The Bargain Store is the fifteenth solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on February 17, 1975, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Porter Wagoner. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The title track was the only single released and it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Recording sessions for the album took place on December 4, 9, and 11, 1974, at RCA Studio B, in Nashville, Tennessee. "Kentucky Gambler" was the only song recorded during a May 23, 1973 session.
May 23, 1973 Kentucky Gambler
December 4, 1974 The Only Hand You'll Need to Hold The Bargain Store
December 9, 1974 He Would Know I Want to Be What You Need
?December 11, 1974 Love to Remember On My Mind Again You'll Always Be Special to Me When I'm Gone I'll Never Forget
In the self-penned title tune, Dolly used worn, second-hand merchandise in a discount store as a metaphor for a woman damaged by an ill-fated relationship. The song was dropped from a number of country stations' playlists when programmers mistook the line "you can easily afford the price" as a thinly veiled reference to prostitution. Despite the decrease in airplay, the song nonetheless topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in March 1975.
The album was largely made up of Dolly's own compositions, but also contained Merle Haggard's "You'll Always Be Special to Me". Haggard had recorded "Kentucky Gambler" and released it as a single in October 1974.
?The album was released February 17, 1975, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.
?"Kentucky Gambler" and "The Bargain Store" both received the Country Award from BMI in 1975 and 1976, respectively. "Kentucky Gambler" also received a Songwriter Achievement Award from Nashville Songwriter's Association International in 1975.
Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes and the 2009 box set, Dolly ("The Bargain Store", "Kentucky Gambler", and "On My Mind Again"), and may not represent the personnel for all tracks.
Stu Basore – steel guitar Hern Burnette – album graphics, art director Jimmy Colvard – guitar Bobby Dyson – bass Bob Ferguson – producer D.J. Fontana – drums ?Johnny Gimble – fiddle John Hughey – steel guitar Dave Kirby – guitar The Lea Jane Singers – background vocals Larrie Londin – drums Mack Magaha – fiddle ?Bruce Osbon – guitar Dolly Parton – lead vocals Tom Pick – recording engineer Hope Powell – cover photo Jerry Reed – guitar Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano Roy Shockley – recording technician Bobby Thompson – guitar, banjo Buck Trent – banjo Porter Wagoner – producer Jerry Whitehurst – piano
