Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
One of the most surprising debut albums I heard from this year is Heart’s Dreamboat Annie.
The record kicks off with ‘Magic Man’ and also features the similarly blistering ‘Crazy On You,’ two guitar-driven hits I expected from the band. But much of the album has a folk sound more reminiscent of The Carpenters or Joni Mitchell than Led Zeppelin.
Ann Wilson’s vocals are equally suited to both styles. She can belt and shriek with the best of them but also proves a very subtle and evocative folk balladeer. And while the album suffers a bit from genre whiplash, it somehow forms a cohesive view of the emerging band as a potent creative force.
Heart would release several more Platinum-selling albums in the 70s before suffering a slump and coming back in the mid-80s with a glam rock makeover. This one has me eager to dive into the rest of their late 70s output.
We may still have time, we might still get by
Every time I think about it, I wanna cry
With bombs and the Devil and the kids keep coming
No way to breathe easy, no time to be young
[Pre-Chorus]
But I tell myself that I’m doing all right
There’s nothing left to do tonight
[Chorus]
But go crazy on you
Crazy on you
Let me go crazy
Crazy on you, oh
[Verse 2]
My love is the evening breeze touching your skin
The gentle, sweet singing of leaves in the wind
The whisper that calls after you in the night
And kisses your ear in the early light
[Pre-Chorus]
And you don’t need to wonder, you’re doing fine
And my love, the pleasure’s mine
[Chorus]
Let me go crazy on you
Crazy on you
Let me go crazy
Crazy on you, oh
[Bridge]
Wild man’s world is crying in pain
What you gonna do when everybody’s insane?
So afraid of one who’s so afraid of you
What you gonna do?
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ooh
[Chorus]
Crazy on you
Crazy on you
Let me go crazy
Crazy on you
[Verse 3]
I was a willow last night in my dream
I bent down over a clear running stream
Sang you the song that I heard up above
And you kept me alive with your sweet flowing love
[Chorus]
Crazy, yeah
Crazy on you
Let me go crazy
Crazy on you, oh
Crazy on you
Crazy on you
Let me go crazy
Crazy on you, yeah
Meet Me In Montauk 
I didn’t realize Heart was so successful out of the gate. I would enjoy a deep dive into their music if you ever get around to that,.
I love “Crazy On You” and “Dog and the Butterfly” and “These Dreams,” yet I rarely hear any of them. Need to add some Heart songs to my playlists.