Seven the Hard Way

1985 studio album by Pat Benatar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seven the Hard Way is the sixth studio album by American singer Pat Benatar, released on November 13, 1985, by Chrysalis Records. It debuted on the US Billboard 200 for the week of December 14 and peaked at number 26,[5] spawning the singles "Invincible", "Sex as a Weapon", and "Le Bel Age".[6] The album has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7]

ReleasedNovember 13, 1985[1]
Recorded1985
Studio
Quick facts Studio album by Pat Benatar, Released ...
Seven the Hard Way
photo of a Pat Benatar album cover among trash papers with cover showing Benatar holding head with hands
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 13, 1985[1]
Recorded1985
Studio
Genre
Length37:05
LabelChrysalis
Producer
Pat Benatar chronology
Tropico
(1984)
Seven the Hard Way
(1985)
Best Shots
(1987)
Singles from Seven the Hard Way
  1. "Invincible"
    Released: June 24, 1985[2]
  2. "Sex as a Weapon"
    Released: November 4, 1985
  3. "Le Bel Age"
    Released: January 20, 1986
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More information Review scores, Source ...
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[3]
Rolling StonePositive[4]
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The Grammy Award-nominated single "Invincible" was produced by Mike Chapman and recorded for the soundtrack of the Matthew Robbins film The Legend of Billie Jean, which, despite underperforming at the box office, became a cult classic to MTV fans in general. The song became commercially successful and was included on the album, despite its musical style differing from Benatar's at that time and more reminiscent of her earlier efforts.[8] Benatar often commented at her concerts before performing the song that it "is from one of the worst movies ever made” to upset fans of the '80s film.[9] Another track, "Run Between The Raindrops", was featured in The Stepfather.

Seven the Hard Way was Benatar's last album to feature bassist Donnie Nossov, who along with drummer Myron Grombacher went on to play with Lita Ford on her breakthrough album, Lita (1988), and on the supporting tour. Grombacher would return to Benatar's band for her follow-up album, Wide Awake in Dreamland, released after the three-year hiatus that followed Seven the Hard Way.

In 1998, BGO Records reissued Seven the Hard Way on CD with Tropico.

Track listing

More information No., Title ...
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sex as a Weapon"4:15
2."Le Bel Age"
5:11
3."Walking in the Underground"
4:39
4."Big Life"
  • Giraldo
  • Grombacher
2:40
5."Red Vision"
  • Giraldo
  • Grombacher
3:50
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More information No., Title ...
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."7 Rooms of Gloom" (Four Tops cover)3:33
7."Run Between the Raindrops"
  • Giraldo
  • Grombacher
4:27
8."Invincible" (theme from The Legend of Billie Jean)4:28
9."The Art of Letting Go"
3:58
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Personnel

Band members

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Neil Giraldo – production (tracks 1–7, 9)
  • Joe Chiccarelli – associate production, engineering (tracks 1–7, 9); mixing (tracks 4, 5, 9)
  • Mike Chapman – production (track 8)
  • William Wittman – engineering, mixing (track 8)
  • Dave Hernandez, Daren Klein, George Tutko – additional engineering
  • Scott Church, Robert Corti, Marc DeSisto, Paul Ericksen, Steve Himelfarb, Gary Hollis, Richard McKernan, Charlie Paakkari, Brian Scheuble, Samii Taylor – engineering assistance
  • Scotty Bem, Jeff Chonis – production coordination
  • Michael Frondelli – mixing (tracks 1–3, 6, 7)
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Artwork

  • Moshe Brakha – photography
  • Larry Vigon – art direction, design

Charts

More information Chart (1985–1986), Peak position ...
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Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications for Seven the Hard Way
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] Gold 7,500^
United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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