Heart - Bebe Le Strange {Epic US LP} 24/192khz

Bebe le Strange is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Heart. It was released on February 14, 1980 through Epic Records. It was the first album without Roger Fisher on lead guitar, who left the band months prior. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 and staying in the charts for 22 weeks. The record contained the hit singles "Even It Up" (backed by the Tower of Power horns section) and the title track. Some of the backing vocals were provided by Don Wilhelm, who had been in a group called The Army with Steve Fossen and Roger Fisher in the 1960s. The album was re-released in an expanded edition in 2004. It contained two additional songs: A live version of Break and the studio outtake Jackleg Man.







Track listing

1. "Bebe le Strange" (Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Sue Ennis, Roger Fisher) – 3:40
2. "Down on Me" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 4:45
3. "Silver Wheels" (N. Wilson) – 1:24
4. "Break" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 2:32
5. "Rockin Heaven Down" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 5:54
6. "Even It Up" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 5:10
7. "Strange Night" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 4:18
8. "Raised on You" (N. Wilson) – 3:21
9. "Pilot" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 3:18
10. "Sweet Darlin'" (A. Wilson) – 3:17






Personnel

Ann Wilson – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar , drums, flute (Alto), acoustic guitar, tambourine, piano
Nancy Wilson – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, mellotron, piano, bass guitar
Howard Leese – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, backing vocals
Mike DeRosier – drums, percussion
Steve Fossen – bass guitar

Additional musicians

Sue Ennis – guitar, piano
Greg Adams – horn section
Emilio Castillo – horn section
Steve Kupka – horn section
Lenny Pickett – horn section
Mic Gillette – horn section
Chrissy Shefts – guitar
Gary Humphrey – backing vocals
Don Wilhelm – backing vocals




Review

by Thom Jurek

Bebe le Strange, Heart's entrance into the 1980s, was a rough one. Heart were certainly questioning their identity here, as evidenced by their feeble attempt at punky new wave on "Break." It was the band's first without guitarist Roger Fisher – longtime co-writer and guitarist Sue Ennis stepped in for the sessions – and his absence is felt here; there is a distinct lack of his elegant approach to acoustic guitar and his tasty lead work. Much of the deeply textured sonic lushness of the band's earlier records is relegated to the back burner and production touches are focused on compression. Instead of creating spaces, they seem to break them down. Perhaps the Wilson sisters were feeling the pressure of punk and new wave and trying to update their sound for the new decade, but it was a mistake. Heart's trademark sound is timeless, and there are flashes of it here on cuts such as Nancy Wilson's gorgeous ballad "Silver Wheels" and the rocked-up single "Even It Up," but overall, Bebe le Strange feels unfocused and restless. The urgency on tracks like "Raised on You" and "Down on Me" (not the Janis Joplin tune) feels forced, and Ann's "Sweet Darlin'" falls too late in the proceedings – it might have made a wonderful addition to the middle of the set, but here, one of the album's best melodies falls into near obscurity by its placement.


Review

by Robert Christgau

Bebe Le Strange [Epic, 1980]
So Nancy Wilson breaks up with her fella, soundman Mike Fisher, who naturally departs the band, along with his brother Roger, who happens to be the guitarist. And whether it's the absence of pomp-rockish Roger, stripping to a five-piece, or what hell hath no fury like, suddenly they're lean and mean and playing to the sisters–title cut's a fan letter to the female Johnny B. Goode, who I guess is Nancy, now playing a lot of lead. Take note, fellas–as Zep rips go, this one is something special, and not just for its sexual politics. Unfortunately, things go gushy at the end with an Ann-penned love song. Men–who needs 'em? B+