Disco de Heart: “Private Audition”

This was the first album Heart put out that really got me interested in the band; after hearing this, I went out and bought all of their earlier records. While there are some weak tracks here (Fast Times, Bright Light Girl), it is also a last hurrah for the original band (minus Roger Fisher) and they are at full throttle. Ann's voice really whoops (Perfect Stranger), their songwriting is sharp and on-target (Angels) like their earlier records, and some of the arrangements are unlike anything they've done before (This Man Is Mine, the title track). This will always be my favorite Heart record and I'll always be bummed out that they really started to sound bad after Private Audition, even though all their biggest hits came afterward. With a few exceptions (Never, There's the Girl, Who Will You Run To), most of their ensuing work is sappy or goofy, and missing the earlier edge.

"Private Audition" qualifies as one of the most underrated albums not only for the band "Heart" itself, but of the eightes in general. A new direction with a twist, the album competes with the establishing new wave genre by taking rock in an old Amercian twist. Combining jazz, saloon piano, and orchestra full of woodwind and celestial bells, this album had so much ambition, and so much that could have been going for it. Still signed to the epic record label, the band were alot less promoted whence the album was released, resulting in very poor airplay and sales. Not the band nor the albums fault.

The tracks here are terrific and very well structured, "Bright Light Girl" about a niave girl who wants to find love, and the title track, narrating life involving "casting couch" are good examples of "Heart" trying to bounce up the rock, and take it to new (old fashioned) levels, and it works. The old time bar room piano sweeps the song off the turntable and you feel like dancing, despite the fact it is rock. There are of course, the hard rockers, "Citys Burning" being not only the most 'burning' track on the record but a terrific way to start the album off. Heart is at it again, as the melting guitar cords burn the song off, almost litereally, and Ann power belts out the vocals to the highest degree about crazy city life. The other rockers stay true to heart fashion. "The Situation" being a song about people being "media-ized" and the world as we know it becoming fake, a message just as important today as it was then. Nice synths here. "Fast Times" depicts life in the fast lane, for better or worse, and again , Ann shines with her shrieking vocals that sound so great. "This man is mine" is the weakes track on the album-BUT do not take that as it is weak in general. Very enjoyable in fact. The jazz sound is heard here, snapping fingers, rhythm beat and all. The title says it all. Sounds like a song that would have been played on "Dynasty"-a series that was very succesful at the time on this album's release.

An accoustic guitar takes the spotlight on "Angels", one of the bands more beautiful songs, that is basically a prayer to angels who watch over us, and suggests that when you die, you become one. Haunting. "Perfect Stranger" ties with "Citys Burning" for being the best track of the album. This song, not quite pre power ballad, but definitely something the band had never done before, is electric blaring guitars, mixed with strings and celestial bells, and tells of a stranger we all wish we knew, and rarely ever see. We have all been there, haven't we? This reviewer's favorite track of the album. The other two songs, "Hey Darlin' Darlin' is similar to "Stranger" with the strings, though not as strong, very much enjoyable. And "One Word" is the love song of the album, with some damn fine piano and guitar work by Leese and Nancy Wilson. The last track of the album, trying to state a message, "America" is string ladden and piano cords only. I liked this track, but it really doesn't belong on this album.

So in closing, this is an album that is more or less an acquired taste to fans of "Heart" But everyone should enjoy, for after a few listens, even the most cynical of fans will no doubt learn to like. The band was clearly looking for some stimulation other than what they had been doing in the last six years, and this album, contrary to most beliefs, was the right thing to do. It would have been nice to see what the band would have done if they had not signed on to capitol records, but that is another story.

I bought this CD and really didn't care for it at first, but after giving it some time it grew on me. True it is not their best, but it's not too bad. No Heart collection is complete without it.

While this album was not commercially a success, this is my favorite Heart album by far. It is such a departure from everything before. Bright Light Girl is an infectious pop song that could've easily been a hit. Perfect Stranger is a great ballad that really showcases Anne's great vocals. And Private Audition is a quirky wonderful song. This album was impossible to get on CD for years so I was excited to see it rereleased. This may not be the favorite album of Heart purists, but I appreciate when artists go outside the box and try something different. This truly was the case with Private Audition. An underrated album.

An exercice is Ann and Nancy's great versatility. A must have for true Heart and Lovemonger fans.