[I ♥ Bad Animals] -- This week in 1987, Heart released their ninth studio album, Bad Animals, which was their second with Capital Records. The move to Capital coincided with -- or perhaps spurred -- Heart's resurgence. Their more polished sound had resulted in many new followers and an increase in album sales. This album is also significant in that only three of the ten tracks include a writing credit for either of the band's founders, Nancy or Ann Wilson. You know what else is notable? The fact that three of this album's four singles were top 40 hits (on the US Billboard Hot 100). And that fourth one was a respectable #49. Read and hear more after the break to find out which tunes from Bad Animals are spotlighted here.
Flashback #1: "You don't know how long I have waited."
When my father drove me home from Penn State after my sophomore year, he asked me if I had heard "that new Heart song, the one where the woman can't wait to get her guy alone?" Dad, who had followed the Wilson sisters since their 1976 debut, actually liked this new tune that had been released earlier in May (in advance of the album, Bad Animals). That song, "Alone," had been previously recorded twice before: Once in 1983 by the songwriters, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and then again in 1984 by Valerie Stevenson and John Stamos for a CBS sitcom. But neither of those versions had the charting power of Heart's version. This power ballad was the band's biggest hit, seizing the #1 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 for most of July. "Alone" was also a top ten hit in Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Flashback #2: "You can follow your heart |What you do when someone breaks it."
"Who Will You Run To?" was the second single from Bad Animals (1987). It peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also hit #2 on the US Mainstream Rock, #19 on Canada's RPM100 Singles, and #30 on the UK Singles Charts respectively. It was Heart's eighth U.S. top-ten single.
Flashback #3: "Cause there's the girl | that you were after Feel your heart beating faster."
I'm not sure what the Pharaoh statues have to do with "There's the Girl," the third single from Bad Animals, but most 80s videos have at least one inscrutable image. At least this one includes the requisite faux concert footage as well as some popular senior headshot backdrops. Oh, not to mention some nice vocals and guitar poses from Ann Wilson.
Once again, I remind you that the rule of three applies when doing Flashbacks. As I've made my three offerings, that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the archives. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
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I'll see you in seven!
And if you are on Twitter, and feel so inclined, please +K my influence in Music on @klout.
I'll see you in seven!
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