Picture
Netherlands 45 single, Side A. ​RCA (PB-60179) (1984)
Image credit: ARNOLDSVINYL at discogs.com
"What a Heartache" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released in 1984 exclusively in the Netherlands by RCA Records as the fourth single from the Rhinestone soundtrack album. The song was written by Dolly and produced by Mike Post and Dolly.

Track listing

Side A
  • What a Heartache (Dolly Parton) 3:34
Side B
  • Butterflies (Dolly Parton) 3:21

Background

Dolly has re-recorded "What a Heartache" twice since its original appearance on the Rhinestone soundtrack. The first was in 1991 for the Eagle When She Flies album, and she recorded it again in 2002 for Halos & Horns. In her 1994 autobiography, Dolly cited the song as a personal favorite of all the songs she has written.

Recording

Both sides of the single were ​recorded at Smoketree Ranch in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.

Audio

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Rhinestone liner notes. ​The album liner notes do not give credits for individual tracks, so the credits below are for the album as a whole.
Performance
  • Mike Baird – drums
  • Dennis Belfield – bass
  • John Bidasio – steel guitar
  • ​John Coux – guitar
  • Richard Dennison – background vocals
  • Linda Dillard – background vocals
  • David Lindley – fiddle
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Larry Muhoberac – piano​
  • Willie Ornelas – drums
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Randy Parton – background vocals
  • Herb Pedersen – guitar, banjo, background vocals
  • Pete Robinson – synthesizers
  • Joey Scarbury – background vocals
  • Leland Sklar – bass
  • Ian Underwood – synthesizers
  • ​Steve Watson – guitar
Production
  • Doug Parry – recording
  • Dolly Parton – producer, arrangements
  • Mike Post – producer
  • Ray Sheibley ​– second engineer