Album cover. RCA Victor (AFL1-2797) (1978)
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Dolly Parton
Heartbreaker RCA Victor (AFL1-2797) July 17, 1978 Side A
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Background
Following the success of her 1977 album Here You Come Again, Dolly again teamed up with producer Gary Klein for her follow-up album. Heartbreaker furthers her transition into pop music and features disco influences as well.
The album cover, a gatefold design depicting Dolly in a series of surreal, dream-like images, was designed by graphic artist Ed Caraeff, who had also designed the cover art for Here You Come Again.
The album cover, a gatefold design depicting Dolly in a series of surreal, dream-like images, was designed by graphic artist Ed Caraeff, who had also designed the cover art for Here You Come Again.
Recording
The album was recorded in March 1978 at Sound Labs Studio in Los Angeles, California.
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March 7, 1978
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March 9, 1978
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Release and promotion
The album was released July 17, 1978, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.
Singles
"Heartbreaker" was released as the first single from the album on July 24, 1978. It debuted at number 38 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated August 19. It peaked at number one on the chart dated September 30, its seventh week on the chart, and remained there for two additional weeks. The single charted for 13 weeks. It also reached number 12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, the song peaked at number one on both the RPM Country Singles chart and the RPM Adult Contemporary chart, as well as peaking at number 41 on the RPM Top Singles chart. "Heartbreaker" was also successful outside North America, peaking at number 20 in the Netherlands and number 34 in Belgium.
"It's Too Late to Love Me Now" was released as a single in late 1978 in South Africa. The release did not chart.
"Baby I'm Burnin'" and "I Really Got the Feeling" were released as a double A-side single on November 6, 1978. "Baby I'm Burnin'" was aimed at pop radio and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 11 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song also saw success in Canada, peaking at number 30 on the RPM Top Singles chart, number nine on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart, and number one on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single was also a top 40 hit in Australia, peaking number 34. A 12-inch disco remix single was issued titled Dance with Dolly featuring remixes of "Baby I'm Burnin'" and album track "I Wanna Fall in Love". The disco remix helped "Baby I'm Burnin'" peak at number 15 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
"I Really Got the Feeling" was aimed at country radio and debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 2. It peaked at number one on the chart dated January 20, 1979, its eighth week on the chart. The song charted for 13 weeks.
"It's Too Late to Love Me Now" was released as a single in late 1978 in South Africa. The release did not chart.
"Baby I'm Burnin'" and "I Really Got the Feeling" were released as a double A-side single on November 6, 1978. "Baby I'm Burnin'" was aimed at pop radio and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 11 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song also saw success in Canada, peaking at number 30 on the RPM Top Singles chart, number nine on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart, and number one on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single was also a top 40 hit in Australia, peaking number 34. A 12-inch disco remix single was issued titled Dance with Dolly featuring remixes of "Baby I'm Burnin'" and album track "I Wanna Fall in Love". The disco remix helped "Baby I'm Burnin'" peak at number 15 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
"I Really Got the Feeling" was aimed at country radio and debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 2. It peaked at number one on the chart dated January 20, 1979, its eighth week on the chart. The song charted for 13 weeks.
Additional promotion
Dolly and Carol Burnett co-headlined the CBS TV special Dolly & Carol in Nashville on Valentine's Day 1979, and RCA Records provided over 3,000 radio stations with copies of the album and boxes of candies for giveaways. Only a snippet of "Heartbreaker" was performed on the special as part of a heart-themed medley. Participating radio stations designed their own promotions, which included call-in giveaways, drawings, a poetry contest, and one in which winners were assigned gender-specific prizes (candy for ladies, records for men).
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Billboard said that while "Parton continues to lean heavily towards the pop flavored song and delivery...there are subtle country textures and even one or two mainstream country songs." The review praised the album's upbeat songs and ballads as "executed in Parton's charming vocal manner." It went on to praise the album's material, calling Parton's own compositions "forceful", Gary Klein's production as "masterful," and the musicians "top notch." The review selected "I Really Got the Feeling", "Baby I'm Burnin'", "Heartbreaker", "We're Through Forever ('Til Tomorrow)", and "Nickels and Dimes" as the best cuts on the album.
Cashbox also gave a positive review of the album. The review said the album "borders on perfection." While noting Dolly's "deep roots sunk back in the hollows of East Tennessee," the review pointed out that "she is fast leaving country music." It went on to say that there isn't anything wrong with this, Dolly is simply growing as an artist. The review closed by saying that "at this point, Dolly has to be considered a superstar in the largest sense."
Zac Johnson of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars. He felt that the album "showcases [Dolly's] increasing confidence beautifully."
Cashbox also gave a positive review of the album. The review said the album "borders on perfection." While noting Dolly's "deep roots sunk back in the hollows of East Tennessee," the review pointed out that "she is fast leaving country music." It went on to say that there isn't anything wrong with this, Dolly is simply growing as an artist. The review closed by saying that "at this point, Dolly has to be considered a superstar in the largest sense."
Zac Johnson of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars. He felt that the album "showcases [Dolly's] increasing confidence beautifully."
Billboard review, July 29, 1978.
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Cashbox review, July 29, 1978.
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Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 46 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated August 12, 1978. It peaked at number one on the chart dated September 9, its fifth week on the chart, where it remained for nine consecutive weeks. The album charted for a total of 45 weeks. It also peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album topped the RPM Country Albums chart in Canada, as well as peaking at number 20 on the RPM Top Albums chart. It also charted in Australia where it peaked at number 67. The album charted at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1978 and number 10 on the chart for 1979.
Accolades
"Baby I'm Burnin'" received a Country Award and a Pop Award at the BMI Awards in 1979.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 16, 1978, for shipment of 500,00 copies.
It was certified Gold by Music Canada on December 1, 1978, for shipment of 50,000 copies.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 16, 1978, for shipment of 500,00 copies.
It was certified Gold by Music Canada on December 1, 1978, for shipment of 50,000 copies.
Personnel
Adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
- Ed Caraeff Studio – art direction, photography, design
Reissues
The album was reissued on CD by Buddha Records in 1999 and 2002. It was released as a digital download on August 12, 2008.