Back in the Seventies when dinosaurs walked the earth, Heart was a pretty big one, and unique among hard (occasionally) rock bands in being woman-fronted, by sisters Anne and Nancy Wilson. Crazy on You was their debut single and for my money their best song ever, and one of the better arguments why Rock & Roll at its peak reaches above all other forms of music.
While their line-up changed around over the ears it was always Anne on ear-splitting vocals, Nancy on hot acoustic guitar and harmony, and Some Guy on electric. On Dreamboat Annie, the wonderful album containing Crazy on You, That Guy was Roger Fisher, a founding member who sounded fabulous when he was playing behind Anne and Nancy but never really amounted to much thereafter. I only saw Heart once and they’d just fired Some Guy so Nancy was trying to play all the hot electric parts that night and frankly it didn’t work out that well.
Anyhow, Crazy on You is melodic and romantic and electric, with a huge backbeat and a lovely acoustic intro. On the recorded version, Anne Wilson’s lead vocals are just cosmic and, on the sequence beginning I was a willow last night in my dream / I bent down over a clear running stream, go to that place that Rock music, but no other kind, can go.
This is part of the Song of the Day series (background).
Links · Spotify playlist. This tune on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify. As for video, the picture is fuzzy here, but wow, the flame is burning bright. Here’s another take with better picture and electric guitar, and also Nancy’s sharper on the intro; but less divine madness.
