The Joey Heatherton Album

Having started her entertainment career in Broadway theatre at a young age, Joey Heatherton was a rising actress and dancer who first gained publicity for her sensual, energetic dancing style on television, and later her tours for the USO in the 1960s.^[6] Wanting to expand her mainstream image and leverage her acting skills, she appeared in several drama films such as My Blood Runs Cold and acted in television dramas.^[7] Between 1964 and 1966, Heatherton was signed to Coral and Decca Records and recorded songs in New York City with arranger Dick Jacobs,^[8] some of which were released as singles.^[9][10] Neither of the singles charted,^[6] but some songs from her 1960s singles would later be included in the 2004 reissue of the Joey Heatherton Album as bonus tracks.^[11][12] In 1971, Record World and Billboard reported that Joey Heatherton discussed plans for an album and recorded four songs for "an independent label".^[13][14]

The Joey Heatherton Album was released in September 1972 by MGM Records.^[15][16] Joey Heatherton supported the album with live performances in major cities such as Las Vegas, and New York City, where she made headlines in performing at the Waldorf Astoria's nightclub, the Empire Room, which received generous and positive reception.^[17][18][19] Record World described Heatherton's voice as "versatile" while singing "old fashioned love songs" in her performance at the Empire Room.^[18][19][20] Similarly, Billboard praised Heatherton for her vocal "range and power, matched by accuracy and command" and her "high voltage energy" and "dancing routines".^[21]

MGM Records heavily promoted the album, which included Heatherton visiting radio stations and music publications, and having a front-cover advertisement on Billboard.^[22][15][20] Several accompanying singles were issued to promote the album, including "Gone" and "I'm Sorry" in 1972,^[2][3][4] and later "Crazy" in 1973.^[5][4] Despite this, the singles "Gone" and "I'm Sorry" peaked at Nos. 24 and 87, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, while The Joey Heatherton Album peaked at No. 154 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.^[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

The Joey Heatherton Album received mostly positive reception. Billboard noted Joey Heatherton's commercial success on the singles chart and expected the similar success of the album, while lauding producers Tony Scotti and Tommy Oliver for providing the "strong materials" that suited Heatherton's singing.^[23] Cashbox described The Joey Heatherton Album as an album that has "strong oldies that fit her perfectly", such as "Crazy", "Right or Wrong". "The Road I Took to You (Pieces)", remarking that "beauty is as beauty does".^[24] In a separate review for Heatherton's single, "Gone", Cashbox asserts that Heatherton was "already breaking on the incoming tide of nostalgia as well as its own merits".^[3]

The album was reissued in 2004 by Hip-O Select and Universal Records, including eleven bonus tracks, which contains Heatherton's 1960s recordings for Decca Records and Coral Records.^[11][1][12] The Hip-O Select reissue was a limited edition compact disc that was only available through Hip-O Select's website.^[25] Writing for AllMusic, Lindsay Planer held a favorable attitude toward the album, naming Heatherton's interpretation of "God Only Knows", "Crazy", and "Someone to Watch Over Me" as "impressive" and "irresistable".^[1]

2004 Hip-O reissue bonus tracks