Although Heart re-conquered the charts during the mid to late ‘80s, the band forfeited the organic sound of their early recordings in favor of pop gloss. By the early ‘90s, the Wilson sisters (vocalist Ann and guitarist Nancy) were ready to return to their roots, which they attempted to do so in the form of a side band, the Lovemongers. The group (which saw the Wilson's joined by keyboardist Sue Ennis, guitarist Frank Cox, and drummer Ben Smith) debuted on the motion picture soundtrack to Cameron Crowe's 1992 film, Singles, with a dead-on cover of the Led Zeppelin folk classic, "The Battle of Evermore." The group issued a four-song EP a year later, The Battle of Evermore, which included the Zep cover once more, in addition to covers by Todd Rundgren, the Temptations, and even the early Heart classic, "Crazy on You." The band took several years to offer a proper full-length release, which finally arrived in the form of 1997's Whirlygig.
A sparkling and diverse EP of covers, recorded live by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart and a couple of cohorts. The title track, a song from Led Zeppelin's fourth album, is just stunning. We also get Todd Rundgren's "Love of the Common Man," the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" and a dramatic rendition of Heart's "Crazy on You," showcasing Ann's versatile voice, which is alternately gritty and soaring. A real gem.