Tell It Like It Is
Heart | Artist Essentials
First released: 1980 (year verified)
Original 1980 Heart studio recording issued with Greatest Hits/Live; not a live performance
MusicAtlas editorial note: The patient studio arrangement gives the lead voice room for long phrases and carefully placed emphasis.
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Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1980 (year verified)
The licensed original 1980 Greatest Hits/Live program identifies this studio recording separately from its explicitly labeled concert tracks. The mixed anthology title and the later 1981 annual appearance do not change the original recording identity or year.
Recording: Original 1980 Heart studio recording issued with Greatest Hits/Live; not a live performance
Credit: Heart
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original album: Greatest Hits/Live
Original album association; the supported year is not an exact worldwide release day.
Greatest Hits/Live - licensed original Heart program
The licensed 1980 Greatest Hits/Live program distinguishes the new Tell It Like It Is studio recording from explicitly labeled live performances, including the concert Mistral Wind. Older hits keep their earlier original years. The mixed studio/live anthology title does not make every track a live recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-18
In the yearly lists
These are listening-list appearances, separate from the first-release date.
The retained 1981 band hit identifies the original new 1980 studio recording within Greatest Hits/Live. It is not one of the anthology concert performances or another artist recording of the song.
Greatest Hits/Live - licensed original Heart program
The licensed 1980 Greatest Hits/Live program distinguishes the new Tell It Like It Is studio recording from explicitly labeled live performances, including the concert Mistral Wind. Older hits keep their earlier original years. The mixed studio/live anthology title does not make every track a live recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-18
About Heart
Heart developed from the Pacific Northwest rock scene around the powerful singing of Ann Wilson and the guitar work of Nancy Wilson. The band combined hard-rock riffs with acoustic passages and folk textures, supported by players including Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen, Howard Leese and Michael DeRosier. Its debut Dreamboat Annie appeared through Vancouver label Mushroom Records in 1975, before the US release. Little Queen and Dog & Butterfly continued that range; the 1980s albums gave large vocal melodies more prominent keyboard settings.
Artist background sources
Heart - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame profile
The museum describes the combination of hard rock and folk, the central musical roles of Ann and Nancy Wilson, and inducted members Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen, Howard Leese and Michael DeRosier. Used for concise band context rather than exact recording release dates. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Heart - Rhino career and edition context
The label account supports Pacific Northwest roots, Ann Wilson vocals, Nancy Wilson guitar work, the mixture of rock and acoustic textures, and the 1980s album progression. Its discussion of the withdrawn and revised Magazine programs motivates a separate future edition review. Its inconsistent debut chronology and placement of Tell It Like It Is are not adopted as recording metadata. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Heart - original Canadian Dreamboat Annie release and track program
The official artist and label reissue announcement explicitly identifies the original Mushroom Records Canadian album in August 1975 and the later US release in February 1976. It reproduces the original ten-track sequence, distinguishing Dreamboat Annie, Fantasy Child and Reprise. Only the original 1975 year is adopted; promotional superlatives and exact-day claims are excluded. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Heart - licensed original Heart program
The licensed original program identifies the selected Heart studio recordings and their original 1985 year. Only original program tracks are selected. Placeholder January dates, modern reissue dates and later concert versions are not used as exact first-release evidence. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Bad Animals - licensed original Heart program
The licensed original program identifies the selected Heart studio recordings and their original 1987 year. Only original program tracks are selected. Placeholder January dates, modern reissue dates and later concert versions are not used as exact first-release evidence. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-18. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
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