Great Rock Albums of 1985: Pat Benatar- Tropico

 

Some of the same accusations I hurled at Starship on their "Knee Deep in the Hoopla" album were also hurled at Pat Benatar when her "Tropico" album came out. Those accusations were that she had abandoned her hard rock roots and sold out and became a top 40 artist. Like I said last post, the label 'sold out' was banded about quite a lot back in 1985 against many artists both fairly and unfairly. The question here is: Did it apply to Pat Benatar?

Honestly, at first, I was in agreement that she had. Then again, I was one of those who banded the phrase about quite liberally. After all, I had grown up and rocked out to her first four hard rocking albums. Then to hear the softer, more keyboard oriented "Tropico" album, I was rather disappointed. Like so many, I expected Pat to go rocking on forever. But was this album a sell out? Returning to it over the years with a much more informed and open mind, my answer is an emphatic "NO!"

First of all, while this album is certainly much softer than its predecessors, it is in no way 80s top 40 synth pop. If anything, Pat goes more progressive rock here with the keyboards tastefully done. Full marks should be given to Charlie Giordano here, he does a masterful job on the keys throughout the album. While there are no real power chords on the album, Neil Giraldo still works his guitar magic on the album. Most of the guitars sound acoustic and the even the electric guitars are toned down but Neil still lets you know he hasn't gone away. My only lamentation was that there isn't any of his great guitar solos on it and that in my opinion, causes the album to suffer a little. However, what is omnipresent throughout is the unmistakable voice of Pat. Yes, "Tropic" may not be as musically fierce as her other offerings but her voice still shines on each and every track. Then again, she could sing any form of music and make it sound great.

As for the songs, I didn't want to admit it back then but I have always kind of liked the first single, "We Belong." It's is anthem type song that although not a rocker, is still cool. However, I still can't take to the second single, "Ooh Ooh Song." Then there's the hidden gem on the album. That honour goes to "The Outlaw Blues." That song is the closest Pat comes to her previous material but it's not a rocker. Just a good song. "Love in the Ice Age" and "Suburban King"  are good songs too.

Track Listing:

1. Diamond Field
2. We Belong
3. Painted Desert
4. Temporary Heroes
5. Love in the Ice Age
6. Ooh Ooh Song
7. The Outlaw Blues
8. Suburban King
9. A Crazy World Like This
10. Takin' It Back

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="219"] Pat Benatar[/caption]

Pat Benatar- vocals

Neil Giraldo- guitars, harmonica, percussion

Charlie Giordano- keyboards, percussion

Donnie Nossov- bass, backing vocals

Myron Grombacker- drums, percussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzQFP08gA4g

A long time ago, I took back all the things I said about Pat Benatar selling out on the the "Tropico" album. Yes, it's different and I still prefer her earlier hard rock albums but this one is still good.

Next post: Van Zant

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Pat Benatar- Live From Earth

 

For many artists, it is almost natural that after making four great studio albums that they put out a live album. That's exactly what Pat Benatar did in 1983 with "Live From Earth." All of the great classics from her previous albums are all on here and all are done with such intensity, it has left me regretting the fact that I have never seen her live. Listening to the album and viewing some of the concert footage on YouTube, I know Pat would have been amazing. If any of you at there have seen Pat Benatar in concert, I would love to read about your experiences.

"Live From Earth" was recorded in California and France during her sold out tour for the "Get Nervous" album and has the two tracks "I Want Out" and "Looking For a Stranger" and both sound fantastic live. The strange phenomena is the fact that the two best known tracks "Shadows of the Night" and "Anxiety" are absent on the record, although they both appear on the VHS version released two years later. Still, those tracks not being there doesn't spoil the rest of the record. I mean how could it with such great Benatar classics like "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Fire and Ice," need I go on?

In spite of "Live From Earth" being a great hard rocking live album, some have pointed to it as the turning point for her move away from the heavy rock albums that made her the queen of rock from 1980-2. I'm talking about the single "Love is a Battlefield." To be honest, I've never hated this song but is completely different from what I had heard from her in the past. It is definitely a typical 1980s synthesizer pop song in some respects but with Pat's voice, I found it impossible to dislike.

Track Listing:

1. Fire and Ice
2. Looking For a Stranger
3. I Want Out
4. We Live For Love
5. Hell is for Children
6. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
7. Promises in the Dark
8. Heartbreaker
9. Love is a Battlefield
10. Lipstick Lies

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="195"] Pat Benatar[/caption]

Pat Benatar- lead vocals

Neil Giraldo- guitar, backing vocals

Charlie Giordano- keyboards

Roger Capps- bass, backing vocals

Myron Grombacher- drums

The question remains: Did "Live From Earth" mark the turning point for Pat Benatar from being a feisty hard rocking rock queen to a trendy top 40 performer? Possibly but after listening to this incredible live album, I don't really care. I just prefer to sit back and hear all the great Benatar rock classics played so well live and have a small regret of never having been to one of these concerts.

Next post: Loverboy- Keep It Up

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll

Not long ago when I visited Pat Benatar's "Get Nervous" album, I ended the post by saying that in 1982, someone would come along and usurp Pat's throne as the queen of rock. Yes, I know I've just given it away, the usurper would be Joan Jett. Unlike Pat's bloodless ascension to the throne in 1980, Joan's would be a very bloody one in regards to music because as evidenced by the "Get Nervous" album, Pat Benatar was not going to give up the throne without a fight. So if we were to look at this coup, not in rock terms but in terms of medieval fantasy, which I love, it would have unfolded in two ways. If both ladies amassed armies, there would be lots of casualties, ransacked castles and burning villages on both sides. In the second scenario, if both ladies chose to forego the armies and engage in single combat, both would have had serious wounds inflicted on them by the other. However, the end result would have been the same, a victorious Joan Jett standing over a vanquished Pat Benatar.

[caption id="attachment_2743" align="aligncenter" width="308"] This is what a clash of rock armies might have looked like[/caption][caption id="attachment_2744" align="aligncenter" width="300"] And if they engaged in single combat[/caption]

Putting my love for fantasy aside, fortunately, there was no actual bloodshed. The reason why Joan Jett would usurp the crown as Queen of Rock is simply down to the fact that her album "I Love Rock and Roll" is just brilliant. I first heard about the album when my lieutenant shot it down saying the band only played two chords. If that's true, then they were the right two chords. My first induction to the album was once I returned to the US, the title track was dominating the juke boxes in just about every bar I went to and the second single, "Crimson and Clover" an old number by Tommy James and the Shondells got a considerable amount of play too. Furthermore, this would be the first and probably only album that had two songs that were common favourites of different dancers at the Driftwood. A dancer named Angie really knew how to move to "I Love Rock and Roll." She made that song come to life almost. "Crimson and Clover" was finely manipulated by a dancer named Mary. Trust me, watching her work her magic to that song was something else. It is little wonder why I have fond memories of both of these songs.

Because the two hit singles from the album were classics written by others in another era, it has been surmised by some that Joan's song writing is not up to much. When I listen to the other songs, I disagree. What those songs do is set an interesting vibe for the rest of the album. If I could give this album a theme, it would be "The early rock and roll years transformed to metal." Many of the songs do have a vibe like they could have been written in the 1950s or early 60s but that hard guitar sound blows everything out of the water. Joan Jett writes the other ones that make the album for me like "(I'm Gonna) Run Away," "Love is Pain" and "Victim of Circumstance" and while she didn't write "Nag," I'm going to mention it here anyway, I like it. How Joan Jett and the Blackhearts version of "Little Drummer Boy" missed my favourite Christmas song list, I'll never know.

While it's easy to sing the praises of Joan Jett, you can't take anything away from her band. Along with Joan, who should have been included in my list of great rhythm guitarists, Gary Ryan and Lee Crystal provide a solid rhythm section and while I don't know which guitarist does which solos but I am impressed by Rick Byrd and Irvan Arifin Harahap. These boys definitely played a key role in Joan's ascension to the rock throne.

Track Listing:

1. I Love Rock and Roll

2. (I'm Gonna) Run Away

3. Love is Pain

4. Nag

5. Crimson and Clover

6. Victim of Circumstance

7. Bits and Pieces

8. Be Straight

9. You're Too Possessive

10. Little Drummer Boy

[caption id="attachment_2745" align="aligncenter" width="193"] Joan Jett and the Blackhearts[/caption]

Joan Jett- lead vocals, guitar

Gary Ryan- bass, backing vocals

Irvan Arifin Harahap- guitar, vocals

Lee Crystal- drums

Rick Byrd- guitar

That is the story how Joan Jett became the new Queen of Rock in 1982 and arguably the first Queen of Metal. It is hard to fault it with a great album like "I Love Rock and Roll."

Next post: Blue Oyster Cult- Extra Terrestrial Live

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Pat Benatar- Get Nervous

Pat Benatar entered 1982 as the undisputed queen of rock. Yes, I know some regarded Chrissie Hynde as queen but it was Pat who had my full allegiance from 1980. By the end of 1981, she had released three very kick ass rock albums to firmly cement her on the throne and it is evidenced by her 1982 album, "Get Nervous," she wasn't going to give up her throne without a fight.

"Get Nervous" was the first Pat Benatar album to incorporate keyboards. However, this did not make her sound any softer or really any more commercial. There was still plenty of hard rock left in her and her band and while I would agree that "Get Nervous" may not have been quite as good as her previous three albums, ("Crimes of Passion" is my favourite) it was still a good album from her.
Keeping in the 1982 tradition, the album opens with the hit single, "Shadows of the Night." When I first heard the song and saw the video at a bar on Okinawa, I simply thought that this was another cool song from her, I still do. Still new to music video, I thought the World War 2 theme for the video was pretty cool as well. I could hear the keyboards but thought they complimented the song very well. The rest of the album, with one exception, follows one in this way. There are some great rocking tracks on "Get Nervous." The ones which stick out for me are "The Victim," "A Little Too Late,"  "I'll Do It" and "Tell It To Her." I must also give a shout to "Fight It Out" which reminds me a lot of "Hell is for Children" but is in no way a carbon copy of the classic.

One criticism aimed at Pat Benatar about this album back in the day was that it sounded too much like her previous three and her sound was getting tiring. I never agreed with this theory and that is where I bring in the one exception into evidence. "Anxiety (Get Nervous)" goes to more of a new wave sound but still Pat makes it work. It does throw something different into the mix and while you may not hear power chords or a blistering solo from Giraldo, the song is still enjoyable. It proves that while Pat was willing to bend, she still was not ready to give up her throne.

Track Listing:

1. Shadows of the Night

2. Looking For a Stranger

3. Anxiety (Get Nervous)

4. Fight It Out

5. The Victim

6. A Little Too Late

7. I'll Do It

8. I Want Out

9. Tell It to Her

10. Silent Partner

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="195"] Pat Benatar[/caption]

Pat Benatar- lead vocals

Neil Giraldo- guitars, backing vocals

Charlie Giordano- keyboards

Roger Capps- bass, backing vocals

Myron Grombacher- drums

Unfortunately for Pat, in spite of having a great album, her throne as queen of rock would be usurped in 1982. Another queen, purely through her sheer power to rock would come and steal the throne away. Who that is will be revealed in the not too distant future. However, that in no way shadows what a good album "Get Nervous" was.

Next post: Don Henley- I Can't Stand Still

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

The Runaways: The First True All Female Metal Band

Janis Joplin and Grace Slick for the first queens of rock in the 60's and in the 70's came Ann and Nancy Wilson who were arguably the first modern rock chicks. In the later part of the 70's and early 80's we had such great ladies like Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry. All of these women were rock queens in the true sense and their contribution to music will always be remembered.

[caption id="attachment_1501" align="aligncenter" width="256" class=" "] Janis Joplin[/caption][caption id="attachment_1679" align="aligncenter" width="127" class=" "] Grace Slick[/caption][caption id="attachment_1373" align="aligncenter" width="188" class=" "] Debbie Harry[/caption][caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="195" class=" "] Pat Benatar[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_874" align="aligncenter" width="168" class=" "] Heart[/caption][caption id="attachment_1759" align="aligncenter" width="243" class=" "] The Pretenders[/caption]

In 1981, two all female bands made their way into the spotlight, The Go-Gos and Girlschool. While the former had a more commercial rock sound, the latter was straight forward heavy metal and stood alongside of many of the NWOBHM acts that were coming out that year. However, these two weren't the all female bands who could blow speakers with great power chords. Before them came The Runaways.

[caption id="attachment_2299" align="aligncenter" width="278" class=" "] The Go Go's[/caption][caption id="attachment_2373" align="aligncenter" width="276" class=" "] Girlschool[/caption]

I had heard of The Runaways even before the film that came out a few years ago. Even at the tender (small chuckle here) age of sixteen, I was enamoured with these fine ladies who played such aggressive music. I did listen to their debut album and liked it. Likewise, I wanted to listen to their second one "Queens of Noise" but never got the chance. Must rectify that in the future. While, I never heard any of their songs on that cheap AM radio I had back then, they toured extensively and played many sell out concerts in the US and Japan. Furthermore, the likes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Cheap Trick and Van Halen supported them. Unfortunately, accusations of mismanagement, rows over money and direction plus several personnel changes lead to break up of the band.

Albums:

The Runaways- 1976

Queens of Noise- 1977

Waitin' for the Night- 1977

Live in Japan- 1977

And Now, The Runaways- 1978

The Runaways

Cherrie Currie- vocals

Joan Jett- guitar, vocals

Lita Ford- guitar

Jackie Fox- bass

Sandy West- drums

*Vicki Blue and Laurie McAllister also played bass during The Runaways reign

While The Runaways may be no longer, the members are still around and making themselves known. One of them would dethrone Pat Benatar as the queen of rock in 1982 and possibly become the first metal queen. That one is up for debate. Another ex Runaway would also make a huge splash in heavy metal circles nor would some of the other former members remain completely silent. Almost silently, these ladies would go onto to be an influence on heavy metal and I think the all female metal bands that would spring up less than a decade later can look to them for inspiration. Don't take my word for it, watch the film and listen to their music for yourself.

Next post: 1982- The Floodgates Are Open

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1981: Pat Benatar- Precious Time

Kings and queens of rock music have come and gone throughout the years but it can be safely said that in 1980 and 81, Pat Benatar was the undisputed queen of rock. She ascended to the throne in 1980 on the wings of her second album "Crimes of Passion" after the previous rock queen, Debbie Harry, in my view, abdicated. The more astute among you probably realise that I never visited Blondie's "Auto-American" album and for good reason. While "Crimes of Passion" ascended Pat Benatar to her rightful throne, her third album in 1981, "Precious Time," kept her firmly seated there.

"Precious Time" continues on in the same hard rocking theme that made Pat Benatar a household name in rock circles. I admit, when I first heard the introduction to the opener, "Promises in the Dark," I thought she might be going a bit softer but about thirty seconds in, the guitars take over and that Benatar sound is back in full swing. The second track is the big single, "Fire and Ice" and contains what I think is the best ever guitar solo from Neil Giraldo. "Just Like Me" and the title track are both traditional Pat Benatar rockers and the track "It's a Tuff Life" goes quite reggae but nonetheless is a great track. In all of these tracks and the following, "Take It Anyway You Want It," the vocals of Pat Benatar combined with the guitar of Neil Giraldo definitely work well like they did with the two albums.

Now, if they were ever to make a film from either of my books, "Rock And Roll Children" would be filled with some great concert footage, but with my latest one, "He Was Weird," I would insist that one song from this album, "Evil Genius," be on the soundtrack. While the lyrics of this song don't exactly fit in with the main character in the story, the song itself would greatly add to the ambiance of the movie. The lyrics are spot on here and that helps make the song even better for me. I can't leave out the fact that this album proves that The Beatles wrote a song that had an impact on hard rock and heavy metal. This album provided me with my first opportunity to hear the classic "Helter Skelter" covered by a great hard rock act. Here, Pat Benatar, to quote Cheryl Cole, makes the song her own and no I don't watch "X-Factor."

Track Listing:

1. Promises in the Dark

2. Fire and Ice

3. Just Like Me

4. Precious Time

5. It's a Tuff Life

6. Take It Anyway You Want It

7. Evil Genius

8. Hard to Believe

9. Helter Skelter

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="195"] Pat Benatar[/caption]

Pat Benatar- vocals

Neil Giraldo- lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Scott St Clair Sheets- rhythm guitar

Roger Capps- bass

Myron Grombacher- drums

With "Precious Time," it is easy to see why Pat Benatar was the undisputed queen of rock in 1980 and 81. Come the following year, there would be a serious challenge to her rule but that is best left for another time. In the world of hard rock, 1981 was without a doubt Pat Benatar's year and "Precious Time" backs this up.

Next album: Frank Zappa- You Are What You Is

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

To buy He Was Weird go to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403623312&sr=8-1&keywords=he+was+weird

Also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Soundtracks of 1980: Up the Academy

There is many a film out there where the film itself wasn't up to much but it had a kick ass soundtrack. One I covered already with "The Last Waltz" although the film itself was a concert and there are more out there which will appear here. One such film from 1980 was the film from Mad Magazine called "Up The Academy." One doesn't need a college degree to figure out that Mad Magazine made this film in an attempt to cash in on the success of their rival National Lampoon whose film "Animal House" is one of the forever classics. Unfortunately, there is no comparison between the two films, "Animal House" wins hands down.

This is not to say that "Up the Academy" is a bad film. Actually, I thought it was funny in many places. The film is about four teenage boys who are sent to military school by their parents on account of things the boys have done to bring dishonour to the family. One got his girlfriend pregnant and his father is a politician campaigning on the anti-abortion platform. One, played by a young Ralph Machio, is the son of a mafia kingpin and is not interested in the family business. Then there is the son of the Arabian Sheik and the pot smoking African American boy whose father is a TV evangelist. Without going into full details, the main characters immediately fall foul of the gung-ho commandant and there is a lot of funny moments as they try to get one over on him. For months after I saw the film, one of my marine buddies who I saw it with, (he went by Mooch,) would impersonate the commandant with "Say ageeen, say ageen."

A scene from the film

What stood out for me more than the laughs was all the great songs that were played in the film. Now classics like "One Way or Another" from Blondie and Cheap Trick's "Surrender" lead a string of cool rock tunes. There are also contributions from Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar, The Kinks, Dwight Twilley and a ten minute song from the legendary Lou Reed. Ok, they only played a small part of the song. As the case with many soundtracks, there is some unknown band that makes its mark. On this soundtrack, it is the band Blow-Up. Three of their songs appear on the album and I was impressed with all of them. The opener, "Kicking Up a Fuss" reminds me of The Ramones or The Dead Kennedys and the other two, while less punk are still good rock tunes as well. This is definitely a cool soundtrack.

Blondie

Cheap Trick

Track Listing:

1. Blow-Up- Kicking Up a Fuss

2. Iggy and the Stooges- Gimme Danger

3. Dwight Twilley Band- Trying to Find My Baby

4. Blondie- X Offender

5. Eddie and the Hot Rods- Do Anything You Wanna Do

6. The Kinks- Yes Sir, No Sir

7. Ian Hunter- We Gotta Get Out of Here

8. Lou Reed- Street Hassle

9. Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers- Roadrunner

10. The Boomtown Rats- Rat Trap

11. David Johansen- Girls

12. Blondie- One Way or Another

13. Cheeks- Coquette

14. Blow-Up- Local Hero

15. Sammy Hagar- Bad Reputation

16. Iggy Pop and James Williamson- Night Theme

17. Cheeks- Bony Moronie

18. Nick Lowe- Heart of the City

19. Pat Benatar- We Live for Love

20. The Babys- Midnight Rendezvous

21. Cheap Trick- Surrender

22. Blow- Up- Beat the Devil

So if you want a good laugh while rocking out to some great tunes then your task is simple. Watch "Up the Academy" and then listen to the soundtrack, it's definitely worth it. But it does seem a shame that Blow-Up never seemed to make it big.

Next post: Great Rock One Hit Wonders of 1980

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1980: Pat Benatar- Crimes of Passion

I know I have brandished the term "Sophmore jinx" around quite a bit on this blog, although I haven't used it for a while, but I'm afraid that I have to use it again here with the second album from Pat Benatar, "Crimes of Passion." However, I don't use it in a negative sense here because this album from the lady who I called the undisputed Queen of Rock in the early 1980s avoids the sophomore jinx totally. For me, even though "Heartbreaker" from the first Pat Benatar album "In the Heat of the Night" remains my favourite song of hers, the second album is even better than the first. Okay, I think it's her best album.

At first listen, I was totally blown away by the power of the songs in the album. "Treat Me Right," "You Better Run," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and of course my favourite track of the album, "Hell Is For Children" are all hard rocking anthems that have been listened to and sung in films, stereos and keg parties. These songs alone are why this is my favourite Pat Benatar album. The rest of the album is good too, I especially love her version of "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush. Her voice can compete with Bush's and the added guitars give Benatar's version a different and likeable edge. I would also like to state that her long time guitarist Neil Giraldo has been very much overlooked. He proves he can bend a six string along with anyone.

Track Listing:

1. Treat Me Right

2. You Better Run

3. Never Want to Leave You

4. Hit Me With Your Best Shot

5. Hell Is For Children

6. Little Paradise

7. I'm Gonna Follow You

8. Wuthering Heights

9. Prisoner Of Love

10. Out of Touch

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar- vocals

Neil Giraldo- lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, backing vocals

Scott St Claire Sheets- rhythm guitar

 Roger Capps -bass, backing vocals

Myron Grombacher- drums

Pat Benatar ruled as the Queen of Hard Rock from 1979-83 and with albums such as "Crimes of Passion," it is easy to understand why.

Next Post: The Knack- But the Little Girls Understand

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Great Rock Albums of 1979: Pat Benatar- In the Heat of the Night

It's still fresh in my mind thirty-three years later. I remember that day in late 1979 after having to get up at the ungodly hour of 3:30 in the morning because the company XO had volunteered our platoon for mess duty. Gee, that was nice of him. Anyhow, having to clear the early morning cobwebs from my head, I had the radio on when a new fresh rocking sound came blasting out of it. First there was the drum intro, followed by accompanying rhythm guitar and bass. At the end of the line came that little canny lead guitar riff, all of which set the stage for the mind blowing vocals that came along  and completely blew me out of my combat boots. A female voice, clear and powerful, totally rocked my world that day. The song was "Heartbreaker," and I would learn sometime later, that the voice belonged to Pat Benatar.

"Heartbreaker" is still my all time favourite Pat Benatar song and it is fitting one for her first album, "In the Heat of the Night." This album established her as the female face of rock, more rockier than Blondie and even Heart, not that I want to take anything away from either of those. For me, this album was different, in my mind, a new even raunchier hard rock and I absolutely loved it, still do.

While, "Heartbreaker" was the break through single for Pat, the rest of the album is still a good rocking listen. I also love the song "I Need a Lover" and even prefer it to the John Cougar Mellancamp version. The other songs also give it credence, like "My Clone Sleeps Alone," which I find to be rather amusing as well. "In the Heat of the Night" thrust Pat Benatar down our throats and we haven't been able to get her out of our systems ever since.

Track Listing:

1. Heartbreaker

2. I Need a Lover

3. If You Think You Know How to Love Me

4. In the Heat of the Night

5. My Clone Sleeps Alone

6. We Live for Love

7. Rated X

8. Don't Let it Show

9. No You Don't

10. So Sincere

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar- lead vocals

Nick Geraldo- lead, slide guitars, keyboards

Scott St Clair Sheets- rhythm guitar

Roger Capps- bass, backing vocals

Glen Alexander Hamilton- drums

Maybe my old company XO did me a favour back then when he volunteered me for mess duty. Sure, I would have eventually heard the song "Heartbreaker," but I question if it would have had the same impact as it did then. That was the song that made me go even harder into the rock and where I would one day discover the delights of heavy metal. Pat Benatar was a true rock icon from 1979 through to 1983 and it was this album that launched it.

Next post: Todd Rundgren- Back to the Bars

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London