Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Music Monday – Pat Benatar

June 29, 2015

Today is Music Monday and I want to talk about an album that had almost passed out of memory – almost. I think about it every summer because in the summer of 1981, after high school graduation, I listened to it a lot running around town. It’s Pat Benatar’s “In the Heat of the Night” and I like just about every song on it. It is a very good mix of lively and mellow so it’s also balanced. All these songs remind me of sultry summer days and nights, driving on the main drag in our small town. I often couldn’t sleep and sometimes I was bored and couldn’t sleep so I’d drive around. So, here are my thoughts on this awesome album.

1. Heartbreaker – Always reminds me of this one pep rally at school and the pom pom squad danced to this song. There was a lot of cheering until the rocker/partying people made everyone shut up. So it was weird just watching the girls do their thing and listening to the music – school days huh? Not a favorite but it’s good.

2. I Need A Lover – Love this one! It was originally done by John Cougar which is also a good version. I’ve always belted this one out in the car.

3. If You Think You Know How To Love Me – This was originally done by a British group called Smokie and I vaguely remember watching them on Top of the Pops way back when. And while the Smokie version was more popular than Benatar’s, hers is still memorable. It was also written by the duo of Chinn and Chapman who wrote a lot of songs for The Sweet. Huh. It’s a slower paced song and the words kind of remind me of Bonny and Clyde since it’s about two people who live a wilder kind of life.

4. In the Heat of the Night – Another Smokie cover but Benatar’s version is much better – not so 70’s. She slowed it down to a more melancholy song. I was trying to find the complete lyrics, but could only find partial lyrics – huh, that’s interesting. Anywho, I live in a small town so the lyrics fit that time of my life of wondering what was out there beyond, what my life was going to be. We think we know what we want, but are always second guessing it, or living a life that really doesn’t fit. It does take a while to figure this out and I think, at 50, I’m finally getting there. (Oooh – found the complete lyrcis! Go here. You’re welcome.)

5. My Clone Sleeps Alone – I really like this fun song! Pat Benatar wrote it and I think it sums up the feelings of Brave New World which we all felt we were on the verge of back in 1980/81. Of course we also thought we’d be in flying cars like the Jetsons but we know how disappointing that’s been. In this song, clones are perfect they do everything they are supposed to do except that they aren’t really alive. There’s no emotion, no loving, no living. And these lines: “She’s programmed to work hard, she’s never profane, she won’t gone insane, not ever” kind of reminds me of some of these mommy blogs. :-) None of us is perfect but holy crap don’t we try sometimes?

One observation, this song sounds like Kate Bush who wrote and sang Wuthering Heights, which Benatar would later cover on her next album. A lot of similarities.

6. We Live For Love – My favorite song on the album! The music is what drew me in to begin with – the music, the words – all of it. The words though – a summer crush with a longing for more for both. Sometimes though a crush is just that – unrequited love – but the memories of that time are cherished forever. Had a few of those.

7. Rated X – Interesting song written by Nick Gilder (who also wrote and sang Hot Child in the City). About a porn star who outwardly seems like she’s got it all, but really doesn’t. She wonders how she got to this place which is really cold and lonely even though outwardly she seems to have the lush life. Back in the late 70’s and early to mid 80’s a lot of people lived this kind of lifestyle so I think it could be a commentary of that culture as well.

8. Don’t Let It Show – First of all – holy crap! – this was an Alan Parsons Project song first?! I can honestly say I’ve never heard that version. That said, I do like this song. It’s a break-up song and like all break-up songs it’s sad and melancholy but also with a strength to it as well. Life will go on and the pain will subide although with some relationships it all just fades into a sweet memory through the years. Le sigh.

9. No You Don’t – Okay, it’s another cover! This one was originally done by The Sweet and Pat Benatar’s version is essentially the same. However, one thing to note if you listen to the words, it can play equally from the perspective of a guy or a gal. Interesting. This is an argument and the intensity shows in the lyrics and the music. You can just see the two people face to face yelling at each other. The guitar bridge in the middle of the song is also quite excellent. Overall just a great song whichever version you listen to.

10. So Sincere – This is not a cover – it’s an original written partly by Pat Benatar! It’s not my favorite but I like it and I think it wraps the album up nicely. Musically, it starts out slow but then it picks up the pace. It’s a song about a guy who doesn’t want his girlfriend to leave. He gives out a lot of lines (and tears) in an effort to convince her and begs and pleads. She isn’t convinced. Actually it reminds me of the Ellen and Jeffrey story in thirtysomething. He definitely resembles this song.

So, that’s my take on this album and since this post is almost a month old (I wrote it right after my last post about a Sunday drive) it’s time to publish. If you haven’t listened to this album in awhile give it a whirl. And if you’ve never listened to it – give it a whirl. :-)

2 comments
Comments

On June 29, 2015 at 9:22 PM, dxprog said:

Holy shit, that's a lot of covers. I would've expected better from Pat Benatar. The Alan Parsons song is okay, but certainly not his best material. Don't think I've heard this version, so maybe I'll give it a go.

On June 30, 2015 at 5:32 PM, java_queen said:

Yeah, it is a lot of covers - I never realized that before. You should check it out - if I had remembered I would have played it for you while you were here. :-)

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» Music Monday – Pat Benatar » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Music Monday – Pat Benatar

June 29, 2015

Comments

On June 29, 2015 at 9:22 PM, dxprog said:

On June 30, 2015 at 5:32 PM, java_queen said:

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