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Little Sparrow

Little Sparrow is the thirty-eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on January 23, 2001, by Sugar Hill and Blue Eye Records. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and "Shine" won Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album is dedicated to Parton's father, Lee Parton, who died in November 2000.

This article is about the Dolly Parton album. For the singer known in French speaking countries as "The Little Sparrow", see Edith Piaf.

Little Sparrow

January 23, 2001

2000

Bluegrass

52:41

Steve Buckingham

Content[edit]

While the album's predecessor, The Grass Is Blue, featured straightforward bluegrass, Little Sparrow features a blend of Appalachian folk, bluegrass and country gospel styles. Each of the musical styles is a notable part of the culture from Parton's East Tennessee upbringing. In addition to a number of traditional songs and Parton's own compositions, the album features a reworking of the Collective Soul hit, "Shine", and the Restless Heart hit, "A Tender Lie", as well as a bluegrass version of Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick Out of You". Among the backing musicians were members of the alternative bluegrass band Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss, and members of Irish folk music band Altan.


Parton had previously recorded two of the tracks featured on the album. "Down from Dover" had originally been recorded by Parton in 1969 and included on her 1970 album, The Fairest of Them All. "My Blue Tears" was originally recorded in 1971 and included on Parton's Coat of Many Colors album. Parton also recorded the song with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt in 1978 for an ill-fated Trio project. This recording would eventually surface on Ronstadt's 1982 album, Get Closer.

Commercial performance[edit]

The album peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart, No. 97 on the US Billboard 200 chart, No. 12 on the US Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart and No. 3 on the US Billboard Independent Albums chart. In the UK the album peaked at No. 1 on the OCC Country Albums Chart and No. 30 on the OCC Albums Chart. The album peaked at No. 27 in Sweden No. 39 in Denmark. The album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry in April 2001. As of December 2003 the album has sold 212,000 copies in the United States.[13]


In April 2001, "A Tender Lie", "Bluer Pastures", and "Seven Bridges Road" were released as singles simultaneously to country, bluegrass, and Americana radio stations, respectively.[14][15] None of them received enough airplay to chart. "Shine" was released as the fourth and final single in July 2001. Its music video premiered June 13 on CMT Most Wanted Live.[16]

Accolades[edit]

At the 44th Annual Grammy Awards the album was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album and "Shine" won Best Female Vocal Performance.[17] The "Shine" music video was nominated for Female Video of the Year at the 2002 CMT Music Awards.