Heart – Bebe Le Strange
(Epic Records 1980 84135)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing
Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
Insert in Nr MINT condition
Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
Heart is an American rock band that first found success in Canada and later in the United States and worldwide. Over the group’s four-decade history, it has had three primary lineups, with the constant center of the group since 1973 being sisters Ann Wilson (lead singer) and Nancy Wilson (guitarist). Heart rose to fame in the mid-1970s with music influenced by hard rock and heavy metal, as well as folk music. Their popularity declined in the early 1980s, but the band enjoyed a comeback starting in 1985 and experienced even greater success with album-oriented rock hits and hard-rock ballads into the 1990s. With Jupiters Darling (2004), Red Velvet Car (2010), Fanatic (2012), and Beautiful Broken (2016) Heart made a return to its hard rock and acoustic folk roots.
To date, Heart has sold over 35 million records worldwide, including over 22.5 million in album sales in the U.S. The group was ranked number 57 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. With Top 10 albums on the Billboard Album Chart in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2010s, Heart is among the most commercially enduring hard rock bands in history. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
Since 2002, the band has had six members.
Bébé le Strange is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Heart. It was released on February 14, 1980, by 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 US Billboard 200 and spending 22 weeks on the chart. On May 5, 1980, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Bébé le Strange spawned the singles “Even It Up” (backed by the Tower of Power horn 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.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ann Wilson, Sue Ennis, and Nancy Wilson, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Bebe le Strange” |
|
3:38 |
| 2. | “Down on Me” | 4:46 | |
| 3. | “Silver Wheels” | N. Wilson | 1:22 |
| 4. | “Break” | 2:32 | |
| 5. | “Rockin Heaven Down” | 5:52 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | “Even It Up” | 5:10 | |
| 7. | “Strange Night” | 4:16 | |
| 8. | “Raised on You” | N. Wilson | 3:21 |
| 9. | “Pilot” | 3:15 | |
| 10. | “Sweet Darlin” | A. Wilson | 3:18 |
| Total length: | 37:30 | ||
Personnel
Heart
- Ann Wilson – lead vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–7, 9, 10); tambourine (tracks 1, 5, 6, 10); bass (tracks 1, 6, 10); backup vocals (tracks 1, 6, 7, 9); rhythm guitars (tracks 2, 6); drums, alto flute, piano (track 10)
- Nancy Wilson – guitar (tracks 1, 4, 9); backup vocals (tracks 1, 5–7, 9); Mellotron (track 2); electric guitar (track 5); lead guitar (track 6); acoustic guitars (track 7); lead vocals, all instruments except drums (track 8)
- Howard Leese – guitar (tracks 1, 4, 9); lead guitar (track 1); synthesizer (track 2); backward solo (track 4); electric guitar (tracks 5, 7); acoustic guitars (track 5); backup vocals (tracks 5, 9); rhythm guitars (track 6); keyboards (track 9)
- Michael Derosier – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4–9); rhythm instruments (track 7)
- Steve Fossen – bass (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
Additional musicians
- Sue Ennis – guitar (track 1); piano (track 10)
- Chrissy Shefts – guitar (track 1)
- Connie – acoustic guitars (tracks 5, 10)
- Don Wilhelm – backup vocals (track 5)
- Gary Humphreys – backup vocals (track 5)
- Tower of Power (Lenny Pickett, Greg Adams, Emilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Mic Gillette) – horn section (track 6)
Technical
- Mike Flicker – production, engineering, mixing
- Connie – production
- Howie – production
- Rob Perkins – engineering
- Armin Steiner – horn engineering (track 6)
- Stewart Whitmore – horn engineering assistance (track 6)
- John Golden – mastering at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California
Artwork
- Tony Lane – art direction
- Tim Girvin – logo graphics
- Jeff Burger – photography
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