Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1976)

The debut album from the Wilson sisters. There's rock tunes here, but also more folky Joni Mitchell-esque tunes as well - a nice mix. Overall, a fair-to-middlin' album, but definitely better than their later arena rock stuff. Wish we heard more deep cuts from this one on the classic rock radio format.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone: "The left-field commercial success of the year"
• Robert Christgau: C+
• CashBox: "Full-bodied pop and a blistering middle of the road blues/rock"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #7

Tracks: And right out of the gate, we're hit with Magic Man - what a great single (#9 pop) and I loved it as a ten year old kid because it got all kinds of airplay in west Texas. The other single, which I prefer, is Crazy On You. Those are the two best tunes here, but I also dig White Lightning & Wine. I don't seek out the other tunes but I don't mind if they shuffle around every now and then.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: As with much music of this time, I'm reminded of hanging out in the hot west Texas desert with my friends, listening to AM radio, catching horny toads in the alleys.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Greatest Hits 1985-1995 (2000)

Heart - Greatest Hits 1985-1995 (2000)

Overall, I'm more of a fan of the Wilson sisters' earlier work, but there's more than a few good tracks to be had here among the bloated power ballads.

Kudos on including all eleven of the bands' Top 40 hits during the designated time frame and presenting the tracks in chronological order.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

Song	Year	Hot 100	Rock	AC
What About Love	1985	10	3		✔
If Looks Could Kill	1986	54
Never	1985	4	2		✔
These Dreams	1986	1	1	2	✔
Nothin' At All	1986	10	6	40	✔
Alone	1987	1	3	2	✘
Who Will You Run To	1986	7	2
There's The Girl	1987	12	16
Surrender To Me	1988	6	42	44	✘
All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You	1990	2	2	6	✘
I Didn't Want To Need You	1990	23	13		✘
Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger	1990		24		✔
Stranded	1990	13	25	8
You're The Voice (Studio Version)	1989		*
Back To Avalon	1993				✔
Black On Black II	1993		4
Will You Be There (In The Morning)	1993	39	10	15
The Road Home (Live)	1995

*The live version of You're The Voice from the 1991 album Rock The House Live! peaked at #20 on the Mainstream Rock Chart, but this studio version did not chart as it wasn't available until released on this CD.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None