Dreamboat Annie - Heart

'Dreamboat Annie' was the title track and a recurring theme on Heart's debut album. Originally divided in three parts scattered on the album, the single version was a mixture of all three and did not appear on the album in this form.

The B-side 'Sing child' was taken from the album and foreshadowed the later singles of the band. They would be stuck in a middle of the road rock phase for a couple of years.

My collection: 7" single no. 1567

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 2, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Dreamboat Annie' / 'Sing child'

Crazy on you - Heart

Heart released their debut single in 1976. 'Crazy on you' would be featured on their debut album 'Dreamboat Annie'. It was a hardrock track, true to the sound of the early years of the band. The single peaked at number 35 in their native America, but reached number 2 in the Netherlands.

I vividly remember hearing this song as a child, thanks to my sister who'd bought the single while they were too expensive for me to buy. I've always held a soft spot for the band since then.

My collection: 7" single no. 535

Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 1987

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Crazy on you' / 'Soul of the sea'

Magic man - Heart

'Magic man' was released as the second single from Heart's debut album 'Dreamboat Annie' (1976). With lengthy guitar solos, the song featured notable Minimoog synthesizer usage. Written by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the song is sung from the viewpoint of a young girl who is being seduced by an older man (referred to as a Magic Man), much to the chagrin of her mother, who begs the girl to come home.

In interview, Ann Wilson revealed the 'Magic Man' was her then-boyfriend, band manager Michael Fisher, and part of the song was an autobiographical tale of the beginnings of their relationship. The single became Heart's first Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 7, while it didn't chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 554

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Magic man' / 'How deep it goes'

You're the voice - Heart

Heart released a live album called 'Rock the house' in 1991. The album marked a sharp decline in sales after a period of success that began in 1985 with the release of the self-titled 'Heart'. The single 'You're the voice' was taken from this album, a cover of the song by John Farnham.

I bought the single not because I thought this was a particularly good version (live tracks are usually unlistenable) but because of the limited edition etched disc. This disc featured the lyric of the song on one side, and the A- and B-side track on the other side. These kind of special editions are always so nice to have.

My collection: 7" single no. 3080

Found: London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'You're the voice', 'Call of the wild'

This man is mine - Heart

'This man is mine' was the first single to be released from Heart's sixth studio album, 'Private audition' (1982). The song is an ode to The Supremes. The single peaked at number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100, but didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands.

I knew Heart mostly for their earlier singles 'Magic man' and 'Crazy on you', so this song was very different from that material. I liked it instantly, though, and when I got a little older I was very happy to be able to buy this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1100

Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'This man is mine' / 'America'

Download: Album 'Private audition', including both tracks