Track Listing
Side 1
| 1 | Rock Hard | 3:18 |
| 2 | Glad All Over | 2:47 |
| 3 | Love Is Ready | 3:30 |
| 4 | State of Mind | 2:59 |
| 5 | Woman Cry | 3:39 |
| 6 | Lipstick | 4:09 |
Side 2
| 1 | Hard Headed | 4:02 |
| 2 | Ego in the Night | 3:36 |
| 3 | Lonely is the Hardest | 3:47 |
| 4 | Lay Me Down | 3:33 |
| 5 | Wish Upon Me | 2:56 |
Suzi’s album “Rock Hard” is her seventh studio album. It was released in October 1980 under Dreamland Records, marking her only release with the label.
It was the first time Suzi recorded without a keyboard player. With no keyboard player in the band, Suzi herself played organ on the album. Jamie Crompton, who had joined the band in 1979 remained as second guitarist.
The album was recorded over a month in 1980 at United Western Studios in Hollywood. It features the talents of guest backing vocalists Paul Delph, Michael Des Barres, and Andrea Robinson.
Album Overview
Suzi Quatro Rock Hard consists of 11 songs, totaling 36 minutes and 16 seconds. Notable songwriters for these tracks include Suzi Quatro herself, Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn, Len Tuckey, Eddy Brown, Teresa Straley, and David Krems.
The album was a moderate commercial success. The title track “Rock Hard” was a hit in Australia, peaking at number 9, but it reached only number 68 in the UK. “Lipstick” also saw moderate success, reaching number 46 in Australia and number 51 in the US.
Despite its success in certain areas, “Rock Hard” was Quatro’s poorest-selling studio album in the US and Norway at the time. In Australia, however, Quatro received a gold record for both the album and the single in 1981. The album charted at number 31 in Australia, 22 in Norway, and 165 in the US.
In terms of critical reception, the album was generally well-received, with many critics considering it to be Quatro’s best album of the 1980s. The album was re-released in 2012, remastered by Cherry Red Records on Compact Disc, as part of a series of Quatro remasters.
Album Inner Sleeve
Singles From Rock Hard
- Rock Hard: (Released 1980)
- Glad All Over: (Released 1980) This was a cover version of a song originally by the Dave Clark Five. Unlike the other singles, it was the only one to chart in Belgium, peaking at number 25
- Lipstick: (Released 1980) This single had moderate success, peaking at 46 in Australia and 51 in the US.
- Hard Headed: Japan-only single release
Rock Hard | Single
The song Rock Hard appeared in the 1980 movie Times Square as the favorite song of the character Pamela. It was also included on the movie soundtrack album.
The single was released with a Times Square-themed back cover as a tie-in with the movie.
This single was a commercial success, especially in Australia, where it peaked at number 9. However, it reached only number 68 in the UK.
Personnel on the album, besides Quatro on lead vocals, bass guitar, and organ, include Len Tuckey on lead guitar and backing vocals, Jamie Crompton on guitar, Dave Neal on drums, and various artists for backing vocals, with Mike Chapman as the producer.
Rock Hard was Suzi’s last album to appear in the charts for 26 years until “Back to the Drive” in 2006.
Album Credits
Personnel
- Suzi Quatro – Lead vocals, bass guitar, organ
- Len Tuckey – Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jamie Crompton – Guitar
- Dave Neal – Drums
- Andrea Robinson – Backing vocals
- Linda Lawley – Backing vocals
- Michael Des Barres – Backing vocals
- Paul Delph – Backing vocals
- Sue Richman -Backing vocals
| Producer | Mike Chapman |
| Engineer | Doug Schwartz |
| Mastered by | MCA Whitney Studios by Steve Hall |
| Recorded at | Recorded and Mixed at United Western Studios, Hollywood, California Recorded from June 18 until July 3, 1980 |
| Art Direction | Glenn Ross |