Jolene

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 6 Mar 2021 5:12 pm

Who did that nice guitar work on Dolly's Jolene? I think I should know this but....?

I found some stuff online that lists these players on the LP and another one that mentions Onie Wheeler. And someone else mentioned Grady Martin. Anybody know for sure? I figure you know the riff I'm talking about.

I think it's one of the sexiest guitar things ever.

Jimmy Colvard â€“ guitar
Dave Kirby â€“ guitar
Bobby Thompson â€“ guitar
Chip Young â€“ guitar

Thomas Stone · Post by **Thomas Stone** » 8 Mar 2021 11:00 am

I assume you're talking about the fingerpicking part.

It was the late Chip Young.

https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/ar ... dies-at-76

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 8 Mar 2021 12:01 pm

Thanks Thomas. I guess it's finger picking. It's the opening, rolling riff and the hook all through the song.

I'm constantly amazed at the stuff these session players come up with on the spot like this.

I admit I wasn't familiar with the name, but read the link you posted and of course know many of the tunes listed there.

I knew of many of the pickers listed there too. I was friends with Tuck Raisor of the Thumbpickers club and did a few things with him as well as attended several of his events.

Appreciate the response.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 Mar 2021 12:36 pm

Chip's part really grooves. Thanks for posting. I'd heard the song dozens of times but never heard the original version til now.

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 10 Mar 2021 12:48 pm

There's a podcast series called "Dolly Parton's America," and one episode is all about the song 'Jolene'. Dolly talks about how she wrote that iconic riff -- she's a better guitar player than a lot of people realize. And yes, she can play that harmoized lick and sing at the same time, which is no easy task.

At the session, the player (Chip Young) wasn't quite getting it so Dolly had to take the guitar and show him how to play it. He then played it great, and probably smoother than Dolly, which is why they had a hired-gun do that part. But she wrote it originally. Oh, and she wrote 'I Will Always Love You' the same day as 'Jolene.'

You know... just another day's work. All hail Dolly!

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 11 Mar 2021 12:31 am

There's a half speed version going around the interwebs these days.
There's a good one of 9to5 as well from a while back.

Not a new idea to play a 45 at 33 1/3, but there's something really interesting about Dolly's timbre in that kind of range and tempo...

https://youtu.be/CMrfM711vXI