HEART “Magazine” /LP/

The second full-length studio album by legendary American Hard Rock/Blues band.
It was originally released on April 19, 1977, by Mushroom Records in unfinished form, without the band's permission. A second authorized version of the album was released on April 22, 1978.
Since the label could no longer provide Flicker as producer as the contract specified, the band took the position that they were free to move to another label and signed with Portrait Records. The change in labels resulted in a prolonged legal battle with Mushroom's creative director Shelly Siegel. Mushroom, which still had a two-album contract, claimed they had the legal right to release a second Heart album after all. Still in possession of the five unfinished studio recordings, as well as unreleased live tracks recorded in 1975, Mushroom had them remixed by the band's recording engineer, but without the presence of any group members. The label added another studio track, "Here Song" (the B-side to "How Deep It Goes", Heart's first Canadian Single from 1975). The rest of the album was filled by two live songs recorded in 1975 at The Aquarius Tavern, a rock club in Seattle where the group had played regularly. Mushroom released the collection as "Magazine" in the spring of 1977, at the same time that the ban was preparing their next album for Portrait Records, titled "Little Queen".
According to Flicker, about 50 000 copies of the original "Magazine" album were pressed. Some of these copies were sold in stores, mostly in Los Angeles and Hollywood, Florida, where the records were manufactured. Unsold copies were quickly recalled and later destroyed when Heart took Mushroom Records to court to stop distribution of the album. The 1977 version was also briefly released in Europe through Arista Records, but were ordered off shelves by a second court action.
Though the album was not officially released to radio stations in 1977, some stations such as KISW, a Seattle-based rock station, played songs from the unauthorized version, against the wishes of the group. The 1977 release carried a disclaimer on the back cover that read: "Mushroom Records regrets that a contractual dispute has made it necessary to complete this record without the cooperation or endorsement of the group Heart, who have expressly disclaimed artistic involvement in completing this record. We did not feel that a contractual dispute should prevent the public from hearing and enjoying these incredible tunes and recordings".
The court eventually decided that the band could sign with Portrait, but that they did owe Mushroom a second album. The band returned to the studio to re-record, remix, edit, and re-sequence the recordings. "Magazine" was re-released in 1978 and sold a million copies in less than a month.
Shelly Siegel, the promoter behind the "First Time" ad and vice president of the record label, died a few months after the re-release, and Mushroom Records went bankrupt two years later. Ownership rights to Heart's two albums for Mushroom were purchased by Capitol Records, which reissued the recordings. The episode had at least one more repercussion. Not long after the ad appeared, a radio promoter asked Ann about her lover; he was referring to Nancy, thus implying that the sisters were incestuous lesbian lovers. The encounter infuriated Ann, who went back to her hotel and wrote the words to what became one of Heart's signature songs, "Barracuda".
The album has been certified Platinum in both the United States and Canada.
Mushroom Records/Arista Records/EMI Electrola GmbH, 1977 (1C 064-60 008). Made in Germany. First press. Used (cover/disc):  VG+/EX+.


Tracklist:

Seite 1
1. Heartless  4:59
2. Without You  4:43
3. Just The Wine  4:30
4. Magazine  6:55

Seite 2 
5. Here Song  1:34
6. Devil Delight  4:57
7. Blues Medley: Mother Earth / You Shook Me Babe  7:11
8. I've Got The Music In Me  6:12

Total playing time: 41:01 min.