I missed Heart at the Mountain Winery on Wednesday night, but I was excited to get this good news in my mailbox: Ann Wilson is releasing her first-ever solo record called Hope & Glory on September 11th through Zoe/Rounder.
The first track off the album is a cover of Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", which seems perhaps a little too obvious, but the results are good.
I'd frankly be happy to hear Ann sing the phone book, because she has one of the best rock n' roll voices of all time. This record's a collection of covers with social significance, featuring guest spots by Alison Krauss, Rufus Wainwright (swoon!), Gretchen Wilson and of course sister Nancy. Her duet with Elton John ("Where To Now St. Peter", streaming here) kind of overwhelmed me at first; he really attacks his part with gusto.
At the latest VH1 Rock Honors event, Gretchen Wilson amazingly survived covering "Barracuda", a song that will kill many lesser singers.
While I have to give Gretchen two snaps up for her efforts, I really don't understand the point of having a tribute cover band - however famous they may be - when the real thing is there at the event to perform as well. I would have rather just listened to Ann sing all night.
Speaking of, let's listen to the real "Barracuda":
