Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine

The album's lead single, "Dreamtime", was the most successful song of the album. It reached #5 on the Hot 100 on October 4, 1986, staying there for a week and remaining on the chart for 15 weeks; consequently it was an airplay hit, peaking at #3 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart. The song went to number 11 on the Mainstream Rock Songs on August 16, 1986 to stay on the chart for 10 weeks. It was also a club hit, the remix version peaked at #36 on the Dance Club Songs chart on October 15, 1986 and remaining on it for five weeks. The single peaked at #24 on the Adult Contemporary chart as well.[3][4][5][6] The song was ranked as the 53rd most successful song of 1986 across contemporary hit radio in the United States by Radio & Records.[7]

The next single, "Foolish Pride", peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the December 6, 1986 issue and it remained on the chart for thirteen weeks. It was a moderate radio hit, reaching #29 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay and #21 on the Adult Contemporary charts. It also went to number 91 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on December 27, 1986 and remained on the chart for nine weeks. The single also reached #29 on the Cashbox Top 100.[3][4][8][9]

The last single, "Someone Like You", went to #57 on the Hot 100 on February 21, 1987 remaining on it for only eight weeks.[3] It was more successful on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at #11.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[10]
Robert Christgau	(C)[11]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of allmusic gave the album 4/5 stars, commenting that "(3 Hearts) is a record tied to its time", and that "although he couldn't quite pull it together at the time, of interest as a portrait of where Hall was in 1986." Robert Christgau was far more critical, giving the record a C and stating that the album was "bloated by endless codas, superfluous instrumentation, hall upon hall of vocal mirrors, and the artist's unshakable confidence that his talent makes him significant."

• Produced by Daryl Hall, Dave Stewart and T-Bone Wolk; "What's Gonna Happen To Us" produced by Daryl Hall.
• Recorded between October 1985 and May 1986.
• Engineer at Studio de la Grande in Armee, Paris, France – Manu Guiot; assisted by Frederick Defaye and Serge Pauchard.
• Engineer at The Church in Crouch End, London, England – Jon Bavin; assisted by Stephen Gallifent.
• Engineer at Marcus Studios, London – Manu Guiot; assisted by Dick Beetham and Tim Burrell.
• Engineers at Right Track Studios, New York City – Frank Filipetti and Manu Guiot; assisted by Noah Baron and Paul Hamingson.
• Engineer at Electric Lady Studio, New York City – Manu Guiot; assisted by Ken Steiger.
• Mixed by Bob Clearmountain at Electric Lady Studio, except "For You": mixed by Frank Filipetti at Electric Lady; Filipetti was assisted by Ken Steiger.
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk (New York City, NY).
• Art Direction and Design – Jeb Brien and Joe Stelmach
• Hand Tinting – Cheryl Winser
• Photography – Paul Elledge

• Daryl Hall – lead and backing vocals, guitar, mandolin, keyboards, drum programming
• Ric Morcombe – guitar
• G.E. Smith – guitar
• Jamie West-Oram – guitar
• David A. Stewart – guitar, guitar solo (1), drum programming
• Robbie McIntosh – guitar, guitar solo (4)
• Robbie Kilgore – keyboards
• Mike Klvana – keyboards, Synclavier programming
• Patrick Seymour – keyboards, E-mu Emulator II sampling
• Stephen Gillifant – E-mu Emulator II sampling
• Tom "T-Bone" Wolk – bass guitar, guitar, mandolin
• Tony Beard – drums, additional percussion
• Michel De La Porte – percussion
• Steve Ferrone – additional percussion
• Olle Romo – additional percussion
• Jimmy Bralower – drum programming
• Manu Guiot – drum programming
• Steve Harvey – drum programming
• Bob Riley – drum programming
• Lenny Pickett – saxophone
• Dick Morrissey – saxophone solo (3)
• Michael Kamen – string arrangements and conductor (1)
• June Montana – additional backing vocals (1)
• Kate St. John – additional backing vocals (1)
• Bob Geldof – additional backing vocals (2, 5)
• Joni Mitchell – additional backing vocals (8)