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45 single, Side A. RCA Victor (47-9999) (1971)
Image credit: biblio1 at 45cat.com
"My Blue Tears" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on June 14, 1971, as the first single from her eighth solo studio album, Coat of Many Colors. It was written by Dolly and produced by Bob Ferguson. The single peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • My Blue Tears (Dolly Parton) 2:16
Side B
  • The Mystery of the Mystery (Porter Wagoner) 2:25

Recording

"My Blue Tears" was recorded on April 16, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville,Tennessee. while "The Mystery of the Mystery" was recorded on April 27.

Dolly has re-recorded "My Blue Tears" several times. She first revisited the song in 1978 with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for an ill-fated Trio album. This recording would eventually surface on Ronstadt's 1982 album, Get Closer. Dolly cut the song a third time for her 2001 album, Little Sparrow. She re-recorded it with Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran for her 2023 album, Rockstar.

Audio

Critical reception

Billboard reviewed the single in the June 26, 1971 issue. The review described "My Blue Tears" as an "original ballad beauty" and predicted that it would take Dolly to the top of the charts.

The review in the June 26, 1971 issue of Cashbox said, "Sounding melodically like early [Bob] Dylan, Dolly's latest will in no time at all become another country classic. Terribly powerful delivery lends itself towards the fine lyrical content, both adding to the overall feeling of the tune. Another sure fire winner for Dolly."
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Billboard review, June 26, 1971.
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Cashbox review, June 26, 1971.

Commercial performance

"My Blue Tears" debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated July 17, 1971. It peaked at number 17 on the chart dated September 4, its eighth week on the chart. The single charted for 12 weeks. It also peaked at number 13 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The single peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the 2007 CD reissue of Coat of Many Colors.
"My Blue Tears"
  • Joseph Babcock – background vocals
  • David Briggs – piano
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • Pete Drake – steel guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass
  • Dolores Edgin – background vocals
  • Dave Kirby – guitar
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • George McCormick – guitar
  • June Page – background vocals
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals, guitar
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Jerry Shook – guitar
  • Buddy Spicher – fiddle
  • Buck Trent – banjo
"The Mystery of the Mystery"
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals, guitar​
  • Other personnel unknown