Although sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson were from Washington state, their band Heart was (at least early on) based in Vancouver. They recorded their debut album, Dreamboat Annie, there. It was first released in Canada in August 1975. Or maybe it was September – I’ve seen both given as the release date. Regardless, because the band technically qualified as Canadian content, the country’s radio stations played the hell out of them… eventually. The band’s first single, “How Deep It Goes,” didn’t do anything, but the second single, “Magic Man,” did. So it became the opening track on Dreamboat Annie, though the album still wouldn’t be released in the United States until Valentine’s Day 1976. The first single released in the U.S. was “Crazy On You,” so “Magic Man” ended up being the second single in both countries. The latter hit the top 10 on the Hot 100, but both songs remain rock radio staples to this day. And off the strength of those two songs, Dreamboat Annie went Platinum in the U.S.
But before I talk about the rest of the album, you may remember that when the surviving members of Led Zeppelin received Kennedy Center Honors in 2012, Ann and Nancy performed “Stairway To Heaven” as part of the tribute. They were joined by drummer Jason Bonham, filling in for his late father John. I mention this because Heart have always been massive Led Zeppelin fans. They frequently covered Led Zeppelin in their own live shows. And the Led Zeppelin influences on Dreamboat Annie are very apparent, from Nancy’s guitar work to Ann’s vocal delivery to even the incorporation of acoustic folk music. For a great example, look no further than the six-and-a-half-minute “Soul Of The Sea.” It’s like they wanted to make their own, more epic version of “Going To California.” Arguably, they did. Oh, and in case anyone thinks that counts as ripping off Led Zeppelin, people in glass houses shouldn’t rip off Willie Dixon.
Anyway, when you listen to Dreamboat Annie in full, you realize acoustic guitars take up a lot more of the album than its hits would suggest. The way I’d describe it, the album is 60% folk and 40% rock. But there are some underrated bangers on Side B like the groovy “White Lightning & Wine” and the Jethro Tull-esque “Sing Child.” The acoustic songs are all fantastic as well.
Overall, Dreamboat Annie is a great album and a great debut. I highly recommend it.
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