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October 20, 2009 |
Contact: Emerson Brown, NPR |
WITH ADVANCE STREAM OF STAFF PICKS AND UNRELEASED MATERIAL
NPR STAFFERS OFFER COMMENTARY ON THEIR
FAVORITE PARTON SONGS AT NPR.org/music
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113940261
The preview features first listens to classic Parton songs and seven previously unreleased tracks. Each song is accompanied by anecdotes and reflections from NPR's resident Parton fans: Weekend Edition host Scott Simon describes why he thinks "My Tennessee Mountain Home" is one of the great songs of all time, "Monkey See" blogger Linda Holmes reveals how "Islands in the Stream" helped the art of karaoke, arts reporter Neda Ulaby gives a portrait of "Jolene" and NPR Music's Frannie Kelley says "Baby I'm Burnin'" is pure, kick-up-your-heels joy.
The four-CD box set Dolly offers 99 songs from Parton's five-decade career in music. The exhaustive compilation demonstrates that the country legend is equally adept at spinning old-school bluegrass tunes and belting out slick Nashville pop. A true icon even beyond her chosen genre, the performer is known for voluminous blonde wigs and over-the-top rhinestone dazzle that are only eclipsed by the enormity of her talent. It's the ability behind the image, NPR's Trey Graham writes, that makes her "one of the greatest singer-songwriters country music -- and maybe the country -- has ever produced."
Complete track listings and album information are available at NPR Music, as well as interviews, profiles and music from other popular and emerging artists. NPR Music also offers many full-album previews in its "Exclusive First Listen" series. The series is one of the site's most popular features, and has offered pre-release streams of albums from artists of all genres, including classical pianist Helene Grimaud, world-music scion Vieux Farka Toure, jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard, the alternative roots-rock band Wilco, rock icon Bruce Springsteen, and pop legend Madonna.
NPR Music is a free, multimedia music discovery Web site at www.npr.org/music. The site offers content from NPR and 12 NPR Member public radio stations, including live performances, studio sessions, first listens to new albums, interviews, reviews and blogs. The site's continuously expanding sections are dedicated to rock/pop/folk, classical, jazz/blues, world and urban music. NPR Music culls from NPR's and the stations' extensive music archives to present thousands of features; more than 250 new features are added to the site every month.
