Customer Reviews

Magazine

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I won't get into the rather checkered history of this album and all the attendant contract disputes involving it. Everyone here has hashed that out enough.

I always thought this was kind of a hidden jem among the Heart catalog entries, and I think in retrospect it holds up pretty well, especially compared to some of the more overblown later albums. But be aware that this EMI/Capitol "Special Markets" CD "reissue" is NOT the same bunch of recordings as the old Mushroom LP. In some instances the songs have been re-recorded, and in others they sound as though they may have just been remixed. In a couple of cases the songs are 15 to 30 seconds shorter than the originals. This is especially evident in "Magazine" which originally had an extended fadeout in which you could hear a little bit of "Magic Man" from "Dreamboat Annie." It's gone now. One other curiosity is the live blues medley which, while sounding like the same recording, manages to run a full minute and 25 seconds shorter than it did on the LP. Someone did some editing here, obviously. And probably most noticably, the sequencing of the tracks is completely different on this CD. Whether all of this was done because the Wilsons wanted to do it for artisitc reasons, or because it was legally necessary due to all the contract hassles surrounding the original release, I don't claim to know. Perhaps someone else could shed some light on it.

So buy it if your old LP is worn out, or if you sold it when you were in college so you could buy pizza, but don't expect this to be an exact replacement. I'm just happy my original LP was still in good enough condition that I was able to copy it to CD with only one or two pops and clicks. It's the one I listen to, not this.

After reading P. Lannon's review, I thought I would add the following comments. I knew way back then that the LP I had was the "unauthorized" Mushroom issue. I may have forgotten that fact in the intervening years, as I've slept a little since then, and thought about a few other things. What I *didn't* know, but learned from P.'s review, was that Heart went back into the studio to "finish" the LP, which then apparently resulted in the particular recordings included in this CD reissue. Believe me, P., I know I have something special in this old LP, at least as far as Heart-o-philes are concerned, and even though I've put it on CD for archiving and convenience, I have no intention of getting rid of the original LP. It will stay on my "collectible" shelf with my French import version of the Beatles' "White Album" that's pressed on white vinyl. The only other thing I want to add is that as much as I liked much of Heart's later works, nothing can compare to the fun of listening to the live songs from that original "Magazine" on a good stereo, turned up loud enough that you can hear the background hum of the guitar amps during the introductions. Talk about transporting you to another time and place. What fun!

When I was 14 years old in 1978, I was the biggest Heart fan around. I saw a picture of the cover of Magazine in a small newspaper fanzine with an accompanying article. I remember the article title clearly: "Heart album ships One Million and you can't buy it anywhere!". The LP became as much folklore to a true heart fan as any Beatles album played backwards.

Heart left Mushroom records in 1977 and quickly joined CBS / Portrait records. Right before Heart left to record "Little Queen" they were in the midst of recording "Magazine" for Mushroom. The album was abandoned but Mushroom took the working tapes, brought in session musicians (who had nothing to do with Heart)to finish the tracks , added 2 live tracks, fleshed it out into a full length album and tried to release it. Heart quickly got an injuction against Mushroom just as the records were sitting in a warehouse waiting to be shipped.

After many court dates and depositions, the courts ruled that Heart had to go back into the studio to finish the album for Mushroom. They were not allowed to record new songs, just finish the ones they started and mix / edit the 2 live tracks. There were even guards in the studio hovering over the master tapes to make sure the band wouldn't vindictively erase them!
Hence, the band finished the album and it is now the CD that you have here.

What is really cool about this whole foklore of an album is that some reviewers on this site don't realize that they own the actual LP that Mushroom tried to release before Heart stopped them! Read Craig Burges' review. He complains that the songs are shorter than the LP and in different sequence - what Craig doesn't realize is that he owns the true goldmind sought after by all Heart fans who through the years have searched for - The original MAGAZINE!

"Mother Earth Blues" is over a minute and a half longer on the original LP. Heart edited Ann's vocal solo for some reason. "Just The Wine" on the original LP has a choir singing behind Ann on the french Chorus and the title song Magazine ends with Roger Fishers solo from Magic man in the background along with a speaker from Elvis Presley's eulogy. This is all gone on Heart's released version.

All of Ann's vocals on the LP are all different with the exception of "Here song" and all tracks are noticeably remixed.

Craig, I also am lucky enough to own a copy of the unauthorized Magazine - If you flip the LP jacket over, you will see a disclaimer from Mushroom indicating that the LP is released without Heart's consent but the label wanted to release this great music as a gift to Heart fans...

So now you can see how this album is the holy grail of all true Heart fans everywhere including a 14 year old teenager from 1978.

If I understand correctly, Magazine fulfilled their contract to Mushroom Records and was released after Little Queen despite being made first. Someone let me know if I'm wrong. Whatever the case, the sound is a carrythrough from Dreamboat Annie.

The bluesy-rock stomp that characterized Dreamboat Annie is present in "Heartless." Love that chorus: "Heartless-heartless! never out of control/Heartless-heartless! sin in the name of rock and roll/Heartless-heartless! he thinks it's so cool to be cold/Never realize the way love dies when you crucify its soul." Ann and Nancy's harmonies are really the tops. One of their best songs ever!

Then it's rock blues-metal at its purest and in slow drunken Black Sabbath splendour. "Devil Delight" has the atmosphere of some Bacchanalian revelry: "Darkness dancers get down, heavily hoping/Stroking the stone soul, loving, drinking and doping."
Love that power chord hammering when she sings "Just my devil, my devil delight." And when Ann screams out "devil" towards the end of the song, it's proof that women can rock just as hard as men.

The slow and lyrical "Just The Wine" is something that would have fit on Dreamboat Annie with its strings. The wine is all the memories one will have after joining the herd: "Do you recall my friend/We never thought we'd ever fall/When the salesman came to call/Selling our soul to buy/Sometimes it ain't no deal at all."

Ann covers the Harry Nilsson standard "Without You" better than Mariah Carey did fifteen years later. Figures--Ann's vocals are way more potent than Mariah's. The piano and acoustic really enhance this song, but it all comes together when Ann and Nancy sing in unison.

The title track seems like a variation of "Love Me Like Music" from Dreamboat Annie except slightly harder. Different verses detail a spoiled princess, and fans who want excitement after a drudgery of a day. A good but not great song.

The brief "Here Song" is one of those string and acoustic guitar interludes that would fit at home on Dreamboat Annie. Love how initially flowery that song is.

Pure blues time with the slow and chugging "Mother Earth Blues" which is a moral that no matter who you are, despite having a Cadillac or making lots of money, the eventuality of mortality will come; we will all go back to mother earth. Heart can really do blues, with Ann's hearty vocals and Roger Fisher's guitars and even a harmonica that pops up for a few bars. There even a line cribbed from Led Zeppelin: "You know you shook me, babe/You shook me all night long."

The stomping and lively "I've Got The Music In Me" is done live. Heart's never-give-up creed is demonstrated here by the first verse: "Ain't got no trouble in my life/No foolish dream to make me cry/I'm never frightened or worried/You know I always get by/I heat up/I cool down/Something gets in my way I go around it/Don't let life get me down/Gonna take it the way that I found it" And how's this for a lyric: "I can't hold onto the blues so I play them."

Along with Passionworks, I've come to appreciate this even more.

This is a great, often underrated, album by one of my favourite bands of the mid-to-late 70s. Bluesier than the Jethro-Tull inspired work "Little Queen," it hearks back to some of the songs on "Dreamboat Annie" in its mix of ballads and straight out rock. But I feel I need to put the record straight. A few people here have mentioned that it doesn't measure up to the "original" release. I have both, and my opinion is that this band-authorized version is far better. The "original" was released without Heart's permission--they didn't feel it was finished and they were right. The song order was not as effective and some of the tracks, notably "Devil Delight" are little better than demos. So don't be too disappointed if you can't find the first Mushroom release. It's a collectors' item and a curiosity. This is the real thing.

Obviously since this album wasn't completed or whatever it is not going to be another Dreamboat Annie or Little Queen. But I think that Magazine has all the elements to a great record. It seemed in the late 70s that the Wilson sisters and the guys could do no harm in their songs! But that is my thought on it apparently not the world's. I love this CD especially "Magazine" because of the signature acoustic and electric guitars that make up it's feel. Ann sounds very vurnerable and intelligent while singing their well written lyrics because you know that they aren't putting out anything they don't truly believe in. "Devil's Delight" is a magical song..maybe one of the darkest Heart had made at that point. The music will put you in a trance if you have any feelings at all.

O.K. it is not the best album, but it worth to listen with headphones very careful. There are a sort of songs for several moods: we have catchy songs like Devil Delight and Heartless, clear examples of the band's stamina in studio. Ballads like Here Song and Magazine (one of the most beauiful ballads in Heart catalog) remember us the tender, feminine side of this band. And finally we have strong blues recorded live in front of a early, warm, small audience (I imagine). This blues give us the chance to imagine how soulful experience was to be there. And in the back of all of this songs, we have the very beautiful Ann Wilson's voice. Forget about the Top Ten or the Top whearever, this album is for enjoy it!!!

For those who don't know the story, Heart had a nasty falling out with their original record label, Mushroom Records. The band lost legal control of material that had been already recorded for their second album, which Mushroom later filled out with some live recordings and what's essentially a demo, and released it as "Magazine".

Due to it's bizarre genesis, the disk feels disjointed and uneven, but most of the individual tracks themselves are quite good, particularly "Heartless" and the title track. "Here Song" is interesting, too; it was recorded by Ann and Nancy two years before Heart even existed. The live tracks are interesting as well, showcasing the band's dynamic, high-energy live performances.

If you're a serious Heart fan, this disc is a must, warts and all.

During the making of Heart's second album "Magazine",the group had a falling out with Mushroom Records over an advertising campaign celebrating the sales of "Dreamboat Annie" which read "It was only their first time together",showing a photo of Ann & Nancy Wilson leaning up against each other semi-topless.CBS/Portrait had offered the group a lucrative contract,and so the group broke the 2-album contract with Mushroom.The label retaliated by pressing 5000 L.P.'s of the first version of "Magazine",combining 5 not-quite-finished studio tracks plus an early Canada B-side & two live tracks.These copies were sold mostly in Los Angeles,California & Hollywood,Florida and had a disclaimer on the back of the album cover which read in part,"Mushroom Records regrets that a contractual dispute has made it neccessary to complete this record without the cooperation or endorsement of the group Heart,who have expressly disclaimed artistic involvement in completing this record".This first version had the songs in the following order:Side One "Heartless"*,"Without You"*,"Just The Wine"*,"Magazine"* Side Two:"Here Song","Devil Delight"*,"Blues Medley-Mother Earth/You Shook Me","I've Got The Music in Me".The tracks marked * had rough lead vocals,different,longer running times,and some different instrumental solos versus the version of the album available today.In the settlement between Heart & Mushroom Records,Mushroom got the right to release the album,but the group got the right to complete the recordings to their satisfaction.A security guard stood by in the studio to make sure that the group didn't try to erase the multitrack tapes.The group re-recorded the lead vocals for all the studio tracks except "Here Song"(a completed early Canada B-side),and the group edited "You Shook Me",to cut out a part at the end of the song where Ann Wilson immitated Robert Plant's vocal improvisation from the end of Led Zeppelin's version.The synthesizer solo on "Just The Wine" was replaced by a flute solo,and the song "Magazine" was trimmed down more than a minute shorter,eliminating a somewhat meandering original ending.Ann & Nancy Wilson have occasionally stated that the best tracks from "Magazine" & "Little Queen"(their CBS/Portrait debut) would have originally been released on one album.Take the recordings with that knowledge in mind.Both albums have some fine tracks,and a few clunkers.

This is essential Heart. I know all about the label problems and how this is supposedly a lackluster, hodge podge of leftovers. That story is irrelevant, however, because this is still a great album that stands with their very best. Every song is a different style, yet they are all nearly perfect. Of the five original compositions, one is more of an interlude than a complete song, and the others are four of Heart's best songs. In fact, they performed three of them in concert as late as the Dog & Butterfly tour, despite whatever desire they may have had to withhold support for the album. Perhaps this is more of an ep than a full album, but length, not quality, is its only shortcoming. This is classic music from one of the most talented rock lineups in history.

The guitar work is brilliant--especially on Devil Delight and Magazine it rivals anything they've ever done. Early Heart had some of the most incredible and unique guitar playing that I've ever heard, and this album has more than its share of that. As they did on Dreamboat Annie, Little Queen, and Dog & Butterfly, Heart takes 70s rock to a whole different level. The songs are very intricate and totally unique. Everything changed after the original lineup started dissolving, but at this point in their career, even an album of their "leftovers" had more inventive songs and incredible musicianship than almost any album done before or since.

This is my take on the songs:
Heartless: an excellent funky rock song with a cool break in the middle.
Devil Delight: one of the most unique and intense rockers that any band has ever done, with smoking guitar and amazing vocals.
Just the Wine: an incredible orchestrated ballad with great lyrics and awesome acoustic guitar.
Without You: by far the best and most powerful performance ever done of this classic ballad.
Magazine: an amazing song with an incredibly lush mix of sounds--a feast for the ears.
Here Song: a cool, short interlude.

Mother Earth Blues: a fantastic blues cover that shows the range of the band.
I Got the Music in Me: a cheesy song, but the performance is so good that it's still enjoyable.

I'm ecstatic about the remasters of Little Queen and Dog & Butterfly, but I really hope that Capitol or somebody will remaster this someday soon (perhaps with a reissue of the now out-of-print remaster of Dreamboat Annie). If it doesn't happen because of a continuation of the feud between Heart and Mushroom, it will be a great disservice to the fans.

This is perhaps one of the best Heart albums ever! This album is a toned down blues and rock blended together soo sweetly you'll never get tired of it! This album has a magical power like many of the awesome Heart albums. The album has the blended powers and blues/rock, that led zeppelin does, well we all can tell that Heart was defiantly influenced by them, but this 2nd album put together during their record label mess, The album is defiantly worth buying, and shows Heart's true colors! BUY THIS NOW!Oh, and the song called "Devil Delight" is one of the most awesome songs on here, it was recently played in the film, "John Carpenter's Vapires". The song has a touch of hard rock and the kinda phchedelic blues sound and Ann's voice in this song is so spine chilling. This is a must have!