Battle of Backbone Mountain

Passionworks is the seventh studio album by American rock band Heart, released in August 1983, by Epic Records. The album marks a shift in musical direction from hard rock and folk to mainstream rock. It is the first Heart album to feature Denny Carmassi and Mark Andes, who had replaced longtime members Mike Derosier and Steve Fossen. Passionworks was the band's final album with Epic Records before their comeback-fueled move to Capitol Records. It reached number 39 on the US Billboard 200.[1] The album's lead single, "How Can I Refuse?", peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for one week.[2] The second single, "Allies", peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]

On July 13, 2009, Passionworks was re-released in the United Kingdom by BGO Records as a double CD with the band's previous album Private Audition.[3][4]

Re-recording of tracks

Heart's sixteenth studio album, Beautiful Broken (2016), contains two re-recorded tracks from Passionworks, along with a few other re-recorded songs from their 1980s era and a few new ones. These two tracks are "Johnny Moon" and "Language of Love". In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Nancy Wilson explained the idea to re-record the songs, saying, "Like, 'Wow, these songs were so misunderstood production-wise.' And I thought I would love a chance to redesign and reimagine them in the studio."[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]

Errol Somay of Rolling Stone felt that the album "seems like the soundtrack to an off-Broadway show that closed after two nights", concluding, "Almost totally lacking in hummable tunes and danceable rhythms, Passionworks does little more than showcase Ann Wilson's vocal pyrotechnics."[7] Alex Henderson of AllMusic wrote restrospectively, "Passionworks isn't recommended to casual listeners, but serious Heart devotees will find it to be an enjoyable way for the Wilson sisters to end their Epic period."[6]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."How Can I Refuse?"
3:52
2."Blue Guitar"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
  • Leese
  • Andes
  • Carmassi
  • Ennis
3:54
3."Johnny Moon"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
  • Ennis
4:00
4."Sleep Alone"
  • A. Wilson
  • Ennis
4:12
5."Together Now"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
  • Ennis
3:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Allies"Jonathan Cain4:44
7."(Beat by) Jealousy"
  • A. Wilson
  • Ennis
3:18
8."Heavy Heart"
3:50
9."Love Mistake"N. Wilson3:28
10."Language of Love"
  • A. Wilson
  • N. Wilson
  • Ennis
3:38
11."Ambush"
  • A. Wilson
  • Ennis
3:14

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Passionworks.[9]

Heart

Additional musicians

  • Keith Olsen – arrangements
  • David Paich – piano (track 6); synthesizers (tracks 1–3, 6, 10)
  • Steve Porcaro – synthesizers (track 11); synthesizer programming
  • Lynn Wilson – background vocals (track 6)

Technical

Artwork

  • Neal Preston – concept, photography
  • Tony Lane – art direction
  • Isgo Lepejian – black-and-white photographic prints

Charts

Chart performance for Passionworks
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10] 7
US Billboard 200[1] 39
US Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] 4

References

  1. ^ a b "Heart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Passionworks – Heart | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "Private Audition / Passionworks". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "Private Audition/Passionworks – Heart". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Masley, Ed (August 18, 2016). "Heart interview: Nancy Wilson on reinventing the '80s in the '70s spirit for excellent 'Beautiful Broken'". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Passionworks – Heart". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Somay, Errol (October 27, 1983). "Heart: Passion Works : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  8. ^ Coleman, Mark; Berger, Arion (2004). "Heart". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 372. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  9. ^ Passionworks (liner notes). Heart. Epic Records. 1983. QE 38800.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4317b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "Rock Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 38. September 17, 1983. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passionworks