Additional information
Personnel: Lita Ford (vocals, guitar); David Ezrin (keyboards); Donnie Nossov (bass); Myron Grombacher (drums); Tim Lawless, Ozzie Melendez, Mike Chapman (background vocals). Additional personnel: Richie Cannata (tenor saxophone); Pablo Calogero (baritone saxophone); Barry Danielian (trumpet); Kevin Osbourne (trombone). Recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California; Horizon Studios, Wilton, Connecticut; Sound Studios, Glen Cove, New York; BMG Recording Studios, New York, New York. Personnel: Lita Ford (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Richie Cannata (tenor saxophone); Pablo Calogero (baritone saxophone); Barry Danielian (trumpet); Kevin Osborne (trombone, background vocals); David Ezrin (keyboards); Myron Grombacher (drums); Tim Lawless, Mike Chapman , Ozzie Melendez (background vocals); Steve Rossi, Ingrid M. Paaske, Vic Steffans. Audio Mixers: Mike Chapman ; William Wittman. Audio Remasterer: Andrew Thompson . Liner Note Author: Michael Heatley. Recording information: BMG Recording Studios, New York, NY; Cover City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, NY; Horizon Studios, Wilton, CT; Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA. Though they had their moments, Lita Ford's PolyGram albums tended to be uneven. When the graduate of the Runaways -- a great but neglected '70s band that also boasted Joan Jett and Cherie Currie -- moved to Dreamland/RCA in 1988, her solo career got somewhat of a boost, both creatively and commercially. On Stiletto, the input of hit producer/songwriter Mike Chapman is an asset. Though not outstanding, the album is a focused and generally enjoyable disc ranging from sweaty rockers like "Cherry Red," "Bad Boy" and "The Ripper" to the eerie ballad "Lisa" to a cover of Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed." Chapman, known for his work with everyone from Sweet to Scandal, liked his rock commercial, slick and hook-laden -- adjectives that definitely describe Stiletto. Nonetheless, Ford never lived up to her tremendous potential, and wasn't given many more chances -- with alternative rock's ascension in the mid-'90s, the type of hard rock and arena rock she specialized in went out of vogue. ~ Alex Henderson
