In the Spotlight
Encyclopedia
In the Spotlight is the fifteenth studio album
by the American singer-songwriter
and bass guitar player
Suzi Quatro
.
Quatro has sold 50 million records worldwide.
In 2006 Quatro released Back to the Drive
, which she claimed was an "autobiographical" album. Then she wrote her autobiography, published the following year.
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.
When the album was released, it received many positive reviews — Mojo
magazine rated the album .
AllMusic rated it , commenting that (except for one track):
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.
Mark Cooper, the Executive Producer of "Queens of British Pop", said that female stars were selected because their songs, experiences, and impact best wrote the story of the last fifty years.
Radio DJ David Jensen
said that Quatro took rock music by the scruff of the neck and empowered women by becoming a major rock star. She would appear live on a bill full of males and very much hold her own. Playing a long-necked bass guitar and stomping the floor, her attitude was that (if she were taken on) she would take no prisoners. As a personality, she still endures. Her recorded music is memorable and will continue to endure.
Then the album was released in Germany on 19 August 2011.
Finally, it was released in the rest of the world (including the USA) on 29 August 2011.
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
" (in order to show the similarity of the two songs' tunes).
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".
Constantin Aravanlis reviewed the album favourably for Monsters and Critics.de
.
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.
Rewiewing the single, Pedder wrote that Quartro's "Whatever Love Is"...
He described "Strict Machine" and "Breaking Dishes" as "ropey covers" but concluded that "Hard Headed Woman"...
By contrast (reviewing the album) Jones wrote about "Breaking Dishes"...
She also wrote that Quatro...
Jones concludes that:
O'Brien concluded that:
He rated the album .
Note 1 — according to the In the Spotlight CD booklet, "Morse/Lewis/Walters/Womack" wrote "Hot Kiss".
According to AllMusic, the only composers were "Lewis, Morse".
Note 2 — it is generally accepted that Elvis Presley is the original artist for "Hard Headed Woman". 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’".
Guest musicians
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the American singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and bass guitar player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
.
Quatro has sold 50 million records worldwide.
In 2006 Quatro released Back to the Drive
Back to the Drive
Back to the Drive is an album by Suzi Quatro. Released in 2006, it was the comeback album for Suzi Quatro, her first album since 1990's "Oh Suzi Q" and her eleventh studio album...
, which she claimed was an "autobiographical" album. Then she wrote her autobiography, published the following year.
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
Strict Machine
"Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments...
", a song originally performed by Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, even contains a two line teaser from Quatro's number one hit "Can the Can
Can the Can
"Can the Can" was a popular single by Suzi Quatro and the name of her debut album in Australia ....
", to show the similarities of the two tracks.
When the album was released, it received many positive reviews — Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine 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."
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.
Background
In April 2009, BBC TV selected Quatro as one of twelve Queens of British Pop.Mark Cooper, the Executive Producer of "Queens of British Pop", said that female stars were selected because their songs, experiences, and impact best wrote the story of the last fifty years.
Radio DJ David Jensen
David Jensen
David "Kid" Jensen , is a Danish Canadian-born, British radio DJ.-Early career:Born in a Danish family residing Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began his career in his home country at the age of sixteen playing jazz and classical music. He then joined Radio Luxembourg at the age of eighteen in...
said that Quatro took rock music by the scruff of the neck and empowered women by becoming a major rock star. She would appear live on a bill full of males and very much hold her own. Playing a long-necked bass guitar and stomping the floor, her attitude was that (if she were taken on) she would take no prisoners. As a personality, she still endures. Her recorded music is memorable and will continue to endure.
Release, promotion, marketing
In the Spotlight was first released in Australia on 5 August 2011.Then the album was released in Germany on 19 August 2011.
Finally, it was released in the rest of the world (including the USA) on 29 August 2011.
Victory Tischler-Blue produced the official music video for Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
's "Strict Machine
Strict Machine
"Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments...
", a track from the album. This track is a cover of Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
's "Strict Machine", but Quatro's version of the song contains two extra lines from her own number one hit "Can the Can
Can the Can
"Can the Can" was a popular single by Suzi Quatro and the name of her debut album in Australia ....
" (in order to show the similarity of the two songs' tunes).
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".
Critical reception
Germany
Ulf Kubanke reviewed the album for laut.de. He rated the album .Constantin Aravanlis reviewed the album favourably for Monsters and Critics.de
Monsters and Critics
Monsters and Critics is a web-only entertainment/celebrity news and review publication with movie, DVD, video game, and music reviews, along with political commentary as well as coverage of world news, technology, sports, and science.- Background :...
.
Austria
Gerald C. Stocker reviewed the album for The Gap magazine. He rated the album .United Kingdom
MojoMojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
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.
Rewiewing the single, Pedder wrote that Quartro'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".
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".
United States of America
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 .
Track listing
The musicians Nat Allison, Jez Davies, Owen Martin, and Mike Chapman contributed to all of the tracks except "Singing with Angels".| Writer(s) | Original artist(s) | Length | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Girl Like Me" | Mike Chapman | 4:31 | ||
| 2. | "Whatever Love Is" | Chapman. Holly Knight Holly Knight Holly Knight is a songwriter, vocalist and musician of pop and rock music.- Biography :She was born in New York City and started playing classical piano as a young child. She soon became interested in rock music, and left home at about sixteen to pursue her dreams... |
4:44 | ||
| 3. | "Spotlight" | Chapman | 3:21 | ||
| 4. | "Strict Machine Strict Machine "Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments... " |
Allison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory Will Gregory William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer... , Nick Batt |
The Neighborhood Bullys | Goldfrapp Goldfrapp Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory .... |
3:10 |
| 5. | "Breaking Dishes Breakin' Dishes "Breakin' Dishes" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad . The song was co-written by Christopher Stewart and The-Dream, with production completed by the former. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who agreed that the song... " (originally "Breakin' Dishes") |
Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash The-Dream Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs... |
The Neighborhood Bullys | Rihanna Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers... |
4:01 |
| 6. | "Rosie Rose" | Chapman | 4:04 | ||
| 7. | "Hurt with You" | Suzi Quatro Suzi Quatro Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her... |
Ray Bevis, Toby Gucklhorn, Dick Hanson | 4:18 | |
| 8. | "Hot Kiss" | Todd Morse, Juliette Lewis Juliette Lewis Juliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress... , Kemble Walters Kemble Walters Kemble Walters is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the and the former guitarist for Juliette & The Licks... , Jason Womack See Note 1 below. |
The Neighborhood Bullys | Juliette and the Licks Juliette and the Licks Juliette and the Licks was an American rock band led by actress Juliette Lewis. Other band members included guitarist Craig Fairbaugh and guitarist Emilio Cueto, bassist Jason Womack and drummer Ed Davis. Their popular songs include "You're Speaking My Language" and "Hot Kiss"... |
2:47 |
| 9. | "Turn Into Turn Into "Turn Into" is the second single that was released from Show Your Bones, the second LP by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.-Track listing:#"Turn Into"#"Turn Into" #"Maps" -Charts:-External links:***... " |
Brian Chase Brian Chase Brian Chase is an American drummer playing in the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He was ranked at #50 in Gigwise's list of The Greatest Drummers of All Time. He plays drums with traditional grip.-Early life:... , Nicholas Zinner Nick Zinner Nicholas Joseph Zinner is the guitarist for the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance... , Karen Orzolek Karen O Karen Lee Orzolek , better known by her stage name Karen O, is the vocalist for New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.-Early life:... |
The Neighborhood Bullys | Yeah Yeah Yeahs Yeah Yeah Yeahs Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring... |
3:48 |
| 10. | "Hard Headed Woman Hard Headed Woman "Hard Headed Woman" is a #1 rock and roll song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company in 1958. It is an American 12-bar blues written by African American songwriter Claude Demetrius... " |
Claude Demetrius Claude Demetrius Claude Demetrius was an African American songwriter.Born in Bath, Maine, by his early twenties he was in New York City writing music for and/or with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Witherspoon and B.B. King. Demetrius wrote the 1945 musical comedy short film Open the Door, Richard... |
Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".... See Note 2 below. |
2:02 | |
| 11. (Bonus track) | "Singing with Angels" | Quatro | James Burton James Burton James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame... , The Jordanaires The Jordanaires The Jordanaires are an American vocal quartet, which formed as a gospel group in 1948. They are best known for providing vocal background for Elvis Presley, in live appearances and recordings from 1956 to 1972... (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".
According to AllMusic, the only composers were "Lewis, Morse".
Note 2 — it is generally accepted that Elvis Presley is the original artist for "Hard Headed Woman". Wears the Trousers Magazine (in its reviews of the album and of the associated single "Whatever Love Is") refers to "Wanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson
Wanda Lavonne Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist...
’s ‘Hard Headed Woman’".
External links
Musicians- "Rock ‘n’ RollRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
is not just about the clothes you wear..." according to Nat Allison's official web site - Jez Davies and Owen Martin are members of The Nat Martin Band. The official web site of The Nat Martin Band says that "collectively the musicians in the band offer a number of different musical influences including BluesBluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, JazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, FusionJazz fusionJazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
, FunkFunkFunk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, SoulSoul musicSoul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and ClassicalClassical musicClassical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
"
Guest musicians
- Ray Beavis' official website describes him as a "saxophonistSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
& teacher based in ExeterExeterExeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, UK" - The official website of The Neighborhood Bullys calls them "the best f%$King rock & roll band in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
"