For one of their most remarkable albums, Heart‘s Bébé le Strange certainly gets overlooked. In the discography, the 1980 album sort of marks a transition between the ’70s classic rock and folk stuff with the pop hits they got behind in the 1980s, and the huge commercial breakthrough, 1985’s eponymous Heart album. It also is the breakup album of all breakup albums.
The band — primarily associated with sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson — had their origins in the Seattle area, formed by bass player Steve Fossen in 1967. By 1973 they had settled on the name Heart after going through stages as The Army, Hocus Pocus and White Heart. The band relocated to Vancouver so lead guitarist Roger Fisher’s brother Mike could escape being drafted. Mike Fisher was essentially the band’s manager.
During one of Mike’s cross-border trips to visit family back in the U.S., he met Ann and the pair fell in love. She joined the band and later brought in her guitarist sister Nancy, who began a relationship with Roger. The classic Magic Man was written by Ann about Mike. For a few years we had another Abba on our hands. Until it got ugly. Ann and Roger broke up in 1979 and he was unanimously voted out of the band. Brother Mike broke up with Nancy and left in support of his brother.
This sets the stage for Bébé le Strange — the sisters taking over full control of the songwriting and direction of the band, along with the only remaining founder, bassist Fossen and their absolutely incredible Canadian drummer Michael Derosier. For a while, Nancy and Derosier were an item. The rhythm section pair were fired from the band following the recording of the next album, Private Audition. So, this all really and truly puts Bébé le Strange on an island — different than everything before and practically everything to follow.
Quite a few 1970s icons put out departure records for 1980, stuff that boasted a new sound. Alice Cooper’s Flush The Fashion was his best in years, The Rolling Stones put out Emotional Rescue, Rush had Permanent Waves featuring Spirit Of Radio, Back In Black was AC/DC’s first album without Bon Scott, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath had their first albums apart, Pink Floyd’s The Wall actually had a hit single and Queen helped define the new decade with The Game.
There is no other Heart album that sounds like Bébé le Strange. It begins with the title track, a smart and cool rocker somewhat reminiscent of Cheap Trick. If you like no-frills rock, sans keyboards, this is your jam. Down On Me is next, a more classic-rock bluesy power ballad, with subtle synth. I thought I wasn’t going to like this one, but the synth in the chorus is very In Through The Out Door, combined with one of the non-rockers from the first Pretenders record.
Silver Wheels serves as a bit of a segue. Under two minutes, it’s a lovely and slightly dark solo acoustic number. Then we get some proto-punk! Break should surprise nobody. It’s a breakup song by a pair of sisters who broke up with two brothers.
“No one is going to tie me to this machine
Giving me formula force fed dreams
Getting more hold on me than it seems
My patience ran out
I gotta run
Out of a habit
That used to be fun
I just gotta break.”
Break flows without a break, lol, into Rockin’ Heaven Down, which wraps up the first side of the record. This one is another rocker, but not as fast as Break. It’s a bit of a boogie.
Side 2 starts with Even It Up, the big single featuring Tower Of Power horns and some ZZ Top-esque licks. I don’t love this one. Strange Night is next. Big power chords on electric guitar overtop of a toms-dominant beat and percussive thin acoustic guitar. This song has loads of structure, but isn’t terribly catchy. Feels like it belongs in a rock musical.
Raised On You follows and starts like a Billy Joel song, with dancing, pounding piano. It’s OK, but gets better at the first chorus. I dunno. Pilot takes a step backward, and sounds a bit like older Heart, maybe even Dreamboat Annie. I’d like to hear a cover of this, or a remix without so much effect on the drums in the chorus, which is astounding. Quite cool with the washy faux Mellotron synth pad. The bass is too busy though. This might have been a better choice for track 2.
Finally, it all wraps with the crappiest song on the record: The oversung ballad Sweet Darlin’. It’s a bit cringey and the chorus is boring. Almost Queensrÿche. What the hell?
Bébé le Strange was Heart’s third top-10 album, reaching No. 5. From here they went into a hole until 1985.
3/5
• • •
Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
