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45 single, Side A. RCA (PB-11926) (1980)
Image credit: Beatlemania43 at 45cat.com
"Starting Over Again" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on March 3, 1980, by RCA Records as the first single from Dolly's twenty-second solo studio album, Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. The song was written by Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano. It was produced by Gary Klein. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Dolly's twelfth single to top the chart.

Track listing

Side A
  • Starting Over Again (Donna Summer, Bruce Sudano) 3:55
Side B
  • Sweet Agony (David Wolfert, Susan Sheridan) 3:40

Recording

"Starting Over Again" was recorded on December 7, 1979, at Sound Lab Studios in Los Angeles, California. "Sweet Agony" was recorded at the same studio on an unknown date.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the March 15, 1980 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "Dolly puts her emotive vocal touch to this Donna Summer/Bruce Sudano ballad. Lush arrangement and the sparse orchestration make this ideal for AC and pop formats."

Cashbox reviewed the single in their March 8, 1980 issue. Their review said, "This is a ballad, penned by Donna Summer, that Dolly sings with tons of emotion, it's about breaking up a family and starting life anew."
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Billboard review, March 15, 1980.
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Cashbox review, March 8, 1980.

Commercial performance

"Starting Over Again" debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 22, 1980. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 24, its tenth week on the chart. It charted for 14 weeks. The single also peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 36 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at number three on the Cashbox Country Singles chart and number 57 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The single peaked at number two in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Dolly, Dolly, Dolly liner notes.
"Starting Over Again"
  • John Arrias – mixing
  • Jeff Baxter – vocoder
  • Nick DeCaro – synthesizer, arrangement, conductor
  • Buzzy Feiten – electric guitar
  • Jim Gilstrap – background vocals
  • Jay Graydon – acoustic guitar
  • Gary Klein – producer
  • Myrna Matthews – background vocals
  • ​Denise Maynelli – background vocals
  • Marti McCall – background vocals
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Michael Omartian – keyboards
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Mike Reese – mastering
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
"Sweet Agony"
  • John Arrias – mixing
  • David Hungate – bass
  • Jeff Baxter – electric guitar
  • Ben Benay – elector guitar
  • Lenny Castro – percussion
  • Jim Gilstrap​ – background vocals
  • Jay Graydon – acoustic guitar
  • Gary Klein – producer
  • Myrna Matthews – background vocals
  • Denise Maynelli – background vocals
  • Marti McCall – background vocals
  • Michael Omartian – synthesizer, arrangement, conductor
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Bill Payne – keyboards
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Mike Reese – mastering
  • Tom Saviano – saxophone

Alternate artwork

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Japan 45 single, picture sleeve. RCA (SS-3266) (1980)
Image credit: concorder at discogs.com