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This is a truly wonderful CD set for anyone who loves rock music and the women of rock. The sound quality is incredible. These ladies have produced some wonderful hit music over the years and nearly all of it is on here. I listen to this CD all of the time and am amazed at how much clear bass sound they acheived in the 70's.
Looking over the songs on the 2 CD's, I see most of my favorites. It spans their old school rock era as well as their reinvention into different sounds. It's a good survey of their music as well. Obviously a ton of great songs here, and Ann and Nancy are a great combo. Highly recommended. I'll type in the entire song list from my discs since I don't see them listed, give me a "helpful" rating if it's useful :) Crazy on YouMagic ManDreamboat Annie (Reprise)BarracudaLittle QueenKick It outLove AliveHeartlessStraight OnDog and ButterflySilver WheelsEven it UpRock and Roll [Live]Tell it Like it IsUnchained Melody [Live]This Man is MineHow Can I RefuseAllies What About LoveNeverThese DreamsNothin' At AllIf Looks Could KillAloneWho Will You Run ToThere's The GirlI Want You So BadAll I Wanna Do is Make Love To YouWild ChildI Don't Want to Need YouStrandedSecretYou're The Voice [Live]Will You Be There (In the Morning)Back on Black IIRing Them BellsThe Road Home [Edit]
I remember seeing Heart for the first time when they were the back up group for the Doobie Brothers in the late 70's. They are an inspiration to all female artists out there. I fell in love with them then and now almost 40 years later, I realize what an awesome band they were and still are. They're music, Ann on vocals, Nancy on guitar, phenomenal. If you are a true Heart fan or one that is just finding them, you will love this CD, it has everything. I am so glad I purchased it and I love listening to it when I'm taking my walks, cleaning the house or just wanting to listen to a great band.
With multiple record labels and more than a few best ofs already in their discography, it's fantastic to be able to get a set that covers all the bases in one strike. 1985's "These Dreams" (originally intended for Stevie Nicks and loaded with that same kind of vibe) kick-started yet another wave of success. If you look at "The Essentials" second disc, you'll note that only two of the 19 songs were penned by Ann and Nancy. From the early Dreamboat Annie on Mushroom Records to the long-term success on Portrait/CBS to their third wave on Capitol, all the major hits are here.While they started as a "female Led Zepplin" when 70's power rockers picked up on "Crazy On You" and "Magic Man," Heart soon developed personality all their own. After The Road Home, Ann and Nancy announced a sabbatical from which they have only recently come back from.There's still plenty to love on this set, from some of the lesser-known hits ("Tell It Like It Is," "Heartless") to some choice album selections ("Ring Them Bells" with the late Layne Staley). The angry bite of "Barracuda" contains one of the 70's all time great riffs, while Dog & Butterfly (both the album and the song) was a startlingly diverse rock album. For Ann and Nancy Wilson, "The Essential Heart" does exactly that. Soon Heart became slick MTV faves, with big hair and big hits, but at a price.
But like most bands, when the superstar status lands, there's almost always tension. Heart was no different, and when the internal strife led to the lackluster success of Private Audition and Passionworks (despite such solid songs as "How Can I Refuse"), it seemed like Heart would soon wind down.Against all odds, Heart signed with Capitol records and took a Bernie Taupin penned song back into the top ten. The trend that drove 80's bands like Aerosmith and Cheap Trick to - sometimes forcibly - cover songs by established songwriters like Dianne Warren ("Who Will You Run To"), Mutt Lange ("All I Wanna Do is Make Love To You") and Steinberg/Kelly ("Alone") gave Heart memorable hooky rock-pop, but backed them into a creative corner. By gathering all these songs onto one set, "The Essential Heart" is also an essential CD of a band that helped alter the sound of the 70's and 80's.
Except for the ding-dong hollering at the beginning, this was EXACTLY what I was looking for. We went to 2 Heart concerts this year, and for some reason, THIS was the song that really stuck with me. You won't be disappointed.
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