Magazine (Heart album)

Last updated

Magazine
Heart - Magazine.png
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 19, 1977 (1977-04-19)
Recorded
  • 1975
  • 1976
  • March 6–9, 1978
Studio
Genre Hard rock
Length40:54
Label Mushroom
Producer Mike Flicker
Heart chronology
Dreamboat Annie
(1975)
Magazine
(1977)
Little Queen
(1977)
Singles from Magazine
  1. "Heartless"
    Released: March 1978 [1]
  2. "Without You"
    Released: May 1978 [2]
  3. "Magazine"
    Released: July 1978 [3]

Magazine is the second studio album by American rock band Heart. It was originally released on April 19, 1977, by Mushroom Records in unfinished form, without the band's permission. A second authorized version of the album was released on April 22, 1978. The album has been certified platinum in both the United States and Canada.

Contents

Background

After their debut album, Heart began recording new songs in Vancouver that were intended as their next studio album for Mushroom Records. However, the group had a falling out with Mushroom over an advertisement celebrating the sales of Dreamboat Annie . The advertisement, which ran as a full-page ad in the December 30, 1976 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, was designed to resemble the cover of a salacious tabloid-style magazine (a satire of the National Enquirer), and showed the sisters bare-shouldered (as on the Dreamboat Annie album cover) with the suggestive caption "It Was Only Our First Time!" [4]

Recording sessions for the new album stopped after the band and their label were unsuccessful in re-negotiating their contract. Only five incomplete recordings were made during these 1976 sessions. As Heart had now proven themselves to be hitmakers, they expected Mushroom to raise their royalty rate. However, to the surprise of the group and their producer Mike Flicker, the label refused to pay more. [5]

While keeping the group under contract, Mushroom apparently was not interested in releasing a second Heart album. Flicker then ended his relationship with the label. The contract stipulated that Flicker would be the producer of all Heart recordings. The band took the position that since Mushroom was unable to provide the services of Flicker they would be free to sign with another label. Heart hired a lawyer to resolve the dispute, and they signed with Portrait Records, a subsidiary of CBS Records (now Sony Music Entertainment). [6]

Original 1977 release

The change in labels resulted in a prolonged legal battle with Mushroom's creative director Shelly Siegel. Mushroom, which still had a two-album contract, claimed they had the legal right to release a second Heart album after all. Still in possession of the five unfinished studio recordings, as well as unreleased live tracks recorded in 1975, Mushroom had them remixed by the band's recording engineer, but without the presence of any group members.

The label added another studio track, "Here Song" (the B-side to "How Deep It Goes", Heart's first Canadian single from 1975). The rest of the album was filled by two live songs recorded in 1975 at The Aquarius Tavern, a rock club in Seattle where the group had played regularly. Mushroom released the collection as Magazine in the spring of 1977, at the same time that the group was preparing their next album for Portrait, titled Little Queen . [6]

According to Flicker, about 50,000 copies of the original Magazine album were pressed. Some of these copies were sold in stores, mostly in Los Angeles and Hollywood, Florida, where the records were manufactured. Unsold copies were quickly recalled and later destroyed when Heart took Mushroom to court to stop distribution of the album. [7] The 1977 version was also briefly released in Europe through Arista Records, but were ordered off shelves by a second court action.

Though the album was not officially released to radio stations in 1977, some stations such as KISW, a Seattle-based rock station, played songs from the unauthorized version, against the wishes of the group. The 1977 release carried a disclaimer on the back cover that read:

"Mushroom Records regrets that a contractual dispute has made it necessary to complete this record without the cooperation or endorsement of the group Heart, who have expressly disclaimed artistic involvement in completing this record. We did not feel that a contractual dispute should prevent the public from hearing and enjoying these incredible tunes and recordings." [6]

Injunction, re-recording and remixing

Unhappy with the somewhat unpolished studio performances and the inclusion of the live recordings, the group took Mushroom to court with the aim of having the 1977 release of Magazine withdrawn from the market. The Seattle court ruled that Mushroom had to recall the album, but the terms of the settlement required that Heart provide a second album for Mushroom. Heart chose to fulfill this obligation by finishing the previously released songs to a quality of their satisfaction. [7]

For the 1978 version, Heart chose to re-record, remix and edit the songs and resequence the album. This work was done from March 6 to 9, 1978, at Sea-West Studios in Seattle. The original vocals were probably intended as scratch vocals rather than final takes. Ann Wilson added new lead vocals to most of the existing studio tracks. [8]

One of the most obvious differences is that on the original recording of "Heartless", Ann sings, "The doc said come back again next week..." On the re-recorded version, she sings doctor instead. The new lead vocal on "Heartless" is less controlled than the original. The synthesizer solo on "Just the Wine" was replaced by a flute solo and the song is slightly edited. The ending of "Magazine" fades about 30 seconds earlier. The live "Blues Medley" was edited to remove some of Roger Fisher's guitar solo sections and Ann's solo vocal parts. There are also many other subtle differences. The revised version of the album was released with no disclaimer by Mushroom Records in April 1978.

Epilogue

In the early 1980s, Mushroom Records went out of business. Ownership rights to Heart's two albums for Mushroom were purchased by Capitol Records, which reissued the recordings. The 1978 release was also pressed as a picture disc featuring the album cover. The back cover indicates that it is a special limited edition of 100,000 copies. The original cover had a circle cut out of it. This circle was sent to record stores to be hung in the store for promotion of the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The New York Times wrote that "Ann Wilson's vocals are worth hearing, and several of the songs are good enough so that one can see why the Wilsons were loathe to lose control of them without a fight." [11] Cash Box said of the title track that "Ann Wilson shines vocally on this lush, engaging ballad, as sister Nancy provides sweet acoustic guitar", and also praised Flicker's production. [12]

Track listing

1977 release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heartless"5:00
2."Without You" (originally recorded by Badfinger)4:44
3."Just the Wine"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
4:30
4."Magazine"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
6:55
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Here Song"A. Wilson1:35
6."Devil Delight"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
4:58
7."Blues Medley: Mother Earth / You Shook Me Babe" (live) Peter Chatman / Willie Dixon 7:11
8."I've Got the Music in Me" (live) Bias Boshell 6:01
Total length:40:54

1978 release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heartless"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
4:59
2."Devil Delight"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
4:58
3."Just the Wine"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
4:15
4."Without You"
  • Ham
  • Evans
4:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Magazine"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
6:19
6."Here Song"A. Wilson1:34
7."Mother Earth Blues" (live)Chatman5:42
8."I've Got the Music in Me" (live)Boshell6:01
Total length:38:31

Personnel

1977 release

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 1977 original version of Magazine. [13]

1978 release

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 1978 revised version of Magazine. [14]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [20] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [21] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. 1976
  2. 1978 (remix)
  3. 1975 (live tracks)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart (band)</span> American rock band

Heart is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1973. The band evolved from previous projects led by founding members Roger Fisher (guitar) and Steve Fossen, including The Army (1967–1969), Hocus Pocus (1969–1970), and White Heart (1970–1973). By 1975, original members Fisher, Fossen, and Ann Wilson, along with Nancy Wilson, Michael Derosier (drums), and Howard Leese formed the lineup for the band's initial mid- to late-1970s success period. These core members were included in the band's 2013 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Wilson (rock musician)</span> American guitarist (born 1954)

Nancy Lamoureux Wilson is an American musician. She rose to fame alongside her older sister Ann as guitarist and second vocalist in the rock band Heart.

<i>Little Queen</i> 1977 studio album by Heart

Little Queen is the third studio album by American rock band Heart, released in May 1977 by Portrait Records. The album was recorded and mixed at Kaye-Smith Studios in Seattle, Washington, from February to April 1977. On June 29, 2004, a remastered version of Little Queen was released by Epic Records and Legacy Recordings with two bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janie Fricke</span> American singer-songwriter

Jane Marie Fricke, known professionally as Janie Fricke, is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and clothing designer. She has placed seventeen singles in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Eight of these songs reached the number one spot on the Country music chart. She has also won accolades from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and has been nominated for four Grammy Awards.

<i>Dreamboat Annie</i> 1975 studio album by Heart

Dreamboat Annie is the debut studio album by American rock band Heart. At the time, the band was based in Vancouver, British Columbia; the album was recorded in Vancouver and first released in Canada by the local label Mushroom Records in September 1975, eventually reaching number 20 on RPM's Top Album chart and earning a double platinum certification. It was released in the United States on February 14, 1976, through the US subsidiary of Mushroom Records in Los Angeles, peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200. It also reached the top 10 in the Netherlands and Australia in early 1977. The album contains three commercially successful singles, two of which, "Crazy on You" and "Magic Man", became staples on North American FM radio. Producer Mike Flicker helped the group to polish their sound and obtain a recording contract with the label.

<i>Dog & Butterfly</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Heart

Dog & Butterfly is the fourth studio album by American rock band Heart, released in September 1978, by Portrait Records, following a legal dispute with Mushroom Records over the release of the band's second studio album, Magazine, in April 1978. Dog & Butterfly peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned the singles "Straight On" and "Dog & Butterfly".

<i>Bébé le Strange</i> 1980 studio album by Heart

Bébé le Strange is the fifth studio album by American rock band Heart, released on February 14, 1980, by Epic Records. It was the first album without founding member Roger Fisher on lead guitar, who had left the band months prior along with his brother Michael.

<i>Greatest Hits/Live</i> 1980 compilation album of greatest hits and live recordings by Heart

Greatest Hits/Live is a compilation album of greatest hits, live recordings and new tracks by American rock band Heart, released on November 29, 1980, by Epic Records. The album was issued in North America as a double LP. The first disc is a collection of the band's greatest hits, while the second is mostly a live album, although it contains three previously unreleased studio recordings, including a cover of "Tell It Like It Is", released as the first single. The second single released from the album was a live cover of "Unchained Melody".

<i>Heart</i> (Heart album) 1985 studio album by Heart

Heart is the eighth studio album by American rock band Heart, released on June 21, 1985, by Capitol Records. The album continued the band's transition into mainstream rock, a genre that yielded the band its greatest commercial success. Marking the band's Capitol Records debut, it became Heart's only album to top the US Billboard 200 to date. The album was eventually certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—in contrast to Heart's previous two releases, Private Audition and Passionworks, which were uncertified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Man</span> 1975 song and single by Heart

"Magic Man" is a song by the American rock band Heart released as a single off their debut album, Dreamboat Annie. Written and composed by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the song is sung from the viewpoint of a young girl who is being seduced by an older man, much to the chagrin of her mother, who calls and begs the girl to come home. In an interview, Ann Wilson revealed that the "Magic Man" was her then boyfriend, band manager Michael Fisher, and that part of the song was an autobiographical tale of the beginnings of their relationship. Roger Fisher came up with the alternative tuning EADGDG for his guitar part. The album version of "Magic Man" features an over-two-minute instrumental break which consists of a guitar solo and the usage of a Minimoog synthesizer, while the single version of the song edits out most of this break, cutting it down from 5:28 to 3:29.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy on You</span> Heart single

"Crazy on You" is a song by American rock band Heart from their debut studio album, Dreamboat Annie (1975). It was released in March 1976 as the album's third single in Canada and the album's debut single in the United States. It reached the top 25 in Canada and the top 35 in the US. It found more success in the Netherlands and Belgium where it peaked at number 2 and 13, respectively, in early 1977 after its release as the second single from Dreamboat Annie in those countries. It is considered one of Heart's signature songs as it is one of the most played tracks on classic rock radio stations in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barracuda (song)</span> 1977 single by Heart

"Barracuda" is a song by American rock band Heart, released in 1977 on their third studio album, Little Queen, and was released as the album's lead single. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2009, "Barracuda" was named the 34th-best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartless (Heart song)</span> 1978 single by Heart

"Heartless" is a song written and recorded by the rock band Heart in 1976 for their album Magazine. Issues with the band's previous record label Mushroom caused a delay in the album's release and "Heartless" was released as a single two years later, after the re-issue of their first single "Crazy on You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straight On</span> 1978 single by Heart

"Straight On" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart. It was released as the first single from the band's 1978 album Dog & Butterfly. In the U.S., "Straight On" became Heart's third single to crack the top twenty, peaking at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was co-written by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, and Sue Ennis. "Straight On" was released during Heart's classic era and has been part of the group's setlist almost constantly since its release. It still was during their 2016 tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Dreams</span> 1986 single by Heart

"These Dreams" is a song by American rock band Heart from their 1985 self-titled eighth studio album Heart. It was released on January 18, 1986, as the album's third single, becoming the band's first song to top the Billboard Hot 100. The single's B-side track "Shell Shock", was also the B-side of Heart's previous single "Never".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You</span> 1990 single by Heart

"All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" is a song by American rock band Heart. It was composed by veteran songwriter and producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange and released as the lead single from the band's tenth studio album, Brigade, in March 1990. The song was first recorded as "All I Want to Do Is Make Love to You" by Dobie Gray in 1979, though with different lyrics. The Heart version tells the story of a woman who sets out to seduce a hitchhiker in order to become pregnant because although there is a man in her life, he is infertile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margo Smith</span> American singer-songwriter (1942–2024)

Margo Smith was an American country and Christian music singer–songwriter. She had several years of country success during the 1970s, which included two number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In the 1990s, she transitioned towards the Christian market and issued two successful albums. She is also known for her yodeling vocal skills and is often referred to as "The Tennessee Yodeler".

<i>Dottie</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Dottie West

Dottie is a studio album by American country artist Dottie West. It was released in August 1978 via United Artists Records and contained ten tracks. It was the 26th studio album of West's career and her third with the United Artists label. Of its ten tracks, three were self-penned by West herself. One single was spawned from the album titled "Come See Me and Come Lonely", which reached the top 20 on the US country chart. Dottie also made the US country albums chart following its original release and was given a positive review by Record World magazine.

<i>Dont Break the Heart That Loves You</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Margo Smith

Don't Break the Heart That Loves You is a studio album by American country music artist Margo Smith. It was released in May 1978 via Warner Bros. Records and contained ten tracks. The album included a mixture of new recordings and covers of original hits by other artists. It was the fifth studio release of Smith's career and spawned three major hits, including the number one country songs "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While."

<i>Love Lies</i> (Cristy Lane album) 1978 studio album by Cristy Lane

Love Lies is a studio album by American Christian and country music artist Cristy Lane. It was released in December 1978 via LS Records and contained 12 tracks. The album was the third released in Lane's music career and contained two singles. Its second single release, "I Just Can't Stay Married to You," became a top five country hit in both the United States and Canada. Love Lies received positive reviews from music critics and publications.

References

  1. "Heart – Heartless" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. "Heart – Without You" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  3. "Heart – Magazine" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  4. "Mushroom Records Ad" (JPG). Mushroom Records (Canada) . Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  5. Wilson, Wilson & Cross 2012, p. 114.
  6. 1 2 3 Wilson, Wilson & Cross 2012, p. 115.
  7. 1 2 Wilson, Wilson & Cross 2012, pp. 115–116.
  8. Wilson, Wilson & Cross 2012, p. 116.
  9. DeGagne, Mike. "Magazine – Heart". AllMusic . Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  10. Coleman, Mark; Berger, Arion (2004). "Heart". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p.  372. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  11. Rockwell, John (September 2, 1977). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C15.
  12. "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. XLI, no. 13. August 11, 1979. p. 15. ISSN   0008-7289 via World Radio History.
  13. Magazine (liner notes). Heart. Mushroom Records. 1977. MRS-5008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Magazine (liner notes). Heart. Mushroom Records. 1978. R 143366.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 136. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4574a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  17. "Heart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  18. "Top 100 Albums of '78". RPM. Vol. 30, no. 14. December 30, 1978. p. 15. ISSN   0315-5994 via Library and Archives Canada.
  19. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  20. "Canadian album certifications – Heart – Magazine". Music Canada. May 1, 1978. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  21. "American album certifications – Heart – Magazine". Recording Industry Association of America. June 2, 1978. Retrieved July 23, 2019.

Bibliography