Legacy Recordings proudly announces the release of Red Velvet Car, the first new studio album in six years from the groundbreaking Seattle-based band Heart, available everywhere on Tuesday, August 31.
The release of Red Velvet Car heralds Legacy’s forthcoming reissues of the classic Heart catalog in new physical and digital editions.
For their first new album since 2004’s Jupiter’s Darling, the first ladies of arena rock took an acoustic approach to a collection of songs inspired by the world around them, arranged for an assortment of strings including guitar, mandolin, dobro, banjo, fiddle, viola, cello and autoharp, all played by Nancy Wilson and the album’s producer, Grammy winner Ben Mink.
Nine of the album’s songs were written for, and appear for the first time on Red Velvet Car. The album’s closer, “Sand,” is a newly recorded version of a song originally written and recorded by the Lovemongers, Ann and Nancy’s 1990’s acoustic side project.
Tracks on Red Velvet Car include “Death Valley,” “Safronia’s Mark,” “Red Velvet Car,” “Queen City,” “Sunflower,” “Wheels,” “There You Go,” “WTF,” “Hey You” and “Sand.”
Red Velvet Car marks the return of Heart to the Sony Music Entertainment family. Heart’s last Sony-related release was 1983’s Passionworks on Epic Records.
“It feels good to have Sony Music holding our new baby. It’s sort of like coming home, since we worked with them on Little Queen, Dog and Butterfly, Bebe le Strange, Private Audition and Passionworks, among others,” said Ann Wilson. “We’re excited about taking it on the road. A fresh sound with all the original Heart magic.”
“This album feels so right for the times,” said Nancy Wilson. “We can’t wait to share this one with the world!”
Heart has been performing songs from Red Velvet Car, as well as classics from the band’s repertoire, during shows at selected Lilith Fair dates and in headline concerts across the U.S. and Canada from July through September. Tour details available on the Heart website.
Red Velvet Car is slated for an August 31, 2010 release.
Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson, first showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the ’70s with hits like “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” ‘Straight On,” “Even It Up,” “Kick It Out” and so many more. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs, and played the instruments too, making them the first women in rock to do so. Heart continued topping the charts through the ‘80s and into the ‘90s with huge hits like “These Dreams,” “Alone,” “What About Love,” “If Looks Could Kill,” “Never,” and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters’ enormous talents as both musicians and singers. Along the way, Heart sold more than 30 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and had a profound influence on rock music.
