Maps of Music

In the Spotlight (2011)

Where the lyrics of In the Spotlight take you, and where it was really made.

The album was recorded in three studios in three cities, from London to Nashville, with a producer who had written most of the singer's 1970s hits.

Key places

Fortress Studios, London (2011)

Recording site Fortress Studios — Fortress Studios in London is listed as a recording location for In the Spotlight. The source gives no session dates for this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Dave's Room, North Hollywood (2011)

Recording site Dave's Room — Dave's Room in North Hollywood is listed as a recording location for In the Spotlight. The source gives no session dates for this room. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Emerald Studios, Nashville (2011)

Recording site Nashville — Emerald Studios is listed as a recording location in Nashville for In the Spotlight. The point uses city-centre coordinates, not the studio building, and no session dates are given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• In the Spotlight: fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter and bass guitarist Suzi Quatro
• First released in Australia on August 5, 2011
• Released in Germany on August 19, 2011
• Released in the rest of the world, including the US, on August 29, 2011

Background

• Mike Chapman, Quatro's original producer and composer of most of her hits, approached her with plans to take her back to her roots
• The reunion produced a modern take on Quatro's original attitude
• The album shows the influence she has had on modern female artists
• "Strict Machine", originally performed by Goldfrapp, contains two extra lines from Quatro's number one hit "Can the Can"
• The extra lines show the similarities between the two tracks
• Soon after the release, Quatro embarked on the 21-date sold-out Rocks the Spotlight Tour of Australia in September and October 2011

Recording

• Studios listed for the album: Fortress Studios (London), Dave's Room (North Hollywood), and Emerald Studios (Nashville)
• Session dates for these studios are unknown
• Nat Allison, Jez Davies, Owen Martin, and Mike Chapman contributed to all tracks except "Singing with Angels"
• "Singing with Angels" credits: James Burton (guitar), The Jordanaires (backing vocals), Steve Grant and Andy Scott (production), Suzi Quatro (vocals, bass)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Susan Kay Quatro in Detroit on June 3, 1950, she joined her sister Patti's all-female garage rock band the Pleasure Seekers in 1964 as bassist under the name Suzi Soul.
• The band later changed its name to Cradle in late 1969.
• Producer Mickie Most brought her to England in 1969 and developed her as a solo artist.

Career

• Her first single "Rolling Stone" reached number one only in Portugal.
• "Can the Can" (1973) hit number one in parts of Europe and Australia, followed by "48 Crash", "Daytona Demon" and "Devil Gate Drive" (1974), each selling over one million copies.
• She had a recurring role as bassist Leather Tuscadero on the sitcom Happy Days in 1977.
• The duet "Stumblin' In" with Chris Norman of Smokie reached number four in the US in 1978, her only top-40 US hit.
• She has released 15 studio albums plus later ones, and is reported to have sold over 50 million records.
• She was voted six Bravo Otto awards between 1973 and 1980 and was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2010.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Mojo: three out of five stars
• AllMusic (Jon O'Brien): three-and-a-half stars out of five, favorable on nine tracks and unfavorable on one
• AllMusic: the album is described as an impressive comeback that does not rely only on nostalgia, with one misguided attempt at cod-reggae set aside
• laut.de (Ulf Kubanke): rated the album four stars
• Monsters and Critics.de (Constantin Aravanlis): favorable review
• The Gap (Gerald C. Stocker): two out of five stars
• Wears the Trousers (Rhian Jones): describes the album as a warm and triumphant slice of retro-rock, favorable on eight tracks and unfavorable on one
• Wears the Trousers (Alan Pedder): the single "Whatever Love Is" is squarely aimed at existing fans
• Wears the Trousers (Alan Pedder): calls "Strict Machine" and "Breaking Dishes" ropey covers, while finding "Hard Headed Woman" a better fit for Quatro's raspy vocals
• Wears the Trousers (Rhian Jones): "Breaking Dishes" suits a glam treatment, and the vocal approach is praised

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Strict Machine" official music video was produced by Victory Tischler-Blue and released on November 16, 2011 through Quatro's official YouTube channel
• The video includes live footage from the September/October 2011 Rocks the Spotlight Tour of Australia
• The booklet credits "Hot Kiss" to Morse, Lewis, Walters, and Womack, while AllMusic lists only Lewis and Morse as composers
• Elvis Presley is generally accepted as the original artist of "Hard Headed Woman", but Wears the Trousers refers to Wanda Jackson's version
• The album's three recording locations are listed with no session dates

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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