In the Heat of the Night [There Lies a Mindless Wanderer Named Bill]

Overall Album Score: 7.0 out of 10

Whatcha hit him with? / Hit whom? / "Whom"? Are you a northern boy? What's a northern boy doing down here?

'Xcuse me. There's one more.

They call me MISTER Tibbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whaaaaaahahahahahaa!

OK. Now on with the review.

I'm sure we've all heard of Pat Benatar before. She was born Patricia Andrzejewski in 1953. She sang in the New York area where she was discovered and *bammo* they cut this first album. Whoever would discover her would prove that it was all a good investment, as she scored a major radio hit right away. It was "Heartbreaker," of course! And she would go on through the 80's and make a few more hits.

She's certainly one of the greatest female hard-rock vocalists to ever hit gold. Her voice is so confident, edgy and it's full of rough sexuality and true passion! (Yyyyyyikes! When can I get a date?)

Musically, this album contains some pretty straight rock, but with Pat Benatar's singing ... well, that's really what makes the album worthwhile. Now, the All Music Guide takes specific care to mention that Pat's husband, Neil Geraldo, who is also her lead guitarist, is a pretty good. And I agree! There are a few nice solos on here if'n I do say so myself.

That said, the songs are still fairly average. Even though I'd consider Pat Benatar's albums strictly commercial-minded, she had a singing ability that was simply BORN for rock and roll. If this album carries at all, it's because of Pat Benatar. (And sometimes, the material doesn't seem like it really ought to carry.)

Most of the songs on this album are original in some context. Along with bass player Roger Capps, Benatar co-penned two of these tracks ("So Sincere," and "My Clone Sleeps Alone") both of which are actually rather good. One of the album's hardest rocking tracks, "We Live For Love," was written by Geraldo.

The producer of this album, Mike Chapman, and his longtime songwriting partner, Nicky Chinn, wrote three of these tracks. The Chapman/Chinn team are probably most famous (or infamous) for writing many Glam hits such as The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" and Suzi Quatro's "Can the Can." They were also members of the Glam rock band Smokie. And ... you can tell this album does share close ties with Glam music. (And you can also tell that this album was set up for success at the very beginning.) That said, they penned what's the album's weakest track, which is the title track, surprisingly. They also composed the OK "If You Don't Know How to Love Me" as well as the rambunctious (and Glammy) "No You Don't."

The other songs include an early John Cougar Mellencamp cover "I Need a Lover," and an uninspired rendition of The Alan Parsons Project's "Don't Let it Show." And there's "Rated X" by Nick Gilder. And ... of course ... there's "Heartbreaker." Whoever wrote it didn't have any formal connections with the band. But, they did actually pen the album's best song by far!

Overall Album Score: 7.0 (Yaaaaaaaaddda WOOGIE shufftah BWAAGGS!)

Average Song Score: 7.5 (It's not a bad score. Pat Benatar's vocals keep the album interesting. Apart from a few exceptions, there aren't too many decent tracks on here.)

Album Score: 7.0 (Oh ... one would at least hope for a few undeniably catchy tunes on here or SOMETHING. "Heartbreaker" only works SO FAR.)

Artist Tilt: 6.5 (Well, this was a commercial album, wasn't it? Unless you want to count Pat's vocals, or something, there isn't anything here that's interesting in the artistic sense.)

Track Reviews

Heartbreaker 10/10

Well ... I wrestled with the idea of giving this song less than a 10. But I suppose I couldn't rightfully do that. Pat Benatar's spirited performance here is near perfect! And, of all the songs that appear all over the radio, this is certainly as good as any of them. I guess this is regarded as a sort of angry anthem for women all over the world who have been dumped by thugs. (I'm one of the many people in America who's still having trouble understanding why on earth Tom Cruise dumped Nicole Kidman ... I know why! He's a: HEART-BREAKER! DREAM-MAKER! ... ) This is a classic tune of the era.

I Need a Lover 8/10

Who the heck needs to cover John Cougar Mellencamp anyway? ... On second thought, why couldn't he just give all of his songs to Pat Benatar? Actually, the odd thing is that when this album was released in 1979, this Mellencamp feller was an unknown! Maybe it should have stayed that way! (Ahh... what am I doing? I'm dogging on John Cougar Mellencamp! I should be shot!) This is an altogether good song, nevertheless.

If You Think You Know How to Love Me 7/10

Another altogether decent song! Maybe it's a little bit on the boring side of things, but ya know. It was written by the same guys who wrote "Ballroom Blitz." I'm surprised they never went insane! I know I did! And I only had to listen to it! The song could have been cut by a minute or so.

In the Heat of the Night 4/10

Well, this has got to be the one of the few albums whose title track (if they have a title track, that is) is the worst piece of crap on the entire album. This is awful! I mean ... it starts out fine. The heart-beat bass line is about the only thing on here that makes this song even remotely interesting. Yuck!

My Clone Sleeps Alone 7.5/10

Well at least Pat Benatar and Roger Capps know how to write a decent melody-line. It's not the greatest hard-rock-pop thing I've heard on the planet, but it's scores better than that title track written by those poodieheads.

We Live For Love 8/10

Yes! Let Neil Geraldo take the songwriting reigns and at least he'll put a little more GUITAR in these songs! This one's really hard rocking. I'm having a hard time convincing myself that the song isn't stupid, but I can put my reservations aside for a little while.

Rated X 8.5/10

Not bad whatsoever! The song has a decent melody. Pat's singing is less loud here, but it is just as passionate as it was on "Heartbreaker" ... it's just more reserved and sexy. Yyyyikes. I'm still wondering when I might get that date. (Though I wonder if I should worry 'cause she's older than my mother. Awww! Just give me a time machine! I could invent rap, make a lot of money, and date Pat Benatar at the same time!)

Don't Let it Show 6/10

Oh blah! Why does Patricia need to cover Alan Parsons, anyway? And this song is sloppy! The drums are too loud, the guitars just are ... yuggggg ... even Pattie's vocals aren't up-to-par here. I have a feeling this song was done pretty much at the last minute. And, it's not like I have an undying devotion toward the original, either. Alan Parsons and I were strictly a one-night-stand. And even then, we were just friends.

No You Don't 9/10

Well, you can't DENY Pat's ability as a vocalist on this track. She sounds like she's screaming the lyrics, yet she sings it! Now that's talent, baby. This one really sounds like it was meant for The Sweet. GLAM-HEADS! Geraldo gets a nice little solo in the middle of this one, too.

So Sincere 7/10

Again Benatar's and Capps' song at least shows melodic talent. The song, unfortunately, doesn't do much for me. But you can't deny bits of this melody any merit. My problem with this song actually lies in the annoyingly repetitive 'car honk' thing that is keeping the beat through various parts in this track. Geraldo also gets a nice place to shine on this track, too. And it's the last track! I'll see you, Pattie honey, back in the recording studio!

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