Scandal - The Warrior

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Warrior, the only full length album from Scandal from the 80’s. After the promotional tour ended, Patty Smyth left the group and the rest disbanded until 2004. Fueled by a hit single, this one spent forty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 17.


Side one opens with “The Warrior”. As the lead single, it hit number 86 in the UK, number 11 in New Zealand, number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 6 in Australia, and number 1 in both Canada and on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. It was co-written by Holly Knight (“Love Is a Battlefield”) and Nick Gilder (“Hot Child in the City”). This was a huge dance song during the summer and fall of 1984 with a video all over MTV; I loved it so much that I bought a copy of the single. I like the strong, assertive female viewpoint and that a woman can be a warrior in the game of love.

The third single “Beat of a Heart” hit number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the US Mainstream Rock charts in 1985. This review was the first time I have heard this track in many decades; I had forgotten how much I liked this one too.

“Hands Tied”, the mid-tempo second single, went to number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

The B-side to the first single was “Less Than Half”, a song about a woman who chooses to stick with a guy even if he is wrong for her.

“Only the Young” was written and recorded by Journey in 1983 but was not released until 1985 for the Vision Quest soundtrack. Therefore, Scandal’s cover of the song actually hit the public first. Even though Journey’s version is forever burned in my musical memory, this version works for me too.

Side two begins with “All I Want”, the story of two people with different dreams.

The next track “Talk to Me” was written by rock musician and songwriter Doug Lubahn; he played on a number of the Doors’ albums, was a founder of the 60’s jazz-rock band Dreams, and wrote “Treat Me Right” which Pat Benatar recorded. It emphasizes the importance of communication in a relationship.

The gentle love ballad “Say What You Will” follows.

“Tonight” was chosen as the B-side to the third single.

“Maybe We Went Too Far”, the closing track, was the B-side to the second single.

For me, the first side of The Warrior is very solid. Side two sort of slips into the mediocrity that I found when I reviewed Scandal’s debut EP a few years back. Again, I will likely pick and chose when it comes to downloading some of these tracks in the future.

For more reviews featuring the music of Scandal, click here.