Ann Wilson of Heart Preps New Album, ‘Immortal’: Listen

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Ann Wilson (Photo: Kimberly Adamis; used with permission)

Heart’s Ann Wilson has released a second track from her new album Immortal, due out Sept. 14 on BMG. The album features 10 tracks that pay tribute to some of Wilson’s influences and friends who’ve recently passed.

The singer is currently on tour with fellow classic rock legends Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers.

The new release, “You Don’t Own Me,” was a hit for singer Lesley Gore, reaching #2 in 1963. Talking about the song’s impact, Wilson told Billboard: “I think that song has come to be way more universal now. It could be the anthem of anyone who wants respect, anyone at all, not just women.” Gore died in 2015.

Listen to “You Don’t Own Me”

On July 6, “I Am The Highway”—originally an Audioslave song that was sung by the late Chris Cornell and written with his bandmates–was released. The song is also available as an instant-grat track with album pre-orders.

Pre-order Immortal here.

“The song is strong, confident, spiritual,” says Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wilson of “I Am The Highway.” “It’s about a person who refuses to be tied down to the mundane, who is constantly looking for freedom and independence on a more universal scale, not just ordinary everyday reality. Chris and I were friends; we had a lot in common, we were both outsiders in a way. He left us with amazing music.”

Listen to “I Am the Highway”

For Immortal, which marks her debut for BMG, Wilson has teamed with original Heart producer Mike Flicker (Dreamboat Annie, Magazine, Little Queen, Dog and Butterfly and Bebe Le Strange, among others). “Mike was the first producer to believe in me,” Wilson says in a press release. “He was my first teacher in the studio and knows how to provide that special support needed to bring out my soul in the recording process. It is exciting to work with him for the first time since 1980. I have traveled many, many miles since then but the old feeling is still there and fresh on Immortal. He has fearlessly helped me bring my ideas to life once again and it’s been a great collaboration.”

Wilson chose the album title Immortal after revealing some working titles early on in the project. “The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved. a little bit at a time,” she explained in the announcement. “As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth; that the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances. These are the poets of our time and their expressions must be handed down. Poetry is lasting and elemental like carvings in rock.”

Songs include covers of Glenn Frey (Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane”), Leonard Cohen (“A Thousand Kisses Deep”), Amy Winehouse (“Back to Black”), David Bowie (“I’m Afraid of Americans”) and Tom Petty (“Luna”).

Of “Life in the Fast Lane,” she says, “I’ve always liked this song because it tells a great story. I’ve taken it out of the old ’70s feel and put it into a more tribal feel… and tell the story my way. I had the thrill of seeing the Eagles when we were first putting Heart together. I was so blown away; I couldn’t believe how amazing they were. They were great players, great singers… the songs were great.”

Watch Wilson sing “Life in the Fast Lane” in April

Wilson says the criteria for choosing these songs was easy. “First of all, I had to love them! They had to be songs I could get inside of authentically as a singer. Lyrics are important to me but the most important thing is always the marriage of words and melody that makes the song magic!”

Immortal includes special guests Jeff Beck, Warren Haynes and Ben Mink.

Immortal Track Listing

“A Different Corner” (George Michael)
“A Thousand Kisses Deep” (Leonard Cohen)
“Back to Black” (Amy Winehouse)
“Baker Street” (Gerry Rafferty)
“I Am the Highway” (Chris Cornell, Audioslave)
“I’m Afraid of Americans” (David Bowie)
“Life in the Fast Lane” (Joe Walsh, The Eagles) in honor of Glenn Frey
“Luna” (Tom Petty)
“Politician” (Cream) in honor of Jack Bruce
“You Don’t Own Me” (Lesley Gore)

Stars Align Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)

Aug 03 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Aug 04 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
Aug 07 – Lewiston, NY – Art Park (Jeff Beck, Ann Wilson)
Aug 08 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Aug 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Aug 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Hall (Jeff Beck, Ann Wilson)
Aug 12 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug 14 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Aug 17 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Aug 19 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Aug 20 – Vienna, VA – Wolftrap (Jeff Beck, Ann Wilson)
Aug 22 – Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Aug 23 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Aug 25 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Aug 26 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre