Great Rock Albums of 1983: Heart- Passionworks

 

One of the great things I remember musically about 1983 was that Heart was back! For many, including myself, their 1980 album "Bebe Le Strange," as good as it was, signaled the end of Heart as we knew it. Their 1982 album "Private Audition" failed to make an impact on anyone, me included there as well, which was why it got left out of the albums of that year. In the Autumn of 1983, the first single, "How Can I Refuse," came to my attention thanks to the late night TV programme, "Video Rock." When I heard it, I loved it. True, that song hasn't the rocking power of classics like "Barracuda," "Crazy On You" and "Magic Man," but it still rocks for me. In fact, it's number four on my favourite Heart songs list behind the three giants I have mentioned.

"How Can I Refuse" isn't the only cool rocker on the "Passionworks" album, there are quite a few other good ones. "Blue Guitar," "Beat By Jelousy," "Sleep Alone" and "Heavy Heart are all great rock outs and the standouts for me on the album. "Sleep Alone" is definitely a trip back to Heart's heavy days of the 1970s and "Beat By Jealousy has some really cool guitar hooks. True, there are more synthesizers used here as was the 80s trend but that doesn't detract from the quality one iota. Ann Wilson's voice is as great as it had ever been and would continue to be years after. As for Nancy, I feel a bit sexist for not including her among my list of great rhythm guitarists. She definitely belongs there!

Apart from all the great rocking to there are also three ballads and as any Heart fan can tell you, Ann's voice can sing anything very well. "Johnny Moon" and "Language of Love" bear tribute to the fact. However, there is one ballad here that stands above everything. I even put it above the great power ballad, "Just Between You and Me" by April Wine. What's more, there isn't even a guitar solo in the song, so it must be that good for me to like it. If you haven't guessed already, I'm talking about "Allies." Play that song, and I'll stop whatever I'm doing and I mean whatever and just rock out to it. It is the ballad of ballads in my view. The ballads with the rock, plus the song "Together Now" bridging them together, make "Passionworks" a brilliant album.

Track Listing:

1. How Can I Refuse
2. Blue Guitar
3. Johnny Moon
4. Sleep Alone
5. Together Now
6. Allies
7. (Beat by) Jealousy
8. Heavy Heart
9. Love Mistake
10. Language of Love
11. Ambush

[caption id="attachment_3287" align="aligncenter" width="379"] Heart[/caption]

Ann Wilson- vocals

Nancy Wilson- guitar, vocals (lead vocal on track 9)

Howard Leese- lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Mark Andes- bass, backing vocals

Danny Carmassi- drums

"Passionworks" paved the way for Heart to comeback in 1983. This album put their hard rock sound into a more marketable 1980s style without old fans like me saying they sold out. Often unremembered, this album is far better than what it has been given credit for.

Next post: Pat Benetar- Live From Earth

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The Runaways: The First True All Female Metal Band

Janis Joplin and Grace Slick for the first queens of rock in the 60's and in the 70's came Ann and Nancy Wilson who were arguably the first modern rock chicks. In the later part of the 70's and early 80's we had such great ladies like Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry. All of these women were rock queens in the true sense and their contribution to music will always be remembered.

[caption id="attachment_1501" align="aligncenter" width="256" class=" "] Janis Joplin[/caption][caption id="attachment_1679" align="aligncenter" width="127" class=" "] Grace Slick[/caption][caption id="attachment_1373" align="aligncenter" width="188" class=" "] Debbie Harry[/caption][caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="195" class=" "] Pat Benatar[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_874" align="aligncenter" width="168" class=" "] Heart[/caption][caption id="attachment_1759" align="aligncenter" width="243" class=" "] The Pretenders[/caption]

In 1981, two all female bands made their way into the spotlight, The Go-Gos and Girlschool. While the former had a more commercial rock sound, the latter was straight forward heavy metal and stood alongside of many of the NWOBHM acts that were coming out that year. However, these two weren't the all female bands who could blow speakers with great power chords. Before them came The Runaways.

[caption id="attachment_2299" align="aligncenter" width="278" class=" "] The Go Go's[/caption][caption id="attachment_2373" align="aligncenter" width="276" class=" "] Girlschool[/caption]

I had heard of The Runaways even before the film that came out a few years ago. Even at the tender (small chuckle here) age of sixteen, I was enamoured with these fine ladies who played such aggressive music. I did listen to their debut album and liked it. Likewise, I wanted to listen to their second one "Queens of Noise" but never got the chance. Must rectify that in the future. While, I never heard any of their songs on that cheap AM radio I had back then, they toured extensively and played many sell out concerts in the US and Japan. Furthermore, the likes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Cheap Trick and Van Halen supported them. Unfortunately, accusations of mismanagement, rows over money and direction plus several personnel changes lead to break up of the band.

Albums:

The Runaways- 1976

Queens of Noise- 1977

Waitin' for the Night- 1977

Live in Japan- 1977

And Now, The Runaways- 1978

The Runaways

Cherrie Currie- vocals

Joan Jett- guitar, vocals

Lita Ford- guitar

Jackie Fox- bass

Sandy West- drums

*Vicki Blue and Laurie McAllister also played bass during The Runaways reign

While The Runaways may be no longer, the members are still around and making themselves known. One of them would dethrone Pat Benatar as the queen of rock in 1982 and possibly become the first metal queen. That one is up for debate. Another ex Runaway would also make a huge splash in heavy metal circles nor would some of the other former members remain completely silent. Almost silently, these ladies would go onto to be an influence on heavy metal and I think the all female metal bands that would spring up less than a decade later can look to them for inspiration. Don't take my word for it, watch the film and listen to their music for yourself.

Next post: 1982- The Floodgates Are Open

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1980: Heart- Bebe Le Strange

Heart rocked the world throughout the 1970's with a string of hard rock albums that brought them great fame. Some of those albums have been visited in earlier posts and I stand by my claim that Ann and Nancy Wilson were the first modern rock chicks. On the flip side, many have said that their 1980 album wasn't as good as any of their predecessors. True, by this time Heart were engulfed in internal strife and guitarist Roger Fisher left the band some months earlier. However, none of that was reflected on this album in any way in my view.

The title track sets the album in the right direction from the outset incorporating everything one knew and loved about Heart. The bluesy "Down On Me" is definitely a likeable track and as always, Nancy gets to show off her guitar talent on the acoustic instrumental, "Silver Wheels." "Break" and "Rockin' Heaven Down" are true rock songs even if the former song does kind of end abruptly. This leads fine to the second single "Even It Up" whose rhythm reminds a little of the classic Heart anthem, "Magic Man." Then you get some more rocking from the next three tracks before the album ends on the ballad, "Sweet Darlin." So I ask myself after just having had a 38 minute rock out, "What is there not to like about "Bebe le Strange?" I sure can't find anything.

Track Listing:

1. Bebe le Strange

2. Down On Me

3. Silver Wheels

4. Break

5. Rockin Heaven Down

6. Even It Up

7. Strange Night

8. Raised On You

9. Pilot

10. Sweet Darlin

Heart

Ann Wilson- vocals

Nancy Wilson- guitar, vocals, piano, mellotron

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards synthesisers, backing vocals

Mike DeRosier- drums, percussion

Steve Fossen- bass

It was a great way to wake up on a Sunday morning! Hearing this album again after so many years gave me such a good rock out this morning and I've been feeling the groove throughout the whole day. So what if Heart made this album during their infighting. It proves that once you get down to business, you can still achieve great things. "Bebe le Strange" is an underrated album by Heart and it is definitely worth a listen again.

Next post: Dire Straits- Communique

To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Heart- Dog and Butterfly

"Dog and Butterfly" was the late 1978 follow up to "Magazine" which Heart re-released earlier that year and in my opinion was better than the earlier album. In fact, many people cite this album as their favourite Heart album, although I, personally, am not so sure. It would be a tough choice between "Dog and Butterfly" and "Dreamboat Annie." Needless to say, it is an album that shows Heart at their best.

This album is classic Heart through and through. Classic rocking tracks like the single "Straight On" form the foundation. Then there's the soft ballad and title track, "Dog and Butterfly" with its mesmerising accoustic guitar. I was convinced that back in 1978, only Heart could make a ballad sound this good. To final it out, there's the track "Mistral Wind," which begins like a ballad with accoustic guitars, only to come in with some very good rock.

Track Listing:

1. Cook With Fire

2. High Time

3. Hijinx

4. Straight On

5. Dog and Butterfly

6. Lighter Touch

7. Nada One

8. Mistral Wind

Heart

Ann Wilson- lead vocals, violin, guitar

Nancy Wilson- guitar, piano, vocals

Michael DeRosier- drums

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards

Roger Fisher- guitar, steel guitar

Steve Fossen- bass

Rich Keefer- synthesiser, vocals

Heart were one of the most commercially successful hard rock bands back in the late 70s. Albums like "Dog and Butterfly" bear testimony to this.

Next post: Styx- Pieces of Eight

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Great Rock Albums of 1978: Heart- Magazine

Originally, this ablum by Heart was released in 1977, however, the band wasn't too pleased with the way it sounded so after a court battle, the album was pulled, remixed and re released in 1978 and it is this version that is going to be visited here. The main reason is that the remastered version of "Magazine" sounds like the classic hard rock that Heart were known and loved for in the late 70's.

I have mentioned my AM radio that gave up the ghost, but I did have an antiquated looking AM/FM radio as well. I didn't play it much because the local AM station played better stuff than the local FM station at the time. The FM station played lots of disco tunes. However, when I held that radio in the right position on my knee, I was able to pick up the Philadelphia stations and they were no way disco. It was through this self imposed agony, (my knee would stiffen after an hour of listening to the radio this way) that I first heard the classic rocking Heart jam, "Heartless."

Like I said in my posting for the "Dreamboat Annie" album all those months ago, Ann and Nancy Wilson were the first true rock chicks in the modern sense. They knew how to rock and with the rest of the band behind them, they put out some classic rocking stuff like this album. Each song has the trademark vocals of Ann Wilson (Cheryl Cole isn't worthy to lick her boot soles)with the unique guitar sound that is them. This included the more lighter songs like the title track and the more trippy sounding "Devil Delight."

Track Listing:

1. Heartless

2. Devil Delight

3. Just the Wine

4. Without You

5. Magazine

6. Here Song

7. Mother Earth Blues

8. I Got the Music In Me

Ann Wilson- vocals, flute, keyboards, violin

Nancy Wilson- guitar, piano, vocals

Michael De Rosier- drums

Roger Fisher- guitar, steel guitar

Steve Fossen- bass

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards, synthesiser, vocals

"Magazine" would be the first of two albums which Heart would release in 1978, the other one will be visited in my next post. It's no wonder with great rock songs from the likes of Heart and others, my antique radios gave up the ghost.

Next post: Heart- Dog and Butterfly

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Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Heart- Dreamboat Annie

Forget about power ballads such as "What About Love" and "Alone" which Heart were famous for in the 1980s, because a decade earlier, Heart were a true hard rock outfit. I freely admit as a red blooded male, it was the attractiveness of the Wilson sisters that first turned my head in their direction, they were the first true rock chicks, but when I heard this album, I was hooked by their cool hard rock sound.
"Dreamboat Annie" was the album that launched Heart into the ionosphere in rock. It served as the springboard for what would be a string of albuns and singles that would keep them at the top throughout the last half of the 1970s. Hits like "Magic Man" and "Crazy On You," along with the ballad "Dreamboat Annie," helped to make this album the great album it became.

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 and Wind

7. (Love Me Like Music) I'll Be Your Song

8. Sing Child

9. How Deep It Goes

 10. Dreamboat Annie (Reprise)

Heart

Ann Wilson- vocals

Nancy Wilson- guitar

Roger Fisher- guitar

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Michael De Rosier- drums

Steve Fossen- bass

If you want a good nostalgic rock out, then this is a great album.

Next Post: Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon

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Other Great Metal Influences: Part 10, The Honourable Mentions

As this is the last in the great metal influences series, I thought it best to end it with some of the great unsung heroes of the 1970s who influenced the metal of the 80s. The list here is in no means exhaustive and there are probably a lot more acts that can be included in the list. These are the ones for me.

The first of these has to be without question, Slade. You only have to look as far as Quiet Riot to know that these guys were a big influence on 80s metal. It's a shame that they never really made it in America until the 80s, but throughout the 70s, they were a major player on the rock scene in Britain. Any doubts, you can ask my wife, she's met them.

Many will say that I should have given Blue Oyster Cult a solo spot in the series and there is great argument for this. They began to make huge strides into the rock scene in the late 70s, especially with their hit, "Don't Fear the Reaper." They were also the first band I heard of the be labelled "Satanic." The band's name gives that impression. I will be speaking a lot more of them when I begin my albums series.

Smashey and Nicey will love me for including Bachman Turner Overdrive in this list and with good reason. These rockers tore up the charts in the mid 70s with hits like "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and "Taking Care of Business." Unfortunately, when I saw them in the 80s, they had declined and became what my friend described as a bunch of fat, burned out, 40 year old bikers.

Another great rock act from the early and mid 70s was Grand Funk Railroad. Back then, many rock fans put them on a par with Black Sabbath. However, they seemed to disappear into obscurity after that.

My final honourable mention has to go to Foghat. In the late 70s, they sold a good number of albums and were considered a great live act. I was jealous of two friends who saw them open for Blue Oyster Cult in 1981. The report was that the concert was fantastic.

Last but not least and I should be shot for almost forgetting them and I thank the Metal Excess blog for reminding me, is Heart. Throughout the 70s, they had a string of great rocking albums and songs that was so heavy, many acts from the 80s would have been jealous. Great hits like "Heartless," "Barracuda," "Magic Man" and Crazy on You" will forever linger in my memory as classic rock hits. Ann And Nancy Wilson proved to be great role models for the future ladies who would go on to carry the rock chick banner. Heart will be another band I could have included on their own in the series.

I hope you have enjoyed the entire series of great rock influences and will continue reading this blog in the future.
Next post: The Great Guitarists of the 70s.
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