (with drive and energy to match), Dolly Parton is, without a doubt, one of this planet's most beloved and instantly recognizable superstars. The film roles, TV appearances, book deals, and Dollywood entertainment park attest to her phenomenal appeal, yet it all began with--and always comes back to--the music.

On Tuesday, June 28, RLG/LEGACY (a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT) will add a hand-picked, brilliantly-re-mastered collection of Ms. Parton's work to its critically-acclaimed 'Essential' series. Spanning the years 1967 through 2001, The Essential Dolly Parton presents a sprawling two-disc, 37-track treasure trove of enduring, classic songcraft.

Amid all the glitz and glamour, Dolly's songwriting can sometimes be overlooked, yet the 22 Parton-penned gems included here easily stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the works of such celebrated singer/songwriters as Carole King, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Randy Newman or Willie Nelson.

And that voice--impossible to imitate, yet hugely influential, the artist's acrobatic, clear-water warble is the ideal vehicle for such crisply-detailed, homespun miniatures as "Joshua," "Coat Of Many Colors," "Touch Your Woman," "My Tennessee Mountain Home," "Jolene," "Love Is Like A Butterfly" and, of course, the ethereal, bittersweet "I Will Always Love You."

Given Dolly Parton's long, productive career, there's really no way any two compact discs can gather everything of note, but if you can only have two discs, this is the most thorough, comprehensive overview yet assembled.

Maybe that's why it's called "Essential."