In The Spotlight (radio Programme)

''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.

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." 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.
Then the album was released in Germany on August 19, 2011.
It was released in the rest of the world (including the US) on August 29, 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" (to show the similarity of the two songs' tunes).

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".

Critical reception

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

''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.

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". By contrast, reviewing the album, Jones wrote that "Breaking Dishes" "yield 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".

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"; ithher 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.

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".

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’".

''In the Dark''

Victory Tischler-Blue produced both of the bonus enhanced video tracks.

Personnel

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

"Singing with Angels"
* James Burton guitar
* Steve Grant production
* The Jordanaires backing vocals
* Suzi Quatro vocals, bass
* Andy Scott production

Release history

References

{{Authority control

Suzi Quatro albums
2011 albums
2012 albums
Albums produced by Mike Chapman
Cherry Red Records albums