Album cover. RCA Victor (AFL1-2797) (1978)
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Heartbreaker is the twentieth solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on July 17, 1978, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Gary Klein with Dolly and recorded in Los Angeles. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 27 on the all-genre Billboard 200. "Heartbreaker" and "I Really Got the Feeling" were number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, while a disco remix of "Baby I'm Burnin'" peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. The album has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
Side A
- I Really Got the Feeling (Billy Vera) 3:06
- It's Too Late to Love Me Now (Rory Bourke, Gene Dobbins, Johnny Wilson) 3:00
- We're Through Forever ('Til Tomorrow) (duet with Richard Dennison) (Blaise Tosti) 3:50
- Sure Thing (Dolly Parton) 3:32
- With You Gone (Dolly Parton) 3:05
- Baby I'm Burnin' (Dolly Parton) 2:36
- Nickels and Dimes (Dolly Parton, Floyd Estel) 3:23
- The Man (Dolly Parton) 3:16
- Heartbreaker (Carole Bayer Sager, David Wolfert) 3:32
- I Wanna Fall in Love (Dolly Parton) 2:25
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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Magazine advertisement (1978)
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Release and promotionThe 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. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 56 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. 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.
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"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. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 34 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The song saw success in Canada as well, 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. A promotional video was filmed for "Baby I'm Burnin'" featuring Dolly performing the song in a red dress against a black backdrop and surrounded by red spotlights.
"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.
"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. It also peaked at number one on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 34 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The song saw success in Canada as well, 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. A promotional video was filmed for "Baby I'm Burnin'" featuring Dolly performing the song in a red dress against a black backdrop and surrounded by red spotlights.
"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. A snippet of "Heartbreaker" was the only song from the album performed on the special, as part of a heart-themed medley. RCA Records provided over 3,000 radio stations with copies of the album and boxes of candies for giveaways. 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 4 out of 5 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 4 out of 5 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. 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.
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
The album received a Cashbox Award in 1978 for Female Vocalists – Highest Debut.
It 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.
"Baby I'm Burnin'" received both a Country Award and a Pop Award from BMI in 1979.
It 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.
"Baby I'm Burnin'" received both a Country Award and a Pop Award from BMI in 1979.
Personnel
Credits are 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
Alternate artwork
Alternate German album cover. RCA Victor PL 12797 (1978)
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Image credit: darkobo at discogs.com