What a Way to Die

by The Pleasure Seekers

Overview

Years before Rolling Stone ran their first think piece about "Women in Rock," the Go-Go's had their first practice, or Fanny had to explain for the first time that they really played their own instruments, the Pleasure Seekers were a combo out of Detroit who proved the gals could rock just as hard as the guys. Led by future glam rock icon Suzi Quatro on bass and her sister Patti Quatro on lead guitar (with fellow siblings Arlene Quatro and Nancy Quatro joining the lineup at different times), the Pleasure Seekers were a tough, versatile band with chops, personality, and attitude to spare. The Pleasure Seekers never scored a hit record, and while they toured relentlessly, their novelty as an all-female rock band was a blessing and a curse, attracting an audience that often didn't take them seriously. But the sides they left behind leave no question that they had the goods, and What a Way to Die is a thoroughly enjoyable 11-song collection that preserves the Pleasure Seekers' finest moments. The title track has long been a favorite among garage rock collectors, and it's one of the wildest and funniest sides of the era, in which a young woman compares her boyfriend to a bottle of beer -- and finds the boyfriend a lot less satisfying. While there are other garage-centric tracks like "Never Thought You'd Leave Me" and "Gotta Get Away," the Pleasure Seekers also cut some potent blue-eyed soul, especially "Good Kind of Hurt" and "Locked in Your Love." And the latter-day live recordings on side two saw they were evolving into a smart, heavier outfit that fit right in at the Grande Ballroom, Detroit's home venue for the MC5, SRC, and the Stooges. While What a Way to Die only runs 38 minutes, it does include all the material the band released in its lifetime, along with some potent outtakes and live material, and the liner notes from Mike and Anja Stax tell the band's story in concise but well-detailed fashion. You don't have to be a garage rock junkie or obsessed with female-fronted bands to dig this collection -- just about anyone who goes for '60s-era rock & roll should find something here to like. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2020
Label:	Sundazed
UPC:	0090771634221

Tracks

1. Introduction by D.J. the Lord
2. Gotta Get Away
3. Never Thought You'd Leave Me
4. Light of Love
5. Good Kind of Hurt
6. What a Way to Die
7. Elevator Express
8. Locked in Your Love
9. White Pig Blues
10. Brain Confusion
11. Where Have You Gone
12. Mr. Power

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Pleasure Seekers   Primary Artist
Patti Quatro   Guitar,Vocals
Arlene Quatro   Vocals,Keyboards
Diane Baker   Vocals,Keyboards
Nancy Quatro   Vocals
Nancy Rogers   Drums,Vocals
Darline Arnone   Drums,Vocals
Marylou Ball   Guitar,Vocals
Nancy Ball   Drums,Vocals
Pami Benford   Guitar,Vocals
Suzi Quatro   Bass,Vocals

Technical Credits

The Quatro Sisters   Composer
Suzi Quatro   Composer,Group Member
Bob Irwin   Mastering
Bob Stone   Composer
Mort Shuman   Composer
George Fischoff   Composer
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer
The Pleasure Seekers   Composer
Patti Quatro   Composer,Group Member
Arlene Quatro   Composer
Jerry Rose   Composer
Nancy Quatro   Group Member
Dave Leone   Composer
Anja Stax   Liner Notes