Heart (Heart album)
Encyclopedia
Heart is the self-titled eighth studio album, but ninth album overall, released by Heart
. Released in 1985, the album completed the band's transition into a pop group, a genre that yielded the band its greatest success by far, marking the band's Capitol Records
debut, and it spent 92 weeks on the U.S. Billboard 200
and became the only album
of the band's to hit number one. Sales reached quintuple platinum
, after a previous lull. It also yielded the first number-one single for the band: "These Dreams
". There were also four other hit singles on the album: "If Looks Could Kill
", "What About Love
", "Never
", and "Nothin' at All". The latter three also made the U.S. top ten.
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
. Released in 1985, the album completed the band's transition into a pop group, a genre that yielded the band its greatest success by far, marking the band's Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
debut, and it spent 92 weeks on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and became the only album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
of the band's to hit number one. Sales reached quintuple platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
, after a previous lull. It also yielded the first number-one single for the band: "These Dreams
These Dreams
"These Dreams" is a song by the rock band Heart released in 1986 from their 1985 self-titled album. It was the first song by the band to become a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.-Origin of the song:...
". There were also four other hit singles on the album: "If Looks Could Kill
If Looks Could Kill
"If Looks Could Kill" is the name of a song recorded by rock band Heart. It was released as the fifth and final single from the band's self-titled 1985 album Heart. Musically the song is similar to early Heart tunes, as it is an aggressive, hard rock number...
", "What About Love
What About Love
"What About Love" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart, and released in June 1985. The band's "comeback" single, it was the first Heart track to reach the top 40 in three years, and their first top 10 hit in five...
", "Never
Never (Heart song)
"Never" is the name of a song recorded by rock band Heart. It was released as the second single from the band's self-titled 1985 album Heart. The song is an aggressive rock number with an uplifting lyric to a person who has been discouraged by love...
", and "Nothin' at All". The latter three also made the U.S. top ten.
"Never" and "Nothin' at All" remixes
The tracks "Never" and "Nothin' at All" both have alternate mixes (as featured in their music videos), and these mixes had also been pressed onto some early release runs of the album, be it on LP, CD or cassette. One may get a copy with both songs in their original mixes; both in their alternate mixes, or only one song in a different mix. Copies with serial No. SL-12410, for example, features the alternate mix for "Never", but the original mix for "Nothin' at All". It appears that the original mix of "Nothin' at All" only appeared on various editions of early LP and cassette runs, and more featured on the "Essentials" Collection. The 45 RPM record featured the remix, thus receiving the most airplay on Top-40 radio formats of that day. The two different versions of "Nothin' at All" greatly differ from one another, rather than the two mixes of "Never" which are similar. The original mix of "Nothin' at All" features a very subdued lead vocal from Ann Wilson, with no ad-libs and extras. Howard Leese's guitar solo is also very tame and mellow/melodic. In the remix, a vibrant alternate lead vocal take from Wilson is featured with striking embellishments; Leese's guitar solo is vastly different. Drum treatment was mixed with restraint in the original, with heavy reverb as to blend with other instruments; louder, dryer and "cuts-through" on the remix. But while these two versions greatly differ from one another, the underscoring rhythm tracks are exactly the same, hence it appears the two final mixes do not derive from different basic track recording sessionsTrack listing
- "If Looks Could KillIf Looks Could Kill"If Looks Could Kill" is the name of a song recorded by rock band Heart. It was released as the fifth and final single from the band's self-titled 1985 album Heart. Musically the song is similar to early Heart tunes, as it is an aggressive, hard rock number...
" (Jack Conrad, Beau Garrett) – 3:42 - "What About LoveWhat About Love"What About Love" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart, and released in June 1985. The band's "comeback" single, it was the first Heart track to reach the top 40 in three years, and their first top 10 hit in five...
" (Brian Allen, Sheron Alton, Jim VallanceJim VallanceJames Douglas "Jim" Vallance, OC is a retired Canadian musician, songwriter, arranger and producer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams...
) – 3:41 - "NeverNever (Heart song)"Never" is the name of a song recorded by rock band Heart. It was released as the second single from the band's self-titled 1985 album Heart. The song is an aggressive rock number with an uplifting lyric to a person who has been discouraged by love...
" (Ann WilsonAnn WilsonAnn Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.-Personal life:...
, Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (guitarist)Nancy Lamoureux Wilson is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer who, with her older sister Ann and lead guitarist Roger Fisher, became the core of the Seattle/Vancouver rock band Heart.-Life and career:...
, Greg Bloch, Holly KnightHolly KnightHolly Knight is a songwriter, vocalist and musician of pop and rock music.- Biography :She was born in New York City and started playing classical piano as a young child. She soon became interested in rock music, and left home at about sixteen to pursue her dreams...
) – 4:07 - "These DreamsThese Dreams"These Dreams" is a song by the rock band Heart released in 1986 from their 1985 self-titled album. It was the first song by the band to become a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.-Origin of the song:...
" (Martin PageMartin PageMartin Page is a musician, singer, bass player, session musician, and noted pop songwriter.Martin George Page was born at Southampton, Hampshire, England, September 23, 1959 to Alan Richard Page and Ruth Pamela Page...
, Bernie TaupinBernie TaupinBernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
) – 4:15 - "The Wolf" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Howard LeeseHoward LeeseHoward M. Leese is an American guitarist, record producer and musical director who played with Heart for 22 years...
, Mark AndesMark AndesMark Andes is an American musician, known for his work as a bassist with Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and Mirabal.-Early life:...
, Denny CarmassiDenny CarmassiDenny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also...
, Sue EnnisSue EnnisSue Ennis is a Seattle songwriter whose songs include Classic Rock radio staples Straight On, Even It Up and Dog and Butterfly. She has co-written over 65 songs for the rock band Heart and co-wrote the theme from The Golden Child starring Eddie Murphy with James Bond composer, John Barry, Ann and...
) – 4:03 - "All Eyes" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Bloch, Knight) – 3:55
- "Nobody Home" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 4:07
- "Nothin' at All" (Mark MuellerMark MuellerMark Mueller is an American songwriter whose career spans pop music, television, film and stage. A two-time winner of the ASCAP Pop Award for writing one of the Most Performed Songs of the year, he’s had three Billboard Top Ten singles and one #1 Adult Contemporary hit...
) – 4:13 - "What He Don't Know" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 3:41
- "Shell Shock" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Leese, Andes, Carmassi, Ennis) – 3:42
Band members
- Ann WilsonAnn WilsonAnn Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.-Personal life:...
– lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (guitarist)Nancy Lamoureux Wilson is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer who, with her older sister Ann and lead guitarist Roger Fisher, became the core of the Seattle/Vancouver rock band Heart.-Life and career:...
– lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single... - Howard LeeseHoward LeeseHoward M. Leese is an American guitarist, record producer and musical director who played with Heart for 22 years...
– electric guitar, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, mandolin, backing vocals - Mark AndesMark AndesMark Andes is an American musician, known for his work as a bassist with Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and Mirabal.-Early life:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Denny CarmassiDenny CarmassiDenny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional musicians
- Peter WolfPeter Wolf (producer)Peter F. Wolf is a composer, producer, songwriter and arranger. He was awarded the highest honor for artists from his birth country of Austria, the Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst .- Early years :Wolf studied classical piano at Vienna’s Conservatory of Music...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Mickey Thomas – backing vocals on "What About Love", "Shell Shock", and "All Eyes"
- Johnny CollaJohnny CollaJohnny Colla is one of the founding members of the American rock band, Huey Lewis and the News. He is the guitarist and saxophonist. He has been heavily involved in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene for more than 25 years.-Brief history:The first bands that Colla was involved with were the...
– backing vocals on "Nothin' at All" and "These Dreams" - Grace SlickGrace SlickGrace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
– backing vocals on "What About Love" - Lynn Wilson Keagle – backing vocals
- Holly KnightHolly KnightHolly Knight is a songwriter, vocalist and musician of pop and rock music.- Biography :She was born in New York City and started playing classical piano as a young child. She soon became interested in rock music, and left home at about sixteen to pursue her dreams...
– keyboards - Frankie SullivanFrankie SullivanFrankie Sullivan, Frankie M. Sullivan III, is an American guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for being a founding member of the band Survivor, and has been the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1977.Along with former bandmate, keyboardist/vocalist Jim Peterik,...
– solo guitar on "Nobody Home", additional guitar on "Nothin' at All"
Production
- Produced by Ron NevisonRon NevisonMulti-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink...
- Engineered by Ron Nevison, Mike ClinkMike ClinkMike Clink is a record producer who started his career as an engineer at Record Plant Studios, recording such bands as Triumph, Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Megadeth, UFO , Jefferson Starship, The Babys, Heart, Eddie Money and many others.Clink began producing in 1986...
and Brian Foraker - Mastered by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab
Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 37 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 22 |
| German Albums Chart | 57 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 22 |
| UK Albums Chart | 19 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 |