Truly a hidden gem in their discography and it should have been ALOT more popular! Much better than the 85’ comeback album. How can I refuse is an almost metal song but not quite.
I did it right this time and listened to the album all the way through before watching this video. I liked the album, and I think it's engineered really well. "How Can I Refuse" is really the highlight. That bridge in the middle ("We could share the mystery - Spare ourselves the misery") is really beautiful, and the keyboard textures are really nice and tasteful during that part. I found myself wanting more of that from the rest of the album, and I never really got it. I did like the album though. It's a very enjoyable listen and Ann and Nancy's voices sound really great. I haven't paid much attention to Heart over the years, and I'm looking forward to discovering more.
This video got me to check out Keith Olsen. I'm familiar with his work with Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead and Santana but wow!, who didn't that guy produce in the late 70s - early 80s? Pretty impressive resume. Unfortunately he passed away in March 2020.
I have ALWAYS loved this Heart album! Although it’s not my personal favorite by the Wilson sisters, it’s definitely in my top four or five. Mr. Popoff has groovilicious, nutritious and delicious taste, and always puts a unique spin on these episodes. Back in the early 1980’s we had no MTV in my part of Queens, Noo Yawk. (We didn’t get it until AFTER Live Aid.) When l saw the videos for “How Can I Refuse?” and “Allies” on the NBC late night TV show Friday Night Videos, l went out and bought Passionworks on vinyl. It’s been a favorite Heart album of mine for almost forty years now. By the way, the Heart album l dig the most? The debut release. Keep rockin’, rollin’, rulin’ and F-f-f-f-Foolin’! Cheers!
Great forgotten album that came in between their original 1976-80 run of classic albums and those 3 huge albums from 1985-90. It has one of my favorite Heart songs, How Can I Refuse, it's their You've Got Another Thing Comin' and a great song to crank up. This album is raw and I love it.
Great chat, guys. Pretty much the perfect band for your format - other than "Dreamboat Annie" & "Little Queen", everything else is a contrarian pick, and there's lots of *pretty good* albums that can tilt into your personal favourite with dozens of listens. I'm surprised there's so much love for "Dog & Butterfly". I love it, but I didn't realize so many others did too. As for "Passionworks", it's definitely worth owning. But favourite Heart album? It's *way* down my list, personally. With 4 of the first 5 being stone-cold classics ("Magazine" is forgettable, in my opinion) + their excellent 2000's output, "Passionworks" is on a decidedly lower tier. I also find there's a lot of mid-paced or slow songs. Very plodding tempo, overall. Good album to listen to while you drift off asleep, but not what I'd expect out of a Martin Popoff pick! Anyway - my two cents.
I had a girlfriend back in the day that loved Heart. In fact, that's all she would play! She played it so much that I care barely listen to Heart to this day. If I think back, I always thought Passion Works was a strong record and I wondered why there was no love for it. I liked the record when it came out, but I haven't heard it since the early 80's. I'll try and give it another listen...should be interesting. Great episode!!
The opening track is great, but personally find the quality of the rest of songs variable. My favourite is Little Queen, followed by the debut, then Bebe Le Strange. I also have to hold my hand up as well and say, I enjoy their 80s albums.
How can I refuse “? 4️⃣4️⃣on billboard top 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣. No 1️⃣ on billboard top rock tracks. Like this album My favorite is Bebe Le Strange. Great stuff guys ! 👍💯
Without a doubt Hearts classic forgotten album. They did " Sleep Alone" on the second leg of the Bad Animals tour and TORE IT UP!! The way the new guys came together after the PA tout gives this a real " band " feeling again. One of the greatest transition albums in RNR history as evidenced by the next album! ! Love the psychedelia of " Johnny Moon" and " Love Mistake" is a high point in Nancy's career! Anns best vocal work IMO. if all electric drums ruin 80s music for you then you are missing out on a lot of good music. Denny's drumming is so good I don't even care and at the time thought it was cool as hell!! Passion works in music and it sure does on this LP!! KUDOS MARTIN!!
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@@thecontrarians2438 I mean, there definitely were a couple of obscure choices throughout the episodes, but that always makes it all the more interesting, to hear the arguments for those.
For sure, a really good album. Checked it out after you mentioned it on the Heart ranking show with Pete Pardo the other month. I particularly like 'Language of Love'. At the opposite end I find 'Ambush' a dull track that feels completely out of place, like they'd wandered into the studio next door and found this discarded song from Kajagoogoo or something.
I love the 1985 Heart album as that is the one that turned me on to the band. Passionworks is good but doesn't have enough strong material to elevate it. How Can I refuse is a classic though and the next 5 tracks are good but then it tails off. The standard 1 2 3 you mention will always be the best.
Another spot-on call here from Martin! Love this album, especially due to Keith Olsen's production, certainly one of the top AOR kings of the late seventies to the mid-eighties. That same year he produced the one and only album by Geffen Records act Preview, who were basically a more talented pre-Bon Jovi act, FWIW! As for "Passionworks" all-time fave Heart track, "How Can I Refuse" is on there, so it has that going and "Allies" was the other great solo Jon Cain-written track from '83 alongside my all-time fave Journey track, "Faithfully." P.S., what the hell did a then non-diagnosed Autistic geek know about love or life at the tender age of ten? Nearly 40 years on, still totally clueless and hopeless in that particular dept..! Last but not least, also contains my beloved "Johnny Moon". Some good tracks on the albums that followed, but I disliked much of the excessive Ron Nevison and Richie Zito period-production, not to mention, the De Rigueur, typical over-reliance on outside writers for the hits. The exception would be my second-all-time fave Heart track courtesy, once more, of Maestro Mutt L., the underrated "Will You Be There (In The Morning") from '93. Another great episode, fellas. Thanks!!
I was just listening to "How Can I Refuse" yesterday while thinking, "Why wasn't this a hit?" And I'd say "Allies" is as good a power ballad as "Alone."
Passion works is one of the most seriously underrated albums by a legacy band with the line up that would be the commercially successful era hence the Ron nevison era also isn't Howard Leese such an underrated guitar player to
I am with Martin. Passion Works and Bebe La Strange are my favorites except that my order is reversed. Both are better than anything from Heart for the rest of the 80s
I thought I was the only person who enjoyed this album lol! I was a 15 year old high school kid and PASSIONWORKS was actually the first Heart album I ever owned. Of course, I had heard the classic 70's hits by Heart but that was a previous era. Funny enough I still can't exactly remember why I bought PASSIONWORKS. I say that b/c as Martin states in this video Heart was no longer being promoted by their record label and were basically viewed as 70's rock dinosaurs. But I wore this album out in the Fall of '83/Spring of '84. Now fast-forward a bit and I realized I had not listened to PASSIONWORKS in ages and decided to give it a listen. I have to admit my ears were jarred by the seriously dated production. As a result of the dated production I don't hold PASSIONWORKS at quite the same high level I did back in the day but I do still think it’s a quality album. The songs and the musicianship on this album are first rate but goodness the production takes away from the tunes.
Bad animals is in my top 10 eighties albums lol - who will you run to - is a sublime piece of power pop - the whole record is amazing - superbly crafted / produced - and not sterile in anyway - its either loved or hated - i love it
I'm mostly a 70's Heart fan but I like Heart's 1985 self titled album too. What a one off supergroup on What About Love with Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas singing backup. I can't get into the next few albums after Heart '85 though.
How Can I Refuse is such a great tune, I need to listen to the album, I've never heard most of the songs on it. Their mid-late 80's stuff is not great, I know that stuff made them huge but I've always loved the 70's/early 80's albums a lot more.
My favourite 80’s Heart album is Bad Animals, I just can’t help liking it. But my rock roots are firmly in the 70’s so I guess that’s where my heart and Heart ❤️ lies. Dreamboat Annie on vinyl is as close to warm analogue perfection as it gets. And I would then jump to 2000’s (love Red Velvet Car) rather than 80’s. But maybe time to give Passionworks another spin. Saw Heart support Queen on the Hot Spaces tour, they rocked!
@@thecontrarians2438 Thank you, June 2, 1982 at Ingliston outside Edinburgh and yes it was fantastic!!! Was great opening set from Heart, well received, and whatever the view on Hot Spaces, Freddie had everyone eating out of his hand very quickly. I remember we were close to the front so great view (standing) of both bands.
I have todisagree with Artin as my favourite Heart is Little Queen. I was big Heart fan andhave to say that PAssionworks was welcomed when it came out but it was never a first tier album for me I much preferred Private Audition - maybe it was soemthing to do with Fossen and Derosier being replaced with Carmassi and Andes - How Can I Refuse is a fantastic track but to be honest I cant really remember much of the rest of it. As for their 80's period, I think that there's a fantastic compilation that could be made from tracks from Passionworks through to Desire walks on, however having followed gthem from LIttel Queen the change in sound and direction may have been great commercially but wasnt Heart as I had grown to love them.
Have to agree with Martin on this one. I like 70s Heart but it's sometimes a bit too folky to my taste. This one is just a great early 80s melodic AOR album (while still having enough balls to it) and has so many memorable songs. How Can I Refuse should have been a smash hit. My only criticism would be that the electronic drums taint the album's sound to a certain degree.
Agreed, the drum sound dates it terribly (they wouldn't find a good drum sound again until 1990) had it not been so wonky on "Love Mistake" it'd be a really big Nancy masterpiece. But the songs are very good and it's nice to hear the always amazing Nancy get her rare lead vocal, even if it's just the one song here - it was two on the criminally underrated predecessor Private Audition, then later on back to just one again on the smash hit Heart.
I totally understand the less than enthusiastic feelings towards AquaNet era Heart...but Ann Wilson's vocals on those albums are just KILLING IT, as always. Title track of Bad Animals? KILLING IT! The Wolf? KILLING IT! If Looks Could Kill....er...KILLING IT! Haven't internalized all the albums by Heart enough to pick a favourite, but I surely don't dislike Heart or Bad Animals. Go on, laugh it up!
@@thecontrarians2438 I was listening to Brigade earlier, and ,oh man, does Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger try hard to emulate that Bruce Fairbairn-era Aerosmith "Dude Looks Like a Lady"/"The Other Side" vibe what with all the horns and the raunchiness. Also, the late 80's Cheap Trick, Heart ,and Chicago albums are almost interchangeable in places, song- and production-wise (Richie Zito and Ron Nevison and Diane Warren being common factors of course)
I find that I liked the album very much so it ranks high as to not number 1 but maybe no 5. While the 85 Heart album is too slick sounding. What follows after Bad Animals and Brigade has some great killer sounding songs the albums were good and somewhat better then 85 Heart album. Albums in the 90s afterward seem to be the worst period they went sounding wise till Fanatic being a more classic recapture of heavy grabbing sound Heart could do. But back to Passionworks lets note how nice and not bad sounding as an in between the albums before and the albums after. Johnny Moon my ears catch a hook along Pink Floyd touch vibe as in Dark Side Of The Moon and Ann's vocal so good. As to Allies a classic ballad that is so emotional lyric wise and nice vocals from Ann. And as to me the best ballad they ever made. I feel tears and joy and just love the song and ranks high as a favorite Heart song. I feel the emotion of it. It's powerful and the piano from Nancy is so capturing and the arrangement of the song a gem. The late great Keith Olson did a great job on this album production wise as well. For Marcos if ya find as a generic sounding album, it is the one if most best generic sounding album hands down and cudos to Heart for the songs and material on the album. Martin's run down on the tracks I understand and can pretty much agree of the album through out. Jealousy yea not a good like of that song but ok it's there and I can be with stand it. Ambush the last track maybe it should have been left off but Martin's take of it experimental it's there as well but not a real like of the song for me as well. All in all I liked the album when I had it and grew to love it into ranking along as no. 5. I rank the classic albums as no. 1-4. Little Queen being no.1 Dreamboat Annie no 2. Bebe Le Strange no. 3. Fanatic no. 4. Then Passionworks. Then no. 6. Magazine and then the list on down of 1985- 2016 ranking. So yea it is a catalogue that is tough to rank of all the albums. May be as to when someone grew up on given when you first heard Heart for the first time and got into them. For me it was the 70's at first hearing of them so well know how much they put in to their music over the years. Great discussion Martin and Marcos. Stay well.👍🎶🎤🎸😀
thanks for the comment! I actually think Ambush is the worst track on the record, I missed mentioning that in my notes, none of the other songs I thought were bad though, it’s pretty solid, I think overall it feels like a record of good B sides with out a bonafide A side
@@thecontrarians2438 Thanks for the reply back. I see that it had 3 singles from the album. How Can I Refuse and Allies top fave Heart songs from the album for me as high ranking. On FM at the time both songs got the heavy rotation here in Ohio. But the rest of the album didn't pick up for people to like or love nearly as much which was a shame. But for a minority that caught on how wonderful and solid it is. For just being a good mainstream album. Allies is iconic and that it fits thru the troubling times we certainly have been facing these days.
i think How can i refuse opening guitar riff is lifted right off the previous years 82s You've got another thing comin by Judas Priest, I'm with Martin,its a fantastic album,before it got crazy
I agree with you, but I think even that Priest riff is stolen from Foreigner's "Hot Blooded." Judas Priest and Heart just sped up the tempo slightly. It's also what the Cars did all the time, but with less distortion.
It's interesting that Martin calls out the chorus of 'Heavy Heart" for being great, because I have the exact opposite opinion. I think that's where the song fails. It feels like they just gave up on making an interesting chorus. It's just... kinda flat and boring. However, I do agree that "How can I refuse" should have been a bigger hit.
For me, nothing can touch the original band with Deroiser, Fossen, Fischer and Leese. They ARE the sound, power and feel of Heart in my book. Here is the thing about "Passionworks". IF they hadn't used Simmons electronic drums for the toms on the drum kit, this album would be much higher on my list of Heart favorites. Denny Carmassi plays his ass off..but the drums sound horribly dated all these years later. If the drums had been a well recorded acoustic drum kit, this album would be much higher.
ya electric drums can ruin a record for me, not all the time but sometimes, in this case it didnt bother me, on Twisted Sister Love is for Suckers it did
@@thecontrarians2438 I am a drummer of 49 years ..so I probably have a much more sensitive approach where the electronic drums are concerned. Simmons drums..even well recorded, are instantly dated for us drummers. It was fine during a very specific time and place and that time and place are long gone. Especially after having Michael Derosier on all those previous albums with that huge Bonham like drum sound and skill. The songs are amazing, the performances are amazing...but I just can not get past the drums. It's like what happened with those God awful ZZ Top remasters where they added in electronics replacing the original Frank Beard performances. Unforgiveable! Thank God they fixed that and returned to the original masters on later reissues.
@@pjones8404 fair enough! I''ll trust your judgement! I disagree with it being the best anyway, so thats one more point in my favor! thanks for the comment!
Martin, you're very brave coming with all those contrarians albums, but I sometimes wonder if you aren't gonna lose a bit of your credibilty going too far (like: can we trust that guy's tastes...he's like a compass pointing south,...). anyway, I really enjoy that show, but sometimes I wonder, especially coming from people who are only gonna watch a couple shows, not reading your books, and will not understand how interesting it can be to be a contrarian. Just my thoughts...
Except I'm not always always a Contrarians. There are very few bands any of us can do as a regular show. Sure, I've been contrarian 15 times here. That leaves 10,000 more bands. Of which I could be contrarian 700 more times. Then you'll see me (or Marco) be contrarian 715 times - what will you say then?
@@MartinPopoff Hello Martin, don't get me wrong I love the concept of the show, and the way you argue your favorite albums, but sometimes I put myself in the place of a newcomer who probably asks himself "What is that guy talking about and what is he on"? If you do 700 more contrarians, I'll gladly watch them, and listen to the albums with another pair of ears, agreeing with you...or not!
After Private Audition which wielded no hits Epic lost interest since the original band split. Plus the band picture on Passionworks was horrible. Ann refused to fix herself up for the photo shoot. When your signed to a label you are still considered an employee and a major label like Epic had enough big bands on their roster to a faltering Heart in 83
The two best things I can say about Passionworks: (1) Ann sounds terrific on this album, but when does she not? (2) It's not Private Audition, the album that immediately preceded it, which is probably Heart's least interesting "classic period" record.
like Marco said , this album is not hooky enough, don't care for this record, this record sounds very stiff, and extremely raw, and that's not a good thing, this just sounds bored and rushed , would have been way better if a different producer came in and made this more lush, over the top, just to basic, which also means boring -there earlier stuff, just sounds way better and more creative.
Truly a hidden gem in their discography and it should have been ALOT more popular! Much better than the 85’ comeback album. How can I refuse is an almost metal song but not quite.
Now that’s contrarian!
I did it right this time and listened to the album all the way through before watching this video. I liked the album, and I think it's engineered really well. "How Can I Refuse" is really the highlight. That bridge in the middle ("We could share the mystery
- Spare ourselves the misery") is really beautiful, and the keyboard textures are really nice and tasteful during that part. I found myself wanting more of that from the rest of the album, and I never really got it. I did like the album though. It's a very enjoyable listen and Ann and Nancy's voices sound really great. I haven't paid much attention to Heart over the years, and I'm looking forward to discovering more.
haha awesome glad we inspired you to listen to some good music!!
This video got me to check out Keith Olsen. I'm familiar with his work with Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead and Santana but wow!, who didn't that guy produce in the late 70s - early 80s? Pretty impressive resume. Unfortunately he passed away in March 2020.
I have ALWAYS loved this Heart album! Although it’s not my personal favorite by the Wilson sisters, it’s definitely in my top four or five. Mr. Popoff has groovilicious, nutritious and delicious taste, and always puts a unique spin on these episodes. Back in the early 1980’s we had no MTV in my part of Queens, Noo Yawk. (We didn’t get it until AFTER Live Aid.) When l saw the videos for “How Can I Refuse?” and “Allies” on the NBC late night TV show Friday Night Videos, l went out and bought Passionworks on vinyl. It’s been a favorite Heart album of mine for almost forty years now. By the way, the Heart album l dig the most? The debut release. Keep rockin’, rollin’, rulin’ and F-f-f-f-Foolin’! Cheers!
Good analysis of a great album. Thanks, gentlemen.
Thanks for watching!
Passionworks has always been my favourite Heart album. Nice to finally hear some love for it!
Great forgotten album that came in between their original 1976-80 run of classic albums and those 3 huge albums from 1985-90. It has one of my favorite Heart songs, How Can I Refuse, it's their You've Got Another Thing Comin' and a great song to crank up. This album is raw and I love it.
Great chat, guys. Pretty much the perfect band for your format - other than "Dreamboat Annie" & "Little Queen", everything else is a contrarian pick, and there's lots of *pretty good* albums that can tilt into your personal favourite with dozens of listens. I'm surprised there's so much love for "Dog & Butterfly". I love it, but I didn't realize so many others did too.
As for "Passionworks", it's definitely worth owning. But favourite Heart album? It's *way* down my list, personally. With 4 of the first 5 being stone-cold classics ("Magazine" is forgettable, in my opinion) + their excellent 2000's output, "Passionworks" is on a decidedly lower tier. I also find there's a lot of mid-paced or slow songs. Very plodding tempo, overall. Good album to listen to while you drift off asleep, but not what I'd expect out of a Martin Popoff pick!
Anyway - my two cents.
Hey thanks a lot for your comment! Much appreciated! Dog & Butterfly is high up on a lot of lists, i think SOT had it at 2? or 3
great album.always like the stuff that mainstream radio doesn't shove down my throat
I had a girlfriend back in the day that loved Heart. In fact, that's all she would play! She played it so much that I care barely listen to Heart to this day. If I think back, I always thought Passion Works was a strong record and I wondered why there was no love for it. I liked the record when it came out, but I haven't heard it since the early 80's. I'll try and give it another listen...should be interesting. Great episode!!
Haha let us know how it holds up!
The opening track is great, but personally find the quality of the rest of songs variable. My favourite is Little Queen, followed by the debut, then Bebe Le Strange. I also have to hold my hand up as well and say, I enjoy their 80s albums.
How can I refuse “? 4️⃣4️⃣on billboard top 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣. No 1️⃣ on billboard top rock tracks. Like this album My favorite is Bebe Le Strange. Great stuff guys ! 👍💯
Thank you!!!
Without a doubt Hearts classic forgotten album. They did " Sleep Alone" on the second leg of the Bad Animals tour and TORE IT UP!! The way the new guys came together after the PA tout gives this a real " band " feeling again. One of the greatest transition albums in RNR history as evidenced by the next album! ! Love the psychedelia of " Johnny Moon" and " Love Mistake" is a high point in Nancy's career! Anns best vocal work IMO. if all electric drums ruin 80s music for you then you are missing out on a lot of good music. Denny's drumming is so good I don't even care and at the time thought it was cool as hell!! Passion works in music and it sure does on this LP!! KUDOS MARTIN!!
Bad Animals is my personal favorite due to how that record and it’s lyrics hit me at the time but the album before it Heart is their best record.
ALL the Damn Ti.... Oh wait wrong show !! 😅 Gonna have to give Passion works a listen !!
Great video...
Great album and very underated.
This has to be our most Contrarian episode yet? Or is Passionworks an underrated gem? Let us know!
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I still don't see much surpassing "Beat" as best King Crimson record
@@j.j.4150 Ah! Right! That s definitely nitly a contender!
@@thecontrarians2438 I mean, there definitely were a couple of obscure choices throughout the episodes, but that always makes it all the more interesting, to hear the arguments for those.
Budgie's Impeckable was quite a contrarian!
@@purpletemple1 agreed!
For sure, a really good album. Checked it out after you mentioned it on the Heart ranking show with Pete Pardo the other month. I particularly like 'Language of Love'. At the opposite end I find 'Ambush' a dull track that feels completely out of place, like they'd wandered into the studio next door and found this discarded song from Kajagoogoo or something.
Perfect description of "Ambush" - love it.
My Contrarian choice would be Private Audition but Passionworks is still better than anything that came after.
I love the 1985 Heart album as that is the one that turned me on to the band. Passionworks is good but doesn't have enough strong material to elevate it. How Can I refuse is a classic though and the next 5 tracks are good but then it tails off. The standard 1 2 3 you mention will always be the best.
Another spot-on call here from Martin! Love this album, especially due to Keith Olsen's production, certainly one of the top AOR kings of the late seventies to the mid-eighties. That same year he produced the one and only album by Geffen Records act Preview, who were basically a more talented pre-Bon Jovi act, FWIW! As for "Passionworks" all-time fave Heart track, "How Can I Refuse" is on there, so it has that going and "Allies" was the other great solo Jon Cain-written track from '83 alongside my all-time fave Journey track, "Faithfully." P.S., what the hell did a then non-diagnosed Autistic geek know about love or life at the tender age of ten? Nearly 40 years on, still totally clueless and hopeless in that particular dept..! Last but not least, also contains my beloved "Johnny Moon". Some good tracks on the albums that followed, but I disliked much of the excessive Ron Nevison and Richie Zito period-production, not to mention, the De Rigueur, typical over-reliance on outside writers for the hits. The exception would be my second-all-time fave Heart track courtesy, once more, of Maestro Mutt L., the underrated "Will You Be There (In The Morning") from '93. Another great episode, fellas. Thanks!!
Brilliant, thanks for that Avery!
I was just listening to "How Can I Refuse" yesterday while thinking, "Why wasn't this a hit?" And I'd say "Allies" is as good a power ballad as "Alone."
I’m surprised, I like Alone but not Allies, maybe I need to listen to it a few more times
Great song but alone is an all time unequalled classic, albeit not their song
Passion works is one of the most seriously underrated albums by a legacy band with the line up that would be the commercially successful era hence the Ron nevison era also isn't Howard Leese such an underrated guitar player to
I am with Martin. Passion Works and Bebe La Strange are my favorites except that my order is reversed. Both are better than anything from Heart for the rest of the 80s
I thought I was the only person who enjoyed this album lol! I was a 15 year old high school kid and PASSIONWORKS was actually the first Heart album I ever owned. Of course, I had heard the classic 70's hits by Heart but that was a previous era. Funny enough I still can't exactly remember why I bought PASSIONWORKS. I say that b/c as Martin states in this video Heart was no longer being promoted by their record label and were basically viewed as 70's rock dinosaurs. But I wore this album out in the Fall of '83/Spring of '84. Now fast-forward a bit and I realized I had not listened to PASSIONWORKS in ages and decided to give it a listen. I have to admit my ears were jarred by the seriously dated production. As a result of the dated production I don't hold PASSIONWORKS at quite the same high level I did back in the day but I do still think it’s a quality album. The songs and the musicianship on this album are first rate but goodness the production takes away from the tunes.
Bad animals is in my top 10 eighties albums lol - who will you run to - is a sublime piece of power pop - the whole record is amazing - superbly crafted / produced - and not sterile in anyway - its either loved or hated - i love it
Great album and much underrated, wait for an answer has a magnificent vocal perfprmance by ann, she reaches heights that are only known to her
@@aidenswords5809 yeah shes an amazing singer - its such a gr8 record
Hate on those 80s records but Primal Fear does an awesome cover of "If Looks Could Kill".
I'm mostly a 70's Heart fan but I like Heart's 1985 self titled album too. What a one off supergroup on What About Love with Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas singing backup. I can't get into the next few albums after Heart '85 though.
How Can I Refuse is such a great tune, I need to listen to the album, I've never heard most of the songs on it. Their mid-late 80's stuff is not great, I know that stuff made them huge but I've always loved the 70's/early 80's albums a lot more.
My favourite 80’s Heart album is Bad Animals, I just can’t help liking it. But my rock roots are firmly in the 70’s so I guess that’s where my heart and Heart ❤️ lies. Dreamboat Annie on vinyl is as close to warm analogue perfection as it gets. And I would then jump to 2000’s (love Red Velvet Car) rather than 80’s. But maybe time to give Passionworks another spin. Saw Heart support Queen on the Hot Spaces tour, they rocked!
That would have been an awesome show!!
@@thecontrarians2438 Thank you, June 2, 1982 at Ingliston outside Edinburgh and yes it was fantastic!!! Was great opening set from Heart, well received, and whatever the view on Hot Spaces, Freddie had everyone eating out of his hand very quickly. I remember we were close to the front so great view (standing) of both bands.
I have todisagree with Artin as my favourite Heart is Little Queen. I was big Heart fan andhave to say that PAssionworks was welcomed when it came out but it was never a first tier album for me I much preferred Private Audition - maybe it was soemthing to do with Fossen and Derosier being replaced with Carmassi and Andes - How Can I Refuse is a fantastic track but to be honest I cant really remember much of the rest of it. As for their 80's period, I think that there's a fantastic compilation that could be made from tracks from Passionworks through to Desire walks on, however having followed gthem from LIttel Queen the change in sound and direction may have been great commercially but wasnt Heart as I had grown to love them.
Fanatic, is a solid release by Heart. Also Dog and butterfly, prefer them albums, than Passionworks.
To middle of the road for me.
Have to agree with Martin on this one. I like 70s Heart but it's sometimes a bit too folky to my taste. This one is just a great early 80s melodic AOR album (while still having enough balls to it) and has so many memorable songs. How Can I Refuse should have been a smash hit. My only criticism would be that the electronic drums taint the album's sound to a certain degree.
Agreed, the drum sound dates it terribly (they wouldn't find a good drum sound again until 1990) had it not been so wonky on "Love Mistake" it'd be a really big Nancy masterpiece. But the songs are very good and it's nice to hear the always amazing Nancy get her rare lead vocal, even if it's just the one song here - it was two on the criminally underrated predecessor Private Audition, then later on back to just one again on the smash hit Heart.
I totally understand the less than enthusiastic feelings towards AquaNet era Heart...but Ann Wilson's vocals on those albums are just KILLING IT, as always. Title track of Bad Animals? KILLING IT! The Wolf? KILLING IT! If Looks Could Kill....er...KILLING IT! Haven't internalized all the albums by Heart enough to pick a favourite, but I surely don't dislike Heart or Bad Animals. Go on, laugh it up!
no i agree those were great albums with great performances
@@thecontrarians2438 I was listening to Brigade earlier, and ,oh man, does Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger try hard to emulate that Bruce Fairbairn-era Aerosmith "Dude Looks Like a Lady"/"The Other Side" vibe what with all the horns and the raunchiness. Also, the late 80's Cheap Trick, Heart ,and Chicago albums are almost interchangeable in places, song- and production-wise (Richie Zito and Ron Nevison and Diane Warren being common factors of course)
I find that I liked the album very much so it ranks high as to not number 1 but maybe no 5. While the 85 Heart album is too slick sounding. What follows after Bad Animals and Brigade has some great killer sounding songs the albums were good and somewhat better then 85 Heart album. Albums in the 90s afterward seem to be the worst period they went sounding wise till Fanatic being a more classic recapture of heavy grabbing sound Heart could do. But back to Passionworks lets note how nice and not bad sounding as an in between the albums before and the albums after.
Johnny Moon my ears catch a hook along Pink Floyd touch vibe as in Dark Side Of The Moon and Ann's vocal so good. As to Allies a classic ballad that is so emotional lyric wise and nice vocals from Ann. And as to me the best ballad they ever made. I feel tears and joy and just love the song and ranks high as a favorite Heart song. I feel the emotion of it. It's powerful and the piano from Nancy is so capturing and the arrangement of the song a gem. The late great Keith Olson did a great job on this album production wise as well. For Marcos if ya find as a generic sounding album, it is the one if most best generic sounding album hands down and cudos to Heart for the songs and material on the album. Martin's run down on the tracks I understand and can pretty much agree of the album through out. Jealousy yea not a good like of that song but ok it's there and I can be with stand it.
Ambush the last track maybe it should have been left off but Martin's take of it experimental it's there as well but not a real like of the song for me as well. All in all I liked the album when I had it and grew to love it into ranking along as no. 5. I rank the classic albums as no. 1-4. Little Queen being no.1 Dreamboat Annie no 2. Bebe Le Strange no. 3. Fanatic no. 4. Then Passionworks. Then no. 6. Magazine and then the list on down of 1985- 2016 ranking. So yea it is a catalogue that is tough to rank of all the albums. May be as to when someone grew up on given when you first heard Heart for the first time and got into them. For me it was the 70's at first hearing of them so well know how much they put in to their music over the years. Great discussion Martin and Marcos. Stay well.👍🎶🎤🎸😀
thanks for the comment! I actually think Ambush is the worst track on the record, I missed mentioning that in my notes, none of the other songs I thought were bad though, it’s pretty solid, I think overall it feels like a record of good B sides with out a bonafide A side
@@thecontrarians2438 Thanks for the reply back. I see that it had 3 singles from the album. How Can I Refuse and Allies top fave Heart songs from the album for me as high ranking. On FM at the time both songs got the heavy rotation here in Ohio. But the rest of the album didn't pick up for people to like or love nearly as much which was a shame. But for a minority that caught on how wonderful and solid it is. For just being a good mainstream album.
Allies is iconic and that it fits thru the troubling times we certainly have been facing these days.
i think How can i refuse opening guitar riff is lifted right off the previous years 82s You've got another thing comin by Judas Priest, I'm with Martin,its a fantastic album,before it got crazy
I agree with you, but I think even that Priest riff is stolen from Foreigner's "Hot Blooded." Judas Priest and Heart just sped up the tempo slightly. It's also what the Cars did all the time, but with less distortion.
It's interesting that Martin calls out the chorus of 'Heavy Heart" for being great, because I have the exact opposite opinion. I think that's where the song fails. It feels like they just gave up on making an interesting chorus. It's just... kinda flat and boring. However, I do agree that "How can I refuse" should have been a bigger hit.
For me, nothing can touch the original band with Deroiser, Fossen, Fischer and Leese. They ARE the sound, power and feel of Heart in my book.
Here is the thing about "Passionworks". IF they hadn't used Simmons electronic drums for the toms on the drum kit, this album would be much higher on my list of Heart favorites. Denny Carmassi plays his ass off..but the drums sound horribly dated all these years later. If the drums had been a well recorded acoustic drum kit, this album would be much higher.
ya electric drums can ruin a record for me, not all the time but sometimes, in this case it didnt bother me, on Twisted Sister Love is for Suckers it did
@@thecontrarians2438 I am a drummer of 49 years ..so I probably have a much more sensitive approach where the electronic drums are concerned. Simmons drums..even well recorded, are instantly dated for us drummers. It was fine during a very specific time and place and that time and place are long gone. Especially after having Michael Derosier on all those previous albums with that huge Bonham like drum sound and skill. The songs are amazing, the performances are amazing...but I just can not get past the drums.
It's like what happened with those God awful ZZ Top remasters where they added in electronics replacing the original Frank Beard performances. Unforgiveable! Thank God they fixed that and returned to the original masters on later reissues.
@@pjones8404 fair enough! I''ll trust your judgement! I disagree with it being the best anyway, so thats one more point in my favor! thanks for the comment!
they call it their cocaine downward spiral years
ハートは、カリスマですね‼️
Martin, you're very brave coming with all those contrarians albums, but I sometimes wonder if you aren't gonna lose a bit of your credibilty going too far (like: can we trust that guy's tastes...he's like a compass pointing south,...). anyway, I really enjoy that show, but sometimes I wonder, especially coming from people who are only gonna watch a couple shows, not reading your books, and will not understand how interesting it can be to be a contrarian. Just my thoughts...
Except I'm not always always a Contrarians. There are very few bands any of us can do as a regular show. Sure, I've been contrarian 15 times here. That leaves 10,000 more bands. Of which I could be contrarian 700 more times. Then you'll see me (or Marco) be contrarian 715 times - what will you say then?
@@MartinPopoff Hello Martin, don't get me wrong I love the concept of the show, and the way you argue your favorite albums, but sometimes I put myself in the place of a newcomer who probably asks himself "What is that guy talking about and what is he on"? If you do 700 more contrarians, I'll gladly watch them, and listen to the albums with another pair of ears, agreeing with you...or not!
After Private Audition which wielded no hits Epic lost interest since the original band split. Plus the band picture on Passionworks was horrible. Ann refused to fix herself up for the photo shoot. When your signed to a label you are still considered an employee and a major label like Epic had enough big bands on their roster to a faltering Heart in 83
Good album as is any other heart album, but not their best in anyones wildest imagination
Agreed!
Sounds like a poor mans Pat Benatar no hooks or kick ass guitar solos
The two best things I can say about Passionworks: (1) Ann sounds terrific on this album, but when does she not? (2) It's not Private Audition, the album that immediately preceded it, which is probably Heart's least interesting "classic period" record.
Agreed - and I like that you recognize Private Audition as still being of that earlier set.
like Marco said , this album is not hooky enough, don't care for this record, this record sounds very stiff, and extremely raw, and that's not a good thing, this just sounds bored and rushed , would have been way better if a different producer came in and made this more lush, over the top, just to basic, which also means boring -there earlier stuff, just sounds way better and more creative.
always good to have someone on my side! thanks! 🙏
Damn! I like you, Marty, but Passionworks is ditch pig pick of an album for Heart
Not their best album.