Fanatic (album)

Fanatic is the fifteenth studio album by American/ Canadian rock band Heart, released on October 2, 2012, by Legacy Recordings. The album was recorded in hotel rooms and studios up and down the West Coast, with Grammy Award-winning producer Ben Mink, who had previously produced Red Velvet Car (2010), back at the helm.

Ann and Nancy Wilson drew from their own lives and personal experiences as inspiration for the album. "Dear Old America" comes from memories of a military household and is written from the point of view of their father, a Marine Corps officer, returning from war. "Rock Deep (Vancouver)" hearkens back to the city where Dreamboat Annie was written and "Walkin' Good" (a duet with Vancouver resident Sarah McLachlan) captures the joy of finding new life in a new love.

Fanatic debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200, selling 16,000 copies in its first week. The album also reached number 12 on Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. The song "Fanatic" peaked at number 24 on Billboard Heritage Rock chart.

Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Fanatic.

Heart

 * Ann Wilson – vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–10); background vocals (all tracks); flute (track 3)
 * Nancy Wilson – guitar (tracks 1–5, 7–10); background vocals (all tracks); mandolin (track 5)
 * Ben Mink – guitar, programming (all tracks); sonic mangling (track 1); violin (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7–9); viola (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 9); keyboards (tracks 2, 4–7, 9, 10); banjo, organ (track 3); mandolin (tracks 5, 10); field holler (track 5); background vocals (track 7); baritone viola (tracks 8, 10); string arrangements, strings (all tracks)
 * Ric Markmann – bass
 * Ben Smith – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

 * Sarah McLachlan – vocals, background vocals (track 3)

Technical

 * Ben Mink – production
 * David Leonard – recording, mixing
 * Alex Williams, Geoff Neal, Sam Hofstedt, David Eaman – engineering assistance
 * Chris Potter – recording (Sarah McLachlan vocals) (track 3)
 * Craig Waddell – mastering at Gotham City Studios (Vancouver)

Artwork

 * Mike Joyce – art direction, design
 * Norman Seeff – photography
 * Ann Wilson – sketch
 * Carol Peters – sketch
 * Ben Mink – photography