# Little Queen
**Little Queen** is the second studio album by the American rock band Heart, released on May 14, 1977, on [Portrait Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/portrait-records).[1](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-little-queen-35/) The album followed the band's debut *Dreamboat Annie* (1976) and its hit "Magic Man," and it opens with "Barracuda," the song most closely identified with the band's 1970s catalog.[1](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-little-queen-35/) • [2](https://music.apple.com/us/album/little-queen/193520066) It was recorded and mixed at Kaye-Smith Studios in Seattle, Washington between February and April 1977, with Mike Flicker producing.[3](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200012298)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | Heart (Ann Wilson lead vocals; Nancy Wilson vocals, piano; Roger Fisher guitar; Howard Leese electric guitar; Michael Derosier drums; Steve Fossen bass)[3](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200012298) |
| Release | May 14, 1977, Portrait Records, 10 tracks, 39 minutes[1](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-little-queen-35/) • [2](https://music.apple.com/us/album/little-queen/193520066) |
| Recording | Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle, February–April 1977; produced by Mike Flicker[3](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200012298) |
| Singles | "Barracuda" (US #11, May 1977), "Little Queen" (US #62, September 1977), "Kick It Out" (US #79, November 1977)[4](https://www.rockvf.com/album.php?album=Little+Queen&artist=Heart) |
| Canadian certifications | Gold June 1, 1977; Platinum August 1, 1977; Double Platinum December 1, 1977[5](https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Little+Queen+Heart) |
| UK chart | Peak position 34 on the Official Albums Chart, first charted July 23, 1977[6](https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/heart-little-queen/) |
## Background and recording
Heart had built a substantial following with *Dreamboat Annie* before the *Little Queen* sessions began.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/album/little-queen-mw0000190298) The sessions were shadowed by a legal dispute. Producer Mike Flicker recalled that a lawyer told the band there was a hearing in three weeks and that it was uncertain whether they would be stopped from completing *Little Queen* until the lawsuit was settled.[1](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-little-queen-35/) AllMusic lists the album as Heart's major-label debut, released on the Portrait label.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/little-queen-expanded-edition--mr0000920951)
[Ann Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-wilson)'s experiences of misogyny in the music business informed the lyrics of "Barracuda."[1](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-little-queen-35/)
## Music
The album alternates hard rock with folk-influenced, acoustic material. AllMusic's reviewer Alex Henderson describes the sound as loud-and-proud, [Led Zeppelin](https://www.edgepedia.org/led-zeppelin)-influenced hard rock that brought [Heart](https://www.edgepedia.org/heart-band) attention, but notes that hard rock by no means dominates the album: much of it consists of folk-influenced, acoustic-oriented songs such as "Treat Me Well" and "Cry to Me."[7](https://www.allmusic.com/album/little-queen-mw0000190298) Apple Music's editorial description notes funk grooves on the title track and a reggae-tinged "Say Hello," with [Nancy Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/nancy-wilson-rock-musician) taking lead vocal on the ballad "Treat Me Well."[2](https://music.apple.com/us/album/little-queen/193520066) A contemporary review described the acoustic guitar introduction "Sylvan Song" as similar to the complex guitar introduction to "Crazy on You" from the debut.[9](https://contentdm.ad.umbc.edu/digital/api/collection/Retriever/id/9778/download)
The running order on the original Portrait LP is: [Barracuda](https://www.edgepedia.org/barracuda), Love Alive, Sylvan Song, Dream of the Archer, Kick It Out, Little Queen, Treat Me Well, Say Hello, Cry to Me, and Go on Cry.[10](https://atlasrecords.co.uk/products/heart-little-queen-lp-vinyl-605707) Track durations as cataloged by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame library: Barracuda 4:20, Love Alive 4:21, Sylvan Song 2:12, Dream of the Archer 4:30, Kick It Out 2:44, Little Queen 5:10, Treat Me Well 3:24, Say Hello 3:36, Cry to Me 2:51, Go on Cry 5:52.[3](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200012298)
## Singles and chart performance
"Barracuda" was the lead single, reaching number 11 on the US [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) chart in May 1977. The title track followed in September 1977, reaching US number 62, and "Kick It Out" reached US number 79 in November 1977.[4](https://www.rockvf.com/album.php?album=Little+Queen&artist=Heart) In Canada the album was certified Gold on June 1, 1977, Platinum on August 1, 1977, and Double Platinum on December 1, 1977.[5](https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Little+Queen+Heart) A 1977 CBS advertisement declared the album platinum and announced the title cut as the follow-up single to "Barracuda."[11](https://device.report/m/e8a6d8f48f0c20edea121ea46d64ff3244e3436f0457d68274be8cb1cc1d1961.pdf) In the UK it peaked at number 34 on the Official Albums Chart, entering the chart on July 23, 1977.[6](https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/heart-little-queen/)
## Reception and later assessment
Contemporary reviews were mixed. A 1977 [Georgia Tech](https://www.edgepedia.org/georgia-tech) student-paper review called *Little Queen* "somewhat of a disappointment" after a year of waiting for a sequel to the platinum debut, while treating "Barracuda" as one of the saving graces.[12](https://repository.gatech.edu/bitstreams/9035199a-d56c-4818-8e43-88df3ac5a42c/download) A UMBC student paper also reported criticism from fans of the first album, calling the record very mellow and self-conscious.[9](https://contentdm.ad.umbc.edu/digital/api/collection/Retriever/id/9778/download)
Retrospective judgment has been more favorable. AllMusic calls it the record with which Heart solidified its niche in hard rock and arena rock, "equally impressive" to *Dreamboat Annie*.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/album/little-queen-mw0000190298) "Barracuda" appears in the [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame)'s "500 Songs That Shaped Rock" list.[13](https://musicbrainz.org/release/9e38254a-a492-3e41-8d9f-2f52b311aa45) Album of the Year aggregates a critic score of 90 based on one review and a user score of 77 from 302 ratings.[14](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/46377-heart-little-queen.php)
## Reissues
The album has been reissued many times. A 1986 British press report noted Heart's first Portrait album being reissued after pressure from Sounds writer [Tony Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-stewart).[15](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Sounds/80s/86/Sounds-1986-07-19-S-OCR.pdf) A 2004 24-bit remastered and expanded edition was reviewed by AllMusic's Thom Jurek as "a revelation."[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/little-queen-expanded-edition--mr0000920951) A Friday Music 180-gram LP reissue followed on August 5, 2016.[16](https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/little-queen-mr0004683552)
## References
1. [How Heart Overcame Storm of Controversy to Release 'Little Queen', Ultimate Classic Rock](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-little-queen-35/)
2. [Little Queen – Album by Heart, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/little-queen/193520066)
3. [Little Queen – Heart, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library catalog](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200012298)
4. [Little Queen • Album • Heart, Rock VF](https://www.rockvf.com/album.php?album=Little+Queen&artist=Heart)
5. [Gold & Platinum, Music Canada](https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Little+Queen+Heart)
6. [LITTLE QUEEN – HEART, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/heart-little-queen/)
7. [Heart: Little Queen Tracks & Reviews, AllMusic (Alex Henderson review)](https://www.allmusic.com/album/little-queen-mw0000190298)
8. [Little Queen [Expanded Edition] – Heart, AllMusic (Thom Jurek review)](https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/little-queen-expanded-edition--mr0000920951)
9. [Editorial Comment, The Retriever (UMBC), August 30, 1977](https://contentdm.ad.umbc.edu/digital/api/collection/Retriever/id/9778/download)
10. [Heart – Little Queen LP, Atlas Records listing with tracklist](https://atlasrecords.co.uk/products/heart-little-queen-lp-vinyl-605707)
11. [1977 CBS advertisement for Heart's Little Queen](https://device.report/m/e8a6d8f48f0c20edea121ea46d64ff3244e3436f0457d68274be8cb1cc1d1961.pdf)
12. [The Technique (Georgia Tech), May 27, 1977 review](https://repository.gatech.edu/bitstreams/9035199a-d56c-4818-8e43-88df3ac5a42c/download)
13. [Little Queen – Heart release, MusicBrainz (awards annotation)](https://musicbrainz.org/release/9e38254a-a492-3e41-8d9f-2f52b311aa45)
14. [Heart – Little Queen, Album of the Year](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/46377-heart-little-queen.php)
15. [Sounds, July 19, 1986](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Sounds/80s/86/Sounds-1986-07-19-S-OCR.pdf)
16. [Little Queen – Heart (Friday Music LP reissue), AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/little-queen-mr0004683552)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical practice and theory › Popular music genres › Rock works, labels, discographies, awards, and infrastructure › Rock studio albums › 1970s rock albums*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license