Heart - Dreamboat Annie

Title

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 Annie (Reprise)

Heart's groundbreaking debut album, “Dreamboat Annie”, is often viewed in the context of a female-led band at a time when men didn't want to associate women with rock music. Ann and Nancy Wilson stood virtually alone in a testosterone-dominated commercial era and yet released a long player whose appeal, range, and craftsmanship were top-notch and which must be revered for its quality alone! Produced by Mike Flicker, “Dreamboat Annie” features progressive production that far outshines most independent releases of the time – although the passage of time has almost consigned this historic gem to oblivion. “Dreamboat Annie” was originally released by the small label Mushroom Records after major record companies inexplicably showed no interest in the album. It was released in September 1975, initially in Canada, and hit stores in the US in February of the following year. By the fall of 1976, Heart had a platinum LP and three hit singles!

“Dreamboat Annie” begins with the enchanting “Magic Man”, the second single release and the first top ten hit. The song is partly an autobiographical narrative based on Ann Wilson's relationship with her band manager Michael Fisher at the time. His brother Roger provides memorable lead guitar passages that blend with the song's funky structures and Wilson's powerful vocals. The first single release, “Crazy On You”, didn't chart quite as high, but still made it into the Top 40. The band stood out from their rock contemporaries, as evidenced by the six-minute-plus song “Soul Of The Sea” with its ambitious interest in psychedelia, blues, and folk. Heart's tender side also comes to the fore in the misty ballad “How Deep It Goes”, a prime example of Nancy Wilson's guitar skills.

Lovingly mastered from the original tapes at MoFi's California studio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl (45 RPM) by Fidelity Record Pressing, this strictly limited double LP presents this album in stunning audiophile quality, truly showcasing the artistic significance of this album: the diverse architecture, passionate playing, and glowing emotions that make “Dreamboat Annie” a classic for the ages can be heard in brilliant clarity on this “50th Anniversary Edition.” The MoFi reissue comes in a lavish gatefold cover by Stoughton Printing, proving why “Dreamboat Annie” belongs in every serious record collection: the textures of the guitars, the percussive accents, the multi-layered harmonies and depth of the bass lines, the range of Ann Wilson's voice, the expansive arrangements and the rhythmic drive – essential characteristics of Heart's songs – can be experienced without veil or dynamic limitations with the MoFi reissue!