This third album from the legendary Pat Benatar was special for a lot of reasons, the biggest one being that it peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 and was her only album to accomplish that. Benatar also netted a Grammy for the lead single off the album, “Fire And Ice.”
“Promises In The Dark” begins the listen on a soft note, where Alan Pasqua’s gentle piano suits Benatar’s inimitable and expressive pipes before the setting quickly bursts into a charged rocker. “Fire And Ice” then gets dramatic, where power and melody are present from Neil Giraldo’s rugged guitar and Myron Grombacher’s thumping drums. Side A exits with “Just Like Me,” a Paul Revere & The Raiders cover, and “Precious Time.” The former allows Roger Capps’ animated bass to shine, while the latter is a bit mysterious, where an overall dreaminess and detailed guitar solo won’t go unnoticed.
Starting off Side B is the New Wave influenced and scrappy bouts of “It’s A Tuff Life,, though it’s the melodic and crisp “Take It Any Way You Want It” that epitomizes Benatar’s anthemic and raw quality that showcases her diverse pipes and meticulous band.
Deeper cuts bring us “Evil Genius,” where Gary Herbig, Joel Peskin, Tom Scott and Larry Williams all contribute saxophone to the busy versus minimal landscape, and the punk influenced “Hard To Believe,” where razor sharp guitars and the soulful backing vocals are appreciated. A Beatles cover exits the listen, as Benatar turns in a searing interpretation of the classic “Helter Skelter.”
Part of a trio of early Benatar albums that are being reissued on vinyl, Precious Time went 2x-Platinum, and sold especially well in Canada, France and New Zealand. Most importantly, it has stood the test of time particularly well.
