🔘 The Wild One – Single: Nov. 1974

Suzi Quatro
Nov 1, 1974
4 min read

Label: RAK Records

Catalogue Number: RAK 185

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Push‑Out Centre / Solid Centre; Promo & Commercial)

Released: November 1, 1974 (UK)

Released in the UK on November 1, 1974, Suzi Quatro’s “The Wild One,” backed with “Shake My Sugar,” appeared as a 7-inch vinyl single on RAK Records (RAK 185). Written and produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, the track was the third single from her second album *Quatro*. A fierce glam‑rock anthem driven by gritty guitars, stomping rhythm, and Quatro’s commanding vocals, the single became one of her signature mid‑’70s hits. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart and remained for ten weeks, further cementing her status as one of glam rock’s most powerful frontwomen. The B-side, “Shake My Sugar,” co-written by Quatro and Len Tuckey, offered a sultry, blues‑rock counterpoint. “The Wild One” later gained renewed cultural visibility through its inclusion in the 2010 film *The Runaways*, highlighting Quatro’s influence on Joan Jett and the band’s formation.

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — RAK Records – RAK 185 — 1974

A. The Wild One

Written by: Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn

Produced by: Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn

B. Shake My Sugar

Written by: Suzi Quatro, Len Tuckey

Produced by: Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn

Recorded at: Chinnichap Studios, 1974

Published by: Chinnichap Publishing / Rak Publishing

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released November 1, 1974

• A-side: Chinn/Chapman glam‑rock anthem

• B-side: Quatro/Tuckey blues‑rock track

• UK peak: No. 7

• Chart run: 10 weeks

• Featured prominently in *The Runaways* (2010)

• Third single from the album *Quatro*

🔘 The Story

By late 1974, Suzi Quatro had firmly established herself as one of glam rock’s most dynamic performers. “The Wild One” arrived at the height of her early success, showcasing a tougher, more aggressive sound that blended her bass‑driven attack with Chinn & Chapman’s polished pop‑rock production. The track’s swaggering riff, pounding beat, and Quatro’s fiery vocal delivery made it an instant standout.

The B-side, “Shake My Sugar,” co-written with guitarist Len Tuckey, revealed a different side of Quatro — sultry, blues‑inflected, and rhythmically seductive. Together, the two tracks demonstrated her versatility and growing artistic confidence.

Commercially, “The Wild One” became one of Quatro’s biggest UK hits, climbing to No. 7 and remaining on the chart for ten weeks. Its enduring legacy was further cemented when it appeared in the 2010 film *The Runaways*, underscoring Quatro’s profound influence on Joan Jett and the band’s musical identity. The film’s narrative — based on Cherie Currie’s memoir *Neon Angel* — highlighted Quatro as a foundational figure in the lineage of women in rock.

Today, “The Wild One” stands as one of Quatro’s defining recordings: fierce, unapologetic, and emblematic of her trailblazing role in glam rock.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo — RAK – RAK 185 — UK — 1974

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Push‑Out Centre — RAK – RAK 185 — UK — 1974

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre — RAK – RAK 185 — UK — 1974

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

7 — Peak Position (Nov 24–30, 1974)

Chart Run: 10 Weeks Total

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Chinn/Chapman glam‑rock production

• B-side: Quatro/Tuckey blues‑rock composition

• Production: Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn

• Sleeve: Standard RAK company sleeve (UK)

• Historical placement: Third single from *Quatro*

• Cultural impact: Featured in *The Runaways* (2010), reflecting Quatro’s influence on Joan Jett

🔘 Visual Archive

Suzi Quatro — “The Wild One” (1974), issued on RAK Records as RAK 185.

🔘 Related Material

• “Devil Gate Drive” (1974)

• Quatro (Album, 1974)

• “Your Mamma Won’t Like Me” (1975)

• Aggro‑Phobia (1976)

🔘 Discography

Quatro — 1974

The Wild One — 1974

Your Mamma Won’t Like Me — 1975

Aggro‑Phobia — 1976

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1974 — Recording sessions with Chinn & Chapman

✦ Nov 1, 1974 — UK single released

✦ Nov 24–30, 1974 — Peaks at No. 7

✦ 2010 — Featured in *The Runaways* film

🔘 Glam Flashback

A fierce blast of glam‑rock attitude — “The Wild One” captures Suzi Quatro at full power, blending swagger, grit, and the unmistakable Chinnichap punch that defined her early hits.

🔘 Hashtags

#ReleaseChronicle #SuziQuatro #TheWildOne #1974 #RAK #GlamRock #ChinnChapman

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources:

Wikipedia • Discogs • 45cat • BBC / Official Charts Company

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.