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Stiletto
Studio album by Lita Ford
Released	May 15, 1990
Recorded	1989–1990
Studio	RCA Recording Studios, New York City, Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, New York, Horizon Studios, Wilton Connecticut, Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
Genre	Pop metal, hard rock
Length	51:31
Label	RCA
Producer	Mike Chapman
Lita Ford chronology
Lita (1988) Stiletto (1990) Dangerous Curves (1991)
Singles from Stiletto
"Hungry" / "Big Gun" Released: July 1990 "Lisa" / "The Ripper" Released: 1990 (UK only)

Stiletto is the fourth solo studio album by the American musician Lita Ford. It includes the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa". The album peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard 200. Ford supported the album by touring with Mötley Crüe.

Production

The album was produced by Mike Chapman. "Lisa" is about Ford's mother. "Only Women Bleed" is a cover of the Alice Cooper song. Ford employed synthesized strings and horns on the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Calgary Herald	B
Chicago Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Ottawa Citizen

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ford rides her sex-bomb goddess image, serviceable vocals and one o' the lads guitarwork hard 'n' heavy for almost one full side of this LP." The Calgary Herald determined that "Stiletto abandons wallowing in past sub-par metal yearnings and instead tries a more mainstream approach."

The Vancouver Sun opined that Ford "just doesn't have the heavy metal vocal screech or the powerthud music to make her songs more than mildly amusing." The Orlando Sentinel panned the "stupid lyrics and ... bombastic guitar solos."

Track listing

Side one

1. "Your Wake Up Call" (Mike Chapman, David Ezrin, Lita Ford, Myron Grombacher, Don Nossov) – 1:59
2. "Hungry" (Michael Dan Ehmig, Ford) – 4:57
3. "Dedication" (Chapman) – 3:34
4. "Stiletto" (Ford, Holly Knight) – 4:37
5. "Lisa" (Ehmig, Ford) – 4:45
6. "The Ripper" (Ezrin, Ford) – 5:20

Side two

7. "Big Gun" (Ford, Grombacher, Nossov) – 4:37
8. "Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper, Dick Wagner) – 6:03
9. "Bad Boy" (Ford, Mark Spiro) – 3:59
10. "Aces & Eights" (Ford, Grombacher, Kevin Savigar) – 4:20
11. "Cherry Red" (Ehmig, Ford) – 4:09
12. "Outro" (Ezrin, Ford, Grombacher, Nossov) – 1:56

Personnel

Band members

• Lita Ford – guitar, vocals
• David Ezrin – keyboards
• Don Nossov – bass guitar
• Myron Grombacher – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Pablo Calagero - baritone saxophone
• Richie Cannata - tenor saxophone, horns arrangements
• Barry Danelian - trumpet
• Kevin Osborne - trombone, backing vocals, horns arrangements
• Mike Chapman, Tim Lawless, Ozzie Melendez - backing vocals
• Ralph Schuckett - strings arrangements

Production

• Mike Chapman - producer, mixing
• Marc DeSisto, Steve Marcantonio, Brian McGee, Dave Wittman - engineers
• Neal Avron, Dan Hetzel, Mike Kloster, Jay Newland, Ingrid M. Paaske, Steve Rossi, Tommy Skarupa, Vic Steffans, Ted Trewhalla, Thomas R. Yezzi - assistant engineers
• Ted Trewhalla, William Wittman - mixing
• George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC - mastering

Charts

References

1. ^ Jenkins, Mark (17 Aug 1990). "Market Trends of Heavy Metal". The Washington Post. p. N16.
2. "Stiletto Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
3. "Motley Crue Returning for Performance in City". Weekend. The Oklahoman. July 20, 1990. p. 5.
4. ^ Erskine, Evelyn (29 June 1990). "Lita Ford Stiletto". Ottawa Citizen. p. D6.
5. ^ Herrmann, Brenda (2 Aug 1990). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 2.
6. Burliuk, Greg (15 Sep 1990). "Stiletto Lita Ford". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
7. Henderson, Alex. "Lita Ford Stiletto review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
8. ^ Miller, Glen (21 June 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. G4.
9. ^ Waller, Don (10 June 1990). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
10. Mackie, John (12 July 1990). "Rock/Pop". Vancouver Sun. p. F4.
11. Gettelman, Parry (17 Aug 1990). "Lita Ford". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 25.
12. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 106.
13. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1320". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
14. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
15. "Swedishcharts.com – Stiletto – Lita". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
16. "Swisscharts.com – Stiletto – Lita". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
17. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
18. "Lita Ford Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.

• Lita Ford albums
• 1990 albums
• RCA Records albums
• Albums produced by Mike Chapman