Rock and Roll Heart marked the beginning of Lou Reed's tenure at Arista Records, a transitional period in which the artist explored different territories without yet finding a definitive direction. Produced by Reed himself, the album mixes direct rock with elements of funk and soul in a collection of songs reflecting the musical effervescence of mid-70s New York.
The record contains some memorable songs — 'I Believe in Love' and the title track have the carefree energy of the best rock and roll — but overall it feels like a transitional work, lacking the conceptual cohesion of Berlin or the urgency of Transformer. Reed experiments with groove and rhythm in ways that foreshadow the more polished work to come.
Though not counted among his most celebrated works, Rock and Roll Heart documents Reed in a moment of creative freedom and lightness, away from grand conceptual ambitions. It is an album his followers appreciate for its honesty and carefree energy.