CRITICS CORNER

Unpretentious and powerful, she serves up a disarmingly sweet set of songs -- many self-penned and framed in uncluttered mountain arrangements -- that get to the heart of romantic, familial, and spiritual love.  Watch "Up In The Holler" become a bluegrass classic. 

-- Alanna Nash (Entertainment Weekly)

"Tipper and I want to thank you for providing great entertainment to warm up the crowd for us at Election Kickoff 2002.  Your all female band was awesome." 

-- Vice-President Al Gore

"Stella. is always a very gracious hostess.  A hit songwriter many times over, and an actress who has appeared in many movies and plays, Stella. is an example of what we can all strive for in the realms of both personal and professional success.

-- Borders Books (Nashville, TN)

Billed as "the most philosophical project I've ever done," Appalachian Blues is the latest offering from Stella Parton.  

Appalachian Blues reflects its "philosophical" bent mostly through nostalgia ("Up In The Holler") and sentiments ("Child Of My Body", "I'll Think About Shadows", "I Draw From The Well") that, in their direct simplicity, lie confusingly close to the glibness of self-help literature.  That's hardly new in even great country music - a point driven home by  a cover of "Satisfied Mind" - but it will probably be troubling, if not insufferable, for many listeners.

What redeems the album is the strong acoustic flavor of the music, capped by contributions on two tracks from Earl Scruggs and his sons.  Stella. writes strong melodies, and they're fleshed out by some solid musicianship, notably on three cuts co-produced by Wanda Vick ("Satisfied Mind" and a fine reading of "Wayfaring Stranger" among them).  

--Jon Weisberger (No Depression)

"Stella.'s thoughts on relationships, combined with the gentle work of her musicians can produce a genuinely touching effect, as they do with her songs of lost love, 'When The Fire Went Out' and 'It's Not Over.' 

-- Janet Aspley (Country Music People)

Stella Parton, a well-traveled hitmaker who has parlayed her stardom into credible ventures into acting, musicals, gospel, pop, and mainstream country, returns to her country roots with her most vital collection in many a year - one that serves as a showcase for her irresistible voice and exquisite songwriting.  As the title suggests, this collection evokes Appalachia and Stella.'s Smoky Mountain upbringing.  This comes through in the haunting "Up In The Holler," a self-penned beauty inspired by her close relationship with her parents.

The melody of "Songbird's Heart," as one might expect, is instantly gratifying, with a harmony-soaked hook that's dedicated to memory after just a couple of listens.  But the song is really all about Stella.'s restrained vocal, with a searching and despondent texture that tells us she's reaching from someplace very real inside.  She revisits her gospel roots for "I Draw From The Well," turns in a moving version of "Wayfaring Stranger," and unearths "The Missing Part," a lesser-known Paul Overstreet gem.  A classy country ballad teaming with imagery and captivating emotions.  This just may be Stella Parton's best ever album. 

-- Alan Cackett (Country Music International Magazine - England)

"I read a nice review of Appalachian Blues in a local paper, so I thought I'd pick up a copy.  I've had the CD for two days now and I have probably played 'Up In The Holler' over 50 times - no kidding.  What a pleasure to hear traditional country music with no slick frills - nothing but pure feeling.  It's a wonderful CD.  'Up In The Holler' is a masterpiece.  It goes deep in the ground." 

 -- Tim Hauser (Manhattan Transfer)

Appalachian Blues is a plaintive collection of songs which combine country with hints of blues, gospel and folk.  This album displays Stella.'s unique vocal stylings plus her creative songwriting (she wrote or co-wrote six of the ten cuts).  In addition, she has authored two cookbooks, devotes much of her time to worthy causes and has a thriving consulting business.  Busy lady and very talented - just listen to her lovely voice on "Songbird's Heart," "Satisfied Mind" and "Up In The Holler." 

-- www.AmericanaConnect.com

"Up In The Holler" - Not to be confused with the rock band with the same billing, this Stella. is as Appalachian as a mountain laurel.  Like her older sister, she has returned powerfully to the sounds of her East Tennessee childhood.

-- Robert K. Oermann (Music Row Magazine)

"Appalachian Blues" - Blues from the east Tennessee mountains - now there's a concept for you.  But that's what Stella Parton brings in this bright breezy collection blowing in like a cool wind from the high ridges.

"Up In The Holler," one of six songs written by Stella. (who's now using only her first name professionally), sets the wistful tone for this melodic musical journey.  You can't go home again, she sings with a gentle longing that harkens back to the hills and valleys of your youth.  The tasteful, incisive banjo and guitar work of Earl Scruggs and his sons enrich the instrumental track of "Lover's Dream" and "Songbird's Heart."

The classic "Wayfaring Stranger" drops by for a meaningful visit and Stella carefully caresses Paul Overstreet's gem "The Missing Part."  She keeps production as clean, clear and Uncluttered as a Smoky Mountain stream with emphasis on the lyrics, a formula that works equally well on the timeless sentiments of "I Draw From The Well."  Though she wrote the song, it sounds as though it could have come to the Appalachians straight from the British Isles.

Stella.'s delicate voice imparts a childish innocence to Wayne Carson's "One Honest Love" with its soft crescendo of a chorus.  My love is below you and above you, she pledges, It's where you go and where you've been / it only disappears when you don't need it / and waits in silence until you need it again.

There's a genteel, yet soaring quality to Appalachian Blues that invites the listener back repeatedly to a breezy front porch on a summer evening to hear Stella. sing from the heart.  Whether it's a family member or a wayfaring stranger, this mountain retreat beckons those who'd like to sit a spell and recharge the soul with music as enduring as the blue-misted mountains that gave it birth.

-- Gerry Wood (Country Weekly)

QUOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

"Thanks for a super album." -- Alan Potter (HHR, England)

"Thanx a million for true, real country music." - Otto Waldoft (Scandinavian Country & Western Corporation, Denmark)

"Waooo!!!  Appalachian Blues reveals a great strength, a great conviction, a great talent.  Stella. is a powerful vocalist and a sensitive interpreter.  Her vocals are clear and precise and with a clear, strong and harmonious voice, she deposits in our ears, in our body and in our hearts, bubbles of musical poetry.   Reactions from my listeners:  'A major talent.,Stella. is a class act., We thnk Stella. belongs with the stars., She is a great singer., Stella. is very talented, very professional and at the same time, she has a fresh style., Stella. puts her heart in every song she sings., It's wonderful to finally hear from a true DIVA.  This cd is fabulous!' " -- Dominique Costanoga (France)

"It was a nice surprise to receive your great CD recording named Appalachian Blues as arrived on my desk this morning.  This country CD with the flavour of Bluegrass is really cozy and sweet, and goes straight into every country music lover's heart.  This CD has heart and soul, is warm and tuneful and will without doubt please my listeners, too." -- Dann Hansen (Roskilde Dampradio, Denmark)

"I have received Stella.'s CD...thank you very much.  We will be featuring it as an album of the week on our network."  -- Graham Archer (Australia)

"In recent weeks, we have picked up on Stella.’s ‘Up In The Holler’ and played it on selected programmes. We got an astounding degree of listener reaction." — Dick Barrie (Forth-AM 1548, Scotland)

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