FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2007
Ann Wilson Makes Social Statement With First Solo Record 'Hope & Glory' (September 11th, Zo/Rounder Records)
Peers And Luminaries Join Heart's Legendary Singer
Ann Wilson has recorded her first-ever solo effort 'Hope & Glory,' due September 11th on Zo/ Rounder Records. The arresting vocalist branches out with a socially conscious and thought-provoking album of songs she selected to inspire the appropriately titled 'Hope & Glory.'
Produced by Ben Mink (k.d. lang, Feist), Hope & Glory features guest appearances from iconic artists Elton John, Gretchen Wilson, Alison Krauss, Rufus Wainwright, Ann's sister Nancy Wilson and others on unique renditions of songs made famous by Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Neil Young and more.
"Each of these songs holds a special place in my soulAt one time or another every one of them has kept me up at night to the point of exasperation and will not be banished, as I lay sleepless on my pillow. Such songs as these carry me through my life, and they are a standard to which all new music I hear and write must compare." Ann Wilson
With the state of our times in mind, Wilson sings the story of a fallen soldier ("Where to Now St. Peter"), recounts hardship and desperation ("Immigrant Song") and takes an angel's view of a battlefield ("War of Man"). Wilson ties the entire body of work together with her stirring original song entitled "Little Problems, Little Lies", a harrowing soldier's eye view of life on the front lines.
Ann Wilson - 'Hope & Glory' track list:
1. Goodbye Blue Sky - with Nancy Wilson (Pink Floyd)
2. Where to Now St. Peter - with Elton John (Elton John)
3. Jackson - with k.d. lang (Lucinda Williams)
4. We Gotta Get Out of This Place - with Wynonna (The Animals)
5. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
6. Darkness Darkness - with Nancy Wilson (The Youngbloods)
7. Bad Moon Rising - with Gretchen Wilson (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
8. War of Man - with Alison Krauss (Neil Young)
9. Get Together - with Nancy Wilson, Deana Carter & Wynonna (The Youngbloods)
10. Isolation (John Lennon)
11. A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall - with Rufus Wainwright & Shawn Colvin (Bob Dylan)
12. Little Problems, Little Lies
January 1
Today I discovered an amazing guitarist by the name of Vicki Genfan. I found a few videos online where she attempts to teach you a thing or two. The main thing I learned was a new alternate tuning. I spent the better part of the day exploring this new melodic world on the guitar.
I used to think alternate tunings were cheating. LOL Once I started learning a few I realized it's like learning to play the guitar all over again. I've got a few tunings I use occasionally. Double Drop D. Father Father was written in that tuning. Open D with a capo (which I use instead of Open E as it's less stressful on the neck of the guitar). Global Warning was written using that tuning.
The tuning I was exploring today is CGDGCD. New Day was written using this tuning.
Alternate tunings present a whole other flavor to savor.
Take Heart - Happy New Year one and all.
Andrea
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December 14
Sometimes you have to take the inspiration where you can. Lately it seems it's been coming to me via other people's lives, which is ok, because one can only write about their broken heart for so long.
In direct and deep contrast to my broken heart, my two dear friends Debra and Shawn are about to begin their life together. They are getting married next weekend. I can't take complete credit for them getting together, but I was their biggest cheer leader in the begining so I'm somewhat invested in their happieness together.
For the past few months, Debra has been trying to come up with a great wedding song. Every song I'd heard that I thought MIGHT work, were actually quite depressing when you really got to the lyrics. Sure they were great songs with great messages, but one was about dying - which admittedly isn't a thought you want to have when you are about to say I do. I'm not even sure they want "'til death do us part" as part of their ceremony.
We had discussed my playing at the wedding, but frankly, the thought terrified me. First of all she'd never heard my stuff. And I don't play other people's stuff. That's why I write my own stuff. Too much trouble to learn other people's songs. I write and play my own music for my walls and my dog and cat. They've learned to put up with me. I've never inflicted my music on others intentionally until last year when a dear friend convinced me to share my music with her. My songs are so personal, I'd never reallly thought anyone else would really like them. The response has been a great affirmation that if nothing else, no matter if I like my voice or not, people can relate to some of these songs. Still, the thought of playing in front of people was terrifying.
The person Debra had arranged to sing at their wedding backed out last week. And the alternative bagpipe player (Shawn's wearing a Scottish kilt - it fit with the "theme") wasn't aware his services might be needed and he sent his bagpipes off for cleaning. Where do they do that anyway?
Debra and Shawn have had to compromise on a lot of their wedding plans for reasons I won't go into. This was just one more disappointing turn of events. Once again, the subject of my playing at the wedding came up. How could I say no? Debra said I could even play a Heart song, a clear sign of a desperate woman. We talked about me possibly just playing my guitar - I said I wouldn't sing. I hate my voice. I reminded her again, that she hadn't even heard me play before.
When she visited this site yesterday, her response was wonderful. I committed to playing at the wedding.
As the hours passed, and the reality set in, that I would be playing in front of 80 people, many of them people I work with who do not know this side of me, I considered backing out. What the hell am I going to play? I'm not ready for this. Unfortunately, other people knew I'd committed to do it and they would never let me live it down if I didn't come through for Shawn and Debra.
I decided to try once again to come up with a song. I felt inspired but really had nothing in mind. I thought about writing a song using their wedding ceremony which Debra had shared with me when my invitation was handed (not mailed) to me. As I sat down tonight to try and catch the muse, I realized the ceremony is on my computer at work. So much for that idea.
But as I sat just playing instrumental stuff, I started to really feel like I wanted to come through for them in a big way. They need a song! A song with lyrics. A song that fits their personalities. And out of nowhere, in one of those rare moments that happen when music flows THROUGH you as if from someplace beyond, a song came. "I Will Still Love You."
I worried it would be too peppy to play as they walk down the aisle. But when I sent the lyrics to Debra, before I'd actually recorded it, she loved the lyrics. A few hours later, I got a take I was happy with and uploaded it. Voilla! She and Shawn both loved it and said it was perfect for them. They'd rather have peppy than some slow sappy love song. And if you knew them, you'd understand.
I still have to get through it at the rehersal and the actual wedding. But Debra and Shawn's response was so amazing that I have to find a way to get over myself and just do it for them.
Debra and Shawn, I love you guys. Thanks for the inspiration.
Take Heart,
Andrea
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October 18
The first time I held an acoustic guitar I was probably 13 years old. My father had borrowed a guitar from his friend so he could see if he really wanted to try to learn how to play. I remember the guitar sitting in the corner of the living room for two weeks. I don't even really remember my father picking the guitar up but I'm sure he did because he was trying to learn the Marty Robin's song Streets of Laredo. I think he got frustrated and just quit trying.
What I distinctly remember though is feeling drawn to that guitar. Nancy Wilson of Heart was and still is my guitar hero. The first time I heard the Dog & Butterfly album - particularly the song Dog & Butterfly, I knew I wanted to play the guitar.
One day, in direct defiance of my father's instructions to leave the guitar alone, "It's not a toy" he'd say, I picked up that guitar and started trying to figure out the song which had frustrated my father into submission. My father wasn't used to failure. He dropped out of high school in the 9th grade, lied about his age and joined the Air Force long before I was born. When he got out, he worked at a steel manufacturing company, and worked his way up and eventually started his own business which to this day is very successful. How my father let this piece of wood and steel get the best of him is still a mystery to me. For me, it was no big deal really. Picking out the melody note for note seemed easy to me. I don't even remember my fingers hurting. I'm sure they must have. But I nailed it. When my father returned home from work that evening, I decided I would be forgiven for touching the guitar if I showed him what I learned to do. In a relationship that has been marked with mutual disappointment over the years as I've gotten older, I can tell you that I don't ever remember seeing my father look more proud of me than he was at that moment I did what he couldn't. For my birthday, he bought me a cheap guitar from the now defunct Woolco. That guitar was awful - but it was mine and it was a start.
Two years later, on February 29, 1980, my father arrived home and very sternly ordered me to go get his pool cue from the back house, where my father had his office before his business grew to the point of needing an actual office. The house had been turned into a recreation room of sorts, complete with a pool table and a spot I always knew would be perfect for a piano - but that's another story for another blog. The youngest of 4 kids, I was not at all happy that I was the one he sent on this errand. I was busy doing something - reading or watching TV, and I was sure I was being picked on. You did not argue with my father for long before he would just put his foot down and lay down the law. Yes, I left whatever I was doing to go get his stupid pool cue.
When I returned, I spotted the guitar in the corner of the room. It was an Applause (made by Ovation - lower end model, but better than Woolco and pretty reasonably priced, and oh, it didn't hurt that Nancy played Ovation guitars and this was as close as I could get to an Ovation.) I pretended not to notice the guitar. I should note that I have never had a decent poker face. My father knew I saw it and called me out on it. It wasn't my birthday. It wasn't Christmas. I only mentioned the guitar to him once. This wasn't something my father did. He was a good provider but sentimental gestures like this only came around on special occasions. This wasn't one. It was leap year and February 29th would not come around again for another 4 years but big deal. It wasn't my birthday or Christmas. This was a strange feeling.
By the time I received this surprise from my father, I had learned how to play Dog & Butterfly on that cheap Woolco guitar. As amazing as Nancy is, I'm sure even Nancy would have appeared to reach major suckage levels on that guitar. Everything I played on that guitar was an effort. When I played my Applause for the first time, I was amazed. I really am a modest person and don't pat myself on the back too often, but the difference between how bad I sounded on that Woolco guitar and how good I sounded on the Applause was such a confidence builder.
As an adult, I would eventually buy a "real" Ovation guitar with my own hard earned cash. Once again, moving up to a higher quality guitar really made a difference in my progress as a player. And even though I had tried a few times to translate what I do on acoustic to an electric guitar, I found that my style (so heavily influenced by Nancy Wilson) does not translate so easily to the electric guitar. I'm really aggressive which is overkill on the electric. Still, there has always been this yearning to learn to play more rock type stuff and more leads, although I've managed to squeeze in some lead-ish playing on my Ovation. Consequently, any time I bought an electric guitar (never the coveted Fender Strat or Tele, or Gibson Les Paul) my frustration mirrored my father's so many years before. I failed miserably at it and got rid of the two guitars I had purchased.
Recently, I found a reasonably priced Ephiphone Les Paul Special in a pawn shop. The urge to give it the old college try surfaced yet again. This time, however, I purchased a digitech guitar effects module as well. Low and behold, something has sparked this time! I've been playing non-stop during my free time ever since.
The point, and I know I took a really long time to get to it, is sometimes the smallest thing can set you on a new course of creativity and musical expression. It can be a higher quality guitar, a new amp, new strings even. But when it hits, and you are in the zone, there's no rush like it - except standing at the edge of the stage mere feet away from Nancy Wilson when she plays the intro to Crazy On You and finishes it up with her signature kick. Both are better than sex. (Ok, maybe better than bad sex, but really, how bad is bad sex in reality?)
Here's hoping you find whatever spark sets you on your latest musical discovery. If you don't find it, don't give up hope. Keep plugging away and know that eventually, it will appear.
Take Heart,
Andrea
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September 22
Ok, so I've uploaded three new songs - demos - which still need work and higher quality recordings. They were recorded as I wrote them so, needless to say I think I can improve on them.
Lullaby Brown was wriiten for one of my dear friends Posie, after her husband underwent heart bipass surgery. The aftermath, and adjustments to the lifestyle change kind of got to him. Posie would vent to me about her frustrations. But all I could think about were the days leading up to the surgery, when my dear friend looked absolutely terrified she might lose her husband - her best friend. After one of these venting session, I came home and wrote this song and recorded the version I've uploaded here. It's written from Posie's perspective pretty much based entirely on those conversations we had before the surgery. I made a CD for Posie and played it for her the next day. She has since played it for her husband Barry, who is by the way, one of my biggest "fans". He loved the song and almost two months after the surgery, things are starting to get back to normal for them. I thank them for letting me peek into their lives for a little bit of inspiration. You have to find it where you can.
The other two songs I've uploaded - I Don't Need A Dozen Roses and No Answer - as usual are taken from my own life about my own failed relationship. Jeez. It's almost been a year since we broke up. But oh lordy the songs have been comeing ever since.
Don't forget Ann Wilson released her new solo album Hope & Glory. It is an amazing work of art.
Take Heart,
Andrea
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July 4
I have been a huge Heart fan since I was a kid. They were my main inspiration as a guitarist and songwriter. And while I've always gravitated towards Nancy Wilson because of her amazing acoustic guitar abilities, no one in their right mind could ignore Ann Wilson and her amazing voice.
Finally, after over three decades performing in Heart, Ann Wilson will release her first solo album, Hope and Glory, on September 11, 2007.
Ann Wilson has one of the most distinctive voices in rock and roll. She has refined her talent over the years and has found the perfect mix of power and subtlety. Over the years, there have been a lot of cookie-cutter type singers out there. Ann Wilson is not one of them. There are a handful I can think of who fit into the following category: When you hear them, there is no doubt who it is.
Aretha Franklin
Stevie Nicks - not the best voice, but certainly destinctive.
With Ann, there is never a doubt who you are listening to. No one sounds like her. She has crafted her instrument, mastered it and kicks its butt every time she opens up her mouth to sing. I have seen Heart in concert probably 18 times through the years. And each year, Ann sounds amazing. I'm still surpirsed I know what she's capable of and yet, I'm still amazed. There's that certain part of the song Alone, right before the 2nd chorus, when Ann just wails...in concert, the audience holds their breath, too afraid to miss the greatness.
Hope and Glory is a social statement. The songs chosen were very personal to Ann. And if you are expecting an album of originals you may be disapointed. However, from what I hear from those who have been priveledged enough to receive an advance copy, she makes these songs her own. Here's the track listing:
1. Goodbye Blue Sky - with Nancy Wilson (Pink Floyd)
2. Where to Now St. Peter - with Elton John (Elton John)
3. Jackson - with k.d. lang (Lucinda Williams)
4. We Gotta Get Out of This Place - with Wynonna (The Animals)
5. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
6. Darkness Darkness - with Nancy Wilson (The Youngbloods)
7. Bad Moon Rising - with Gretchen Wilson (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
8. War of Man - with Alison Krauss (Neil Young)
9. Get Together - with Nancy Wilson, Deana Carter & Wynonna (The Youngbloods)
10. Isolation (John Lennon)
11. A Hard Rains a-Gonna Fall - with Rufus Wainwright & Shawn Colvin (Bob Dylan)
12. Little Problems, Little Lies - the only original song on the album
While this listing reads like a who's who in music, no doubt, Ann Wilson is the star. She has earned her moment in the spotlight.
The official press release is on the billboard of my pure volume page. Heart also has a website. http://www.heart-music.com
As the release date nears, I'm sure there will be more information available.
Got Ann? Patience my children, patience. Ann F-in' Wilson - there is no substitute!
Take Heart,
Andrea
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PinYourWings
This is really good... nice guitar playing, nice voice
:)
posted Jun 08