Bebe Le Strange
Encyclopedia
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.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
. It was released on February 14, 1980 through Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. It was the first album without Roger Fisher
Roger Fisher (guitarist)
Roger Fisher is a guitarist primarily known as one of the founding members of the band Heart. His tenure lasted from 1967 until 1980.-Career:...
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
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and staying in the charts for 22 weeks. The record contained the hit singles "Even It Up
Even it Up
"Even It Up" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart. It was released in 1980 as the first single from the band's fifth studio album Bebe le Strange...
" (backed by the Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
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
- "Bebe le StrangeBebe Le Strange (song)"Bébé le Strange" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart. It was released in 1980 as the second single from the band's fifth studio album Bebe le Strange. It was the first song from the band which did not chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was the final single released from the album...
" (Ann WilsonAnn WilsonAnn Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.-Personal life:...
, Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (guitarist)Nancy Lamoureux Wilson is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer who, with her older sister Ann and lead guitarist Roger Fisher, became the core of the Seattle/Vancouver rock band Heart.-Life and career:...
, Sue EnnisSue EnnisSue Ennis is a Seattle songwriter whose songs include Classic Rock radio staples Straight On, Even It Up and Dog and Butterfly. She has co-written over 65 songs for the rock band Heart and co-wrote the theme from The Golden Child starring Eddie Murphy with James Bond composer, John Barry, Ann and...
, Roger FisherRoger Fisher (guitarist)Roger Fisher is a guitarist primarily known as one of the founding members of the band Heart. His tenure lasted from 1967 until 1980.-Career:...
) – 3:40 - "Down on Me" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 4:45
- "Silver Wheels" (N. Wilson) – 1:24
- "Break" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 2:32
- "Rockin Heaven Down" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 5:54
- "Even It UpEven it Up"Even It Up" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart. It was released in 1980 as the first single from the band's fifth studio album Bebe le Strange...
" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 5:10 - "Strange Night" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 4:18
- "Raised on You" (N. Wilson) – 3:21
- "Pilot" (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 3:18
- "Sweet Darlin'" (A. Wilson) – 3:17
Bonus tracks (CD reissue)
- "BreakBreakBreak may refer to:* Break * Recess , a general term for a period of time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties* Break , time off during a shift...
" (live) (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 3:03 - "Jackleg Man" (studio outtake) (A. Wilson, N. Wilson, Ennis) – 3:05
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 78 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 24 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 50 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 5 |
Personnel
- Ann WilsonAnn WilsonAnn Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.-Personal life:...
– lead vocals, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, flute (Alto)Western concert fluteThe Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Nancy Wilson – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, piano, bass guitar - Howard LeeseHoward LeeseHoward M. Leese is an American guitarist, record producer and musical director who played with Heart for 22 years...
– guitar, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Mike DeRosier – drums, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Steve Fossen – bass guitar
Additional musicians
- Sue EnnisSue EnnisSue Ennis is a Seattle songwriter whose songs include Classic Rock radio staples Straight On, Even It Up and Dog and Butterfly. She has co-written over 65 songs for the rock band Heart and co-wrote the theme from The Golden Child starring Eddie Murphy with James Bond composer, John Barry, Ann and...
– guitar, piano - Greg Adams – horn sectionHorn sectionIn music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
- Emilio Castillo – horn section
- Steve Kupka – horn section
- Lenny Pickett – horn section
- Mic GilletteMic GilletteMic Gillette is an American brass player born in 1951 and raised in northern California's East Bay area. He is famous for being a member of Tower of Power, Cold Blood, and The Sons of Champlin....
– horn section - Chrissy Shefts – guitar
- Gary Humphrey – backing vocals
- Don Wilhelm – backing vocals