Even It Up
{{Infobox song
| name = Even It Up
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Heart
| album = Bébé le Strange
| B-side = Pilot
| released = January 1980 (US) {{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Heart&titel=Even+It+Up&cat=s|title=Heart singles}}
| recorded = 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock
| length = 3:48 (Promo Version)
5:09 (Album/Single Version)
| label = Epic
| writer = Ann Wilson
Nancy Wilson
Sue Ennis
| producer = Mike Flicker
| prev_title = Dog and Butterfly
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Bebe le Strange
| next_year = 1980
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|XLhxF-Un39k|"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. The song is an uptempo rock and roll number which lyrically is sung by a woman who is demanding that her lover "even it up" by reciprocating the effort that she has put forth in their relationship.
Cash Box said it has "steamy lead guitar riffs" and "aggressively sensual lead vocals."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=February 9, 1980|page=17|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1980/CB-1980-02-09.pdf}}
This song is the first of three Heart tunes to utilize the Tower of Power horn section, along with their cover of Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is" and "Tall Dark Handsome Stranger" from 1990's Brigade.{{cite web|title=Tower of Power Discography|url=https://towerofpower.com/horn-section-discography}}
"Even It Up" peaked at number 33 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
"That song was written in about '79 or '80, and it was definitely a response to being obstructed as women in the rock field. There are so many systemic things that get thrown up in front of you, different glass walls and stuff. We were speaking out against it then," said singer Ann Wilson.{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/ann-wilson-of-heart|title=Ann Wilson of Heart : Songwriter Interviews |last=Prato|first=Greg|website= Songfacts|date=April 26, 2022 |accessdate=April 27, 2022}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bebe 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, bass, tambourine, backup vocals
- Nancy Wilson – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backup vocals
- Howard Leese – rhythm guitar, backup vocals
- Michael DeRosier – drums
Additional musicians
- Tower of Power (Lenny Pickett, Greg Adams, Emilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Mic Gillette) – horn section
Chart performance
class="wikitable sortable" |
Chart (1980)
!Peak |
---|
align="left"|Canadian Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=53gtrvbfj0gk7r9b4sd40dtvu0&q1=Heart+Bebe+Le+Strange&q2=Top+Singles&interval=50 |title=Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=2012-06-23}}
| style="text-align:center;"|56 |
align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/303367/heart/chart?f=379 |title=Heart - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2016-10-16}}
| style="text-align:center;"|33 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Heart (band)}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Sue Ennis
Category:Songs written by Nancy Wilson (rock musician)