Heart: In the Studio [Paperback]

Jake Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

Profiling one of the most popular and enduring female-fronted hard rock bands in rock 'n' roll, this book offers a backstage pass to the writing and recording of all of Heart’s hit albums and smash singles. Featuring exclusive interviews with band leaders Ann and Nancy Wilson, this rock history also includes insights from longtime guitarist Howard Leese, as well as interviews with the producers who helped craft Heart's hits, including Mike Flicker, Ron Nevison, Keith Olsen, and Ritchie Zito.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Puts the emphasis where it belongs—on Ann Wilson's voice."  —The Oregonian

"Pushed along with extensive quotes from most of the key players, alternating with a mixed bag of facts, figures, tidbits and whatnot, [this book] is the most authoritative tome out there on Heart."  —Vintagerock.com

"Crammed with tons of previously unseen images, Heart: In the Studio lives up to its title . . . it lends a greater understanding of the inner workings of a successful rock & roll outfit."  —FMQB Magazine

About the Author

Jake Brown has published 15 books, including 50 Cent: No Holds Barred, Biggie Smalls: Ready to Die, Dr. Dre: In the Studio, Suge Knight: The Rise, Fall and Rise of Death Row Records, Tupac: In the Studio (authorized by the estate), as well as titles on Kanye West, R. Kelly, Jay-Z, and non-hip-hop titles. He is the owner of the hard rock label Versailles Records, distributed nationally by Big Daddy Music Distribution. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550228315
• ISBN-13: 978-1550228311
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Story Lacks HEART, July 5, 2008

By 

Rob Astor (Jackson, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heart: In the Studio (Paperback)

This book is highly informative, especially if you're a producer looking to use certain equipment. Technical details tend to go on far too long. The casual fan/reader will easily get lost. There's little explanation as to why the equipment is used or as to the ideas behind the wiring techniques in some cases. Much of it means nothing to me.

There are glaring editing mistakes sprinkled throughout. For example, Wynonna's name is misspelled and spelled differently on the same page. Some of the album sales information is also a little bit off, as if the writer is interjecting wishful views into certain parts of Heart's ups and downs. Completely skipped over is the recording of Heart's stellar 1995 album "The Road Home", or the 2003 release of "Alive In Seattle".

The book is lacking strongly in two areas. The first, stories behind the songs. What was the inspiring spark? Not just of the best known 1970s hits any fan can recite, but the stories behind songs the band wrote in the 1980s to the present. The other missing link is Ann & Nancy's side of the story. Life-long friend and co-writer Sue Ennis fills in gaps wonderfully, as does long time guitarist Howard Leese, however, Ann & Nancy's comments are reduced to magazine article quotes for the most part, especially the further into their career you read. Did they have no interest in sharing the glory of their successes? They offer up none of their personal views of the pressures of recording. It's all second hand information, and praise for the most part. (What happens on an off day? How do you go about choosing the final tracks for an album if you've recorded two times too many to fit?) For example, there's a story about the recording of Mutt Lang's (of Def Leppard) material. In view of that story, what was his reaction to his music being completely rearranged into an acoustic setting on "The Road Home"? Or, why present the image the band loves a new album ("Heart, "Bad Animals", "Brigade", "Desire Walks On") upon its release, and years later, feel the need to look back on such incredible work with such disdain?

I recommend any fan pick up this book. Simply beware of holding some parts of it as definitive gospel. If you have a good memory, or stacks of magazines and fanclub newsletters to sift through, the mistakes will be very easy to find. The story presented in this book takes human beings and turns them into unapproachable gods simply because of the lacking parts. If those holes were filled in, this book might be a complete band autobiography. Maybe it's time something of that nature was penned. Otherwise, "Heart - In The Studio" still receives high marks from me! Even with its flaws, it's time the sisters Wilson were given the recognition they so richly deserve.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for fans, but flawed..., May 17, 2009

By 

Brian Kehew (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heart: In the Studio (Paperback)

Like the other reviewers, this is a great book for fans. Some previously unknown stuff is brought out for each album, details we like and rarely find. But the mistakes are common and terrible. Names of people and equipment were often screwed up - the spelling of "Nevison" and "Levison" used in the same paragraph! Obviously no one proofread this book. (I was confused when he talked about two studios "Can Base" and "Mushroom", but I did online research and found it was the same place, but they didn't mention this in the book.)

Technical details ARE nice for those of us musicians who care, like the famous "Recording the Beatles" book - it shows how the technique affects a record's sound - like the first Heart album and why it sounds so good. But the writer doesn't really know the technical side, so the explanations are jumbled - confusing both the technical and average reader.

This book could do with a BIG rewrite....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I never knew that!, January 10, 2010

By 

MusicalMan (Hee Haw Hell, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart: In the Studio (Paperback)

This is a very good historical inside look at Heart. It follows the band from its genesis of the Wilson sisters in their Seattle home with childhood friend Sue Ennis, to Vancouver and Mushroom records, right on through to recent years. It is organized chronologically by album, and has intimate interviews with the sisters, other band members, record producers, friends, and others. It is perhaps the most insightful work I've read about the Wilson sisters and the band, and although I've been a huge Heart fan since the mid-70s, I learned many things I'd never know before. It was particularly interesting to get insights into some of the technical aspects of specific albums and songs. I'd say if you're a Heart fan, this book is a must-read!