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45 single, Side A. RCA Victor (PB-10396) (1975)
Image credit: jazzmicke at 45cat.com
"We Used To" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on September 8, 1975, by RCA Victor as the second single from Dolly's sixteenth solo studio album, Dolly. It was written by Dolly and produced by Porter Wagoner. The single peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "We Used To" was reissued in the Netherlands in 1985 to promote the release of the European compilation, ​The Love Album 2.

Track listing

Original release
​Side A
  • We Used To (Dolly Parton) 3:10
Side B
  • My Heart Started Breaking (Dolly Parton) 3:18

​1985 Netherlands 45 single
Side A
  • We Used To (Dolly Parton) 3:10
Side B
  • Traveling Man (Dolly Parton) 2:10

Recording

"We Used To" was recorded on December 9, 1974, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. "My Heart Started Breaking" was recorded on an unknown date.

Dolly had previously recorded "My Heart Started Breaking" in 1971, but this recording remained unreleased until it was included on the 2007 CD reissue of Coat of Many Colors.

Audio

Critical reception

The single was reviewed in the September 20,1975 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "Dolly shows her writing ability again in this self-penned tune from her album. It's a sad song of a love that used to be with a beautiful arrangement by Porter Wagoner. Should cross over easily."

Cashbox review the single in their September 20, 1975 issue. Their review said, "Reaching into a MOR bag, Dolly comes up with a slow moving ballad about remembering better times. Dolly give the vocal a light touch – like the butterfly, with Porter Wagoner producing."
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Billboard review, September 20, 1975.
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Cashbox review, September 20, 1975.

Commercial performance

"We Used To" debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated September 27, 1975. It peaked at number nine on the chart dated December 6, its eleventh week on the chart. The single charted for 14 weeks. It also peaked at number four 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 2009 box set, Dolly ("We Used To").
  • Jimmy Colvard – guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass
  • D.J. Fontana – drums
  • John Hughey – steel guitar
  • Dave Kirby – guitar
  • Lea Jane Singers – background vocals
  • Mack Magaha – fiddle
  • Bill McElhiney – orchestration
  • Bruce Osbon – guitar
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Bobby Thompson – guitar
  • Porter Wagoner – producer, arrangement

Alternate artwork

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Netherlands 45 single, picture sleeve. RCA (PB-60217) (1985)
Image credit: leonard at 45cat.com