Rev It Up

Rev It Up is the second studio album by the American hard rock band Vixen, released in July 1990 by EMI Records.^[1] The album was produced by Randy Nicklaus and recorded at A&M Studios and Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles.^[2] Featuring 11 tracks, it showcases the band's signature glam metal sound with themes of love, rebellion, and empowerment, building on their self-titled debut from 1988.^[3] The album achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 52 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number 20 on the UK Albums Chart.^[4][5] It spawned two singles: "How Much Love," which reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 35 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Love Is a Killer," peaking at number 71 on the Hot 100 and number 41 in the UK.^[6][7] Despite positive elements in its production and songwriting, Rev It Up received mixed critical reception and did not replicate the gold-certified success of Vixen's debut, partly due to shifting musical trends toward grunge in the early 1990s.^[8] Vixen, formed in 1980 in St. Paul, Minnesota, as one of the few prominent all-female rock bands of the era, used Rev It Up to demonstrate musical growth with contributions from songwriters like Jan Kuehnemund and Janet Gardner.^[9] Key tracks include the title song "Rev It Up," an energetic opener, and ballads like "Fallen Hero" and "It Wouldn't Be Love," highlighting the band's vocal harmonies and guitar work.^[10] The album's release marked a transitional period for the group before a hiatus, underscoring their role in the late-1980s hard rock scene.^[11]

Background

Vixen's formation and debut

Vixen was formed in 1980 by guitarist Jan Kuehnemund in St. Paul, Minnesota, as an all-female rock band drawing from the local music scene and initially focusing on cover songs.^[12] The group underwent numerous lineup changes in its early years, stabilizing by the mid-1980s with the addition of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Janet Gardner in 1983, drummer Roxy Petrucci in 1986, and bassist Share Ross (then Pedersen) in 1987, alongside Kuehnemund on lead guitar.^[13][14][15] Following independent releases and opening slots for established acts like Twisted Sister, Vixen signed with EMI Records in 1987, marking their entry into major-label support.^[16][17] The band's self-titled debut album arrived in 1988, produced primarily by David Cole and featuring standout singles such as "Edge of a Broken Heart," which highlighted themes of female empowerment amid the glam metal landscape.^[18][19] Peaking at No. 41 on the Billboard 200, the record achieved moderate commercial success but elicited mixed critical responses, with praise for the band's raw energy and musicianship tempered by critiques of its polished, commercial production.^[20][21] This reception positioned Rev It Up as the band's effort to build on and address the debut's domestic underperformance.

Conception and songwriting

Following the success of Vixen's self-titled debut album in 1988, which sold nearly 900,000 copies worldwide, the band faced expectations from EMI Records to deliver a more polished and impactful follow-up amid signs of market saturation in the glam metal genre during the late 1980s.^[22] The label's push for stronger material came as the band's touring schedule intensified, including opening slots on the Scorpions' Savage Amusement World Tour in early 1989, exposing them to larger audiences and heavier rock production styles.^[23] These experiences informed a creative shift toward greater speed and energy in the songwriting, aiming to refine the raw sound of their first record while maintaining their hard rock edge.^[24] Songwriting for Rev It Up was predominantly handled by the core band members, with guitarist Jan Kuehnemund and vocalist Janet Gardner leading the process, alongside bassist Share Pedersen and drummer Roxy Petrucci.^[10] Several tracks featured external co-writers to enhance commercial appeal, such as the title track "Rev It Up," co-authored by Pedersen, Gardner, Ron Keel, and Steve Diamond, which emphasized driving rhythms reflective of the band's evolving live energy.^[25] Similarly, "How Much Love" was co-written by Kuehnemund with Steve Plunkett and Jack Conrad, blending the group's melodic sensibilities with outside expertise.^[26] Other songs like "Bad Reputation" incorporated contributions from songwriter Brian Miku alongside Kuehnemund and Gardner, highlighting the collaborative approach EMI encouraged to broaden the album's radio potential.^[27] This mix of internal creativity and external input allowed Vixen to craft 11 tracks that built on their debut's foundation, with pre-production demos recorded in Los Angeles in early 1990 to tighten arrangements and address the previous album's production limitations.^[3]

Production

Recording sessions

The recording sessions for Rev It Up commenced in late 1989 and continued into early 1990, primarily at A&M Studios and Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles, spanning several months in preparation for the album's July 1990 release.^[28] Overdubs were handled at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles and Ground Control Studios in Santa Monica, California, allowing the band to refine their performances while maintaining a focus on capturing their collective sound.^[28] During these sessions, the original lineup—Janet Gardner on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Jan Kuehnemund on lead guitar, Share Pedersen on bass, and Roxy Petrucci on drums—pushed for increased creative input, incorporating more self-composed material amid tensions with management over external songwriters.^[29] Session keyboardist Michael Alemania was brought in to layer atmospheric elements across the tracks, enhancing the album's production depth.^[10] The final product features 11 tracks with a total runtime of 51:58 minutes.^[30]

Production team and techniques

Randy Nicklaus served as the lead producer for Rev It Up, bringing his experience as a songwriter, engineer, and A&R executive to the project.^[31] His approach focused on refining Vixen's established style, elevating the raw energy of their 1988 self-titled debut into a more polished and commercially accessible glam metal sound through enhanced layering and clarity.^[32] Engineering duties were managed by Dennis MacKay, who oversaw the recording process at facilities including A&M Studios and Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles.^[10] Mixing was conducted by Mike Shipley at A&M Studios, emphasizing multi-tracked vocal harmonies and expansive choruses to amplify the album's anthemic hooks and instrumental depth.^[10][32] Compared to the debut's relatively raw aesthetic, Rev It Up featured superior production values, with greater instrumental layering and overall sonic refinement that band members described as a "home run" in sound quality.^[32] This shift contributed to a warmer, more professional tone suited to radio-friendly glam metal, distinguishing it from the earlier album's less processed edge.^[33]

Music and lyrics

Genre and musical style

Rev It Up is primarily classified as glam metal and hard rock, incorporating elements of AOR and pop-metal that emphasize melodic structures alongside aggressive rock energy.^[3][34] The album features fast tempos, shredding guitar solos, and anthemic choruses that align with late-1980s hair metal conventions, delivering high-octane tracks designed for arena-sized appeal.^[8][35] The title track "Rev It Up" exemplifies these traits with its driving riff and five-minute runtime as the album opener, setting a propulsive tone through layered guitar work and soaring hooks.^[34] Tracks like "Love Is a Killer" showcase a blend of heavy verses and melodic refrains, balancing intensity with catchiness to highlight the band's rock prowess.^[8] Compared to Vixen's self-titled debut, Rev It Up represents a more polished and energetic evolution, adopting a direct approach with refined songcraft while retaining raw hard rock edges.^[36] This progression incorporates 1980s hair metal tropes such as backing vocal harmonies, enhancing the album's anthemic quality. Production techniques by Randy Nicklaus contribute to this by amplifying the clarity and punch of the instrumentation.^[35] Instrumentally, the album relies on dual guitars from lead player Jan Kuehnemund and rhythm guitarist Janet Gardner, who create intricate harmonies and solos; Share Pedersen's bass lines provide solid support, underpinning Roxy Petrucci's powerful, driving drums.^[35][36]

Themes and influences

The lyrics of Vixen's Rev It Up emphasize themes of empowerment, romance, and rebellion, capturing the band's journey as trailblazers in a male-dominated industry. The title track "Rev It Up" employs the metaphor of accelerating life and passion to represent perseverance in chasing dreams within the music world, urging listeners to push past doubters and setbacks despite the rigors of the profession.^[37] Romance emerges as a core motif, often intertwined with emotional depth and relational challenges; for example, "How Much Love" delves into the intensity required to heal past heartbreaks, portraying unrequited effort as a pathway to rebuilding trust and vulnerability in love.^[38] These themes draw inspiration from 1980s rock pioneers like Pat Benatar, whose commanding female-led narratives of independence and resilience influenced Vixen's approach to storytelling from a woman's viewpoint.^[39] Similarly, acts such as Heart shaped the band's emphasis on empowered female voices amid romantic and defiant contexts.^[39] Vixen's extensive touring—opening for heavyweights like Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, and Deep Purple—further informed lyrics about freedom and interpersonal dynamics, reflecting the exhilaration and strains of life on the road.^[12] A distinctive element of the album is its all-female perspective, infusing subtle feminism into the male-dominated hard rock landscape.

Release and promotion

Commercial release and artwork

Rev It Up was commercially released in July 1990 by EMI Records in the United States, marking Vixen's follow-up to their debut album amid the competitive glam metal landscape.^[40] International variations followed shortly thereafter, with European markets seeing distribution in August of the same year through EMI affiliates.^[10] The album launched in multiple physical formats, including vinyl LP, cassette, and compact disc, catering to the era's dominant music consumption methods. Initial pressings in the US featured the standard 11-track configuration, while subsequent editions in later years incorporated bonus material.^[10] EMI positioned Rev It Up as a key offering in the glam metal genre, leveraging the band's established fanbase to target rock radio and retail outlets. However, the label's promotional efforts coincided with the emerging rise of grunge and alternative rock, which began shifting industry priorities and consumer tastes away from polished hard rock acts by late 1990 and into 1991.^[41] This contextual challenge influenced the album's rollout, though EMI maintained focus on traditional distribution channels for Vixen's core audience. The artwork for Rev It Up varied by region to align with marketing strategies. The US edition prominently displayed a sleek race car owned by local racing enthusiast and casino magnate Bobby Baldwin, evoking themes of speed and energy that tied into the album's title and high-octane sound. In contrast, European and Japanese versions opted for dynamic action shots of the band members, emphasizing their live performance prowess and glamorous image.^[42] These visual choices supported brief promotional tie-ins with lead singles, enhancing the album's thematic cohesion across global markets.

Singles and touring

To promote Rev It Up, Vixen released "How Much Love" as the lead single in July 1990. The track peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[6] An accompanying music video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, showcased high-energy performance shots of the band and aired frequently on MTV.^[43] The video was filmed in Los Angeles. A second single, "Love Is a Killer," followed later in 1990, peaking at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 41 on the UK Singles Chart, with its own video directed by Andrew Morahan.^[7][44] The band supported the album with the Rev It Up Tour, spanning 1990 to 1991 across the United States, Europe, and Japan. Vixen opened for major acts including Ratt, while also headlining club venues to build their fanbase.^[45][46] European legs included festival appearances at Monsters of Rock in Italy and Super Rock in Germany, alongside dates in the UK and Scandinavia; the tour extended to Japan in early 1991.^[47] Setlists emphasized new material from Rev It Up, such as "Rev It Up," "How Much Love," "Love Is a Killer," and "Not a Minute Too Soon," interspersed with tracks from their debut album.^[48] Promotional efforts included in-store appearances and targeted radio pushes to boost single airplay during the tour.^[49] Single sleeves incorporated elements of the album's artwork, featuring the band's dynamic imagery.

Reception

Critical reviews

Upon its release in 1990, Rev It Up garnered mixed critical reception, with reviewers acknowledging the band's technical prowess while often pointing to the album's adherence to familiar glam metal conventions amid a saturating market. AllMusic rated the album 7 out of 10, highlighting its energetic tracks and solid production as strengths that built on the band's debut, though it fell short of groundbreaking innovation in the genre.^[3] Kerrang! magazine offered a more favorable assessment, awarding 4 out of 5 "K's" and commending the album as a "very good record indeed," particularly for its punchy title track and strong musicianship, including Roxy Petrucci's dynamic drumming. The review praised Janet Gardner's passionate and soulful vocals, likening them to Ann Wilson's style, and noted Jan Kuehnemund's effective guitar work that added edge compared to the more diluted self-titled debut. Specific tracks like "Streets in Paradise" and "Love Is a Killer" were singled out for their commercial appeal and reckless energy, though some formulaic elements, such as in "How Much Love," were critiqued.^[50] Overall, the consensus positioned Rev It Up as a competent follow-up—refined in execution and showcasing the band's growth—but not a transformative effort, reflecting genre fatigue in the late 1980s hard rock scene.^[50] In retrospective coverage, the 2023 Rock Candy Records remastered reissue drew positive commentary for its enhanced audio quality. Get Ready to ROCK! lauded the remaster's improved clarity and punch, which brought greater definition to the original 1990 mixes without drastic alterations, allowing the album's hooks and performances to shine more vividly for modern listeners.^[8]

Commercial performance

Rev It Up debuted at number 99 on the US Billboard 200 chart in August 1990, eventually peaking at number 52 during its 16-week run.^[51] In the United Kingdom, the album entered the Official Albums Chart at number 20, spending four weeks in the Top 75.^[5] It also achieved moderate success in Europe, peaking at number 29 on the German Media Control Albums Chart with 11 weeks on the listing.^[52] Compared to Vixen's self-titled debut album, which peaked at number 41 on the Billboard 200 and number 66 in the UK, Rev It Up showed a decline in the US but improved significantly in the UK market.^[53] The album did not receive any major certifications, unlike the debut's RIAA gold status for 500,000 units sold in the US.^[54] The album's stronger international reception was bolstered by extensive touring, including performances at the 1990 Monsters of Rock festival in Italy and multiple shows in Germany in 1991.^[55][56] Singles like "How Much Love" received notable rock radio airplay, contributing to visibility and helping sustain chart presence abroad.

Legacy

Reissues and remasters

Following its original 1990 release, Rev It Up saw several CD reissues by EMI throughout the 1990s, primarily as standard repressings with minor variations in pressing plants but no significant changes to artwork or content.^[35][57] In May 2023, Rock Candy Records issued a deluxe remastered edition on CD, utilizing 24-bit digital technology from the original master tapes to enhance audio clarity and dynamics.^[8][36] This collector's edition includes a 16-page full-color booklet featuring a 4,000-word essay on the album's production, new interviews with band members, and rare photographs, while retaining the original 11-track lineup without bonus material.^[36][58] Other notable editions include a Japanese CD release by Universal Music in March 2018, presented with an OBI strip and standard packaging for the regional market.^[59] Digital versions of the album, based on the original masters, became widely available on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music starting around 2020, facilitating broader accessibility.^[60][61] These reissues reflect Vixen's sustained activity through lineup evolutions, prompting renewed interest in their catalog.

Cultural impact and retrospective views

Rev It Up solidified Vixen's position as a staple of all-female glam metal, contributing to the breaking of gender barriers in the male-dominated hard rock scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. By delivering high-energy performances and commercially viable albums, the band inspired subsequent generations of female musicians, with many citing Vixen as a pivotal influence for pursuing guitar and drums in rock. For instance, Roxy Petrucci has noted that girl bands frequently share stories of how Vixen's shows motivated them to enter the industry, helping to pave the way for acts emphasizing female empowerment in rock.^[62][63] The album's legacy is intertwined with the band's turbulent history, including their 1991 disbandment amid declining album sales and label pressures following the rise of grunge, which led to the loss of their EMI contract. Despite this, Rev It Up played a key role in sparking a 1997 reunion with core members Janet Gardner, Roxy Petrucci, and others, resulting in new material like the album Tangerine. The enduring fanbase was further highlighted by the outpouring of tributes after founder Jan Kuehnemund's death from cancer on October 10, 2013, at age 51, with statements from bandmates and fans underscoring her lasting impact and the devotion of supporters worldwide.^[64][65][66] In retrospective views of the 2020s, Rev It Up is often regarded as an underrated gem in glam metal discourse, praised for its raw energy and songwriting amid a broader reevaluation of 1980s women in rock. Podcasts such as VRP Rocks have featured band members discussing its timeless appeal, while documentaries like the 2023 Paramount+ series I Wanna Rock: The 80's Metal Dream spotlight Vixen's contributions to female representation in the genre. During 2010s reunions, the band frequently performed key tracks from the album, including the title song "Rev It Up" and "How Much Love," on tours that revived interest in their catalog and affirmed the music's vitality. Into the mid-2020s, Vixen continued touring, including UK shows with Lita Ford in July 2025, and underwent further lineup changes, with Rosa Laricchiuta replacing Lorraine Lewis as lead vocalist in June 2024 and Janet Gardner pursuing other projects; the band also released a holiday single in 2024, demonstrating ongoing activity and fan engagement.^{[67][68][69][70][71][72]}

Credits

Track listing

All tracks on Rev It Up are performed by Vixen. Total length: 51:31.^[10] The original 1990 release includes no bonus tracks; later reissues, such as the 2023 Rock Candy remastered edition, add bonus tracks including live recordings.^[73]

Personnel

Band Members

• Janet Gardner – lead vocals, rhythm guitar ^[35]
• Jan Kuehnemund – lead guitar, backing vocals ^[35]
• Share Pedersen – bass, backing vocals ^[35]
• Roxy Petrucci – drums, backing vocals ^[35]

Additional Musicians

• Michael Alemania – keyboards ^[35]

Production and Technical Staff

• Randy Nicklaus – producer ^[35]
• Dennis MacKay – engineer ^[35]
• Mike Shipley – mixing engineer ^[35]
• George Marino – mastering engineer (at Sterling Sound) ^[35]

Art and Design

• Henry Marquez – art direction ^[35]
• House of Rice – design ^[35]
• Jeff Katz – photography ^[35]