In the Heat of the Night is the platinum-certified debut studio album by American recording artist Pat Benatar, released by Chrysalis Records on August 27, 1979. The album debuted on the United States' Billboard 200 the week ending October 20, 1979, peaking at No. 12 in March 1980 almost six months after its release.[4]
The album included the hard rock song, "Heartbreaker", her breakthrough hit in the US (where it reached the Top 25),[5] Canada and New Zealand (it reached the Top 20 in both those countries). "Heartbreaker" was a bigger hit at US album-rock radio stations reaching number 13 on the Tunecaster Rock Tracks chart.[6] "Heartbreaker" was the third single released off the album, as neither the first single, Benatar's version of "I Need a Lover" backed by "Rated X", or the second single, Benatar's rendition of "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", charted in the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, although they did receive some airplay at US album-oriented rock radio stations.[6]
In the Heat of the Night also contained "We Live for Love" which became her first Top 10 hit in any country when it rose to number 8 in Canada, while also reaching the Top 30 in the US, New Zealand and Australia, her first sizable hit in the latter. In France, "We Live for Love" reached the Top 40, although "Rated X" had previously reached the French Top 30. In the Netherlands and Belgium, Benatar's rendition of "I Need a Lover" became a Top 30 hit.
In Billboard magazine's 1980 year-end top pop albums chart, In the Heat of the Night was listed at No. 7. It was even a bigger hit in Canada where it peaked at number 3 and was certified 4x Platinum. In New Zealand it was a Top 10 hit while it also had success in France and Australia, peaking at number 20 and 25, respectively, in those countries.
In the Heat of the Night was remastered and re-issued on Capitol Records in 2006.
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