If Looks Could Kill (Heart song)

"If Looks Could Kill" is a song written by Jack Conrad and Bob Garrett, originally recorded by Pamala Stanley and later by the rock band Heart in 1985. Stanley's version was featured in the 1986 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Raw Deal and reached #23 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.^[1] The Heart version was released as the fifth and final single from the band's self-titled 1985 album Heart. This version is similar to early Heart tunes as it is an aggressive, hard rock number. The song is about a woman confronting a cheating lover, letting him know that "if looks could kill / you'd be lying on the floor".

"If Looks Could Kill"
Single by Heart
from the album Heart
B-side	"What He Don't Know"
Released	July 1986
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:42
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Jack Conrad Bob Garrett
Producer(s)	Ron Nevison
Heart singles chronology
"Nothin' at All" (1986) "If Looks Could Kill" (1986) "Alone" (1987)

After four top-ten U.S. singles (including the number-one "These Dreams") from the Heart album, "If Looks Could Kill" peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Billboard said it's a "hard, fast and very excitable dance song."^[2]

It was recorded by the Norwegian actress and pop singer Mia Gundersen on her record Temptation in 1986. German heavy metal band Primal Fear included a cover of the song on their 2017 collection Best of Fear.^[3]

Personnel

Heart

• Ann Wilson – vocals
• Nancy Wilson – lead guitar, background vocals
• Howard Leese – lead guitar, keyboards, background vocals
• Mark Andes – bass guitar
• Denny Carmassi – drums

Additional musicians

• Peter Wolf – synthesizers
• Lynn Wilson – background vocals
• Holly Knight – keyboards

Charts

Pamala Stanley version

Chart (1985)	Peak position
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[1]	23

Heart version

Chart (1986)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[4]	54
US Cash Box Top 100[5]	60

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Disco/Dance: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 240.
2. "Reviews". Billboard. July 19, 1986. p. 75. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
3. "Primal Fear's 'Best Of Fear' Collection To Include Four New Songs; Cover Of Heart's 'If Looks Could Kill'". BraveWords.com. September 7, 2017.
4. "Heart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
5. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending August 16, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved October 2, 2019.