Those Were The Days is the title for the next CD release from Dolly Parton, with an October 11 release date cited by Sugar Hill Records. The theme of this recording is Dolly doing duets with a number of notable pop, folk and country artists on a set of what Sugar Hill describes as “era-defining songs from the 1960s and 1970s.”

Of particular interest to readers of The Bluegrass Blog may be this quote from the press release announcing the 10/11 street date:

Recorded in Nashville, ‘Those Were The Days’ retains the bluegrass-inspired sound that earned her two Grammys and a new generation of fans for her previous four albums on Sugar Hill Records. The album includes a group sing featuring a menagerie of Grand Ole Opry legends. Capping off the album is Parton’s unique version of “Imagine.”

Guest performers on Those Were The Days include Roger McGuinn (of The Byrds), Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins, Tommy James, Norah Jones, Keith Urban, Nickel Creek, Lee Ann Womack, Rhonda Vincent, Joe Nichols and Alison Krauss.

Of this new project, Dolly says:

I am really very proud of this album. I love all of these songs and all of the artists who performed, it just felt special from the moment the concept came to my mind. I knew I had to produce it myself in order to get all of my ideas across exactly as I wanted them to be presented. I really hope people enjoy it. I know I enjoyed making it.”

No info yet on the Sugar Hill web site about this release.