Personnel includes: Mary Chapin Carpenter (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); John Jennings (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, keyboards, acoustic & electric basses, percussion, background vocals); Duke Levine, Reggie Young, Mike McAdam, John Jorgenson (electric guitar); Lee Roy Parnell (slide guitar); Benmont Tench (piano, Hammond organ); Matt Rollings (piano, organ); Jon Carroll (piano, keyboards, background vocals); Peter Bonta (Fender Rhodes piano); Rico Petrucelli (fretless bass); J.T. Brown (bass, background vocals); Michael Rhodes, Don Dixon (bass); Robbie Magruder (drums, cymbals, percussion); Greg Morrow, Andy Newmark, Kenny Aronoff (drums); Harry Stinson, Shawn Colvin, Trisha Yearwood (background vocals).
The CBS Orchestra: Sid McGinnis (electric guitar); Bruce Kapler (tenor saxophone); Tom Malone (baritone saxophone); Paul Shaffer (piano); Anton Fig (percussion); Will Lee (background vocals).
Beausoleil: David Doucet (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Michael Doucet (fiddle, background vocals); Al Tharp (fiddle); Jimmy Breaux (accordion); Billy Ware, Tommy Alesi (percussion).
Producers: Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Jennings, Blake Chancey, Mark Isham.
Engineers include: Michael Delug, Billy Sherrill, Bob Dawson.
Includes liner notes by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Usually, an artist will save live versions and hard-to-find songs for a box set, but Mary Chapin Carpenter has never played by the rules. Ostensibly a "greatest hits" package, PARTY DOLL is a creative collection that's a must-have for any fan. The CD is packed with live versions of some of her most popular songs, recorded at some unique places. For example, the version of her breakthrough hit "Down At the Twist & Shout" is taken from her performance at the 1997 Super Bowl, while a fierce version of "Can't Take Love For Granted" comes from a "Late Show with David Letterman" appearance.
Many of the live tracks are acoustic and dramatically reworked, like the hushed, slowed-down rendition of "Quittin' Time." PARTY DOLL also includes songs Carpenter recorded for other projects, including "Grow Old With Me" (from a John Lennon tribute album) and "10,000 Miles" (from the "Fly Away Home" movie soundtrack). Three new songs round out the CD, including the gospel-influenced "Almost Home" and a version of Mick Jagger's "Party Doll." By making nearly every track a collectible, Carpenter turns PARTY DOLL into a unique "event" instead of a run-of-the-mill hits package.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (7/8-7/22/99, p.149) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...a cool retrospective of live cuts, soundtrack nuggets, Number One country hits and a couple of new tunes, tells her story well..."
Entertainment Weekly (5/28/99, p.145) - "...typically, offbeat approach to her hits album, mixing proven chart-toppers, live renditions, overlooked gems, and new offerings for a 17-track set..." - Rating: A
Q (7/99, p.132) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...makes for a strong resume of past achievements while luring the faithful with several alternative live versions of old standards plus three new songs..."
Dirty Linen (10-11/99, p.58) - "...gives us a look at the confident, assertive, and often demanding Mary Chapin Carpenter..."
