Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro's multitude of European, Japanese and Australian hit singles were all written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. Two of the biggest and hardest rocking of these appear here ('48 Crash' and `Can the Can'), along with a sexy pre-historic odyssey entitled `Primitive Love'. But the success of this album rides, not on the strength of that song-writing partnership, but on the writing of Quatro herself and soon-to-be husband, guitarist Len Tuckey. `Glycerine Queen', `Shine My Machine', `Official Suburbian Superman', `Get Back Mamma' and `Rockin' Moonbeam' are first class garage rockers. Along with the devine and dreamy `Skin Tight Skin', they clearly illustrate that Quatro/Tuckey were a team that were consistently and unfairly ignored because they did not write the singles. Quatro's attack approach on three covers - the Beatles' `I Wanna Be Your Man' and Elvis Presley's `All Shook Up' and `Shakin' All Over' round out the 13 track set and demonstrate her strength as an interpreter (one that Presley himself reputedly loved).
Quatro's vocals are strong and authoritative, while conveying just a glimpse of vulnerability. The trademark scream that made her famous is also in full flight. Chinn-Chapman's production is full and textured, driving the music with an awesome drum sound (Dave Neal), Quatro's slick bass, and Tuckey's guitar being rounded out by some beautiful keyboards from Alistair McKenzie.
Though this album has an overall sound and style that places it firmly in the rock of the pre-punk 70s, you would be hard pressed to find anything else that sounds quite like it, nor a rock debut that is as confident and energetic. (`Can the Can' is the Australian title. Elsewhere, and sans this song, the album is called `Suzi Quatro'.)