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.
And It's Better Now
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking all day of the thoughts in my mind never said
I have needed a friend, over and over again
Everyone sings of a God they have known
Now I have a God of my own
And it's better now, been a long, long time
And it's better now that the words can rhyme
Gotta have something to sing about, everyone must have a song
Now I got something to sing about, everyone's singing my song
Gotta have something to sing about, everyone must have a song
Now I got something to sing about, everyone's singing my song
Dreaming away, never wishing to be anyone
Never a question or reason to find right or wrong
When I looked at the end, over and over again
Riding along on the words of a song
Thinking my time had all gone
And it's better now, been a long, long time
And it's better now that the words can rhyme
Gotta have something to sing about, everyone must have a song
Now I got something to sing about, everyone's singing my song
Gotta have something to sing about, everyone must have a song
Now I got something to sing about, everyone's singing my song
In Status Quo's song 'And It's Better Now', we find the singer riding along on the words of a song in their head, thinking all day of the thoughts in their mind they have never said. They have needed a friend over and over again, but instead of finding solace in a God that others sing of, they have found their own God. The singer is elated now as they express that it's better now, been a long, long time, and it's better now that the words can rhyme.
The singer then sings about how everyone needs something to sing about and how everyone must have a song. And now, they have something to sing about, and everyone's singing their song. They continue to dream away without wishing to be anyone, and without any reason to find right or wrong. And when they look at the end over and over again, they ride along on the words of a song, thinking their time has all gone. But again, they express, it's better now that they have something to sing about, and everyone's singing their song.
The song seems to be about finding one's voice and identity amidst a world full of people who sing about their God. The singer has found their own God and their own song, which, in turn, has given them a sense of purpose and joy. Perhaps the song is also about the importance of having something to call your own, as in something that people can associate with you. In any case, the lyrics of 'And It's Better Now' are profound and introspective, and the message to find happiness in one's own identity is a universal one.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding along on the words of a song in my head
I'm constantly humming a tune in my mind, which keeps me going throughout the day.
Thinking all day of the thoughts in my mind never said
I keep contemplating the unsaid words that I should express to others.
I have needed a friend, over and over again
I frequently feel lonely and crave for a companion who could understand me.
Everyone sings of a God they have known
People often talk about their faith in God, which inspired me to find my own spiritual path.
Now I have a God of my own
I found solace in my newly discovered faith, which brings me peace and comfort.
And it's better now, been a long, long time
It took me a while to find my way, but now my life feels more fulfilling and joyful.
And it's better now that the words can rhyme
With my newfound inspiration, I can articulate my feelings and thoughts more clearly through poetry and music.
Gotta have something to sing about, everyone must have a song
Everyone needs a source of inspiration, a reason to keep moving forward, and to express themselves.
Now I got something to sing about, everyone's singing my song
I found my passion, my voice, and my reason to celebrate life, which inspires others to do the same.
Dreaming away, never wishing to be anyone
I feel content with who I am and have no desire to be anyone else.
Never a question or reason to find right or wrong
I don't dwell on the moral ambiguity of life, but rather enjoy the beauty and simplicity of it.
When I looked at the end, over and over again
When I think about my mortality, I realize that I want to make the most of every moment and pursue my dreams.
Gotta have something to sing about, everyone must have a song
We all need a reason to celebrate and find joy in our lives.
Now I got something to sing about, everyone's singing my song
I found my reason to live and to love, and it brings joy to others who resonate with my message.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: FRANCIS DOMINIC MICHAEL NICOLA ROSSI, ROBERT KEITH YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Billy Ramone
Hello, rock and fecking roll, classic album
Rose Harrison
Very melodic
Bob butcher
this song think of my school friend got killed by someone by drinking to much and run him over and killed him , he was only 18 at the time.
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SSAW THEM VA VOUS REPONDRE KUKIKOM And It's Better Now Et c'est mieux maintenant que les mots peuvent < FUr imer > Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up ONE MORE TIEM ZU GABE AM N <<< SANS VOUS REDUIRE DANS CE QUI VOUS CARACTERISE DE PROPRE ELOGIEUX ONDULANT ET SACRE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f3Im2dtiB8 <<< VALTIC CROCHET
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TOPO DU JOUR ECHO GERMODASIATEK KX HELLO PISTE 7 C VU waltic FOCHET COULETON concombre melon yupi cailloux REGARDEZ MOI CES garbudche du programmes senatic NATTEES ALIZELOTEE trame les ondules CORCHVILERE ETC ETCETC DEMANDEZ PAS MARQUETTE ONDULE ELOGIEUSES TRAMES SECTEUR EUH WHERE DRAOULE SIMOULESCH SHERIFF CLUDE OLIVETTE SERTEL LES MERVEILLES