The sophomore album from the legendary Pat Benatar, Crimes Of Passion is her best-selling record to date, and marked the first time Myron Grombacher played drums for her, though it certainly wasn’t the last.

The crisp and rhythmic “Treat Me Right” starts things with Benatar’s inimitable pipes alongside Grombacher’s animated drums and a chorus you won’t soon forget. “You Better Run” then brings plenty of riffs to the dense and tense rock-fueled climate, before the calmer mood of the dreamy “Never Wanna Leave You.”

The middle is where Benatar’s best-known tune lives: “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” Written by Eddie Schwartz, this song is as timeless and anthemic as they come, and certainly fits in well with the rest of the record.

The back half leads with Scott St. Clair Sheets’ buzzing guitar and Benatar’s gritty yet tuneful singing across “Little Paradise,” but it’s the intimate “I’m Gonna Follow You” that finds a more soulful place to reside.

The final tracks are on par with the greatness of the entire record. “Prisoner Of Love” makes great use of Roger Capps’ very skilled bass lines, while “Out-A-Touch” benefits much from Neil Giraldo’s rhythm guitar that suits Benatar’s diverse range and timeless pop-rock formula.

Only John Lennon and Yoko Ono could nudge Benatar out of the top spot on the charts for this one. The album has sold 4 million plus copies, no doubt in part due to the success of “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” but there isn’t a bad tune on the disc. The addition of two covers (The Young Rascals and Kate Bush) is a nice touch, too.

Benatar’s first three LPs are all being reissued on vinyl, and it’s a great package for either the longtime fan or someone like myself, who’s a few decades late to the party.

Rating: A-

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