In the Spotlight

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

This article is about Suzi Quatro's album. For Dee Dee King's album, see Standing in the Spotlight.

In the Spotlight
Studio album by
Suzi Quatro
Released5 August 2011 (2011-08-05)
Studio
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 Deluxe Edition

Mike Chapman, her original producer and composer of most of her hits, approached Quatro with plans to take her back to her roots. They made this album which is a modern take on Quatro's original attitude and 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 . Allmusic rated it , 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 made a 21 performance sold-out Rocks the Spotlight Tour of Australia, also with great reviews.

Release, promotion, marketing

In the Spotlight was first released in Australia on 5 August 2011.[4] Then the album was released in Germany on 19 August 2011.[5] Finally, it was released in the rest of the world (including the USA) on 29 August 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 16 November 2011 the official music video was released via the SUZI QUATRO OFFICIAL 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 (USA)[3]
laut.de (Germany)[8]
Monsters and Critics.de (Germany)favourable[9]
The Gap[10]
Wears the Trousers Magazine (UK)favourable[11][12]

Germany

Ulf Kubanke reviewed the album for laut.de. He rated the album .[8]

Constantin Aravanlis reviewed the album favourably for Monsters and Critics.de.[9]

Austria

Gerald C. Stocker reviewed the album for The Gap. He rated the album .[10]

United Kingdom

Mojo magazine rated the album .

There were two reviews by Wears the Trousers Magazine. Alan Pedder reviewed the album's single "Whatever Love Is" and went on to comment about some other album tracks. Rhian Jones reviewed the album itself. Pedder commented favourably on two tracks, unfavourably on two tracks, and did not comment on seven tracks. Jones commented favourably (directly or indirectly) on eight tracks, unfavourably 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. ...".

He 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 about "Breaking Dishes"...

"yielding 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’. ...".

Jones concludes that:

"...Despite one or two shaky moments then, In The Spotlight is a warm and triumphant slice of retro-rock".[12]

United States

Jon O'Brien of Allmusic commented favourably on nine tracks, unfavourably 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 .[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

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

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
Date Label Format Catalogue
5 August 2011 (2011-08-05) Cherry Red CD CDBRED 511[13]
29 October 2012 (2012-10-29) 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. Quatro, Suzi; Mike Chapman; Holly Knight; Gered Mankowitz; Daryl Smith; Steve Kitchen (2011). In the Spotlight (CD booklet). Suzi Quatro. London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. CDBRED 511.
  2. Deming, Mark. "Suzi Quatro biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  3. O'Brien, Jon. "AllMusic review". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 23 November 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 25 August 2011. Retrieved 18 September 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 2 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  6. O'Brien, Jon. "AllMusic review, Overview". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  7. Victory Tischler-Blue, Suzi Quatro, Mike Chapman et al. (16 November 2011). Suzi Quatro Strict Machine Official Video.mp4 (Trailer). SUZI QUATRO OFFICIAL YouTube channel. Retrieved 23 November 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. Kubanke, Ulf. "laut.de review". www.laut.de. Konstanz, Germany: Laut AG. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  9. Aravanlis, Constantin. "Monsters and Critics.de review". www.monstersandcritics.de. Jork, Germany: Monsters and Critics.de, WOTR Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  10. Stocker, Gerald. "The Gap magazine review". The Gap. Vienna, Austria: Monopoly Media GmbH. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  11. Pedder, Alan. "Wears the Trousers Magazine "Whatever Love Is" review". www.wearsthetrousers.com. London, United Kingdom: Wears the Trousers Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  12. Jones, Rhian. "Wears the Trousers Magazine album review". www.wearsthetrousers.com. London, United Kingdom: Wears the Trousers Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  13. In the Spotlight (CD). A Captain Oi! production. London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. 29 August 2011.CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. "Goldfrapp, AllMusic". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  15. "Albums containing a track with the title: Strict Machine". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  16. "Yamaha MusicSoft: Breakin' Dishes – Yamaha Songs". www.yamahamusicsoft.com. Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan: Yamaha Corporation. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  17. Jeffries, David. "Juliette and the Licks, AllMusic". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  18. "Albums containing a track with the title: Hot Kiss". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  19. "Nicholas Zinner Browse Results at Sheetmusicdirect.com". www.sheetmusicdirect.com. London, United Kingdom: SheetMusicDirect.com. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  20. "Hard Headed Woman, AllMusic". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  21. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Four on the Floor – Juliette and the Licks, AllMusic". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  22. Quatro, Suzi; Mike Chapman; Holly Knight; Gered Mankowitz; Daryl Smith; Steve Kitchen (2012). In the Dark (CD booklet). Suzi Quatro. London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. CR CDBOX8.
  23. In the Spotlight Deluxe Edition (Box set). A Captain Oi! production. London, United Kingdom: Cherry Red Records. 29 October 2012.CS1 maint: others (link)
Musicians
Guest musicians
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