10 'Desire Walks On' (1993) It rocks. It's mellow. But...it rocks! 'Back On Black II'....bang! 'Back To Avalon', 'The Woman In Me', 'Rage', 'In Walks The Night', 'My Crazy Head'....Fabulous!
9 'Dreamboat Annie' (1975) The start of this crazy journey. It's got 'Magic Man', 'Dreamboat Annie' and 'Crazy On You' - that acoustic guitar intro....breathtaking! Great start to a wonderful career.
8 'Passionworks' (1983) Some bands have that difficult transition to a new decade. Heart had that. 'Passionworks' is the sound of a band trying very hard and, when it works, it works; 'How Can I Refuse', 'Blue Guitar', 'Sleep Alone', 'Allies' and 'Love Mistake'. It will lead into better things, of course.
7 'The Road Home' (1995) Essentially a live album, in a small venue, mostly acoustic with orchestral arrangements from John Paul Jones (Yes...Led Zeps's JPJ!) it aids in reimagining some fine songs - 'These Dreams', 'Alone', 'Back To Avalon' and some really mindblowing covers - Elton's 'Seasons' and Joni Mitchell's 'River' alongside an epic cover of 'Love Hurts'. It feels like you're there.
6 'Bebe Le Strange' (1980) New decade. New Heart. It rocks. The title track, about an obsessive fan, is just great. There's 'Down On Me', 'Even It Up' and more cool tracks. Love it.
5 'Brigade' (1990) A highlight for me as it was the first time that I had seen Heart in concert - they finally decided to tour the UK, and I saw a couple of their shows - and, alongside the 'Heart' and 'Bad Animals' albums, it was a continuation of that style - outside writers - but rocked harder. 'Wild Child', 'Tall Dark Handsome Stranger' (could be my theme tune!), 'Secret', 'The Night'...oh I could go on. Personal fav? 'Fallen From Grace'. Wonderful harmonies, lots of light and shade...and it rocks.
4 'Dog And Butterfly' (1978) It starts with a live version of 'Cook With Fire' and rocks out, and finishes with the (mostly) acoustic 'Mistral Wind', their 'Stairway To Heaven'. It's split into a 'Dog' (Rock) side and 'Butterfly' (Acoustic) side and both are just wonderful. 'High Times' and 'Nada One' are some of my own, additional, personal highlights.
3 'Bad Animals' (1987) Initially I was a little disappointed as it was more keyboard heavy than the 'Heart' album, but the songs have kept calling to me over the years and I love it for what it is. A collection of great songs and singles. Favs? 'Bad Animals' itself, really rocks. 'Alone' is one heck of a memorable power ballad...'There's The Girl', Nancy's little pop ditty...and then there's 'Wait For An Answer', big sister Ann's crowning moment - as the song goes on, the key change higher and higher with Ann singing more and more emotive. THE best female singer in the world? Yep, no question.
2 'Little Queen' (1977) Wonderful use of light and shade, the hard rock and the mellow acoustic music, on this, technically their 2nd album. It starts with 'Barracuda', it has 'Love Alive', 'Sylvan Song'/'Dream Of The Archer', 'Kick It Out' and 'Little Queen' itself as highlights. It rocks.
1 'Heart' (1985) I remember it well. Took ages to get the album after hearing all the singles on the 'U.S Chart Show' radio broadcast. I was very new to Heart - 15 - and it changed my world. The songs, the production - from Ron Nevison - the videos...I wanted to be a Wilson sister! The album did not disappoint, taking over from my still playing Def Leppard/Van Halen. 'What About Love?' has long been one of my fav songs ever. 'Never', 'These Dreams', 'Nothin' At All'. Sheer bliss. From start - 'If Looks Could Kill' - to the end - 'Shell Shock' - it's been long on that pedistool. It's a classic.
So...there you have it. MY fav Heart albums. Feel free to discuss and pop up your thoughts...
@HotPizza71 They've toured the UK a few times since then and, I think, I've seen each tour. Their later stuff (after their comeback in the early 00's) isn't bad, but not quite as good as their peak.
I recall seeing them at the NEC, on the 'Brigade' tour and it was drummer, Denny Carmassi's birthday....and we all sang happy birthday!
