Most folks are probably already aware of all the legal issues that came about between Heart and their former record label Mushroom in 1977...in case you aren't, the band had left Mushroom for CBS/Portrait right in the middle of recording Magazine, hoping the label would abandon and trash the album and let the group just walk off into the open arms of CBS. Well, that wasn't the case, as Mushroom tried bringing in outside musicians to finish up the album so they could indeed release it before the band got a court order to stop the process. After a lengthy battle, the band was forced to go back into the studio and finish the album for Mushroom. History has it though that both versions actually made it to the pubic over the years, but that is another story for another day. Audio Fidelity has now reissued this overlooked album for both SACD and CD formats, and it's never sounded better.
Perhaps a mellower album that what came before and after it, Magazine showed the deft touch, both vocally & musically, that Heart were capable of. While the opening rocker "Heartless" has been an enduring fan favorite, it's not indicative of the rest of the album. "Devil Delight" is also another heavy rock masterpiece, and an underrated gem in their catalog, but from there much of the rest of Magazine shows a folkier, jazzier side to the band."Just the Wine" is a lovely little folk piece, with soaring vocals from Ann Wilson and plenty of acoustic guitar layers courtesy of Nancy Wilson, and the cover of "Without You" brings strings into the mix for a lovely touch, Ann's vocals just spectacular. The title track blends folk and prog, and is another vastly underrated gem from the band. Heart dips into jazz for the gentle "Here Song", and lead guitarist Roger Fisher turns in some impressive solos on the slow blues crawl of "Mother Earth Blues". A live cover version of "I've Got the Music in Me" rounds out the CD in fine fashion, as Ann soars over lively hard rock arrangements.
The mastering on this reissue was done by Steve Hoffman, and it truly does sound spectacular. Whether you have one of those SACD players or just a standard CD, this one is definitely worth seeking out but act quick because the supplies are limited.
Track Listing
1) Heartless
2) Devil Delight
3) Just the Wine
4) Without You
5) Magazine
6) Here Song
7) Mother Earth Blues
8) I've Got the Music in Me
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