Great Rock Albums of 1980: Heart- Bebe Le Strange

Heart rocked the world throughout the 1970's with a string of hard rock albums that brought them great fame. Some of those albums have been visited in earlier posts and I stand by my claim that Ann and Nancy Wilson were the first modern rock chicks. On the flip side, many have said that their 1980 album wasn't as good as any of their predecessors. True, by this time Heart were engulfed in internal strife and guitarist Roger Fisher left the band some months earlier. However, none of that was reflected on this album in any way in my view.

The title track sets the album in the right direction from the outset incorporating everything one knew and loved about Heart. The bluesy "Down On Me" is definitely a likeable track and as always, Nancy gets to show off her guitar talent on the acoustic instrumental, "Silver Wheels." "Break" and "Rockin' Heaven Down" are true rock songs even if the former song does kind of end abruptly. This leads fine to the second single "Even It Up" whose rhythm reminds a little of the classic Heart anthem, "Magic Man." Then you get some more rocking from the next three tracks before the album ends on the ballad, "Sweet Darlin." So I ask myself after just having had a 38 minute rock out, "What is there not to like about "Bebe le Strange?" I sure can't find anything.

Track Listing:

1. Bebe le Strange

2. Down On Me

3. Silver Wheels

4. Break

5. Rockin Heaven Down

6. Even It Up

7. Strange Night

8. Raised On You

9. Pilot

10. Sweet Darlin

Heart

Ann Wilson- vocals

Nancy Wilson- guitar, vocals, piano, mellotron

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards synthesisers, backing vocals

Mike DeRosier- drums, percussion

Steve Fossen- bass

It was a great way to wake up on a Sunday morning! Hearing this album again after so many years gave me such a good rock out this morning and I've been feeling the groove throughout the whole day. So what if Heart made this album during their infighting. It proves that once you get down to business, you can still achieve great things. "Bebe le Strange" is an underrated album by Heart and it is definitely worth a listen again.

Next post: Dire Straits- Communique

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Great Rock Albums of 1978: Heart- Dog and Butterfly

"Dog and Butterfly" was the late 1978 follow up to "Magazine" which Heart re-released earlier that year and in my opinion was better than the earlier album. In fact, many people cite this album as their favourite Heart album, although I, personally, am not so sure. It would be a tough choice between "Dog and Butterfly" and "Dreamboat Annie." Needless to say, it is an album that shows Heart at their best.

This album is classic Heart through and through. Classic rocking tracks like the single "Straight On" form the foundation. Then there's the soft ballad and title track, "Dog and Butterfly" with its mesmerising accoustic guitar. I was convinced that back in 1978, only Heart could make a ballad sound this good. To final it out, there's the track "Mistral Wind," which begins like a ballad with accoustic guitars, only to come in with some very good rock.

Track Listing:

1. Cook With Fire

2. High Time

3. Hijinx

4. Straight On

5. Dog and Butterfly

6. Lighter Touch

7. Nada One

8. Mistral Wind

Heart

Ann Wilson- lead vocals, violin, guitar

Nancy Wilson- guitar, piano, vocals

Michael DeRosier- drums

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards

Roger Fisher- guitar, steel guitar

Steve Fossen- bass

Rich Keefer- synthesiser, vocals

Heart were one of the most commercially successful hard rock bands back in the late 70s. Albums like "Dog and Butterfly" bear testimony to this.

Next post: Styx- Pieces of Eight

To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle