Heart – Bébé le Strange (1980)
📀 Album Overview
Bébé le Strange is the fifth studio album by American rock band Heart, released in 1980. It was the first album recorded after the departure of guitarist Roger Fisher, marking a significant lineup change and a shift toward a more streamlined hard rock sound. Despite internal transitions, the album was commercially successful and continued Heart’s presence in mainstream rock.
🎶 Genre
The album is primarily hard rock, with elements of arena rock and traces of folk rock in its songwriting. Compared to earlier albums, it has a more polished and direct rock production style, with less of the acoustic duality seen in Dog & Butterfly.
💿 Tracklist
- Bebe le Strange
- Down on Me
- Silver Wheels
- Break
- Rockin Heaven Down
- Even It Up
- Strange Night
- Raised on You
- Pilot
- Sweet Darlin
👥 Album Credits
Ann Wilson – lead vocals, flute
Nancy Wilson – guitars, vocals
Steve Fossen – bass guitar
Michael Derosier – drums
Howard Leese – guitars, keyboards
Mike Flicker – producer
⚡ Fun Facts
• “Even It Up” became one of the album’s most recognizable tracks and a staple of Heart’s live performances.
• The album marked the first major studio release without original guitarist Roger Fisher.
• The title track was inspired by a fictional or symbolic character rather than a real person.
🧠 Trivia
• The album title “Bébé le Strange” reflects Heart’s continued use of surreal and poetic imagery in naming.
• Howard Leese’s expanded role helped reshape the band’s guitar and keyboard sound after lineup changes.
• The album maintained strong chart performance despite internal band transitions.
📚 Did You Know
• Bébé le Strange was recorded during a turbulent period of personnel changes within the band.
• The album helped bridge Heart’s 1970s hard rock identity into their evolving 1980s sound.
• “Even It Up” remained a consistent part of Heart’s setlists for many years after release.
Get Heart albums from Amazon Music Store
Heart Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1975--2016)
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