Hard Machine

Hard Machine is the second studio album by American singer Stacey Q, released in February 1988 by Atlantic Records. After the international success of her song "Two of Hearts" and debut album Better Than Heaven (1986), Swain began working on her sophomore record. She again collaborated with her bandmates from SSQ. Produced by Jon St. James, Hard Machine is a dance-pop album, which is influenced by new wave, contemporary R&B and rock music.

Hard Machine
Studio album by Stacey Q
Released	February 1988
Recorded	1985–88
Studio	F1 Studios, La Habra, California Atlantic Studios, New York
Genre	Dance-pop Hi-NRG new wave R&B
Length	40:31
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Jon St. James
Stacey Q chronology
Better Than Heaven (1986) Hard Machine (1988) Nights Like This (1989)
Singles from Hard Machine
"I Love You" Released: 1988 "Don't Make a Fool of Yourself" Released: March 25, 1988 "Favorite Things" Released: 1988

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Upon its release, Hard Machine received generally positive reviews from music critics and noted a small commercial success, peaking at number 115 on the Billboard 200.

Three singles were released from the album. The lead single, "Don't Make a Fool of Yourself" (Shep Pettibone Remix), released on March 25, 1988, peaked at number 19 on the Hot Crossover 30,^[2] Number 4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs,^[3] Number 1 on the Top 12 inch Singles Sales chart,^[3] and also peaking at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single "I Love You" peaked at Number 49 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs. "Favorite Things" was released as a promotional single.

Track listing

1. "Good Girl" (K. Fisher, M. Stein) (4:02)
2. "Favorite Things" (J. St. James, S. Swain) (4:10)
3. "Kiss It All Goodbye" (J. St. James, S. Swain) (3:47)
4. "Don't Make A Fool Of Yourself" (S. Hahn, J, St. James, S. Swain) (4:08)
5. "The River" (J. St. James, S. Swain) (5:06)
6. "I Love You" (J. St. James, S. Swain) (4:35)
7. "Temptation" (K. Fisher, M. Stein) (3:51)
8. "Hard Machine" (J. St. James, S. Swain) (3:16)
9. "After Hours" (J. St. James, S. Swain) (3:26)
10. "Another Chance" (S. Hahn, S. Swain) (4:05)

Credits and personnel

SSQ

• Stacey Q. - lead vocals, backing vocals
• Skip Hahn - keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
• Karl Moet - drums, sampling, percussion
• Rich West - keyboards, arrangement on track 10
• Jon St. James - keyboards, drums, percussion

Additional Musicians

• Scott Bowers - guitar (tracks 1, 7)
• Eddie Reddick - vocals (tracks 1, 7)
• Rusty Anderson - guitar (track 8)
• Joe Cristina - Formula 1 horns
• John Deemer - Formula 1 horns
• Victor Cajiao - Formula 1 horns
• Michael Stein - additional keyboards
• Kirk Fisher - additional keyboards

Production

• Tony Mandich - creative consultant
• Anthony Sanfilippo - creative consultant
• Keith Zajic - creative consultant
• Keith Cowen - creative consultant
• Paul Cooper - production coordinator
• Larry Yasgar - production coordinator
• Karl Moet - assistant engineer
• Jimi Yamagishi - assistant engineer
• Digital Magnetics/Ted Hall - digital mastering
• Danny Mendellin - hair
• La Lotte - make-up
• Mike Jones - photography
• Dennis King - mastering