Heart reinvented itself for its 1985 self-titled album, adopting outside-written songs and a more MTV-friendly image after declining commercial momentum in the early 1980s. The strategy made the band major pop stars again, but it also reduced the Wilson sisters’ creative involvement, creating lasting ambivalence about the record’s success.

Capitol Records encouraged Heart to record material by outside writers, a departure from the band’s earlier approach. The album produced three Top 10 singles—“What About Love”, “Never” and the Nancy Wilson-led chart-topper “These Dreams”—while its promotional videos boosted visibility; however, only one of its five singles included even a partial band songwriting credit. Heart continued this commercially successful formula on 1987’s Bad Animals and 1990’s Brigade before regaining more artistic control on 1993’s Desire Walks On.