Album cover. RCA Victor (AHL1-4289) (1982)
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Heartbreak Express is the twenty-fourth solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on March 29, 1982, by RCA Victor. It was produced by Dolly and Gregg Perry. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 106 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album's first two singles, "Single Women" and the title track, peaked at number eight and number seven, respectively, on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
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Track listing
Side A
- Heartbreak Express (Dolly Parton) 3:14
- Single Women (Michael O'Donoghue) 3:38
- My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy (Dolly Parton) 3:44
- As Much as Always (Dolly Parton) 3:17
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind (Dolly Parton) 4:01
- Release Me (Eddie Miller, Dub Williams, Robert Yount) 3:28
- Barbara on Your Mind (Dolly Parton) 3:04
- Act Like a Fool (Dolly Parton) 3:24
- Prime of Our Lives (Dolly Parton) 3:48
- Hollywood Potters (Dolly Parton) 3:38
Recording
The album was recorded from December 1981 to January 1982 at Smoketree Recording Studio in Chatsworth, California. Additional overdubs were recorded at Soundshop Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and Warner Bros. Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California.
Content
The album returned Dolly to a more fully realized country sound, a process she had begun on her previous album, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. "Single Women", a slow-tempo honkytonk ballad about a singles bar, was written by Saturday Night Live writer Michael O'Donoghue, and had previously appeared in an SNL skit in late 1981.
Dolly originally wrote "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" in the early 1970s, but had never officially recorded it. She recorded a version with Chet Atkins in 1976 for his album, The Best of Chet Atkins & Friends. "Hollywood Potters", Dolly has explained to interviewers, came out of her experience filming the movie 9 to 5, as she watched many of the film's extras and bit players, who had worked very hard at acting through the years, but with very little success. Dolly had previously recorded "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" for her 1969 album of the same name. Dolly would later re-record "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" with Randy Travis for his 1990 album, Heroes and Friends, and with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for their 1999 album, Trio II.
Dolly originally wrote "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" in the early 1970s, but had never officially recorded it. She recorded a version with Chet Atkins in 1976 for his album, The Best of Chet Atkins & Friends. "Hollywood Potters", Dolly has explained to interviewers, came out of her experience filming the movie 9 to 5, as she watched many of the film's extras and bit players, who had worked very hard at acting through the years, but with very little success. Dolly had previously recorded "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" for her 1969 album of the same name. Dolly would later re-record "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" with Randy Travis for his 1990 album, Heroes and Friends, and with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for their 1999 album, Trio II.
Billboard advertisement, May 8, 1982.
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Release and promotionThe album was released March 29, 1982, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.
Singles"Single Women" was released as the album's first single on February 1, 1982. It debuted at number 46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated February 27. It peaked at number eight on the chart dated May 8, its eleventh week on the chart, and remained there for one additional week. The single charted for 17 weeks. It also peaked at number eight on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
The second single, "Heartbreak Express", was released on May 3, 1982. It debuted at number 53 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated May 29. It peaked at number seven on the chart dated July 24, its ninth week on the chart, and remained there for one additional week. It charted for 15 weeks. It also peaked at number seven on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. |
"Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" was released as the third single from the album on July 12, 1982. It was released as a double A-side single with "I Will Always Love You" from Dolly's 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. While "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" did not chart on its own, it was listed as the flip side of "I Will Always Love You" throughout its run on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Critical reception
A review published in the April 10, 1982 issue of Billboard said, "Though there are some funky horns in the title track, the songs have been arranged by Parton in a soft country mode, effectively spotlighting her expressive vocals. Most of the songs speak of sad love, including the chestnut "Please Release Me", arranged with an oddly uptempo backing. However, Michael O'Donoghue's "Single Women" makes its point very well as does Parton's own "Act Like a Fool". Also noteworthy is "Hollywood Potters" where Parton takes a few shots at Tinseltown."
Cashbox also published a review in their April 10, 1982 issue, which said, "Backed by a team of sensational session players like Steve Cropper, Tom Scott, Lee Sklar, Skunk Baxter, and Albert Lee, Dolly's latest is in a groove that may be more MOR than anything she's recored in the past. Mostly self-penned mid-tempo ballads, it's only on the title song that the Parton powerhouse lungs belt out in the fashion of her latest hit, "9 to 5". The slow numbers, however, demonstrate her dynamic emotional range quite effectively. Many of the tune sound autobiographical (such as "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy"), and these are the LP's emotional highlights."
AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars.
Cashbox also published a review in their April 10, 1982 issue, which said, "Backed by a team of sensational session players like Steve Cropper, Tom Scott, Lee Sklar, Skunk Baxter, and Albert Lee, Dolly's latest is in a groove that may be more MOR than anything she's recored in the past. Mostly self-penned mid-tempo ballads, it's only on the title song that the Parton powerhouse lungs belt out in the fashion of her latest hit, "9 to 5". The slow numbers, however, demonstrate her dynamic emotional range quite effectively. Many of the tune sound autobiographical (such as "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy"), and these are the LP's emotional highlights."
AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars.
Billboard review, April 10, 1982.
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Cashbox review, April 10, 1982.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 31 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated April 24, 1982. It peaked at number five on the chart dated July 3, its eleventh week on the chart. The album charted for 25 weeks. It also peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album peaked at number 41 on the Swedish Albums chart.
The album charted at number 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1982.
The album charted at number 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1982.
Accolades
The album's title track, "Heartbreak Express", received the Country Award from BMI in 1982 and 1983.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
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