48 Crash

Album: The Best of Suzi Quatro (1973)
Charted: 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who wrote several other songs for Quatro and also worked with the band Sweet, wrote this song. The lyrics are striking and disjointed, with lines like:

    Well you got the hands of a man and the face of a little boy blue

    This was typical of glam rock, where outrageous and sometimes nonsensical lyrics augmented the look and sound.
  • Chapman and Chinn never told Quatro what this song is about, but she came up with her own interpretation, deciding that it's about male menopause, a condition that can occur in men around age 48 where they experience many symptoms of female menopause (hot flashes, fatigue), as well as sexual dysfunction. "It's crazy lyrics, but to me, that makes sense," she told Songfacts. "And back then, Mike used to write kind of nonsensical lyrics. But it's one of the favorites around the world. So, I say it's about the male menopause."
  • This was Quatro's second UK hit, following the #1 "Can The Can." Born and raised in America, she moved to England when she signed with Mickie Most's RAK label. In 1975, she made a push to break through in her home country, but never came close to her UK success. She did land a role on the TV series Happy Days though, playing the role of Leather Tuscadero from 1977-1979.

Comments: 1

  • Pete from Nowra Australiathe story goes, the boys said they could write a song about anything, someone said ok 48 ? write a song about the number 48 and they came up with this
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.