Heart Album: “Heart”

In 1985, the veteran 70's hard rock band Heart released their first album on Capital Records. Titled simply Heart, the album represented a new direction for the band fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. In the late 70's, Heart had found a very successful commercial niche with their blend of Led Zepplin influenced hard rock combined with some folk influenced acoustic ballads. But the early 80's proved to be a rough time for the band, as their style of music fell out of commercial favor and the group was rocked with line up changes that saw them first reduced from 6 members to 5 members with the departure of original lead guitarist Roger Fisher, then the replacement of the bands rhythm section. By 1984, their previous label had released the band from its contract.

Fortunately they were picked up by Capital. But the band, its management and its label all knew that if they were to get back in the game, they would have to make changes. Heart abandoned their Led Zep meets Joni Mitchell sound in which the Wilson sisters took charge of writing most of the material. Instead, the band produced more radio friendly pop rock material, with many of the songs written or co-written by professional songsmiths such as Billy Steinberg/Tom Kelly, Bernie Taupin and Diane Warren. In addition, to promote the new material, the band glammed up their appearance for music videos and the directors made prominent use of the Wilson Sister's cleavage, especially Nancy Wilson's, as lead singer Ann battled with her weight during this era. These changes would prove controversial with many of the band's original fanbase and this created a split that exists to this day, with some fans only preferring the 70's material, while others like all their material. However the gambit worked and won the band a whole new generation of fans, many of whom were not familiar with the band's previous musical incarnation and thus forming a third fanbase.

Despite the change in direction, certain elements remained the same: beautiful harmonies by the Wilson sisters; blistering guitar solos from lead guitarist Howard Leese (they might not have been as long or elaborate as Fisher's in the 70's, but Howard got the job done), and most importantly, strong, impassioned lead vocals from Ann Wilson, who is considered by many one of the greatest female rock singers of all time. In addition, the era saw the emergence of Nancy as a vocal force to be reckoned with as her lighter approach to her leads provided a nice counterpoint to Ann's vocal work.

Heart's first two albums on Capital, Heart and Bad Animals, were produced by Ron Nevison. The first album has a fine pop sheen to the production with Ann's voice front and centered. Guitars and synths are nicely balanced and the drum production is strong. Bad Animals, on the other hand, leans heavily on keyboards and synthesizers at the expense of guitars. Also, the drum sound really booms on Bad Animals, and at times the background vocals are over the top.

For their third studio album, Brigade, the band switched to Richie Zito, who had produced Cheap Trick's late 80's power ballad hit The Flame. Brigade was publicized as Heart's return to a harder rocking sound. While the guitar sound is more prominent than it was on Bad Animals, in many respects it was still a pop rock album with the guitar amps turned up high on songs again mostly written by hired gun professional songwriters.

After a live album and a sudden public shift away from power ballads, Heart released their final studio for Capital in 1993. Desire Walks On is a transitional album, with a combination of the outside penned power ballads that brought the band its resurgence in the mid 80's and more personal rock songs primarily penned by the Wilson Sisters. Heart wrapped up its commitment to Capital with a live, unplugged album in which they played acoustic versions of their greatest hits of the 70's and 80's along with a few covers, and the inevitable greatest hits album.

In the years since their departure from Capital, the Wilson sisters have continued to make music. Both Nancy and Ann have released solo albums. They also kept busy with an acoustic oriented side project band called The Lovemongers. In 2002, the sisters relaunched Heart in a serious way and have toured extensively. Their shows prominently display their 70's material with only a couple of their 80's hits regularly included in the setlist. They have also made two new albums of original material, Jupiter's Darling in 2004 and Red Velvet Car in 2010. As with their live shows, both of these albums are more rooted in the Heart of the 70's rather than the 80's. Despite this, the band still made some very enjoyable and memorable music during their tenure at Capital. Below is a track by track assessment of their 4 studio albums recorded for Capital:

Heart 1985:

If Looks Could Kill: This is a hard charging energetic rock track written by a couple of LA based song writers for a minor movie released in the early 1980's. Ann provides a ferocious vocal for a song about a woman who catches her man cheating. Though the sound of the song is hard rock, the song structure is pop with a catchy chorus. 8/10

What About Love: The first single released from the album and marked that the band was ready to join the mid 80's. This is a power ballad that in the hands of a lesser singer could have been a "poor me" type of song. But Ann practically screams out the song lyrics and turns this into an anthem of rage. Leese's blistering guitar solo in the middle enhances the mood. 9/10

Never: Ann and Nancy co wrote this bouncy pop/rock song with tunesmith Holly Knight. I really like the rhythm arrangement and guitar tech work on this song. Ann and Nancy's harmonies on the chorus are the icing on the cake. 9/10

These Dreams: This is the jewel of the album. This was written by Bernie Taupin and Martin Page with Stevie Nicks in mind; however she passed on the song and it was given to Heart. Nancy Wilson grabbed hold of the song and demanded she sing lead. She had a cold the day she recorded her lead, but it only enhances the mood. The lyrics are mystical and ethereal. This is the most synth oriented of the songs on the album, and while it marks the recording as totally of its era, the song would become a staple of Heart's live show. 10/10

The Wolf: This song was written by the band in collaboration with Ann and Nancy's long time song writing partner Sue Ennis. A total rocker about a no good wastrel. I enjoy the guitar based wolf howling effect deployed several times in the song. 7/10

All Eyes: Another song written by Holly Knight and the Wilsons. It's a little more hard charging than Never, but not as catchy. There appears to be a mandolin in the mix, but as Heart mandolin songs go, it's no Dream of the Archer. Pleasant filler material. 6/10

Nobody Home: Written by the Wilsons and Sue Ennis, this proves they could still write a good song. This is a pensive synth based ballad with a delicate, restrained vocal from Ann as she sings to a lover who wants to be free to think twice about what may happen if he discovers he doesn't enjoy life on his own. The song ends with a mournful guitar solo. 10/10

Nothin' At All: A mid tempo pop song that's catchy and radio friendly for its time. I prefer the version found on the original pressing of the album rather than the redone single version found on the CD in which Ann offered a more soulful vocal. A likable song that became a hit of its time, but not a terribly memorable one. 7/10

What He Don't Know: A Wilson/Ennis penned song about the pleasures of cheating on your clueless boyfriend. It's a tad hypocritical when it's on the same album as the ferocious and vengeful If Looks Could Kill. The Wilson sister harmonies give the song a special touch and it's about the only song where one can hear Nancy's acoustic guitar in the mix. 6/10

Shell Shock: The album closes with this hard rocker about good sex. Some good blistering Leese solos add to the raucous on this slice of pop heavy metal and it's an energetic way to close out the album. 7/10