I had never heard of Heart when a friend at school gave me their first album to listen to. Given that he was into bands such as Deep Purple and Dr Feelgood, I was a little surprised to hear a mostly melodic album with a nice mix of acoustic guitars and mainstream rock songs. I liked it, but it was a few years before I purchased my own copy, snapping it up at a bargain price of £4.29 in a sale, although I don't know where from !
Early in their career, Heart were viewed as a Canadian band, being part of the music scene in Vancouver and at a time when radio stations had low quotas on non-Canadian bands that could be played on the radio, Heart qualified as being domestic. It was only a while later that I discovered that they were actually American and came from just over the border.
One of their unique points, at least in the 1970s, was that their material was written by two sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson, with Nancy being one of the two guitarists in the band, whilst Ann was the vocalist.
The three singles from the album were hits in the USA to break the band in their home country and became rock radio staples, and although the singles failed to register in the UK, the album entered the top 40.
I thought side one was particularly strong, and I can still remember all five songs, but apart from the reprise of Dreamboat Annie, my memory of side two was a little hazy.
The album opens with "Magic Man". A simple, rocking beat, extended guitar solos and keyboards give it a more “epic” feel beyond its melodic hook in the verse and chorus. It's a well constructed song with a great vocal.
The first of three version of "Dreamboat Annie" follows, "( Fantasy Child )" is only 70 seconds long with a gentle plucked guitar and a gorgeous vocal. It probably should have opened side, like "Pigs On A Wing" on Pink Floyd's Animals.
"Crazy On You" is another stunning song. The finger-picked acoustic intro leading into fast paced strumming before the riff comes in. It has a good hook, magnificent interludes, and a pleasing middle section and guitar solo.
"Soul Of The Sea" is outstanding. A tender guitar ballad with layered strings, lovely guitar patterns and a majestic vocal. The middle section is odd, and has sometimes been referred to as being Led Zeppelin-esque although I can't say I see this, but it works, before drifting back to the original chords and verse.
The side closes with "Dreamboat Annie", a fast paced folk song version with layered harmonies and picked acoustic guitar and banjo. At just over two minutes, it could go on for longer !
Side two begins with "White Lightning & Wine" a standard, bluesy rocker.
I had forgotten just how great the next song was. "( Love Me Like Music ) I'll Be Your Song" starts with strummed acoustic guitar and has some nice slide guitar and liquid bass lines making the vibe almost country. It's a beautiful song, with a great sing-a-long chorus.
"Sing Child" is an aggresive rocker featuring a Jimi Hendrix style guitar solo and jam in the middle along with some Ian Anderson-like flute by Ann Wilson. This does sound like Led Zeppelin and Ann even sings like Robert Plant. It's my least favourite song on the album though.
"How Deep It Goes" is another nice song, with an acoustic guitar intro, nice bass flourishes, some strings, piano and more flute.
The album closes with the melancholic "Dreamboat Annie ( Reprise )". A much slower pace, with piano and strings, a tender flute solo ahead of dramatic strings, before the acoustic guitar outro from the Fantasy Child version brings it to an end.
It was great to listen to Dreamboat Annie for the first time in many years, and it remains a classic album.
Track Listing :
2. Dreamboat Annie ( Fantasy Child )
3. Crazy On You
4. Soul Of The Sea
5. Dreamboat Annie
2. ( Love Me Like Music ) I'll Be Your Song
3. Sing Child
4. How Deep It Goes
5. Dreamboat Annie ( Reprise )
Released 1975
UK Chart Position :36
Magic Man ( - 1975 )
Crazy On You ( - 1976 )
Dreamboat Annie ( - 1976 )
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