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Since bursting onto the scene in the mid-1960s as a member of Detroit band The Pleasure Seekers, Suzi Quatro has enjoyed one of the most versatile careers in rock and roll.  In addition to selling over 55 million LPs and singles, Quatro has starred on stage and screen and influenced an entire generation of artists including Joan Jett and The Go-Go’s.  Suzi’s most recent studio LP, The Devil in Me, arrived in early 2021.  Now, Cherry Red’s 7T’s imprint is looking back to her first two albums of the 21st century: Back to the Drive (2006) and In the Spotlight (2011).  Both albums have been expanded to comprise a new 2-CD set, Back to the…Spotlight, out in stores today.

Suzi stayed away from the recording studio for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, instead channeling her talents into other avenues of entertainment and even self-help and addressing what she candidly describes in her new notes as “personal problems.”  2006’s Back to the Drive was her first “proper” release since 1990’s Oh, Suzi Q.  (1995’s What Goes Around featured re-recordings of her previous hits along with a handful of new recordings, and 1998’s Unreleased Emotion premiered a clutch of 1982 recordings.)  Produced by Andy Scott and Steve Grant, Back to the Drive featured a hard-hitting title track by Mike Chapman, co-writer of Quatro hits including “Can the Can,” “48 Crash,” “Devil Gate Drive,” and “Stumblin’ In.”  The song and album returned Quatro to her rock roots, with crunchy guitars and attitude to spare.  As one song went, “I Don’t Do Gentle,” but Back to the Drive also found room for tender and deeply-felt moments such as “Sometimes Love Is Letting Go,” inspired by her ailing mother.  The artist co-wrote much of the LP but brought her own stamp to an appropriate cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”  7T’s’ edition gains four bonus tracks: a gracefully understated “Desperado” featuring Jeff Beck on guitar; and demos of album cuts “No Choice,” “Free the Butterfly,” and “Dancing in the Wind.”

In the Spotlight didn’t arrive until 2011, but it was worth the wait.  It took the reunion with Mike Chapman one step further.  In addition to penning the nominal title track “Spotlight,” the veteran hitmaker offered another three songs and produced the entire album save two cuts helmed by the returning Andy Scott.  Quatro fans were used to expecting the unexpected – this was, after all, the rock star who followed in the footsteps of Ethel Merman to star as Annie Oakley in a West End revival of Annie Get Your Gun – and so In the Spotlight boasted covers of Goldfrapp (“Strict Machine”) and Rihanna (“Breaking Dishes”).  Elvis Presley was a touchstone for the LP, too.  Suzi reinterpreted “Hard Headed Woman,” first recorded by The King in 1958 for King Creole, and wrote “Singing with Angels” as a tribute to the late superstar.  She was joined on the latter by Wrecking Crew and TCB Band guitar legend James Burton as well as by The Jordanaires, as always bringing their unmistakable harmonies.  One bonus track has been added to this reissue: Suzi’s energetic romp through ABBA’s “Does Your Mother Know” as “Does Your Mama Know.”

A 28-page booklet within the six-panel digipak contains lyrics for each song as well as brief track-by-track commentary from Suzi.  James Bragg has mastered the collection.  Back to the…Spotlight is available today from 7T’s.  You’ll find the track listing and order links below.

Suzi Quatro, Back to the…Spotlight (Cherry Red/7T’s GLAMCDD 186, 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Back to the Drive (EMI 350 617-2, 2006)

1. Back to the Drive
2. 15 Minutes of Fame
3. Duality
4. I Don’t Do Gentle
5. I’ll Walk Through the Fire with You
6. Wasted Moments
7. Rockin’ in the Free World
8. No Choice
9. Sometimes Love Is Letting Go
10. Dancing in the Wind
11. Free the Butterfly
12. Born Making Noise

Bonus Tracks

13. Desperado
14. No Choice (Demo)
15. Free the Butterfly (Demo)
16. Dancing in the Wind (Demo)

CD 2: In the Spotlight (Cherry Red CDBRED511, 2011)

1. A Girl Like Me
2. Whatever Love Is
3. Spotlight
4. Strict Machine
5. Breaking Dishes
6. Rosie Rose
7. Hurt with You
8. Hot Kiss
9. Turn Into
10. Hard-Headed Woman
11. Singing with Angels

Bonus Track

12. Does Your Mama Know