Bébé le Strange
{{for|the song|Bebe le Strange (song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Bébé le Strange
| type = studio
| artist = Heart
| cover = Heart - Bebe le Strange.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1980|2|14}}
| recorded = 1979
| studio = Kaye-Smith, Seattle, Washington
| genre = Hard rock
| length = 37:30
| label = Epic
| producer =
- Mike Flicker
- Connie{{efn|name=Connie}}
- Howie
| prev_title = Dog & Butterfly
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Greatest Hits/Live
| next_year = 1980
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Bébé le Strange
| type = studio
| single1 = Even It Up
| single1date = January 1980{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Heart&titel=Even+It+Up&cat=s |title=Heart – Even It Up |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=November 30, 2021}}
| single2 = Raised on You
| single2date = April 1980{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Heart&titel=Raised+On+You&cat=s |title=Heart – Raised On You |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=November 30, 2021}}
| single3 = Bebe le Strange
| single3date = June 1980{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Heart&titel=Bebe+le+Strange&cat=s |title=Heart – Bebe le Strange |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=November 30, 2021}}
}}
}}
Bébé le Strange is the fifth studio album by American rock band Heart, 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.
On June 29, 2004, the album was re-released by Epic and Legacy Recordings in a remastered expanded edition, containing two bonus tracks: the studio outtake "Jackleg Man" and a live version of "Break".
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bebe-le-strange-mw0000650242 |title=Bebe le Strange – Heart |last=Jurek |first=Thom |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 30, 2014}}
| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide
| rev3 = PopMatters
| rev3score = Unfavorable{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/heart-littlequeen-2495937563.html |title=Heart: Little Queen / Dog & Butterfly / Bebe Le Strange (reissue) |last=Horning |first=Rob |website=PopMatters |date=August 9, 2004 |access-date=May 21, 2020}}
| rev4 = Rolling Stone
| rev4score = Unfavorable{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/heart/albums/album/179115/review/5942361/bebe_le_strange |title=Heart: Bebe Le Strange : Music Reviews |last=Carson |first=Tom |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 1, 1980 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605235331/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/heart/albums/album/179115/review/5942361/bebe_le_strange |archive-date=June 5, 2008}}
| rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Coleman |first1=Mark |last2=Berger |first2=Arion |chapter=Heart |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA372 |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |edition=4th |location=New York |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/372 372] |isbn=0-7432-0169-8}}
}}
Record World wrote of the single "Raised on You" that "{{sic|Anne's}} lavish lead is enhanced by bold keyboard runs and Nancy's confident guitar."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=April 26, 1980|accessdate=2023-02-19|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/80/RW-1980-04-26.pdf}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| all_writing = Ann Wilson, Sue Ennis, and Nancy Wilson, except where noted
| title1 = Bébé le Strange
| writer1 = {{hlist|A. Wilson|Ennis|N. Wilson|Roger Fisher}}
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Down on Me
| length2 = 4:46
| title3 = Silver Wheels
| writer3 = N. Wilson
| length3 = 1:22
| title4 = Break
| length4 = 2:32
| title5 = Rockin Heaven Down
| length5 = 5:52
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title6 = Even It Up
| length6 = 5:10
| title7 = Strange Night
| length7 = 4:16
| title8 = Raised on You
| writer8 = N. Wilson
| length8 = 3:21
| title9 = Pilot
| length9 = 3:15
| title10 = Sweet Darlin{{'-}}
| writer10 = A. Wilson
| length10 = 3:18
| total_length = 37:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 2004 remastered reissue bonus tracks{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/bebe-le-strange-expanded-mr0000566387 |title=Bebe le Strange [Expanded] – Heart |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 21, 2020}}
| title11 = Jackleg Man
| note11 = previously unreleased
| length11 = 3:02
| title12 = Break
| note12 = live
| length12 = 3:03
| total_length = 43:35
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bébé le Strange.{{cite AV media notes |title=Bébé le Strange |type=liner notes |others=Heart |publisher=Epic Records |year=1980 |id=FE 36371}}
=Heart=
- Ann Wilson – lead vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–7, 9, 10)}}; tambourine {{small|(tracks 1, 5, 6, 10)}}; bass {{small|(tracks 1, 6, 10)}}; backup vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 6, 7, 9)}}; drums, alto flute, piano {{small|(track 10)}}
- Nancy Wilson – guitars {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 9)}}; backup vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 5–7, 9)}}; rhythm guitars {{small|(tracks 2, 6)}}; Mellotron {{small|(track 2)}}; acoustic guitars {{small|(tracks 3, 7)}}; electric guitar {{small|(track 5)}}; lead guitar {{small|(track 6)}}; lead vocals, all instruments except drums {{small|(track 8)}}
- Howard Leese – guitars {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 9)}}; lead guitar {{small|(track 2)}}; synthesizer {{small|(track 2)}}; backward solo {{small|(track 4)}}; electric guitar {{small|(tracks 5, 7)}}; acoustic guitars {{small|(track 5)}}; backup vocals {{small|(tracks 5, 9)}}; rhythm guitars {{small|(track 6)}}; keyboards {{small|(track 9)}}
- Michael Derosier – drums {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–9)}}; rhythm instruments {{small|(track 7)}}
- Steve Fossen – bass {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)}}
=Additional musicians=
- Sue Ennis – guitar {{small|(track 1)}}; piano {{small|(track 10)}}
- Chrissy Shefts – guitar {{small|(track 1)}}
- Connie{{efn|name=Connie|Connie is a pseudonym for Nancy Wilson, Sue Ennis, and Ann Wilson.}} – acoustic guitars {{small|(tracks 5, 10)}}
- Don Wilhelm – backup vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
- Gary Humphreys – backup vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
- Tower of Power (Lenny Pickett, Greg Adams, Emilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Mic Gillette) – horn section {{small|(track 6)}}
=Technical=
- Mike Flicker – production, engineering, mixing
- Connie{{efn|name=Connie}} – production
- Howie – production
- Rob Perkins – engineering
- Armin Steiner – horn engineering {{small|(track 6)}}
- Stewart Whitmore – horn engineering assistance {{small|(track 6)}}
- John Golden – mastering at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California)
=Artwork=
- Tony Lane – art direction
- Tom Girvin – logo graphics
- Jeff Burger – photography
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Bébé le Strange ! scope="col"| Chart (1980) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition=illustrated |location=St Ives, N.S.W. |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=1993 |page=136 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
| 78 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Canada|24|chartid=0149a|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2020}} |
| scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}
| align="center"| 62 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|50|artist=Heart|album=Bebe le Strange|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|5|artist=Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2020|refname="bb200"}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for Bébé le Strange ! scope="col"| Chart (1980) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1980/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1980 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221160227/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1980/top-billboard-200-albums |archive-date=February 21, 2020}}
| 86 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Bébé le Strange}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Heart|title=Bebe le Strange|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1980|certyear=1980|date=July 1, 1980|access-date=May 21, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Heart|title=Bebe le Strange|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1980|certyear=1980|date=May 5, 1980|access-date=May 21, 2020|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Heart (band)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bebe le Strange}}