Tropico (Pat Benatar album)

Tropico
Tropico
	Cover photo by Rebecca Blake
Studio album by Pat Benatar
Released	November 1, 1984
Recorded	May–September 1984
Studio	MCA Whitney Studios (Glendale, California)
Genre	Pop rock ; new wave ; soft rock ;
Length	38:57
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Neil Giraldo ; Peter Coleman;
Pat Benatar chronology
Singles from Tropico
	"We Belong"; Released: October 16, 1984; "Painted Desert"; Released: 1984 (Europe and Oceania only); "Ooh Ooh Song"; Released: January 7, 1985; "Temporary Heroes"; Released: March 18, 1985 (promo);

Last updated April 13, 2025

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.^[1]^[2]

The album peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart^[3] and produced the Grammy-nominated^[4] Top Five Pop hit "We Belong".^[5] Other well-known songs from the album include "Painted Desert", "Outlaw Blues" and "Ooh Ooh Song" (also a Top 40 hit).^[5] 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.^[6]

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

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Rolling Stone	^[2]

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".^[7]

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Diamond Field"	Neil Giraldo, Myron Grombacher, Pat Benatar	3:20
2.	"We Belong"	Eric Lowen, Dan Navarro	3:40
3.	"Painted Desert"	Giraldo, Grombacher	5:24
4.	"Temporary Heroes"	Nick Trevesick, Ginny Clee	4:30
5.	"Love in the Ice Age"	Giraldo, Charles Giordano, Grombacher, Benatar	4:05

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Ooh Ooh Song"	Giraldo, Benatar	4:28
7.	"The Outlaw Blues"	Giraldo, Grombacher	3:47
8.	"Suburban King"	Giraldo, Billy Steinberg	1:48
9.	"A Crazy World Like This"	Giraldo, Tom Kelly, Steinberg	4:02
10.	"Takin' It Back"	Giraldo, Benatar	4:07

UK Edition^[8]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Diamond Field"	Giraldo, Grombacher, Benatar	3:20
2.	"We Belong"	Lowen, Navarro	3:40
3.	"Painted Desert"	Giraldo, Grombacher	5:24
4.	"Temporary Heroes"	Trevesick, Clee	4:30
5.	"Love Is a Battlefield"	Holly Knight, Mike Chapman	5:24
6.	"Ooh Ooh Song"	Giraldo, Benatar	4:28
7.	"The Outlaw Blues"	Giraldo, Grombacher	3:47
8.	"Suburban King"	Giraldo, Steinberg	1:48
9.	"A Crazy World Like This"	Giraldo, Kelly, Steinberg	4:02
10.	"Takin' It Back"	Giraldo, Benatar	4:07
11.	"Love in the Ice Age"	Giraldo, Giordano, Grombacher, Benatar	4:05

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
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM )^[10]	21
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[11]	23
European Albums ( Music & Media )^[12]	30
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[13]	26
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[14]	39
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[15]	7
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[16]	19
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[17]	21
UK Albums (OCC)^[18]	31
US Billboard 200 ^[19]	14

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Tropico*
Chart (1985)	Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[20]	64
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[21]	71

Certifications

Certifications for *Tropico*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[22]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[23]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[24]	Platinum	15,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[25]	Silver	60,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[26]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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

External links

"Tropico" at discogs

References

1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pat Benatar – Tropico review". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 24, 2014.
1 2 Connelly, Cristopher (January 31, 1985). "Album Reviews: Pat Benatar – Tropico". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
↑ "Pat Benatar Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
↑ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Female". Rock on the Net. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
1 2 "Pat Benatar Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
↑ "RIAA Searchable database: search for " Pat Benatar"". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 18, 2014.
↑ "Turnable Tips" (PDF). Music and Media. November 26, 1984. p. 10.
↑ "Pat Benatar - Tropico". Discogs . Retrieved May 15, 2019.
↑ Kent 1993 , pp. 32–33
↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9555". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pat Benatar – Tropico" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet . Vol. 1, no. 37. December 10, 1984. p. 9. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pat Benatar – Tropico" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
↑ AA.VV. (April 25, 2006). Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970~2005. Tokyo: Oricon. ISBN 978-487-1-31077-2.
↑ "Charts.nz – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
↑ "Swisscharts.com – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
↑ "Pat Benatar Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
↑ Kent 1993 , p. 437
↑ "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.
↑ "Pat Benatar ultra rare genuine Australian Gold Award From Festival Records". September 9, 2023.
↑ "Canadian album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Music Canada . Retrieved April 15, 2020.
↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
↑ "British album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved April 15, 2020.
↑ "American album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 15, 2020.

Bibliography

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

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

[allmusic-1] 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pat Benatar – Tropico review". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 24, 2014.

[rolling-2] 1 2 Connelly, Cristopher (January 31, 1985). "Album Reviews: Pat Benatar – Tropico". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2014.

[album-3] "Pat Benatar Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved March 21, 2018.

[RockontheNet-4] "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Female". Rock on the Net. Retrieved July 20, 2011.

[singles-5] 1 2 "Pat Benatar Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved March 21, 2018.

[RIAA-6] "RIAA Searchable database: search for " Pat Benatar"". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 18, 2014.

[7] "Turnable Tips" (PDF). Music and Media. November 26, 1984. p. 10.

[sony-8] "Pat Benatar - Tropico". Discogs . Retrieved May 15, 2019.

[10] Kent 1993 , pp. 32–33

[group=-11] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9555". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

[ac_Netherlands_Pat_Benatar-12] "Dutchcharts.nl – Pat Benatar – Tropico" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2014.

[13] "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet . Vol. 1, no. 37. December 10, 1984. p. 9. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[ac_Germany4_Pat_Benatar-14] "Offiziellecharts.de – Pat Benatar – Tropico" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

[15] AA.VV. (April 25, 2006). Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970~2005. Tokyo: Oricon. ISBN 978-487-1-31077-2.

[ac_New_Zealand_Pat_Benatar-16] "Charts.nz – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 30, 2019.

[ac_Sweden_Pat_Benatar-17] "Swedishcharts.com – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2014.

[ac_Switzerland_Pat_Benatar-18] "Swisscharts.com – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

[ac_UK2_-19] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Pat_Benatar-20] "Pat Benatar Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

[21] Kent 1993 , p. 437

[22] "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.

[23] "Pat Benatar ultra rare genuine Australian Gold Award From Festival Records". September 9, 2023.

[CanadaPat_BenatarTropicoalbumCertRef-24] "Canadian album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Music Canada . Retrieved April 15, 2020.

[New_ZealandPat_BenatarTropicoalbumCertRef-25] "New Zealand album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[United_KingdomPat_BenatarTropicoalbumCertRef-26] "British album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved April 15, 2020.

[United_StatesPat_BenatarTropicoalbumCertRef-27] "American album certifications – Pat Benatar – Tropico". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 15, 2020.

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v t e Pat Benatar
Discography
Studio albums	In the Heat of the Night Crimes of Passion Precious Time Get Nervous Tropico Seven the Hard Way Wide Awake in Dreamland True Love Gravity's Rainbow Innamorata Go
Live albums	Live from Earth
Compilations	Best Shots Synchronistic Wanderings Greatest Hits Ultimate Collection
Singles	"I Need a Lover" "Heartbreaker" "You Better Run" "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" "Treat Me Right" "Hell Is for Children" "Fire and Ice" "Shadows of the Night" "Love Is a Battlefield" "We Belong" "Invincible" "All Fired Up" "Don't Walk Away" "Everybody Lay Down"
Related articles	Neil Giraldo