View source for New Harvest...First Gathering

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = New Harvest...First Gathering
| type       = [[Album]]
| artist     = [[Dolly Parton]]
| cover      = newharvest.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = February 14, 1977
| recorded   = August 19–December 17, 1976
| studio     = *Soundshop (Nashville, Tennessee)
*[[Creative Workshop]] (Nashville, Tennessee)
| genre      = 
*[[Country music|Country]]
*[[Pop music|pop]]
| length     = 38:30
| label      = [[RCA Records|RCA Victor]]
| producer   = {{hlist|Dolly Parton|Gregg Perry}}
| prev_title = [[All I Can Do (album)|All I Can Do]]
| prev_year  = 1976
| next_title = [[Here You Come Again]]
| next_year  = 1977
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = New Harvest...First Gathering
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Light of a Clear Blue Morning]]
 | single1date = March 21, 1977
 | single2    = You Are
 | single2date = March 25, 1977
 | single3     = Applejack
 | single3date = August 27, 1977
 | single4     = (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
 | single4date = 1977
}}
}}
'''''New Harvest...First Gathering''''' is the eighteenth solo studio album by American entertainer [[Dolly Parton]]. It was released on February 14, 1977, by [[RCA Victor]]. It is significant for being Parton's first self-produced album, as well as her first effort aimed specifically at the pop charts.

==Content==
In addition to her own compositions, Parton included [[the Temptations]] classic "[[My Girl (The Temptations song)|My Girl]]" (sung as the gender-neutral "My Love"), and "[[(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher|(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher]]", originally a [[Jackie Wilson]] hit. "Applejack" features an all-star lineup of country legends singing background vocals, including [[Roy Acuff]], [[Kitty Wells]], [[Johnnie Wright|Johnny Wright]], [[Chet Atkins]] and [[Minnie Pearl]].

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1       = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score  = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r108067|first=Mark|last=Deming}}</ref>
| rev2       = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev2Score  = B−<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: P|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=P&bk=70|access-date=March 10, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{r|larkin}}
| rev4       = ''[[Record Mirror]]''
| rev4score  = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="RMreview">{{cite magazine|last=Russell|first=Rosalind|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/77/Record-Mirror-1977-03-19.pdf|title=Albums: Dolly Parton – ''New Harvest...First Gathering''|magazine=[[Record Mirror]]|date=19 March 1977|page=20|location=London|publisher=Spotlight Publications Ltd.|access-date=8 December 2023|via=World Radio History|issn=0144-5804|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623131029/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/77/Record-Mirror-1977-03-19.pdf|archive-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
| noprose = yes
}}
In the issue dated February 26, 1977, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' published a review calling the album "Parton's most progressive and individualistic LP ever. Changes in producer (Gregg Perry co-produces this with Dolly), studio, publisher and mental outlook are bound to have a significant effect on the ultimate product. The changes are dramatic and result in some of the most memorable work yet – in writing and singing – by Parton. She wrote most of the songs and vividly displays her stunning powers as a writer. This could be the album that shoves Parton from a country-only base to the category of across-the-board talents like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt who emulate and admire her."<ref>{{cite web |title=Billboard Magazine – February 26, 1977 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-02-26.pdf |website=American Radio History |publisher=Billboard Magazine |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref>

''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' published a review in the February 26, 1977, issue, which said, "Breaking from her country roots, Dolly has put together this package of tailor-mades for the progressive rock listener. Her versatility and natural talents combined with her excellent production as well as arrangement comes crystal clear here."<ref>{{cite web |title=Cashbox Magazine – February 26, 1977 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-02-26.pdf |website=American Radio History |publisher=Cashbox Magazine |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted that "the inflated, bathetic rhetoric of the arrangements will appeal to the Barry Manilow crowd, and to reject them (or him) somehow brands one antidemocratic."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rockwell |first1=John |title=The Pop Life |work=The New York Times |date=25 Mar 1977 |page=C16}}</ref>

==Commercial performance==
The album peaked at No. 1 on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top Country Albums|Hot Country LPs]] chart and No. 71 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart.

"You Are" was released as the first single from the album in March 1977 in Europe, but did not chart. However, in 1983 it reached the number 1 position in Dutch charts, at the time it was released from a complication album titled "The Love Album".

The first single in North America, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was released in March 1977 and peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs|Hot Country Singles]] chart. It peaked at number one on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top County Singles chart.

"Applejack" had been issued as the B-side of "You Are" in Europe and would be re-promoted as the A-side later in 1977 and did not chart.

"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was released as a single in Germany, but did not chart; it was not released as a single in the US, due, in part, to [[Rita Coolidge]]'s cover of the song, which had reached the US top ten earlier in 1977.

==Track listing==
{{track listing
| headline = Side one
| all_writing     = [[Dolly Parton]], except as noted
| extra_column = Recording date
| title1       = [[Light of a Clear Blue Morning]]
| length1      = 4:53
| extra1 = August 19, 1976
| title2       = Applejack
| length2      = 3:20
| extra2 = December 10, 1976
| title3       = [[My Girl (The Temptations song)|My Girl (My Love)]]
| length3      = 3:44
| extra3 = December 3, 1976
| writer3      = [[Smokey Robinson|William Robinson]], [[Ronnie White|Ronald White]]
| title4       = Holdin' on to You
| length4      = 2:46
| extra4 = August 22, 1976
| title5       = You Are
| length5      = 5:14
| extra5 = August 20, 1976
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side two
| extra_column = Recording date
| title1       = How Does It Feel
| length1      = 3:13
| extra1 = November 21, 1976
| title2       = Where Beauty Lives in Memory
| length2      = 3:50
| extra2 = December 10, 1976
| title3       = [[(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher|(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher]]
| length3      = 2:52
| writer3      = Gary Jackson, Carl Smith
| extra3 = December 16, 1976
| title4       = Getting in My Way
| length4      = 2:40
| extra4 = August 21, 1976
| title5      = There
| length5     = 5:32
| extra5 = December 17, 1976
}}

==Personnel==
Adapted from the album liner notes.
{{div col|colwidth=35em}}
*[[Roy Acuff]] – backing vocals
*Rich Adler – engineer
*[[Chet Atkins]] – backing vocals
*Anita Ball – backing vocals
*Bashful Brother Oswald – backing vocals
*Stu Basore – steel
*Lea Jane Berinati – background vocals
*Clyde Brooks – drums, percussion, tambourine, backing vocals
*Mark Casstevens – banjo
*Charlie Chappelear – bass, backing vocals
*Ralph Childs – tuba
*Jimmy Colvard – acoustic guitars, electric guitar
*Jimmy Crawford – steel, backing vocals
*Richard Dennison – backing vocals
*Bobby Dyson – bass
*Bob Ferguson – Applejack's voice
*Mary Fielder – backing vocals
*Janie Fricke – backing vocals
*Hubert Gregory and the Fruit Jar Drinkers – backing vocals
*Joe and Rose Lee Maphis – backing vocals
*[[Shane Keister]] – organ synthesizer, organ
*The Kelly Kirkland Strings – string
*Dave Kirby – acoustic guitars
*Jerry Kroon – drums, percussion
*[[Larrie Londin]] – drums
*Brent Maher – engineer
*Kirk McGee – backing vocals
*Joe McGuffee – dobro, steel
*[[Terry McMillan (musician)|Terry McMillan]] – harmonica
*Farrell Morris – percussion
*The Nashville Horns – horns
*Jamie Nichol – conga
*Avie Lee Parton – backing vocals
*Dolly Parton – producer, lead vocals, backing vocals, banjo
*Lee Parton – backing vocals
*Randy Parton – backing vocals
*Minnie Pearl – backing vocals
*John Pell – acoustic guitar, classical guitar, backing vocals
*Gregg Perry – producer, piano, tambourine, keyboards, backing vocals, string arrangements, string conductor
*Debbie Joe Puckett – backing vocals
*Dwight Puckett – backing vocals
*Billy Puett – flute, piccolo, horns
*Jimmy Riddle – Jew's (juice) harp
*Don Roth – electric guitars
*Tom Rutledge – acoustic guitars
*Rod Smarr – electric guitar, acoustic guitars, slide guitar, backing vocals
*[[Buddy Spicher]] – fiddle
*[[Bobby Thompson (musician)|Bobby Thompson]] – banjo, acoustic guitars
*[[Ernest Tubb]] – backing vocals
*Ray Walker – backing vocals
*Don Warden – backing vocals
*Kitty Wells – backing vocals
*The Willis Brothers – backing vocals
*Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper – backing vocals
*Casey Worden – backing vocals
*Kelly Worden – backing vocals
*Mickie Worden – backing vocals
*Johnny Wright – backing vocals
{{div col end}}

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for ''New Harvest...First Gathering''
! scope="col"| Chart (1977)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
{{Album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Dolly Parton|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|71|artist=Dolly Parton|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' Country Albums<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-05-07.pdf|title=Cash Box Country Albums|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Cash Box]]'' Top Albums <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-06-18.pdf|title=Cash Box Top 100 Albums|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|151
|}

'''Singles'''
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Single
!align="left"|Chart
!align="center"|Peak<br>position
|-
|rowspan = "2"|1977
|rowspan = "2"|"Light of a Clear Blue Morning"
| US [[Hot Country Songs|Hot Country Singles]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="BBHCS">{{cite magazine |title=Dolly Parton Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/dolly-parton/chart-history/csi/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
| US [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] (''Billboard'')<ref name="H100">{{cite magazine |title=Dolly Parton Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/dolly-parton/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|87
|-
|rowspan = "2"|1977
|rowspan = "2"|"Light of a Clear Blue Morning"
|Canada Top Country Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|}

==Accolades==
'''[[20th Annual Grammy Awards]]'''
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1978
| "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher"
| [[Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance|Best Country Vocal Performance, Female]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
{{end}}
'''[[American Music Awards of 1978]]'''
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1978
| "New Harvest...First Gathering"
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Country Album|Favorite Country Album]]
|{{won}}
|-
{{end}}
'''[[CMT Music Awards]]'''
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1978
| "New Harvest...First Gathering"
| Album of the Year
|{{nominated}}
|-
{{end}}

== References ==

{{reflist | refs = 
<ref name=larkin>{{cite book|author=Colin Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|edition=4th|volume=6|date=2006|publisher=Muze, [[Oxford University Press]]|page=435{{ndash}}6|isbn=978-0-19-531373-4|chapter=Parton, Dolly|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0006unse/page/435/}}</ref>
}}

{{Dolly Parton}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Harvest - First Gathering}}
[[Category:Dolly Parton albums]]
[[Category:1977 albums]]
[[Category:RCA Records albums]]