"...Beauty Take Us..."
"...Beauty Take Us..." they etched
into the run-out groove of Portrait JC 34799 - their second album in early May
1977. And Heart's sophisticated Seattle Rock has been doing just that for
decades ever since.
After a blistering debut in the shape of
"Dreamboat Annie" on Mushroom Records the year prior (Arista in the
UK) - the dynamic songwriting duo of Nancy and Ann Wilson at the core of the
band (the caped sisters on the front cover with their band of intrepid gypsies
behind them) stumped up yet another radio-friendly tennis-racket wielding
winner in "Little Queen" - housing as it does huge fan-faves to this
day like "Barracuda" and "Love Alive".
And this superbly remastered Legacy 'Expanded
Edition' CD even adds on a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To
Heaven" as one of two bonus tracks - a near ten-minute live version from
1976 that might have its Jimmy Page & Robert Plant originators nodding in tearful
appreciation. Here are the heart-shaped teeshirts and era-changing dreams...
UK released June 2004 - "Little
Queen" by HEART on Epic/Legacy 508342 2 (Barcode 5099750834220) is an
'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows
(52:06 minutes):
1. Barracuda
2. Love Alive
3. Sylvan Song
4. Dream Of The Archer
5. Kick It Out
6. Little Queen
7. Treat Me Well
8. Say Hello
9. Cry To Me
10. Go On Cry
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 2nd studio album
"Little Queen" - released May 1977 in the USA on Portrait Records JC
34799 and July 1977 in the UK on Portrait PRT 82075. Produced by MIKE FLICKER -
it peaked at No. 9 on the US album charts and No. 36 in the UK.
BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):
11. Too Long A Time (Early Demo Version of
"Love Alive")
12. Stairway To Heaven (Live at the Aquarius
Tavern in Seattle, WA, 1976)
The 5-square double-sided foldout inlay has
witty and affection liner notes from NANCY WILSON remembering an era when they
genuinely felt that music (including theirs) had "...an eye towards
enlightening and changing the world..." I can remember that feeling -
everything up for grabs - when music seemed so important you couldn't breath
with excitement. There's also a 'track by track' overview of the songs by both sisters
that tells us of their pride in stunners like "Love Alive". There are
the usual reissue credits and several beautiful colour photos of the girls and
the band clearly enjoying the spoils of years grafting. But the big news is a
new JOSEPH M. PALMACCIO Remaster done at Sony Music's New York Studios in 2004.
This album has always needed that extra 'oomph' a good remaster can give a
record and Palmaccio has done the business here. The truly gorgeous acoustic
guitars of "Treat Me Well" rattle around your living room with warmth
and presence - then that Bass and Ann's aching pleading voice (will you treat
me well) - that lonesome Harmonica mixing with the strings - Mike Flicker's
original production values shining like never before. It’s hugely impressive stuff...
"Little Queen" opens with a huge
'rawk' anthem and a produced one at that - flanged guitars and whacking drums
thundering through your speakers as "Barracuda" nibbles at your legs
with Jaws-like teeth (the audio is fantastic on this sucker). But even that's
roundly trumped by the brilliance and sheer melody of "Love Alive" -
an Acoustic/Rock tune that so apes Led Zeppelin's style that its hairy (a
compliment to the boys in the best possible way). I dare say the girls are
proud of this song - co-written with guitarist Roger Fisher. Zeppelin III's
mandolin influence rears its melodic head on "Sylvan Song" where the
instrumental passage channels its inner Jimmy Page with beautiful effect (a
Nancy Wilson and Roger Fisher co-write) before launching into gorgeous
duet-vocals on "Dream Of The Archer". Re-listening to this beautiful
song - you can so hear why they were both able to tackle soundtracks later in
their careers – melody is at the core of their songwriting. The Side 1 Rock 'n'
Roll finisher "Kick It Out" turned up at the B-side to the October
1977 UK 7" single of "Love Alive" on Portrait PRT 5570 – but
despite its strength as a double-sider - Heart would have to wait unto 1986's
"These Dreams" for chart success in Blighty.
The album's ambitious title track "Little
Queen" opens Side 2 where Ann sings of a 'gypsy band' - a five-minute
guitar chugger co-written with Bassist Steve Fossen and Drummer Michael
Derosier. But that's kicked firmly into touch by the stunning "Treat Me
Well" - a Nancy Wilson hurt that's 40 years old in 2017 and yet still
feels like an open-wound you can't cauterise (its the only song on the album
featuring her Lead Vocals). Hand-claps, falling coins and giggling voices open
"Say Hello" quickly followed by layers of Fleetwood Mac type vocals
as the band has fun and feels lighter than usual (bit of an album-sleeper this
one). There's an underlying pain in "Cry To Me" crackling through Ann
Wilson's vocals - asking someone to trust and 'set it free' even if it’s
emotionally dangerous. The near six-minute "Go On Cry" is another
co-write with Guitarist Fisher and feels like the album's overlooked
masterpiece. I've always loved the way those 'ooh' vocals come sailing in and
those building guitar flicks like Roger Gilmour letting rip in the studio
(Palmaccio's Remaster breathes life into this track).
I wasn't expecting much of the two bonus tracks
but they are shockingly good. Different 'mama' lyrics fill "Too Long A
Time" – an early demo version of "Love Alive" that has fabulous
layered vocals but a guitar solo that feels intrusive instead of adding to the
song and you can so hear why it was dropped. But even in this early form – it's
amazing stuff. The live version of "Stairway To Heaven" is preceded
by a witty introduction about Canadians and 'people in lurve' and is amazingly
faithful to the original – difficult passages and all. They would of course
play the song in front Of Page and Plant four decades later – see YouTube
footage of that amazing tribute with both of its creators properly moved.
In October 1978 they would follow 1977's
"Little Queen" with another fan fave - "Dog &
Butterfly" - which along with March 1980's "Bebe Le Strange” is also
part of Epic/Legacy's 'Expanded Edition' Series of CD Remasters.
Although it's forgotten now "Little
Queen" is a great HEART album. And languishing in a warehouse near you for
under four English poundlike small ones - it doesn't take a tarot card or a
gypsy's crystal ball to work out that ye minstrels of Seventies Rock need this
little CD belter in your travelling caravan - and right soon...
