“The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums” gives you exactly what the title implies: a rare or out-of-print album or EP from the ’80s in its entirety. Some will be from CD, but most will have been lovingly transferred from pristine vinyl culled directly from the Analog Kid’s vast collection. Whatever album I choose, it will be one that you can’t easily find a physical copy for sale on Amazon or in your local record store (if you even have one anymore). Death…by stereo!
Pat Benatar released Wide Awake In Dreamland, her seventh studio album, in the summer of 1988. It had been nearly three years since 1985’s Seven The Hard Way, almost an eternity by ’80s release standards for any band not named Boston. Neil Giraldo’s guitar was once again in the forefront on the album, highlighted by lead single (and #19 hit) “All Fired Up.” For me, the album’s best track is the gorgeous “One Love”– I have no idea why this song wasn’t a huge hit (it didn’t chart in America, and only reached #59 in the U.K.). It’s probably my favorite Pat Benatar song, and I’ve been a huge fan since the day I first heard “We Live For Love” back in 1979.
Pat and Neil still tour frequently, and their long-lasting marriage is truly one of the best feel-good stories in music. They banter back and forth on stage like an old married couple, which makes sense because they are an old married couple. A few years ago, they played consecutive nights at the House Of Blues in Dallas. The first night was so good that I went back the second night, and I think Pat and Neil wanted to try a few different songs since there were clearly so many repeat attendees. About halfway through the show, Pat said, “We haven’t played this song in years, but we’re gonna try it for you now.”
To my surprise, they broke into “Sex As A Weapon,” a song that Benatar took a decent amount of heat for upon its release in 1985. The rust was obvious, though, and Pat forgot the words and stopped the song.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “We really messed that up.”
Neil’s response: “What do you mean, WE?”
They tried to play it again a couple more times, but by that point Pat was laughing so hard that they had to stop each time. They eventually moved on to the next song and finished the set, but they came back delivered a perfect laugh-free version of “Sex As A Weapon” in the encore.
“Wide Awake In Dreamland” has been out of print on CD for quite some time, so please enjoy listening to this copy of my original 1988 CD. And Pat, please play “One Love” live some day. It would make a certain Analog Kid very, very happy– and I won’t even mind if you mess up the words…
Pat Benatar: Wide Awake In Dreamland
Chrysalis Records, 1988
1. “All Fired Up” (Tolhurst/Grombacher/Benatar)
2. “One Love” (Giraldo/Grombacher)
3. “Let’s Stay Together” (Giraldo/Benatar)
4. “Don’t Walk Away” (Gilder/Hitchings)
5. “Too Long A Soldier” (Giraldo/Grombacher)
6. “Cool Zero” (Giraldo/Grombacher)
7. “Cerebral Man” (Winfield/Schiff)
8. “Lift ‘Em On Up” (Giraldo/Grombacher/Benatar)
9. “Suffer The Little Children” (Giraldo/Benatar)
10. “Wide Awake In Dreamland” (Giraldo/Grombacher)
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Pat Benatar: “We Live For Love” (Giraldo)
From the album In The Heat Of The Night
Chrysalis Records, 1979
Pat Benatar: “Sex As A Weapon” (Kelly/Steinberg)
From the album Seven The Hard Way
Chrysalis Records, 1985
Pat Benatar: “Let’s Stay Together” [12″ Mix] (Giraldo/Benatar)
From the promo 12″ Let’s Stay Together
Chrysalis Records, 1988
Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid
Pat Benatar: “Suffer The Little Children/Hell Is For Children” [Live] (Giraldo/Benatar/Capps)
From the album Best Shots
Chrysalis Records, 1989
Suffer The Little Children/Hell Is For Children [Live]
Pat Benatar: “Sometimes The Good Guys Finish First” (Benatar/Knight/McDaniels)
From the original soundtrack The Secret Of My Success
MCA Records, 1987
The Analog Kid 