A little back-story for regarding Heart. I knew them prior to the release of their Self-Title album, but I was never a fan. By that, I mean I didn't own or go out seeking their back catalog. But I would definitely listen to their biggest hits on the radio like Magic Man, Barracuda, etc....I was still a product of basically being a Metal-head and although I liked Classic Rock at the time, it was still out of my wheelhouse. So, 1985 rolls around and what happens? I jump on board with what it regarding as the most 'pop-oriented' Heart album at that time. Go figure.

So, the first time I saw the video for What About Love, I immediately was hooked on the song of the summer. It was STUCK in my head and I played that video over and over. That song itself brings back a lot of memories, namely my days down at the beach, hitting the boardwalk. Of course with that song I would eventually get the album and it was chock-full of hit songs after hit songs. And to my amazement, there were a couple of "metal" songs that got an enthusiastic thumbs up from me. If Looks Could Kill was a great wa to open the album with and it rocked. But when I heard The Wolf, it just blew me away. It still does.

This album is in fact a Greatest Hits album for me. It's got pretty much an entire albums worth of hit songs that you know and love. Ann Wilson shines big time here, but Nancy Wilson gets her moment as well with These Dreams. They were anchored by the incredible guitar work of Howard Leese who too me is one of the most underrated guitar players of all time. As great as the Wilson sisters are, he elevates the band to epic proportions.

Fave Songs: If Looks Could Kill, What About Love, These Dreams, Never, Nobody's Home, Nothin' At All and The Wolf

As much as I love their previous release (Self-Titled), it's Bad Animals that absolutely f*cking rocks. In spite of being produced by one of my least favorite producers in the business, this album excels in large part because of Ann Wilson's howling voice and Howard Leese's stellar guitar work. You won't find a better album to showcase Ann's incredible vocals here. It's spine-tingling awesome that still has the hair on my arms standing up. Sheesh. How the hell does she hits notes like that. Throw a dart and hit a song and you will get her at her best. Check out I Want You So Bad, Wait For The Answer and Bad Animals to get some prime examples of her vocal prowess. But the corker is of course Alone. My God, it's one of my all time favorite tracks and it has the single greatest note she or anyone has ever hit. You know it. Go to 2:05 of the song off the album.

Another reason why this song is one of the Greatest Songs of All Time is the arrangement of the song that sends you to peaks and valley's while you listen to it. Howard's solo is just icing on the cake. All the songs pretty much follow this simple recipe of great arrangements, bombastic vocals, kick ass guitar solo's. As much as I love these songs, I think that opening up the album with Who Will You Run To was absolutely the perfect song do it with. Loooooooove it. Not to be out done though is Nancy Wilson who once again gets a song to shine on with There's The Girl. Although I do think that These Dreams is still her best song, I still dig this one. RSVP was and is a great song to close out the album.

Fave Songs: All of 'em. But my Top 5 are Who Will You Run To, Alone, I Want You So Bad, Wait For The Answer and Bad Animals.

I honestly have never listened to it... Besides the hits.

Duuuuuuuuuuuuude! It's the "non-hit" songs that kick major ass.