Bébé le Strange

Bébé le Strange
Studio album by Heart
Released	February 14, 1980
Recorded	Kaye Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington, Winter 1979
Genre	Hard rock
Length	37:28
Label	Epic
Producer	Mike Flicker, Connie (Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Sue Ennis) & Howie (Howard Leese)
Heart chronology
Dog and Butterfly (1978) Bébé le Strange (1980) Greatest Hits Live (1980)
Singles from Bébé le Strange
"Even It Up" / "Pilot" Released: March 1980 "Bebe le Strange" / "Silver Wheels" Released: July 1980

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B+[2]
Rolling Stone	(unfavorable)[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]
PopMatters	(unfavorable)[5]

Bébé 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 founding member Roger Fisher on lead guitar, who had left the band months prior along with his brother Michael.

The album was a commercial success, peaking at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200^[6] and staying in the charts for 22 weeks. It also was certified Gold by the RIAA.^[7] However it did not sell as well as their previous albums (which had gone Platinum and Multi-Platinum). The record contained the 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, containing two additional songs: a live version of "Break" and the studio outtake "Jackleg Man".

Track listing

All tracks written by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Sue Ennis, except where indicated. 

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bebe le Strange"	A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis, Roger Fisher	3:40
2.	"Down on Me"		4:45
3.	"Silver Wheels" (instrumental)	N. Wilson	1:24
4.	"Break"		2:32
5.	"Rockin Heaven Down"		5:54

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Even It Up"		5:10
7.	"Strange Night"		4:18
8.	"Raised on You"	N. Wilson	3:21
9.	"Pilot"		3:18
10.	"Sweet Darlin"	A. Wilson	3:17

2004 Remastered Edition bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
11.	"Break" (live)	3:03
12.	"Jackleg Man" (studio outtake)	3:05

Personnel

Heart

• Ann Wilson – lead and backing vocals, bass on tracks 1, 6 and 10, acoustic guitar, flute (Alto), drums and piano on track 10, tambourine, producer
• Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, acoustic guitars, mellotron, lead vocals and bass on track 8, backing vocals, producer
• Howard Leese – lead and rhythm guitar, acoustic guitars, synthesizer, backing vocals, producer
• Steve Fossen – bass guitar
• Mike DeRosier – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Sue Ennis – guitar on track 1, acoustic guitar and piano on track 10, producer
• Chrissy Shefts – guitar on track 1
• Greg Adams, Emilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Lenny Pickett, Mic Gillette – Tower of Power horn section on track 6
• Gary Humphrey, Don Wilhelm – backing vocals on track 5

Production

• Mike Flicker – producer, engineer, mixing
• Rob Perkins, Armin Steiner – engineers
• Steward Withmore – assistant engineer
• John Golden – mastering at Kendun Recorders

Charts

Album Year Chart Position 1980 Billboard 200 (USA)[6] 5 RPM100 Albums (Canada)[8] 24 New Zealand Albums Chart[9] 50 Australian Albums Chart[10] 78

Singles Year Title Chart Position 1980 "Even It Up" Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[11] 33 RPM100 Singles (Canada)[12] 56

Certifications

Country	Organization	Year	Sales
USA	RIAA	1980	Gold (+ 500,000)[7]
Canada	CRIA	1980	Platinum (+ 100,000)[13]

References

1. Jurek, Thom. "Heart - Bebe le Strange review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
2. Robert Christgau. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Heart". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
3. Tom Carson (May 1, 1980). "Heart: Bebe Le Strange : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
4. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 372. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
5. Horning, Rob (August 9, 2004). "Heart: Little Queen / Dog & Butterfly / Bebe Le Strange (reissue)". PopMatters. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
6. "Bebe le Strange Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
7. "RIAA Searchable database: search for "Bebe le Strange"". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
8. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 33, No. 5, April 26, 1980". Library and Archives Canada. April 26, 1980. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
9. "Heart – Bebe le Strange (album)". Charts.org.nz. Media Control Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. "Bebe le Strange Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
12. "Top Singles - Volume 33, No. 6, May 03 1980". Library and Archives Canada. May 3, 1980. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
13. "Gold Platinum Search for Heart". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 July 2014.