Published on Aug 22, 1998
With Pat Benatar’s career continually moving into the future
(even if it’s not skyrocketing for her like it did in the first
half of the ’80s), it seems funny that her next move would be to
look into her past.
But reaching deep into her tape archives (kind of like a certain
music reviewer we all know and love dipping into his Archives and
coming up with some stupid quote), Benatar discovered one of the
first live shows she and her backing band did. The end result,
8-15-80, is kind of like a museum showcase for an amateur
photographer. There’s some promise there, but it’s a little too raw
and unpolished.
Recorded during her tour to support
Crimes Of Passion (except for “My Clone Sleeps Alone,” which
was recorded in 1979), Benatar and her band (which included her
husband-to-be Neil Giraldo) tear through a collection of
then-recent hits and some soon-to-be classics. And while some of
the songs some of us have grown up with still have what it takes to
make us smile (“Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”), the
overall vibe of the show seems, well… contrived, as if they’re
trying too hard to please people.
I also would have preferred to hear more bass levels in the mix;
often Roger Capps’s bass and Myron Grombacher’s drums seem hidden
in the mix. Also, Giraldo’s guitar work doesn’t have the flash one
would have expected – often, like on “I’m Gonna Follow You,” you
almost find yourself looking forward to the guitar solo’s end. And
what was with the extended ending to “Heartbreaker,” where they
noodle around with the ending for over a minute? What the hell is
this, ’80s rock? (Oh, wait a minute…)
It is interesting to hear Benatar performing songs that, at the
time, were not well-known. “Treat Me Right” didn’t become a hit for
her until the next year, and I don’t think “Hell Is For Children”
(which had first been on
Crimes Of Passion) was recognized as a true hit until her
Live From Earth release a few years later. When you hear
songs like these and realize they were still relative unknowns to
the audience, you truly appreciate what you’re listening to: an
artist in the making.
If only the bulk of
8-15-80 showed that kind of promise. Tracks like “You Better
Run” and “I’m Gonna Follow You” show just how dated this
performance is – and it hasn’t aged that well. Unless you’re a
drooling Benatar fan who has been following her career since day
one, you might wonder what all the fuss is about.
Even as an historical document showing where Benatar has come
from musically,
8-15-80 is one that has to be classified as a “for-the-fans”
release. If you’re looking to discover what made Benatar a big star
in the ’80s, you’d be better off checking out some of the
greatest-hits packages. This one has moments that are worthwhile;
otherwise, approach it with caution.