Suzi Quatro - Aggro-Phobia (1976) plus Bonus Tracks

(U.S 1964 - Present)

Aggro-Phobia is the fourth studio album by Suzi Quatro, recorded in the Autumn of 1976. It is the only one of her albums to be co-produced by Mickie Most.

Initial sessions for Suzi's fourth regular studio album were undertaken in early 1976 in Montreux, Switzerland under the production of Mike Chapman.

One of the first tracks laid down was "Kids Of Tragedy", written single-handedly by Chapman on the flight from the USA to Switzerland. Several other tracks were recorded at the Montreux sessions, including versions of "Tear Me Apart", "Close Enough To Rock 'n'Roll", "Half As Much As Me", "Cream Dream", "I Miss America" (an early working title for "American Lady") and "What lt's Like To Be Loved". As far as the band and producer were concerned (and indeed with hindsight from audio evidence), things were progressing very satisfactorily.

In May 1976, the music press announced that Suzi was to tour Japan, Germany, Indonesia and Hong Kong before returning to Britain in July, whereupon a new single would be released, which would either be the 'Chinn and Chapman' song "Kids Of Tragedy" or the Suzi/Len Tuckey composition "Half As Much As Me".

Strangely, the single never materialised and there would be no new Suzi Quatro material released in Great Britain that year. Chapman and Chinn's differences had come to a head when Chapman discovered that Chinn's name had been added as a co-writer of "Kids Of Tragedy", despite the fact that all concerned were reportedly aware that he had written the song alone. Mickie Most visited the Montreux sessions and tried his utmost to persuade Chapman to resume his working relationship with Chinn, but ultimately Most's solution would be to shelve Chapman's recordings and begin the entire album again with himself in the producer's chair, consigning the majority of the Montreux recordings to the filing cabinet, where most of them remained for many years.

However, in June 1976, some countries (including Japan and Germany) were treated to the single "Tear Me Apart" / "Close Enough To Rock 'n' Roll" - pairing two Mike Chapman productions from those ill-fated Montreux sessions. N.B. This was a different recording of "Tear Me Apart' to the Mickie Most production which would be released in the U.K. several months later. The record entered the German singles chart on 23rd June and climbed as high as #17.  "Tear Me Apart" was subsequently recorded by American country singer Tanya Tucker for her 1979 album of the same name (which Mike Chapman also produced).

Suzi's New Look 1976

Back in the UK, on July l0th 1976, Record Mirror published a picture of Suzi modeling a more 'space-age' image, sporting permed hair and a new mirrored chain mail outfit, reportedly containing 5,000 sequins. However, there was still no new recorded product forthcoming to satisfy her British fans. Finally, on 6th November 1976, the same paper announced that Suzi's next LP- "Aggro-Phobia" would be ready for release in January 1977 and would be her first album to be produced by Mickie Most.

"Aggro-Phobia" was recorded over a two-week period towards the end of 1976 at the unlikely setting of the Hotel Chateau du Regard, Coye La Foret, Oise, France with the RAK mobile recording unit, The title was a play on the word 'agoraphobia' (fear of open spaces), re-modeled to include the English colloquialism "aggro" (a euphemism for trouble or violence). The cover photos were shot in an underground car park in London by Gered Mankowitz. Suzi's band remained the same as had been with her since her first album" with the exception of new keyboard player Mike Deacon, replacing Alastair McKenzie, who had left the band in late 1975.

Alongside original compositions, the album contained several cover versions. Country singer/songwriter Dallas Frazier's "'Honky Tonk Downstairs" (which had been recorded by George Jones in 1968) was subjected to a similar boogie treatment to that which Nazareth front-man Dan McCafferty had administered a couple of years earlier. Elvis's "Heartbreak Hotei" also came under the Quatro hammer, as did (rather surprisingly) Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel's 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)". Also included was a version of the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up Little Susie", with reference to which Suzi recalls in her autobiography: "...we laid down the vocal on the driveway of the hotel, much to the amusement of the other paying guests."

Only one Chinn/Chapman tune was present, in the form of Mickie Most's new recording of "Tear Me Apart" and only one Mike Chapman production was salvaged from the Montreux recording session
- "What It's Like To Be Loved'" - composed by Suzi and soon-to-be husband Len Tuckey. The three remaining Quatro/Tuckey compositions were "Half As Much As Me", 'Close The Door" and "American Lady".

With the fourth album belatedly in the can, Suzi and Len finally tied the knot and got married in Essex on 12th December, 1976 and were able to enjoy the festivities for a couple of weeks before settling back into the business of promoting their new album.

"Aggro-Phobia" was released on 21st January 1977, with Record Mirror reporting claims of 1 million advance orders worldwide for the album. The same journal urged record buyers to 'buy it' with a 4-star review from correspondent Jim Evans who proclaimed: "Suzi, it would appear, has woken up and come up with a brilliant album." He also observed: "She sings with feeling - sensuality and sex appeal ooze from her vocal chords." In an interview with the same publication on 29th Jan. 1977, Suzi discussed the 17-month gap in her recording output: "Before doing this ("Aggro-Phobia"), we took a year off from recording. We'd had three successful years with Chinn and Chapman, but I think we'd outgrown each other. The last two singles were flops so, rather than go through a painful transition period, we stopped recording."

A week later, the new British single - "Tear Me Apart'/ "Same As I Do" - was released. Despite Suzi's diplomatically-worded comments in Record Mirror. it was indeed a Chinn & Chapman song (albeit a Mickie Most production) which was deemed by RAK to be the most commercial track on the album and would ultimately restore her to the British charts after a two-year absence. Reviewer Rosalind Russell gave the single an 'unbeatable' 5-star rating via Record Mirror's pages on l9th Feb 1977: "Hard driving, rough rockin' - a real cracker..," and continued: "I think it should be Top Five at least. It has a heavy, filled out sound and GUTS!" The single made an appearance in the UK chart breakers on 26th Feb and made the hop into the published Top Fifty the following week, ultimately peaking at a respectable #27 during a six-week stay in the charts.

To tie in with the album and single promotion, Suzi played university and college dates in the UK during February and March and appeared on TV shows such as Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, which also featured her playing Rock 'n' Roll standards in a 'supergroup' with herself on bass, [Leo Sayer on vocals, John Miles (guitar), John Christie (keyboards) and Kenny Jones (drums),

No further singles were taken from the "Aggro-Phobia" album in the UK, although "'Make Me Smile" and "Half As Much As Me" were released as singles in various other countries. Despite the excellent reviews, "Aggro- Phobia" neither charted in the UK, nor any other countries for which our chart statistics are readily available.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from my recently acquired vinyl which I found at my local flee market. I already had the single "Tear Me Apart" which I bought when it was first released, so it was nice to finally find the album it was lifted off.  In my opinion, the Quatro/Tuckey tracks are not as strong as the Chinn/Chapman track, but her Steve Harley / Elvis Presley covers help to make this album enjoyable.  As a bonus I have included several non-album B-Side Singles - "Same As I Do" and "Cream Dream", along with the unreleased "Kids Of Tragedy" single and Mick Chapman's original recording of "Tear Me Apart" which is significantly different to the official single release in 1977.

Full album artwork is included for both vinyl and CD, with an edited 'back tray' that lists these bonus tracks. 

Although my mum never really appreciated my taste in 70's music as a teenager, she did like Suzi's "Can The Can" and so, I would like to dedicate this post in loving memory of my mother (and her great taste in music). Miss you mum.

Track List

01 - Heartbreak Hotel

02 - Don´t Break My Heart

03 - Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

04 - What´s It Like To Be Loved

05 - Tear Me Apart

06 - The Honky Tonk Downstairs

07 - Half As Much As Me

08 - Close The Door

09 - American Lady

10 - Wake Up Little Susie

11 - Same As I Do (Bonus B-Side Single)

12 - Cream Dream (Bonus B-Side Single)*

13 - Kids Of Tragedy (Bonus Track)

14 - Tear Me Apart [Mike Chapman Version] (Bonus Track)

The Band:

Suzi Quatro - Bass and Lead vocals

Len Tuckey - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals

Dave Neal - Drums and Backing Vocals

Mike Deacon - Keyboards and Backing Vocals

Aggro-Phobia Link (256Mb) New Link 02/01/2024