Heart – Magazine (Cassette, 1978)

Description

This cassette is a 1995 repress of the 1978 recording

The album Magazine by the rock band Heart is an unusual and controversial part of their discography, best summarized by its turbulent release history.

The album’s history is defined by a bitter legal dispute between Heart and their original label, Mushroom Records, after the runaway success of their debut, Dreamboat Annie.

1. The Fallout: Heart tried to renegotiate their contract and royalty rate, but talks broke down, especially after Mushroom ran a sexually suggestive advertisement featuring sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson that the band found offensive (this incident inspired their hit “Barracuda,” released later in 1977 on their new label). Heart broke their two-album contract and signed with Portrait Records (a CBS subsidiary).
2. The Unauthorized Release (1977): In retaliation, Mushroom Records quickly compiled the few existing unfinished studio recordings for the planned album (Magazine), added an old B-side, and padded the rest of the record with unreleased live cuts from 1975. This rough, unauthorized version was rushed to market in 1977, coinciding with Heart’s first album for Portrait, Little Queen. The 1977 release even featured a disclaimer on the back cover stating the band disavowed the record’s completion.
3. The Official Release (1978): Heart sued to have the record pulled. The court eventually ruled that Mushroom had the right to one more album from the band. As a settlement, Heart was forced to return to the studio under court order (with a security guard present) to re-record, remix, and polish the tracks to an acceptable standard. This finished, authorized version—which features different vocals, mixes (e.g., a flute solo replacing a synthesizer on “Just The Wine”), and a slightly altered tracklist—was released in 1978.

In essence, Magazine is considered less a cohesive studio album and more a contractual fulfillment record, born of legal warfare, yet it still contains fan-favorite rock tracks like the hit single “Heartless” and achieved Platinum sales status.