Nancy Wilson of Heart discusses the band's rise to fame, influence of '70s and '80s drugs on their sound, acceptance in Seattle's grunge scene, and scoring movies like Almost Famous with a lo-fi setup.
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Quick takeaways
Heart's music was influenced by popular drugs in the '70s and '80s, and acceptance from Seattle's grunge scene helped overcome challenges in the '80s recording power ballads.
Nancy Wilson's lo-fi setup for creating soundtracks for hit movies like Almost Famous reflects Heart's musical evolution and adaptability.
Deep dives
Nancy Wilson's Musical Journey with Heart
Nancy Wilson, known as one half of the rock band Heart with her sister Ann Wilson, reflects on their musical journey. They started out in the mid-70s in Vancouver, British Columbia, opening for big acts like Rod Stewart. Their hits like Magic Man and Crazy on You gained popularity in the States, solidifying their status as a headlining act. Over nearly 50 years, they experienced chart-topping success and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, amidst personal and professional challenges. Nancy describes their upcoming world tour, highlighting the deep bond between Ann and herself.
Influence of Past Decades on Heart's Sound
Nancy Wilson discusses the impact of popular drugs in the 70s and 80s on Heart's music. She explains how being accepted by the musicians of Seattle's grunge scene helped them navigate challenges faced while recording power ballads in the 80s. Nancy shares insights on the lo-fi setup used to create soundtracks for hit movies like Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, and Jerry Maguire, reflecting Broken Record's exploration of music evolution.
Heart's Adaptable Music and Live Performance Authenticity
The conversation delves into Heart's musical flexibility and authenticity in live performances. Nancy emphasizes the adaptability of good songs, citing examples like Alone that can be played in various arrangements from bombastic to acoustic. Heart's commitment to live, authentic performances without pre-recorded tracks sets them apart in an era of canned music experiences, fostering a unique connection with their audience.
Nancy Wilson's Influences and Inspirations
Nancy Wilson traces her musical roots to her family's deep passion for music and harmonies. Influenced by artists like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, music was a generational tradition in the Wilson family. Sharing personal anecdotes of meeting musicians like Paul McCartney and Stevie Nicks, Nancy reflects on the musical journey that has shaped her and Sister Ann's iconic status in rock history.
Guitarist and songwriter Nancy Wilson is one half of the rock band Heart, along with her older sister Ann Wilson. Nancy and Ann have been the face of the band since the mid-70s. Heart’s first album, Dreamboat Annie, was released in 1976 right as the band was making traction opening for big acts like Rod Stewart and The Bee Gees. Soon their songs, like “Magic Man” and “Crazy On You,” started to take off in the States, and Heart quickly became a headlining act.
Nearly 50 years since their debut album, Heart has experienced career highs—like a string of chart-topping hits and an induction into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame—as well as their fair share of personal and professional adversity. Today Ann and Nancy remain steadfast in continuing Heart’s legacy. This month they embarked on a world tour—their first in five years.
To celebrate Ann and Nancy Wilson’s massive contribution to rock n roll history, we will feature conversations with both sisters over the next two weeks. Today we’ll hear Leah Rose talk to Nancy about how the popular drugs of the ‘70s and ‘80s influenced Heart’s sound. She also describes how being accepted by the musicians of Seattle’s grunge scene helped her overcome Heart’s fraught experience recording power ballads in the ‘80s. And she describes the lo-fi setup she used to score the soundtracks of her ex-husband Cameron Crowe’s hit movies: Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, and Jerry McGuire.
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Heart songs HERE.