March 01, 2021

1980 - September: Pat Benatar “Crimes of Passion”

37 minutes

Patricia Mae Giraldo, better known as Pat Benatar, became one of the most prominent female rock stars when she made her debut in 1979. Her most successful studio album was this second album, Crimes of Passion, which would benefit from play on rock stations around the country and the new music video media spearheaded by MTV.

Benatar had actually abandoned early dreams of a singing career, choosing to pursue health (actually sex education) at Stony Brook University, rather than music at Juliard. She dropped out of Stony Brook after a year, married Dennis Benatar, and worked as a bank teller in Virginia while he was stationed at Fort Lee. Her interest in singing was rekindled after attending a Liza Minnelli concert. She had some local success in Richmond and in New York where she and Dennis moved in the mid-70's, — but the real breakthrough would happen in Halloween 1977 when she performed in a spandex costume. Shortly thereafter she was signed by Chrysalis Records. She ended up divorcing Dennis Benatar thereafter, but would keep his last name as her professional name.

While Pat Benatar achieved strong success on her debut album with the hit "Heartbreaker." Crimes of Passion would make Benatar a household name. The album would spend five consecutive weeks at number 2 on the album charts in January 1981, and would net Benatar a Grammy Award for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance" of 1980. Pat Benatar would appear on the cover of the October 1980 issue of Rolling Stone along with her guitarist and future husband, Neil Giraldo.

We think you will enjoy this excellent album. At least we will do our best to hit you with our best shot!

Hit Me with Your Best Shot

This song is the second single off the album, but the biggest hit, and her first entry into the top 10. The song was written by Canadian musician, songwriter, and producer Eddie Schwartz, inspired by a therapy session he participated in that involved hitting pillows. This is a true rock anthem.

Little Paradise

This deeper cut leads off side two of the album, and was written by guitarist and soon-to-be husband of Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo. To us, it feels a little more like Ted Nugent or southern rock.

You Better Run

The first single released from the album is a cover of a song originally performed by The Young Rascals. Although this song missed the top 40 (peaking at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100), it would become the second music video ever broadcast on MTV after the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."

Hell Is for Children

This emotional song was written by Benatar, Giraldo, and bassist Roger Capps and is Neil Giraldo's favorite song. Pat Benatar was inspired to write this song by a series in New York about abused children. Later on Benatar and Giraldo would actually create foundation for abused children

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main theme from the television series “Cosmos”

This popular PBS series premiered in September 1980, and would make Carl Sagan a household name.

STAFF PICKS:

“Introduction/Lola” by the Kinks

Brian's starts our staff picks off with a live version of the 1970's hit about an encounter between a young man and the cross-dressing Lola. In the song the guy meets Lola in Soho, London, but the inspiration was a result of Kinks manager Robert Wace spent an evening in Paris dancing with a cross-dresser.

“Games Without Frontiers” by Peter Gabriel

Wayne's staff pick takes its name from a European TV show, "Jeus Sans Frontieres" where people from different places would play games of skill while wearing strange costumes. The British version of this game show was called "It's a Knockout," and that title also makes it into the song. The song's lyrics are a commentary on war and negotiations between countries being like children on a playground. Kate Bush contributes backing vocals in this song.

“The Legend of Wooley Swamp” by the Charlie Daniels Band

Bruce takes us on a spooky trip to the Wooley Swamp where the ghost of miser Lucious Clay torments the spirits of his killers, the Cable Boys. Today Wooley Swamp is the name of a farm campground and RV park near Raleigh.

“Turn It On Again” by Genesis

Rob finishes off our staff picks with the first single off Genesis' album "Duke," written by band member Mike Rutherford. It is about a man who doesn't do anything but watch TV, and begins to think of the TV personalities as his friends. The song has a complex time signature, with much of the song in 13/8.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

"Dinorah, Dinorah" by George Benson

We're turning to a jazz instrumental by R&B and Jazz artist George Benson to finish off this week's podcast. It was off his 1980 album, "Give Me the Night."

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings