Album of the Week - Vol. 20

Dreamboat Annie HEART (1975)
Week: Sun 11th to Sat 17th July
Format: CD/iPod
Producer: Mike Flicker
Track listing:
1. Magic Man *
2. Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)
3. Crazy on You *
4. Soul of the Sea
5. Dreamboat Annie *
6. White Lightning & Wine
7. (Love Me Like Music) I'll Be Your Song *
8. Sing Child *
9. How Deep It Goes
10. Dreamboat Child (reprise) 
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 40:02

This is the very solid debut album of the band Heart. Before they became a mainstay in FM radio power ballad playlists they were quite the gritty rock band. Not averse to a little bit of 70s synth work too. Their original lineup consisted of sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson, guitarist Roger Fisher, guitarist/keyboardist Howard Leese, bassist Steve Fossen and Mike Derosier on drums, although he only plays on two tracks here. 

The bulk of the album was written by the Wilsons, with Ann's outstanding lead vocals just one of the band's assets. The band wears its love of Led Zeppelin on its sleeve with Ann's voice seemingly channeling Robert Plant on occasion. This is especially on show during the Zep-esque Sing Child, which also boasts some Zep-like riffs and motifs, and interestingy is the only track co-written by Ann with Fisher and Fossen. The multi-layered vocals on the "sing, child, sing" lines are another appealing facet of the track. Nancy contributes an unexpected flute solo as well, but in a good way. There's some nice riffing and noodling on White Lightning & Wine too, and it might just get you yelling out 'more cowbell!'.

Nancy's amazing ability to get around an acoustic guitar is another massive factor in what makes Heart so great. Just listen to the intro of Crazy On You. It's crazy good. Add in Ann's crazy good vocals plus a most excellent guitar riff and you've really got something special. This is the album's absolute highlight, without a doubt. 

One of the more puzzling elements of this record is the inclusion of three different versions of the title track. There's no huge difference between them, as far as arrangement or lyric changes go. This isn't Another Brick in the Wall or anything. Did I miss something? Is this is a concept album? It's not that they're unpleasant to listen to though. The second version is certainly one of the album's better tracks, but it seems a little unnecessary to include two more takes. The first one has the parenthetical title of Fantasy Child and doesn't last much longer than a minute, whereas the reprise at the album's end nearly hits the four minute mark.  A single of Dreamboat Annie was released in late 1976, and that version is not any of the ones on this album either! Ahhh, the seventies... but I digress! The title track (no parenthesis) is my favourite of three as the banjos add a great, gentle gallop. 

Other songs I really like here are the lovely ballad (Love Me Like Music) I'll Be Your Song) and the punchy opener Magic Man. The latter is my second favourite track here in fact, complete with some seventies synth, cool guitar breaks and a fabulous lead vocal from Nancy. 

The weird thing with this album is that it was turned onto me by a former friend. The person in question shared quite a bit of music with me while we were friends. Some of that music brings a small memory of them, which I think we can all relate to. That little pang gets a bit smaller with each listen. It doesn't take away from the fact that this is a great album, and I'm glad to know it.