Tropico
Studio
ArtistPat Benatar
CoverBenatrop.jpg
ReleasedNovember 1, 1984[1]
RecordedMay–September 1984
StudioMCA Whitney Studios (Glendale, California)
Genre
Length38:57
LabelChrysalis
Producer
Prev year1983
Next year1985

Tropico is the fifth studio album by American rock singer Pat Benatar, released on November 1, 1984, by Chrysalis Records. It is the first album to feature bassist Donnie Nossov, who replaced Roger Capps in Benatar's band. It marks Benatar and Giraldo's first attempt to move away from Benatar's famed "hard rock" sound and start experimenting with new "gentler" styles and new wave sounds.[2][3]

The album peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart[4] and produced the Grammy-nominated[5] Top Five Pop hit "We Belong".[6] Other well-known songs from the album include "Painted Desert", "Outlaw Blues" and "Ooh Ooh Song" (also a Top 40 hit).[6] A Spanish version of "Ooh Ooh Song" was on the B-side of the US single and appeared also on her 1999 compilation, Synchronistic Wanderings. Tropico was Benatar's sixth consecutive Platinum-certified album in the United States.[7]

BGO Records reissued Tropico on CD with Seven the Hard Way.

Critical reception

The European magazine Music & Media praised Tropico's "excellent production" and noted the "softer and sophisticated direction" compared to earlier works, and recommended the tracks "Painted Desert" and "Love in the Ice Age".[8]

Personnel

Band members

  • Pat Benatar – vocals
  • Neil Giraldo – guitars, harmonica, percussion
  • Charlie Giordano – keyboards, percussion
  • Donnie Nossov – bass, backing vocals on track 6
  • Myron Grombacher – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

  • Roger Capps – bass on tracks 2 and 3
  • Lenny Castro – percussion on tracks 3 and 9
  • Unknown[a] – backing vocals on track 2

Production

  • Neil Giraldo, Peter Coleman – producers, mixing at The Complex Studios and Sound Castle Studios, Los Angeles
  • Dave Hernandez – assistant engineer, Spanish translation of track 6
  • Murray Dvorkin, Bino Espinoza – mixing assistants
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Tropico
Chart (1984–1985)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[9]9
European Albums (Music & Media)[10]30
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[11]39

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Tropico
Chart (1985)Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[12]64
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[13]71

Notes

  1. ^ The record sleeve says "Thanks […] The Kids on «We Belong» […]".

References

  1. ^ "Upcoming Releases". CMJ New Music Report. October 29, 1984. p. 42.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pat Benatar – Tropico review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Connelly, Cristopher (January 31, 1985). "Album Reviews: Pat Benatar – Tropico". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  4. ^ "Pat Benatar Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  5. ^ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Female". Rock on the Net. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Pat Benatar Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "RIAA Searchable database: search for " Pat Benatar"". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "Turnable Tips". Music and Media. November 26, 1984. p. 10.
  9. ^ Kent 1993, pp. 32–33
  10. ^ "European Top 100 Albums". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 37. December 10, 1984. p. 9. OCLC 29800226. – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ AA.VV. (April 25, 2006). Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970~2005. Tokyo: Oricon. ISBN 978-487-1-31077-2.
  12. ^ Kent 1993, p. 437
  13. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Albums of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. December 28, 1985. p. 14. ISSN 0033-7064. – via Library and Archives Canada.

Bibliography

  • Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated ed. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.