Ignored             Obscured              Restored

Susan Lucas (aka Soo Catwoman) was known for her distinctive hairstyle and makeup that made her one of the most recognizable faces of the mid-to-late ’70s British punk scene.   iconic fashion aesthetic — part feline glare, part art-school provocation — helped elevate her to a kind of underground celebrity, with her image splashed across magazine covers and emblazoned on T-shirts.

Soo’s insider proximity to the scene also gave her a foothold as a performer.  She appeared with the band the Invaders and occasionally stepped out on her own, less as a traditional frontwoman than as an extension of punk’s anything-goes ethos — where attitude and presence could matter as much as technical polish.

Today’s SotW is her 1998 solo cover of “Back Stabbers”, originally recorded by The O’Jays.  Here, Soo handles the vocals, backed by Derwood Andrews (Generation X) on guitar and Rat Scabies (The Damned) on drums — a lineup that immediately signals a very different intent from the silky precision of the original.

Musically, the transformation is striking.  Where the O’Jays’ version glides on lush strings, tight harmonies, and a groove rooted in Philadelphia soul, Soo’s rendition strips the song down to its bones and rebuilds it with a jagged, punk sensibility.  The rhythm section hits harder and more directly, Andrews’ guitar slashes rather than soothes, and Soo’s vocal trades refinement for attitude — more sneer than croon.  The result is less about seduction and more about confrontation, turning the song’s theme of betrayal into something raw and immediate.

While the O’Jays’ original remains impeccable, this cover earns its place by reimagining rather than imitating.  It’s a reminder that a great song can survive radical reinterpretation — and sometimes even reveal new edges when filtered through a completely different lens.

Enjoy… until next week.