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 heart, dog/buttercup... Dec 03, 2008
8 songs are good and orig.-far as i know. but pretty easy goin rock lp for this group thats not listened too so much, just a long ever now and then due to the above i think. mistralwinds always been me fav powerhouse song on this lp w/ straighton and thetitletrac a good comm. pop hit. " a lil bit" way to short and heartless live just takes up space-they should have put another unrealsed song on here-were there any left?
 a seattlite's view Oct 02, 2008
yes, i lived in the seattle/pacific northwest for pretty much most of the late 70's and almost exclusively in the 80's. i grew up listening to heart, and i still remember where and what i was doing when i heard my first heart song. i also remember the same as to when this album was released. listening to it brings back some fond and hallowed memories from my youth, such as the seahawks amazing 9-7 records in only their 3rd and 4th seasons, the sonics title battles with the bullets, the sounders impressive clashes with the cosmos...and listening to this wonderful album brings back all of them. only weeks after the album was released would i run across anne in person while she was just acting like the seattle girl she always has been. i never knew a neighborhood acquaintence actually went to high scholl with the sisters!
the music is wonderful. it shows signs of the powerful driving guitar rock that would become far more evident, but yet it also had those sweet, harmonious, dreamy poetic songs that they were also known for in the 70s. i do wonder which parts of herself did she see as the dog, and which part of herself was the butterfly? as a poet and songwriter, i can realized such things. "maybe its living, that's making us give in." one would suggest the growing separation between one's dreams and reality; or possibly between the mind and the heart. whatever specifically it is, it is personal, and beautiful...elegant performed. it brings a soft, calm smile every time i listen to it. i think it does this for many. thank you anne and nancy.
the album is one of those essential 70's rock albums. heart created 2 of them. they might have made their real fame and money in the 80's...but the purest music was in their first and fourth. though bebe le strange was good for its own merits...but they were pushing a point there.
this is almost purely accoustic indulgence.
buy this album, and enjoy the journey.
Dog & Butterfly Mar 22, 2008
For a long time this has been my favorite Heart album. It's their mellowest from their early era. Side 2 of the vinyl edition just blew me away, this would be songs five through eight for those unfamiliar with that format. I hadn't owned this album in many years until I got this remastered edition. At first I didn't see why it was my favorite Heart album but upon repeated listenings it's the four songs "Dog & Butterfly", "Lighter Touch", "Nada One" & "Mistral Wind" that really impress me. "Mistral Wind" is one of the best 'mood' songs ever done by anyone. All four of the songs are mellow but "Mistral Wind" has some passages that get heavy.
Ann Wilson is one of rock's greatest vocalists, her gifts are showcased here brilliantly. "Cook with Fire", the opening track, is the hardest rocking song here. The hit "Straight On" is great, maybe not as memorable as "Magic Man" & "Barracuda" but it holds its own with those two classics. "Hijinx" is somewhat funky, very enjoyable. The weakest song on here is the title cut. Many people don't consider this album to be as good as their first two but I disagree. Heart made a conscious effort to be mellow here & somewhat distance themselves from the comparison to Led Zeppelin.
The cd has three bonus cuts "A Little Bit", "Feels" & a live version of "Heartless" which originally was from the album Magazine, many don't consider Magazine to be a 'true' Heart album because it's mostly demos that Mushroom Records released due to Heart's new-found fame. "Heartless" was the best thing from that album & a hit in its own right. Though I'm glad it's here, it doesn't thematically agree with the mellow tone of the original album. Enjoy Heart's last album with their classic lineup of musicians, with Bebe Le Strange changes were happening within the group that would start leading to personnel changes that would hinder the group for a few years.
Cook with fire Mar 04, 2008
The live "cook with fire" is worth the price. Anne Wilson has the sexiest voice in Rock. Everything on this record is excellent. You should really check out their entire catalog. Still love these women.
Heart's bluesiest record, a fine album Feb 28, 2008
It took me a few listens to fully appreciate "Dog & Butterfly"; at first it seemed too bluesy and eclectic compared to their other records. But after a few listens it really grew on me, and now it's one of my favorite Heart records.
"Cook With Fire" is arguably Heart's toughest-rocking opening track, and they had QUITE a few of those, believe me. I really like their decision to make this track a live performance rather than a studio recording - it increases the energy and intensity of this track tenfold. Nancy Wilson "plays a rippin' harmonica(!) on this song.
Next is "High Time", with a bouncy rhythm that anticipates the sound of "Bebe le Strange", their next record.
"Hijinx" is an sly little blues ditty, but seems to be missing something.
"Straight On" is one of Heart's signature tunes; listen to the sample if you've never heard it before. If you don't like it, don't bother with this record and abandon any hope of ever calling yourself a Heart fan.
"Dog & Butterfly", the title track, is probably Heart's most heartfelt song (pun not intended I swear). Just listen to the lyrics; they're warm, melancholy, and metaphorical all at the same time. It's also one of the few songs that has made me cry. This version is quite good, but I prefer their live version of this song from "The Road Home".
"Lighter Touch" is a typical Heart depth cut, laid-back and soothing, but there's nothing particularly special about it. Ditto for "Nada One". You'll either love them or skip over them while listening to this CD.
Then there's "Mistral Wind". This is about as close to "Stairway to Heaven" as Heart ever got. "Mistral Wind" is absolutely epic, capturing the two moods of lying on a boat in a period of calm and then getting tossed around by a sudden tempest. It's an allegory for falling in love. The lyrics to this track are truly poetic and smack of Robert Plant. It's my favorite song on this CD and probably my favorite Heart track from this period in their careers.
This CD remastered edition features three bonus tracks - a live version of "Heartless" and two studio outtakes. The live version of "Heartless" isn't that different from the studio version on "Magazine", just roughed up a little. "Feels" is a great song, probably an earlier version of "Johnny Moon" (from "Passionworks"), judging by the chord progression. "A Little Bit" is just an acoustic guitar ditty.
With "Dog & Butterfly", Heart begins to move away from the folk-rock of their earlier albums and towards a more blues-rock sound. It's not flawless, but it's one of the better albums out there.
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![Dog & Butterfly [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515GR1HkanL._SL160_.jpg "Dog & Butterfly [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS]")
