They began as a rock and roll freakbeat band called The Spectres. By 1967, with very little commercial success, they discovered psychedelia and changed their name to Traffic (later Traffic Jam, to avoid confusion with Steve Winwood's Traffic.) At this time the line-up also included organist Roy Lynes and drummer John Coghlan. Late in 1967 they recruited second guitarist Rick Parfitt and became The Status Quo, scoring Top 10 singles with Pictures Of Matchstick Men and Ice in The Sun. "Pictures of Matchstick Men" remains the only Top 40 hit single the group has ever charted in the United States. They have never achieved the same level of success there, that they have enjoyed in their home country.
After their second album Spare Parts they decided to change into a heavy boogie rock band. During the seventies they became one of the UK's leading rock bands, gaining a faithful following due to their excellent live gigs. They showed a great amount of energy during this decade and in the early 80s. They and are best known for songs from this era such as Paper Plane (1972), Caroline (1973), Down Down (1975), John Fogerty's Rockin' All Over The World (1977) and Whatever You Want (1979). Down Down topped the UK charts in January 1975 (their only British No. 1 single to date).
Lynes left in 1971, to be replaced initially by guest keyboard players on album, including Jimmy Horowitz and John Parker, and later on a more permanent basis on record and stage by ex-The Herd and Judas Jump member Andy Bown, though as he was contracted as a solo artist with EMI, he was not credited as a full-time member until 1982. Coghlan left in late 1981, to be replaced by Pete Kircher from 1960s band Honeybus. This short-lived lineup played its last gig in 1984 at the Milton Keynes Bowl, and reformed briefly to open the Live Aid charity event at Wembley in July 1985.
That year Rossi recorded and released two solo singles with longtime writing partner Bernie Frost. Parfitt was also working on a solo album which is still unreleased, although some tracks have been re-recorded by Status Quo and released as 'B' sides. Bass player John Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich, both ex-Judie Tzuke Band and Climax Blues Band, assisted Parfitt in the studio.
In the summer of 1985 Rossi, Parfitt and Bown, along with Edwards and Rich started work on a new album. Lancaster, who was living in Australia at the time, took out a legal injunction to stop the band using the Status Quo name on any records. The injunction was lifted after a court hearing in January 1986. Lancaster had had increasing musical differences with the group, notably during the sessions for the 1983 album Back to Back over two tracks which became hit singles for the group around that time. He had written Ol' Rag Blues, but was angered when the producers chose to release a version with Rossi singing lead vocal in preference to the one sung by himself, and he objected to Marguerita Time, which he thought unduly corny and too pop-oriented for them. He remained in Australia, forming a band called Party Boys, who had no success in Britain.
The commercially successful In The Army Now album was released in 1986, and the band continues to this day with the revised personnel. Rich left in 2000 and was replaced by Matthew Letley. Andrew Bown took a year off at the same time for family reasons and was replaced on stage by Paul Hirsh, formerly of Voyager.
According to Songfacts.com, Quo's 29th studio album, Quid Pro Quo, was released in a deluxe format exclusively at Tesco on 30 May 2011. The regular edition was released elsewhere a week later on 7th June. The LP debuted at #10 in the UK charts, the band's best chart placing for an original album since Don't Stop peaked at #2 in 1996.
Although Quo still release new material every few years, recent years have seen them release a series of greatest hits compilations and covers albums. One of the band's most recent original albums, Heavy Traffic, shows a return to classic form not seen since the late 1970s.
Status Quo have often been characterized, perhaps unfairly, as producing very simple songs, always in the same format: 4/4 rhythm, three chord structure. However, the recordings from their first decade demonstrate a diversity in musical style and complexity to rival most of the late 60s UK bands, and several of their singles and album tracks from later show considerable subtlety, not least the mainly acoustic 1979 single Living On An Island, and the 1980 album track, later a single, Rock'n'Roll, which is ironically one of the least rock'n'roll-like songs they have ever recorded.
They have a loyal group of fans in the United Kingdom, where they have enjoyed more hits than any other group in rock and roll history (over 60 as of mid-2005), as well as a big following in Europe, notably in The Netherlands.
In September 2005 a contestant on the long-running BBC television quiz programme Mastermind chose Status Quo as his specialist subject. That same year they took part in the long running ITV soap opera Coronation Street in a storyline which involved them being sued by the layabout Les Battersby.
In December 2005 it was announced that Parfitt was undergoing tests for throat cancer. All subsequent dates of the UK tour were cancelled as a result. However on 20th December it was further announced that the growths found in Parfitt's throat were benign and had been removed.
Quo have even been the subject of a Doctoral Thesis, purporting to demonstrate that their music composition skills could be favourably compared to the likes of the classical music composers, such as Beethoven!
In Autumn 2008 German techno legend Scooter released new single Jump that rock together with Status Quo.
On 1 February 2016, it was officially announced that Status Quo, in addition to the spring and summer dates already scheduled, would tour Europe starting in October. The final dates would take place in the UK towards the end of the year, after which the group would retire from playing 'electric' tours.
On 28 October 2016, Rick Parfitt permanently retired from live performances after suffering a heart attack earlier the same year. On 24 December 2017, he died in hospital in Marbella, Spain as a result of severe infection, after suffering an injury to his shoulder. Parfitt's funeral was held at Woking Crematorium on 19 January 2017. Irish guitarist Richie Malone, who had substituted for Parfitt during some 2016 live shows, took his place on rhythm guitar.
All The Reasons
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I only have to call and you're right there by my side
When I can't see all the reasons why you have to be so far away
I wonder if your love is really here to stay
And I can't help my feelings and I can't hide my love for you
And I'll always believe in all the things that you want me to
When you're telling me not to worry ''cause you're being there won't be long
Because I can't help my feelings and I can't hide my love for you
And I'll always believe in all the things that you want me to
And I can't help my feelings and I can't hide my love for you
And I'll always believe in all the things that you want me to
The lyrics of Status Quo's "All the Reasons" talk about a person finding comfort and support in someone else during times of trouble or distress. The singer reflects on how this person is always there for them whenever they need them, and wonders if their love is truly genuine and meant to last. They express their intense feelings for this person, stating that they cannot hide their love for them and will always believe in everything that they want them to.
The song is a typical example of the band's signature boogie rock style, featuring a catchy guitar riff and upbeat tempo, which contrasts with the somewhat melancholic lyrics. The track was released in 1979 as part of the album "Whatever You Want" and became a top 40 hit in the UK.
The song was written and composed by the band's two lead singers, Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, who were also the primary songwriters for most of Status Quo's hits. The duo had been playing together since the early 1960s and became famous for their energetic live performances and memorable guitar riffs.
Line by Line Meaning
When I find myself in trouble and I need someone to lean on
When I am in a difficult situation and I require emotional support
I only have to call and you're right there by my side
You are always there for me when I need you
When I can't see all the reasons why you have to be so far away
When I fail to find a logical explanation for your distance
I wonder if your love is really here to stay
I question the stability and permanency of your affection
And I can't help my feelings and I can't hide my love for you
I have no control over my emotions, and I am unable to conceal my love for you
And I'll always believe in all the things that you want me to
I have unwavering faith in your words, beliefs, and desires
When you're telling me not to worry ''cause you're being there won't be long
When you assure me that your absence is temporarily and brief, and I shouldn't fret about it
I only live in hope that you just can't be wrong
I have a strong desire that your statement is accurate and truthful
And I can't help my feelings and I can't hide my love for you
My emotions and affection for you are beyond my control and concealment
And I'll always believe in all the things that you want me to
I will always have faith in your aspirations, choices, and desires
And I can't help my feelings and I can't hide my love for you
My sentiments and fondness for you are uncontrollable and unhidden
And I'll always believe in all the things that you want me to
I will always trust and have confidence in your convictions, preferences, and cravings
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHARLES LANCASTER ALAN, RICHARD JOHN PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ian Crockert
Rick Parfitt's most beautiful song and his most gorgeous vocal performance.
roz gee
I was just 5 years old when this album came out so I don't know what adults thought, but I loved every track and still do. :)
Robert Middlemiss
This is one of Rick's most subtlest songs. I first heard this when the album came out. It was an obvious thing to like all the rockier songs from the "Piledriver" album, but I loved every track and still do.
zedata57
I love this song.
Alastair Murray
The one and only (real) Quo were not just a very heavy Rock band but gave us so many beautiful ballads, this one of the best....
Ashra Tempel
Timeless classic.
Phil Manning
Beautiful all ways gets to me. So good
Rainer S.
Beautiful song. Should be remastered, though.
James Bruce
great song
Claude K
Le meilleur album avec hello . . Que oui!