Who ever listened to Ann & Nancy Wilson, and wondered how great these two female rockers really were? As I write, Magic Man is melodically flowing from my speakers, but hey! Wait! Here comes another, Crazy On You ! Oh dear! I am overwhelmed! Was there ever a more compelling female centered rock band than Heart?
Well, here is an attempt! The only cover I have ever heard of Barracuda, that even came close to Ann and Nancy Wilson and Heart, was Gretchen Wilson, singing with Alice in Chains.........and let me tell you dear readers,......they were really, really good! Just listen to this!
Now that you've heard Gretchen's version, listen carefully, and let's see what you think about Ann's original?
Melissa XX
8 comments:
I love Heart! Magic Man was the first song of theirs that I ever heard, back in the mid 70's. Yikes, was it really THAT long ago?!? Heart, along with Aerosmith, Boston, ELO, and ABBA were among my early favorites and they still are to this day.
I've been an AIC fan since the 90's, I didn't know that they did a cover of Barracuda with Gretchen Wilson. I can't video stream but I'm going to have to find this one, it sounds like something that I'd like.
Dani xxx
Hi Melissa,
I did buy a few months ago Ann Wilson's solo album 'Hope and Glory'. On it is a great cover of Neil Young's 'War of Man' with Alison Krauss if my memory is right. Also there is a duet with Elton John on 'What Now St Peter'.
I don't know who Gretchen Wilson is, but she sure does sound like Ann on this song. Great pipes! You didn't mention that Nancy is playing guitar with them as well. Very strong performance all around!
Funny thing is, I remember Heart being fairly well dissed back when they came out as radio-friendly pop rock. I don't know how much of that had to do with the fact that Ann and Nancy are women. Now that we are looking back, they seem like pioneers and are much more revered.
@ Veronica: I think that you're right, a great deal of the dissing almost certainly was because they were women. I still remember how badly Joan Jett and Lita Ford were slammed!
The Hard Rock/Metal culture of the 70's and 80's was VERY much male dominated both in the business and among the fans and the girls had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously as musicians in a world with Tawney Kitaen rolling around on the hood of Dave Coverdale's car!
Dani xxx
I'm sorry, I said Nancy's version when I meant Ann's. I don't know why, but as long as I've known them, I often still get their names backwards!
Veronica, would you believe that Gretchen Wilson is actually a country singer? I think she missed her calling! She does have great pipes, and a wonderful feel for rock. I think a lot of frustrated rockers, followed the money to Nashville.
Melissa XX
Melissa, I used to confuse Ann and Nancy all the time. Here's my mnemonic: Ann and voice have one syllable. Nancy and guitar have two.
I Googled Gretchen Wilson. I was surprised to learn she is a country singer! Somewhat out of her genre here, but does a great job. And I loved watching Nancy Wilson and Jerry Cantrell trading licks.
Both versions are great, but I still prefer the original. Ann's voice hit those hard highs with ease while Gretchen seemed to have to really work to make them work. One thing I liked better in the "Chains" version was the drummer...he was amazing.
Both are better than Dvorak...lol.
@ Suzi
Re: Both are better than Dvorak...lol.
Better? Well, different for sure, but both are great in my book! :-)
Melissa XX
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