June 30, 1978:

The single *The Race Is On / Non Citizen* (RAK 278) by Suzi Quatro was released by RAK Records, a label founded by producer Mickie Most, with whom Quatro had a long-standing collaboration. This 7-inch vinyl single features two tracks from her fifth studio album, *If You Knew Suzi..., which was released at the end of 1978 and marked her highest-charting album in the United States at the time, peaking at number 37 on the Billboard 200.

Track Details:

A-Side: The Race Is On

Duration: 3:57 (UK release) or 3:49 (Ireland release)

Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, the prolific songwriting duo behind many of Quatro’s hits.

A pop-rock track with an upbeat tempo, characterized by Quatro’s energetic vocal delivery and the glam-rock style she was known for in the 1970s.

Lyrics include lines like: “Go ahead and laugh at me / Try to be the man you want to be / Baby it’s not hard to see what’s going on,” reflecting a defiant, playful tone.

The track was marketed as a “Top Hit in England” in some regions, though it did not achieve significant chart success in the UK, unlike her earlier hits such as *Can the Can* or *Devil Gate Drive*.

B-Side: Non Citizen

Duration: 3:17 (UK release) or 3:16 (Germany release)

Notably, the track title is misspelled as “Non Citizin” on some vinyl pressings, particularly the Dutch release.

Lyrics describe a critical perspective, with lines like: “Your mind is like a junkyard / All entangled like a web / You leave the wrecks of other people’s lives / In a trail of tattered shreds.”

This song aligns with Quatro’s rock persona, delivering a raw, edgy sound with social commentary.

Release Details:

RAK Records, RAK 278 (UK and Ireland); also released as 1C 006-61 281 in Germany and SRAK-88978 in Yugoslavia.

Formats: 7-inch vinyl single, with pressings in multiple countries including the UK, Germany, Ireland, and Yugoslavia.

Produced by Mike Chapman for Chinnichap, the production company behind many of Quatro’s hits.[](https://release-page-service.discogs.com/release/12025820-Suzi-Quatro-The-Race-Is-On)

Context and Reception:

By 1978, Suzi Quatro was an established figure in the UK and European rock scenes, known for her pioneering role as a female rock artist blending glam-rock and proto-punk influences. Her earlier hits like *Can the Can* (1973) and *Devil Gate Drive* (1974) had topped charts in Europe and Australia, but her success in the US was limited until her duet *Stumblin’ In* with Chris Norman (also from *If You Knew Suzi...*) reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart Performance:

Unlike *Stumblin’ In*, *The Race Is On* did not achieve major chart success, reflecting a period where Quatro’s commercial momentum in the UK was waning, though she remained popular in Germany and Australia.

Cultural Impact:

The single captures Quatro’s signature style—tough, leather-clad rock with a pop sensibility—that influenced the 1970s rock scene and inspired later artists. German media described her as a cultural icon for the “Disco generation,” with her music and image resonating with the rebellious youth of the era.

Additional Notes:

The single was part of a broader multinational production effort for *If You Knew Suzi...*, with recording sessions in Cologne, Paris, and Glendale, California, and mastering in London.

Some pressings, particularly in Germany, were marketed as part of compilations like “20 Monster-Hits,” emphasizing Quatro’s popularity in that market.

The misspelling of “Non Citizen” as “Non Citizin” on certain releases is a notable quirk for collectors.

Label: RAK

Country: Netherlands

Catalogue: 5C 006-61281