9 to 5 and Odd Jobs is the Twenty-Third studio album by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released on November 17, 1980, by RCA Records. A concept album about working, the album was centered on Parton's hit "9 to 5", which served as the theme song to the film of the same name (co-starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) and its soundtrack, and topped both the U.S. country and pop charts. The album's two additional singles—a cover of Mike Settle's "But You Know I Love You" and a reading of "The House of the Rising Sun" – provided further country hits, with "But You Know I Love You" also reaching No. 1.
The understated pop-country arrangement of most of the songs was seen as a welcome return to form for Parton by critics, after the overly polished pop sound of Parton's previous albums. In addition to five Parton compositions, the album contained a number of folk and country classics, including work by Woody Guthrie, Mel Tillis and Merle Travis. The Parton-penned "Poor Folks Town" was originally recorded as a duet with Porter Wagoner on the 1972 album Together Always.
The album was produced by Mike Post (with the exception of "9 to 5", which was produced by Parton's bandleader Gregg Perry).
A 1983 reissue on cassette omitted the tracks "Detroit City" and "Dark as a Dungeon", and moved the song "Sing for the Common Man" to the end of Side 2. However, a 2009 reissue of the album included all ten of the album's original tracks, as well as a remixed version of "9 to 5", and a previously unreleased cover of Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 hit "Everyday People" as bonus cuts.
The album stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for 10 consecutive weeks and ended up being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Critical reception
AllMusic retrospectively rated 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs four-and-a-half out of five stars. William Ruhlmann, who reviewed the album, stated that due to RCA's practice of "shoving poorly organized products onto the market, most of Parton's albums are hard to recommend", but that "[the songs are] enough to put it a notch above most of Parton's RCA catalog." Critic Robert Christgau rated the album a B+, stating that how one would respond to the album "depends on [his/her] tolerance for fame-game schlock", although he also incomprehensibly wrote that "I'd never claim Johnny Carson's damaged [Parton's] pipes or her brains".
Track listing
Personnel Dolly Parton – vocals/nails Reggie Young – guitar Jeff Baxter, Marty Walsh – guitar (1) Larry Carlton – guitar (3, 6) Leland Sklar – bass guitar Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar (1) Joe McGuffee – steel guitar John Goux – slide guitar (3) Sonny Osborne – banjo Ron Oates – keyboards Ian Underwood – synthesizer Gregg Perry – organ (10) Larry Knechtel – piano (1) Eddie Bayers – drums Rick Shlosser – drums (1) Lenny Castro – percussion (1) Tom Saviano – saxophone (1) Kim Hutchcroft – baritone saxophone (1) Jerry Hey – trumpet (1) Bill Reichenbach – trombone (1) Mike Post – synthesized flute (8) Anita Ball, Joey Scarbury, Richard Dennison – backing vocals Anita Ball, Denise Maynelli, Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals (1) Bobby Osborne, Sonny Osborne – backing vocals (2) Sid Sharp – concertmaster Technical Recorded at Audio Media, Nashville, Tennessee. Mixed at Smoke Tree Ranch, Chatsworth, California. Chuck Britz, Doug Parry, Larry Carlton, Marshall Morgan, Paul Dobbe – engineer George Corsillo – art direction, design Tom Bryant – art direction Ron Slenzak – photography
Charts Album Chart (1980) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)33 Canadian RPM Country Albums 3 Canadian RPM Top Albums 15 U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 1 U.S. Billboard 200 11US Cashbox Country Albums1US Cash Box Top Albums 15
Album (Year-End) Chart (1981)PeakPositionUS Top Country LPs (Billboard)1US Billboard 20040
Certifications
References
External links 9 To 5 (And Odd Jobs) at Dolly Parton On-Line