'Dreamboat Annie' by Heart - 1976 Folk-Rock Single and Rock Album

Heart is a rock band formed in Seattle in the 1970's. It evolved from the group 'Army' when the Wilson sisters, Ann and Nancy, joined. In the late 1970's Heart relocated to Canada due to the Vietnam war.

Heart has sold over 30 million records and produced over 17 albums. Heart is a hard rock band, but is also influenced by folk music, and the single Dreamboat Annie is one of their softer rock tracks with a strong folk feel.

Dreamboat Annie is a folk-rock song with an ethereal, dream-like quality.

Dreamboat Annie appears three times on Heart's debut album - Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child), Dreamboat Annie and Dreamboat Annie (Reprise). All were written by Ann and Nancy Wilson. The middle track, Dreamboat Annie, was released as a single in 1976, with Sing Child as the B-side.

Dreamboat Annie rose to #42 in the US Billboard Hot 100 (Heart's third entry here), and #17 in the US Adult Contemporary Singles Chart (Heart's first entry here).

Heading out this morning into the sun,
Riding on the diamond waves, little darlin' one,
Warm wind caressed her, her lover it seems,
Oh Annie, Dreamboat Annie, little ship of dreams,
Oh Annie, Dreamboat Annie, little ship of dreams.

Going down the city sidewalk alone in the crowd,
No one knows the lonely one, whose head's in the clouds,
Sad faces, painted over with those magazine smiles,
Heading out to somewhere, won't be back for a while.
Won't be back for a while,
Won't be back for a while

Heart's first album was released in Canada by Mushroom Records. After it became a hit in Canada, it was released in Seattle and other US cities. Mushroom was only a small record label, and could not release it as nationally as it was not well enough known to distributors.

Unfortunately, Heart's relationship with Mushroom deteriorated after the record company produced promotional material showing a bare-shouldered Ann and Nancy with the text 'It was only their first time together'. Heart had not been consulted and were very upset. They found a new record company and Mushroom Records later went out of business.

Dreamboat Annie contains both rock power ballads and more folk-rock tracks. Ann and Nancy Wilson provide vocals, and as well as the usual guitar, bass and drums, tracks from the album feature the flute and banjo. When Dreamboat Annie was released, the band was composed of the Wilson sisters, Roger Fisher, Howard Leese, Steve Fossen and Michael DeRosier, but a number of other musicians and singers also contributed.

Tracks on the album are:

1. Magic Man (also released as a single)
2. Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)
3. Crazy on You (also released as a single)
4. Soul of the Sea
5. Dreamboat Annie
6. White Lightening and Wine
7. Love me like Music (I'll be your Song)
8. Sing, Child
9. How Deep it Goes
10. Dreamboat Annie (Reprise)