Songfacts®:

• "Heartbreaker" was written by the songwriters Geoff Gill and Clint Wade. It was Pat Benatar's breakout hit, propelling her debut album to platinum level. This was the third single released for her debut album. The first two, "I Need a Lover" and "If You Think You Know How to Love Me," didn't take off, but "Heartbreaker" was an instant hit.
• Since the song's writers, Geoff Gill and Clint Wade, were British, the lyrics of the song were originally full of UK English expressions and colloquialisms that would be foreign to the American ear. So the publisher gave it to Benatar to clear up; Benatar rewrote it. She has stated that she loved it from the first time she saw it, and it remains one of her favorites.
  Note that many of Benatar's most famous songs, including the empowerment anthem "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," were written by men.
• Though everyone thinks of Pat Benatar as a solo act, she in fact has a regular backing band that contributes just as much to the work as she does. Most notably her husband Neil Giraldo, who writes some of her songs, and has always been her lead guitarist. Other names to know in her band include drummer Myron Grombacher, keyboardist Charlie Giordano, and bassist Mick Mahan. On this song, the line-up was Neil Giraldo on guitar and keyboard, Scott St. Clair Sheets on rhythm guitar, Roger Capps on bass, and Glen Alexander Hamilton on drums.
• The popularity of "Heartbreaker" has led it to be included in many music games, including Rock Band, Guitar Hero: World Tour, and Karaoke Revolution: Presents American Idol.