Benatar, Pat - "Live From Earth" October, 1983 CD/CS/LP
This review was originally written by myself and published in our high school newspaper, the hyphen, November, 1983.
PAT BENATAR HITS WITH HER 'BEST SHOT'
The bright lights begin to dim as the intensity of the crowd begins to rock the coliseum. On stage, a beam of light is focused upon the sultry rock goddess, Pat Benatar. Once again, she's ready to electrify her audience with a sizzling live performance. After receiving three Grammy Awards for four top-10 platinum albums (In the Heat of the Night, Crimes of Passion, Precious Time, and Get Nervous), Benatar has reproduced a red-hot concert with her marvelous new release, Live From Earth. Composing yet another new album concept, this is Pat's first "live" album. Among the eight "live" tracks are her top-10 smashes: "Heartbreaker", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", and "Fire and Ice". However, the hottest items on Live From Earth are two previously unreleased songs. The first of the new releases is the already well-known hypnotic smash, "Love Is A Battlefield", while the other is a sharp little number entitled "Lipstick Lies". "Love Is A Battlefield", which has received much airplay on FM, is still another Benatar hit to become an overwhelming success through the use of an MTV video. This excellent video, produced by Bob Giraldi, has helped the song move rapidly up the Billboard chart where it stands presently at 11. Although the other debut song, "Lipstick Lies", has not appeared on the charts, it is still a powerful tune. The song itself does have potential, despite the fact that it's noticeably not her best effort. As for the "live" tracks - peerless. With a superb effort Benatar successfully duplicates her crisp, eloquent studio vocals on the "live" versions, while her husband, guitarist Neil Geraldo, and drummer Myron Grombacher generate a unique musical facsimile almost identical to the studio mixes. The album's "live" tracks catch Benatar at full-throttle. No wonder the reviewers are breathless - this is breath-taking, high-intesity rock that just won't quit. Obviously Pat's "best shot", Live From Earth contains exhilarating "live" sound an a powerhouse of her greatest hits. (end print).
Almost 25 years later, and after laughing at myself over my writing style, I still find this album (now owned by myself in CD format) very enjoyable! Even the "...Battlefield" video (routinely played on VH1 Classic) is a great time warp back to the "free and fun" 1980's. I still find her live versions to be sharp and full of energy, and I often wonder how great she must have sounded live and "in-person". I once had tickets for a show in West Palm Beach, FL, but she had to cancel. As the Retro 80s phase continues to grow, looking back at her classic studio albums, as well as this "live" release, would make great additions to any rock collection. I thank you for taking the time to read this far, and if you enjoyed my trip to the past, please let me know. Best always, Steve - heroesandhobbyz. 05APR2008.Read full review
