HEART - MISTRAL WIND

Released: October 7, 1978

Album: Dog & Butterfly

“Dog & Butterfly” is Heart's fourth studio album, released in September 1978 by Portrait Records after a legal dispute with their previous label, Mushroom Records. This album followed the release of “Magazine” earlier that year. “Dog & Butterfly” reached No. 17 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

"Mistral Wind," an album track from “Dog & Butterfly”, is a fan favorite and a frequent part of their live performances. The song, lasting 6:42, takes listeners on a vivid, mythic journey across the sea, with lyrics that evoke a transformative, life-altering adventure. Nancy Wilson described it as a Ulysses-type song about waiting for a powerful wind to guide you, only to be swept up on a thrilling, even perilous, journey that changes one's perspective forever. The "mistral wind" itself refers to a strong, cold wind characteristic of southern France and the Mediterranean region.

"Mistral Wind" is a classic Heart track that showcases the band’s unique musical depth and dynamic power. Beginning with Nancy Wilson’s acoustic guitar, the song opens with a delicate, intimate feel as Ann Wilson delivers the lyrics in a restrained yet emotive style. At the 2:10 mark, the full band joins in, amplifying the energy as Ann’s vocals build to a powerful release, mirroring the song's stormy imagery. Often compared to "Stairway to Heaven" for its dynamics and lyrical resonance, “Mistral Wind” embodies a similar epic quality, with Heart bringing their own intensity to a track only they could pull off.

"Mistral Wind" is notable for its collaborative songwriting, credited to Ann and Nancy Wilson, guitarist Roger Fisher, and Sue Ennis, a longtime friend and frequent co-writer with the Wilsons. This track holds a special place in Heart's catalog as one of the last songs to feature Fisher, who left the band after “Dog & Butterfly”. His departure marked a lineup change that saw Heart continue as a five-piece on their next album, “Bébé le Strange”. 

Nancy Wilson considers "Mistral Wind" to be Heart's best song, describing it as a showcase of the band's strengths in storytelling, musicality, and philosophical depth. She highlighted the track’s poetic, sweeping symbolism, emphasizing its powerful structure: a dissonant guitar intro builds into a storm that immerses listeners, leaving them transformed by the song’s end. Wilson acknowledges the grand imagery but believes it accurately reflects the impact and artistry "Mistral Wind" achieve.