The same year Cardenas released a solo album entitled "Animal Instinct". The first single from the album was a cover of the Del Shannon song "Runaway" and became a hit in the US, peaking at number 83 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. The video for the single featured cameo appearances by Shannon and Donny Osmond and cost $500,000 to make, reputedly the most expensive video ever made for a single at the time. It won a nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards. Cardenas followed "Runaway" with the self-penned "Hungry for Your Love", which featured Phyllis Diller and Cardenas's pet tiger Bundi in the video, but the single did not match the success of "Runaway". The album "Animal Instinct" was reissued on March 6, 2012, featuring bonus tracks and the videos for the singles.