Listen To This Shit: Ann’s Immigrant Song

Growing up, my family only had three options for non-radio music in my father’s automobile: some homemade Doo-wop mix, Kool & the Gang’s Celebrate!, and Heart’s self-titled album. The last of these three options shot up to #1 on the Billboard 200 charts in these United States, but I’m not sure the 1985 offering was the Wilson sisters’ best effort. That album marked the duo’s shift into pop, and it effectively spelled the end of Ann and Nancy’s reign as Queens of Rock.

But early Heart actually kicks quite a large amount of ass, and the band’s first few albums pack a hard-rock punch that few female-led bands have accomplished since. Ann Wilson is a lyrical badass, with pipes to beat the band, and I’m fairly excited to check out her first solo album, Hope & Glory. Well, it’s not quite solo, with guests including her sister, Elton John, Winona Judd, Alison Krauss and others.

The lead track is a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, brought to my attention by our diligent researcher, Jon Hochstat. It’s equal parts cool and creepy — no, probably 75% creepy and 25% cool — backed by an avant-garde guitar at one point, but Wilson’s Plant-i-ness perhaps bests Bobby P. himself at this age. I love covers that take a little liberty with the original, and she’s clearly accomplished that here. Take a listen below, and let us know what you think…