In the Spotlight
The front cover of Suzi Quatro's album In the Spotlight. Quatro is standing up with her hands on her hips. Behind her is yellow circle on an orange background, simulating the effect of a spotlight. She is wearing a black leather jacket (over a black top) and light blue jeans with horizontal holes ripped in them. She has two black leather belts – a plain one, plus one decorated with yellow studs and yellow chains.
Studio album by
Suzi Quatro
ReleasedAugust 5, 2011 (2011-08-05)
Studio
  • Fortress Studios, London, UK (dates unknown)
  • Dave's Room, North Hollywood, US (dates unknown)
  • Emerald Studios, Nashville, US (dates unknown)[1]: 11 
GenreHard rock[2]
Length40:40
LabelCherry Red
Producer
Suzi Quatro chronology
Back to the Drive
(2006)		 In the Spotlight
(2011)		 Quatro, Scott & Powell
(2017)

In the Spotlight is the fifteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter and bass guitar player Suzi Quatro.

The seeds for the album were sown when Mike Chapman, Quatro's original producer and composer of most of her hits, approached her with plans to take her back to her roots. Their reunion resulted in this modern take on Quatro's original attitude, which shows the influence she has had on modern female artists. "Strict Machine", a song originally performed by Goldfrapp, even contains a two line teaser from Quatro's number one hit "Can the Can", to show the similarities of the two tracks.[3]

When the album was released, it received many positive reviews—Mojo rated the album three stars, while AllMusic rated it three-and-half stars out of five, commenting that except for one track, "In the Spotlight is an impressive comeback, which admirably doesn't rely solely on nostalgia to make itself heard."[3] In September and October 2011, soon after the album was released, Quatro embarked on the 21-date sold-out Rocks the Spotlight Tour of Australia, also with great reviews.

Release, promotion, marketing

In the Spotlight was first released in Australia on August 5, 2011.[4] Then the album was released in Germany on August 19, 2011.[5] It was released in the rest of the world (including the US) on August 29, 2011.[6]

Victory Tischler-Blue produced the official music video for Suzi Quatro's "Strict Machine", a track from the album. This track is a cover of Goldfrapp's "Strict Machine", but Quatro's version of the song contains two extra lines from her own number one hit "Can the Can" (to show the similarity of the two songs' tunes).[3]

On November 16, 2011 the official music video was released via the official Suzi Quatro YouTube channel. It includes live footage from Quatro's September/October 2011 Rocks the Spotlight Tour of Australia and the extra two lines from "Can the Can".[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Gap[8]
laut.de[9]

Ulf Kubanke reviewed the album for laut.de. He rated the album four out of stars.[9] Constantin Aravanlis reviewed the album favorably for Monsters and Critics.de.[10] Gerald C. Stocker reviewed the album for The Gap. He rated the album two out of five stars.[8]

Mojo magazine rated the album three out of five stars.

Alan Pedder of Wears the Trousers magazine reviewed the single "Whatever Love Is" and went on to comment about some other album tracks. Rhian Jones for the same publication reviewed the album itself. Pedder commented favorably on two tracks, unfavorably on two tracks, and did not comment on seven tracks. Jones commented favorably (directly or indirectly) on eight tracks, unfavorably on one track, and did not comment on two tracks.[11][12]

Reviewing the single, Pedder wrote that Quatro's "Whatever Love Is" "is squarely aimed at her existing fans", and described "Strict Machine" and "Breaking Dishes" as "ropey covers" but concluded that "Hard Headed Woman" "is a much better fit for Quatro's seasoned, raspy vocals".[11] By contrast, reviewing the album, Jones wrote that "Breaking Dishes" "yield[s] surprisingly well to a fundamentalist glam treatment and the gutsiness of Quatro's vocal approach". She also wrote that Quatro "has a decent stab at the wistful rock splendour of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Turn Into'" and concluded that "despite one or two shaky moments then, In The Spotlight is a warm and triumphant slice of retro-rock".[12]

Jon O'Brien of AllMusic commented favorably on nine tracks, unfavorably on one track, and did not comment on one track. He wrote that Quatro's "Strict Machine" is "a guitar-chugging mash-up of Goldfrapp's electro-pop reinvention in "Strict Machine"; [with] her own 1973 U.K. chart-topper "Can the Can," cleverly referencing the subtle similarities between the two". O'Brien concluded that "a misguided attempt at cod-reggae aside ("Hurt with You"), In the Spotlight is an impressive comeback, which admirably doesn't rely solely on nostalgia to make itself heard". He rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five.[3]

Track listing

In the Spotlight

The musicians Nat Allison, Jez Davies, Owen Martin, and Mike Chapman contributed to all of the tracks except "Singing with Angels".[1]: 11 

In the Spotlight track listing
Track[1]: 12  Title[1]: 12  Writer(s) Guest musician(s)[1]: 11  Original artist(s) Length[13]
1. "A Girl Like Me" Mike Chapman[1]: 4  4:31
2. "Whatever Love Is" Chapman. Holly Knight[1]: 4  4:44
3. "Spotlight" Chapman[1]: 5  3:21
4. "Strict Machine" Allison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory, Nick Batt[1]: 8 [14][15] The Neighborhood Bullys Goldfrapp[15] 3:10
5. "Breaking Dishes" (originally "Breakin' Dishes") Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash[1]: 8 [16] The Neighborhood Bullys Rihanna[16] 4:01
6. "Rosie Rose" Chapman[1]: 8  4:04
7. "Hurt with You" Suzi Quatro[1]: 9  Ray Bevis, Toby Gucklhorn, Dick Hanson 4:18
8. "Hot Kiss" Todd Morse, Juliette Lewis, Kemble Walters, Jason Womack[1]: 10 [17]

See Note 1 below.

 The Neighborhood Bullys Juliette and the Licks[18] 2:47
9. "Turn Into" Brian Chase, Nicholas Zinner, Karen Orzolek[1]: 10 [19] The Neighborhood Bullys Yeah Yeah Yeahs[19] 3:48
10. "Hard Headed Woman" Claude Demetrius[1]: 10 [20] Elvis Presley[3]

See Note 2 below.

 2:02
11. (Bonus track) "Singing with Angels" Quatro[1]: 10  James Burton, The Jordanaires (misspelled as "The Jordinaires" in the CD booklet) 3:54

Note 1 — according to the In the Spotlight CD booklet, "Morse/Lewis/Walters/Womack" wrote "Hot Kiss".[1]: 10  According to AllMusic, the only composers were "Lewis, Morse".[21]
Note 2 — it is generally accepted that Elvis Presley is the original artist for "Hard Headed Woman".[3] Wears the Trousers Magazine (in its reviews of the album and of the associated single "Whatever Love Is") refers to "Wanda Jackson’s ‘Hard Headed Woman’".[11][12]

In the Dark

Victory Tischler-Blue produced both of the bonus enhanced video tracks.[22]: 9 

In the Dark track listing
Track[23] Title[23] Writer(s)[22]: 9  Guest musician(s)[1]: 11  Original artist(s) Length[23]
1. "Empty Rooms" Suzi Quatro 3:36
2. "Make Love to Me" Quatro 4:06
3. "Why Do Rainbows Die" Quatro 3:53
4. "Truck Stop" Quatro 3:31
5. "If Ever There Was a Reason" Quatro 4:20
6. "Touch the Child in Me" Quatro 3:17
7. "Three Time Loser" Quatro 3:09
8. "One Dance Too Long" Quatro 3:25
9. (Bonus enhanced video track) "Singing with Angels" Quatro[1]: 10  James Burton, The Jordanaires (misspelled as "The Jordinaires" in the CD booklet) 6:00
10. (Bonus enhanced video track) "Strict Machine" Allison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory, Nick Batt[1]: 8 [14][15] The Neighborhood Bullys Goldfrapp[15] 3:08

Personnel

  • Nat Allison – guitars, backing vocals[1]: 11 
  • Ray Beavis – saxophone (on "Hurt with You")[1]: 11 
  • David Bianco – recording (of "Strict Machine", "Breaking Dishes", "Hot Kiss", "Turn Into")[1]: 11 
  • Mike Chapman – production, backing vocals[1]: 11 
  • Jez Davies – keyboards[1]: 11 
  • Pat Doonan – official website[1]: 11 
  • Joey Galvan – The neighborhood Bullys (on "Strict Machine", "Breaking Dishes", "Hot Kiss", "Turn Into")[1]: 11 
  • Toby Gucklhorn – trombone (on "Hurt with You")[1]: 11 
  • Rainer Haas – worldwide booking[1]: 11 
  • Dick Hanson – trumpet (on "Hurt with You")[1]: 11 
  • Michael Hays – The neighborhood Bullys (on "Strict Machine", "Breaking Dishes", "Hot Kiss", "Turn Into")[1]: 11 
  • Steve Kitchen – artwork[1]: 11 
  • Owen Martin – drums[1]: 11 
  • Davey Meshell – production, The neighborhood Bullys (on "Strict Machine", "Breaking Dishes", "Hot Kiss", "Turn Into")[1]: 11 
  • Tex Mosley – The neighborhood Bullys (on "Strict Machine", "Breaking Dishes", "Hot Kiss", "Turn Into")[1]: 11 
  • Simon Pilton – "support and inspiration"[1]: 11 
  • Suzi Quatro – vocals, bass[1]: 11 
  • Daryl Smith – artwork[1]: 11 
  • Nick Trepka – engineering[1]: 11 

"Singing with Angels"

  • James Burton – guitar[1]: 11 
  • Steve Grant – production[1]: 11 
  • The Jordanaires – backing vocals[1]: 11 
  • Suzi Quatro – vocals, bass[1]: 11 
  • Andy Scott – production[1]: 11 

Release history

Release history and formats for In the Spotlight
Date Label Format Catalogue
August 5, 2011 Cherry Red CD CDBRED 511[13]
October 29, 2012 Cherry Red Box set Box set, In the Spotlight Deluxe Edition: CR CDBOX8[23]

Disc 1, In the Spotlight: CR CDBOX 8/A[23]
Disc 2, In the Dark: CR CDBOX 8/B[23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Quatro, Suzi; Mike Chapman; Holly Knight; Gered Mankowitz; Daryl Smith; Steve Kitchen (2011). In the Spotlight (CD booklet). London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. CDBRED 511.
  2. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Suzi Quatro biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 O'Brien, Jon. "AllMusic review". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ "WJO Distribution, Suzi Quatro – Spotlight". www.wjodistribution.com. NSW, Australia: WJO Distribution – distributor of independent music and merchandise. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Ozelot.tv, CD Releases 2011, Suzi Quatro – In The Spotlight (Rough Trade)". www.ozelot.tv. Maintal, Germany: Ozelot.tv. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  6. ↑ O'Brien, Jon. "AllMusic review, Overview". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  7. ↑ Victory Tischler-Blue, Suzi Quatro, Mike Chapman et al. (November 16, 2011). Suzi Quatro Strict Machine Official Video.mp4 (Trailer). Suzi Quatro Official YouTube channel. Retrieved November 23, 2011. From the studios of the brilliant Victory Tischler Blue – here is the official video for Suzi Quatro's Strict Machine. It includes live footage from Suzi's recent Rocks the Spotlight Tour (Sept/Oct 2011) of Australia. Suzi's version of the Goldfrapp song is on her new album In the Spotlight.
  8. 1 2 Stocker, Gerald. "The Gap magazine review". The Gap. Vienna, Austria: Monopoly Media GmbH. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Kubanke, Ulf. "laut.de review". laut.de. Konstanz, Germany. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  10. ↑ Aravanlis, Constantin. "Monsters and Critics.de review". www.monstersandcritics.de. Jork, Germany: Monsters and Critics.de, WOTR Ltd. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 Pedder, Alan. "Wears the Trousers Magazine "Whatever Love Is" review". www.wearsthetrousers.com. London, United Kingdom: Wears the Trousers Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 Jones, Rhian. "Wears the Trousers Magazine album review". Wears the Trousers Magazine. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  13. 1 2 In the Spotlight (CD). London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. August 29, 2011.
  14. 1 2 "Goldfrapp". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Albums containing a track with the title: Strict Machine". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  16. 1 2 "Yamaha MusicSoft: Breakin' Dishes – Yamaha Songs". www.yamahamusicsoft.com. Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan: Yamaha Corporation. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  17. ↑ Jeffries, David. "Juliette and the Licks". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Albums containing a track with the title: Hot Kiss". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  19. 1 2 "Nicholas Zinner Browse Results at Sheetmusicdirect.com". www.sheetmusicdirect.com. London, United Kingdom: SheetMusicDirect.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Hard Headed Woman\". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  21. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Four on the Floor – Juliette and the Licks". AllMusic. Ann Arbor, US. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  22. 1 2 Quatro, Suzi; Mike Chapman; Holly Knight; Gered Mankowitz; Daryl Smith; Steve Kitchen (2012). In the Dark (CD booklet). London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. CR CDBOX8.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 In the Spotlight Deluxe Edition (Box set). London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. October 29, 2012.
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