Crimes of Passion is the second studio album by American singer Pat Benatar, released on August 5, 1980, by Chrysalis Records. It is Benatar's first album to feature Myron Grombacher on drums, beginning a long tenure in her band that would last into the late 1990s.

The album debuted on the US Billboard 200 for the week ending August 23, 1980, and remaining at number two for five weeks in January 1981, behind John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy.

Crimes of Passion spawned three singles. "You Better Run" was the second music video ever aired on MTV in 1981, and peaked at number 42 in the US and New Zealand, as well as number 33 in Australia. "Hit Me with Your Best Shot", considered to be Benatar's best-known song, became her first top-10 entry in the US, and entered the top 40 in Australia. "Treat Me Right" became a top-20 entry in the US. The album also contains a cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights".

Crimes of Passion was critically well-received and became Benatar's best-selling album, having been certified four-times Platinum (for shipments in excess of over four million copies) in the United States and five-times Platinum (for shipments of 500,000 copies) in Canada. It placed at number five on Billboard magazine's 1981 year-end album chart. It peaked at number two in Canada and number six in New Zealand. It was also Benatar's highest-peaking album to that point in Australia (number 16) and her first album to chart in Sweden (number 27).

In 1981, Crimes of Passion earned Benatar her first Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. The album was reissued and remastered on Capitol Records in 2006.

Critical reception

Crimes of Passion was generally well-received. Billboard wrote in a 1980 review that the album "finds Benatar in an even more rock vein with her powerful yet sensuous vocals blazing a ferocious rock path" and called it "a most credible follow-up to Benatar's near-platinum debut." J.D. Considine, writing in (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide, awarded the album 3 of 5 stars, saying that "Hell Is For Children" "proves [Benatar's] mettle as a writer" and offered praise for her vocals and the album's production. Eric Deggans, writing as part of MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, calling it one of Benatar's most consistent albums, and said that its singles such as "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" "cemented her reputation as a toughie with pipes of solid brass".

Track listing

Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Crimes of Passion.

Musicians Pat Benatar – vocals Neil Giraldo – lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, background vocals Scott St. Clair Sheets – guitar Roger Capps – bass, background vocals Myron Grombacher – drums

Technical Keith Olsen – production, engineering Chris Minto – engineering Jo Hansch, Greg Fulginiti – mastering at Artisan Sound Recorders

Artwork Ria Lewerke-Shapiro – art direction, cover design Billy Bass – direction Leon LeCash – photographs

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Crimes of Passion Chart (1980–1981) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 16

Year-end charts + 1980 year-end chart performance for Crimes of Passion Chart (1980) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 25

+ 1981 year-end chart performance for Crimes of Passion Chart (1981) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 29 US Billboard 200 5

Certifications

References