The single reached number 24 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in Canada. Although this copy was made in Germany, the single didn't chart at all in Europe.
My collection: 7" single no. 7370
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 5 October 2024
Tracks: 'Heartless' / 'Here song'
Heart also recorded a version of the track. It was released on the album Magazine, an album with an interesting back story. Unfortunately, Heart's version is a bit overwrought and doesn't hit the listener emotionally at all. This promotional single features the track in stereo and mono versions, which is a nice touch.
My collection: 7" single no. 7347
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'Without you (stereo)' / 'Without you (mono)'
As for 'The woman in me', it wasn't a big hit for the band. It reached number 13 in Canada after just missing the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 7332
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 September 2024
Tracks: 'The woman in me' / 'Risin' suspicion'
This single, featuring a remix of 'Never', was released in 1985, just after the album was released. The song was written by Holly Knight, Gene Bloch (from the band Device) and "Connie" (a pseudonym for Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, and Sue Ennis). The single reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100, but failed to chart in the UK and Europe.
My collection: 7" single no. 7165
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 16 April 2024
Tracks: 'Never (remix)' / 'Shell shock'
The B-side of the single features the title track of the album, 'Bad animals', which is also a strong track. Personally I feel the band were at their peak in 1987, but I recently read an article in which Ann and Nancy Wilson expressed some regret about this period, feeling they were being used as puppets by the record company. Still, the earnings must have made up for something, as they never equalled the success of 'Bad Animals' again.
My collection: 7" single no. 7102
Found: Discogs.com, received 27 December 2023
Tracks: 'There's the girl' / 'Bad animals'
The single marked a change of style for the band and landed them a top 10 hit in the USA for the first time since 'Tell it like it is' in 1980.
My collection: 7" single no. 7101
Found: Discogs.com, received 27 December 2023
Tracks: 'What about love' / 'Heart of darkness'
In 1980, however, the song was also recorded by Heart, and included on their 'Greatest Hits/Live' album. The song peaked at Number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 during the winter of 1981 and became their highest-charting single in the United States to that point. It had higher success in Canada, reaching Number 4. On this side of the world, the single probably wasn't even released.
My collection: 7" single no. 7100
Found: Discogs.com, received 27 December 2023
Tracks: 'Tell it like it is' / 'Strange Euphoria'
The title track was released as the third single from the album in 1979. It failed to chart in all territories, after which Heart's ties with Mushroom Records were broken. 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.
My collection: 7" single no. 7099
Found: Discogs.com, received 27 December 2023
Tracks: 'Magazine' / 'Devil delight'
According to Ann Wilson: "That song was written in about '79 or '80, and it was definitely a response to being obstructed as women in the rock field. There are so many systemic things that get thrown up in front of you, different glass walls and stuff. We were speaking out against it then." The single reached number 33 the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 56 in Canada.
My collection: 7" single no. 6999
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 3 June 2023
Tracks: 'Even it up' / 'Pilot'
The first one is 'Dog & butterfly', the title track of the band's fourth studio album, released in 1978. Ann Wilson said she was inspired when she looked out a window and saw a dog relentlessly chasing a butterfly. She saw the song as an inspiration when things get tough to "keep going after it." Although it enjoyed only moderate chart success - it reached number 34 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 51 in Canada only - the song has remained a setlist staple for Heart consistently through the years.
My collection: 7" single no. 6998
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 3 June 2023
Tracks: 'Dog & butterfly' / 'Mistral wind'
'Kick it out' was taken from their 1977 album 'Little queen' and only charted in the USA (peaking at number 79) and Canada (peaking at number 67). This pressing comes from Germany, which is proof enough that it was released in Europe as well, but to no avail. In fact, their first hit in the UK was 'These dreams', whereas there is a gaping hole in the Netherlands between 1977's 'Barracuda' and 'These dreams' in 1986. I am quite pleased that I have a lot of singles by this band, although some are still missing. More to hunt for, I guess.
My collection: 7" single no. 6523
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021
Cost: €5
Tracks: 'Kick it out' / 'Dream of the archer'
'I didn't want to need you' was written and composed by songwriter Diane Warren and recorded by Heart on their 1990 album 'Brigade'. The track was released as the second single from the album.
'Will you be there (in the morning)' was written by songwriter and producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, who also wrote Heart's 1990 chart hit 'All I wanna do is make love to you'. Personally, I much prefer this song.
'Stranded' was released as the third single from Heart's tenth studio album 'Brigade'. The song was written by J. Harrington and Jamie Kylie and produced by Richie Zito. It features Nancy Wilson on lead vocals.
Taken from their Heart's tenth album 'Brigade' (1990), 'All I wanna do is make love to you' was the first single from the album, composed by producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange. In the track, the protagonist speaks of a one-night stand with a man, only to reveal later in the song that her intent all along was to use the encounter as a way to become pregnant, because the man she really loves is not able to give her children. It was not the best lyric Heart ever performed.
'Who will you run to' was the second single from Heart's 1987 album 'Bad animals'. The song was written by Diane Warren. The lyric contains a clear warning to a departing lover that there will be no one else who could care for and support him in the way that the singer of the song has.
'Alone' was composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was first recorded in 1983 by Steinberg and Kelly's pet project, I-Ten, on the album 'Taking a cold look'. Heart recorded it in 1987 on their album 'Bad animals'. It was released as the first single from that album. It became their biggest hit, spending three weeks at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart.
My photographic memory does not really help when a song is released in two different sleeves. But in this case, I ended up buying two different singles from two different countries with two different B-sides. The European edition (pictured above) features 'All eyes', whereas the UK edition (pictured below) features 'Shell shock'. Both tracks are taken, like the A-side, from Heart's 1985 self-titled album.
The song was written by Martin Page and Bernie Taupin. It was first offered to Stevie Nicks, but she had no interest in recording the track. Heart were more impressed, and decided to record it. When it came time for Nancy Wilson to record her vocal, she was suffering from a cold and her voice sounded somewhat raspy and gravelly. After the song reached its peak of success, producers reportedly wanted Nancy to recreate the gravelly sound on future recordings, asking her, 'Can't you just get sick again?'.
Both 'Never' and 'These dreams' were released as singles in 1985, but this double A-side was released in the UK in a limited edition gatefold sleeve edition in 1988. This is after their biggest success 'Alone', taken from 'Bad animals' (1987). These two tracks come from Heart's previous self-titled album (1985).
'Nothin' at all' was the fourth single taken from Heart's self-titled 1985 album. It is a love song which describes a new relationship which falls into place without effort or conflict. The track was remixed for this single. In the remix, a vibrant alternate lead vocal take from Ann Wilson is featured with striking embellishments; Howard Leese's guitar solo is vastly different.
