Bébé le Strange Songs Ranked

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. Here are all of Bébé le Strange songs ranked.

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10. Sweet Darlin

“Sweet Darlin” is one of Heart’s best ballads, and a piano one. This one is Ann’s baby, as she Ann played bass, drums, alto flute, tambourine, as well as piano and acoustic guitar. Oh yes, she wrote the song as well. It bursts into power ballad mode at the bridge. “Engines were screaming…” in reference to a flight she has to take, but I wonder if that mirrors her own heart at the love she has found.”

9. Rockin Heaven Down

“After starting with a slow guitar, “Rockin Heaven Down” goes into power rocker mode after the title words are sung. Coming off the success of Little Queen and Dog and Butterfly, Heart hit the same notes with alacrity on this one.”

8. Pilot

“The light acoustic “Pilot”, a theme about finding love analogous to a pilot finding a place to land: “Pilot I fell through/From the blue/I just flew into you.” The last recognizable Heart album. After this Ann and Nancy swore off actual rock for an 80’s hair band sound and attitude. Not up to the level of their previous work, but considering what was to follow, it’s not a bad album.”

See more: Heart Albums Ranked

7. Break

“Break”, which has a riff like Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” It seems to be against the rigid strictures of the corporate mindset: “I got no more respect for the big man/Pulling me down to what he understands/… No one is going to tie me to this machine/Giving me formula force fed dreams.” There’s an interesting reference to one of their earlier singles: “After a while, there just ain’t no more magic, man.” A little injoke there.”

6. Raised on You

“With the exception of Michael Derosier on drums, “Raised On You” is Nancy Wilson’s show all the way, vocals included, in this splendid little piano rocker which is their version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Say You Love Me.” The message behind this song can be summed up in these lines: “Let’s go tell the world/to quit turning cold/Just let me be raised on you.”

5. Silver Wheels

“This is a really good record if you like late 70s early 80s music, this record is for you. It has everything you would come to expect from early Heart and is just a good classic rock record from that era. It is evenly paced, doesn’t get boring, is simply just good music for any mood you happen to be in.”

See more: Heart Songs Ranked

4. Strange Night

“Strange Night” shares contention with “Rockin Heaven Down” for hardest song, as Howard Leese’s really snarling guitar attests to. Wild night too, if the guitar’s evidence. With the exception of Michael Derosier on drums.”

3. Down on Me

“The slow “Down On Me” is pure fiery blues, and the guitars that accompany “You get so down/down on me” resemble the guitars on The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” Ann’s vocals are really powerful throughout the number.”

2. Even It Up

“I don’t know why they chose “Even It Up” as the single. It’s good enough, with a catchy enough riff, but I can think of three or four other songs that could’ve done better. The song has Ann demanding her man, who has clearly been using her, to pay her back for what she did for him. The horn section in this song is courtesy of the Tower of Power group.”

1. Bébé le Strange

“The title track, a fan’s tribute to a rocker, is a down and dirty rocker with a fiery and quick punky riff inbetween the chorus and the verse and is not only the best song on the album, but one of four (count’em, FOUR!, rockers.)”