Pat Benatar

8-15-80

Benatar in fine voice on 8-15-80

Review Score:

(8/10)
On her second live album, Pat Benatar delivers a strong and tight performance of material from her first two albums. Fulfilling her contract with CMC International Records, Benatar's vocals soar on the CD's 12 tracks, especially on tracks from her debut CD, 'In the Heat of the Night.' Her vocals are stronger and clearer than those on her previous concert CD 'Live from Earth,' especially comparing that album's fuzzy arena acoustics to this CD's intimate club atmosphere. Highlights include guitarist Neil Giraldo's searing extended guitar solo to close "Heartbreaker," her toughened-up versions of "No You Don't" and "My Clone Sleeps Alone," and the finale of "In the Heat of the Night," whose ending slowly rises from a sultry saunter to a near full-tilt jam. Benatar remains faithful to the recorded versions in her vocals, but punches them up with her aggressive stylings, and her four-piece band backs it up with a fast and tight de! livery. Benatar's early success was welcome because her aggressive vocals, lyrics, and musical stance were so strikingly different from other female singers of her era - that same softer style has come full circle with the success of the Lilith Fair performers. 8-15-80 is a strong and refreshing reminder of the vocal power and strength that (continues to) set Benatar apart from her contemporaries.

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