At a glance,
Breakin' in Another Heart looks like a half-hearted effort, since the title track is a re-recording of one of
Thompson's decade-old hits and the album was recorded at the end of his long tenure with Capitol Records, but it is not a throwaway. The dozen songs are split 50/50 with ballads on side one and
Thompson's originals on side two. On the ballad side, "There's No You" is a beauty that demonstrates the ease with which
Thompson negotiated sophisticated melodies, and the other songs are nearly as good. The originals tend toward ballads, too, which makes this a very laid-back affair overall. "I'd Have Never Found Somebody New" is an echoey waltz, and the remake of "Breakin' in Another Heart" is a near replica of the original but perhaps a bit mellower, since
Thompson's voice had deepened.
Thompson remained on the charts for decades without ever updating his sound much, which proves the enduring appeal of his style. ~ Greg Adams