Is Best Shots a good place to start with Pat Benatar?

Yes, Best Shots is recommended as a starting point for new Pat Benatar listeners. A dynamic collection of anthemic rock tracks showcasing soaring vocals and powerful instrumentation that defined an era. When 'Best Shots' was released in November 1989, Pat Benatar was at the height of her career, following a successful string of albums that included 'Seven the Hard Way' and 'Tropico.' This compilation not only encapsulated her most popular hits but also served as a milestone marking the transition into the 1990s, a period where she would begin to explore new musical directions.

Who is Best Shots for?

Best Shots works well if you're into empowering anthems for celebration, wave-like pacing with intensity and for sing-along moments.

How many songs are on Best Shots?

Best Shots has 15 tracks, running approximately 67 minutes.

Best Shots

Pat Benatar · 1989

67 min · 15 tracks · hard rock

A dynamic collection of anthemic rock tracks showcasing soaring vocals and powerful instrumentation that defined an era.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Love Is a Battlefield Start here — This track stands out for its blend of rock and pop elements, featuring an emotionally charged narrative about love and resilience that became emblematic of Benatar's style.
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Hit Me With Your Best Shot — As one of Benatar's signature songs, this track showcases her powerful vocal delivery and defiant lyrics, making it an enduring anthem of empowerment.
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We Belong — This song highlights Benatar's ability to convey vulnerability while maintaining strength, with its haunting melody and introspective lyrics resonating deeply with listeners.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album compiles popular tracks but lacks a cohesive narrative or deep exploration of themes.

What we noticed

The sequencing groups several of her biggest hits together in the first half, creating a strong opening before introducing deeper cuts.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

empowering anthems for celebration
wave-like pacing with intensity
for sing-along moments
late-night drive energy boost
cathartic release through nostalgia

Maybe skip if you

prefer slow, mellow tunes
dislike anthemic choruses

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This compilation solidified Benatar's status as a leading female rock artist.
Career context: When 'Best Shots' was released in November 1989, Pat Benatar was at the height of her career, following a successful string of albums that included 'Seven the Hard Way' and 'Tropico.' This compilation not only encapsulated her most popular hits but also served as a milestone marking the transition into the 1990s, a period where she would begin to explore new musical directions.
Stylistic neighbors: Heart· Joan Jett & the Blackhearts· Lita Ford