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.
Baby Boy
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to sit and play would be my joy
Now I'm oh so big and I'm oh so strong
How I wish to be where I once belonged
When I was an older baby boy
All the girls I wanted were my joy
I would drink my wine, wouldn't miss a night
When I was an older boy
When I was an older boy
When I was an older boy
When I was an older lady's toy
Thoughts of lust and wealth were now my joy
And the years gone by are so far behind
But the memories are still in my mind
When I was a lady's boy
When I was a lady's boy
When I was a lady's boy
When I was a little baby boy
Just to sit and play would be my joy
Now I'm oh so big and I'm oh so strong
How I wish to be where I once belonged
When I was a baby boy
When I was a baby boy
When I was a baby boy
The song Baby Boy by Status Quo is a reflective and nostalgic piece about the bittersweet nature of growing up. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, explaining how as a young child, the singer's only concern was to play and have fun. He longs to return to that simpler time when his only care was to be happy and carefree. However, as he grew older, his priorities shifted. He became obsessed with women and found pleasure in drinking and partying. He looks back on those days with regret, wishing he had been guided towards a better path. Eventually, he became a "lady's toy," consumed by his desires for luxury and material possessions.
The chorus of the song repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life. No matter how old we get, we still retain the memories of our past selves, and many of us yearn to go back to simpler times. The lyrics are beautifully written, and the melody is melancholic and reflective, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing.
Overall, Baby Boy is a song that explores the many facets of growing up, from innocence to indulgence to regret. It captures the essence of what it means to be human, with all our flaws and complexities.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a little baby boy
In my earliest days, I was an innocent little infant.
Just to sit and play would be my joy
All I cared about was finding amusement in simple activities that a baby could enjoy.
Now I'm oh so big and I'm oh so strong
As I grew up, I became physically larger and more powerful.
How I wish to be where I once belonged
Despite my physical strength, I long to return to the simpler times of childhood where everything was easier and more carefree.
All the girls I wanted were my joy
As a young man, my primary source of happiness and excitement came from pursuing romantic relationships with women.
I would drink my wine, wouldn't miss a night
I turned to alcohol as a form of escape and would indulge myself nightly without fail.
How I wish that someone had put me right
Looking back on my behavior, I regret not having someone to guide me towards a more responsible lifestyle.
When I was an older lady's toy
As I grew older, I became more preoccupied with pleasing women and using my charm to gain attention and favors.
Thoughts of lust and wealth were now my joy
My hedonistic longings shifted from mere romance to a twisted combination of lust and the pursuit of material wealth.
And the years gone by are so far behind
Despite having moved on from those days, their impact still lingers in my mind and memory.
But the memories are still in my mind
I still vividly remember the experiences and emotions that I went through during those stages of my life.
When I was a lady's boy
In my pursuit of women, I sometimes acted as an object of entertainment or pleasure rather than a genuine partner or friend.
When I was a baby boy
Despite all the ups and downs of my life, the pure innocence and joy of my early childhood remains a source of nostalgia and comfort.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GIANNI BINI, LEONARDO GRILLOTTI, MELISSA HILL, MICHELE ROSSI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@linkedloetje2475
The last album I bought from the Quo and then dived into the World of drugs and started to listen to other kinds of music. 25 Years later, when I sobered up, I started to listen to Status Quo again and enjoyed it very much. It was a force wich helped me when I had difficult times and fighting the fight against drugs! That was my way to get over it, the music healed and helped me!Thanks be to the best hardrockband in this World:STATUS QUO! 😊❤🥰🎸
@70ad25
#LinkeD
When you dived into the would of drugs, did you start listening to PINK FLOYD, the best psychedelic band around. They started out being psychedelic (LSD) but then became more mainstream with Dark Side of the Moon. Francis Rossi of Quo was heavily into cocaine. I still love Quo and Floyd.
@linkedloetje2475
@70AD Yep, my first joint I smoked while listening to Pink Floyd, 'Wish you where here'. Fifteen years old.
@lorismith6964
TMI
@user-no3lf6on6z
Господи! Как долго я искал эту песню...с середины 80-х....На кассете было написано "Стату Кво":)))
@user-cf1kh6sp6y
Не ты один такой! 😉👋
@MrBark-ll7do
просто написал беби бой .
@evgrafkolobov6351
Я тоже)
@MrBark-ll7do
статус кво - величайшая группа .
@Tomyelectronic
Back in the early 80ies when i first listened to this album in whole i hated this song and ...especially its title. What a wimpy stuff!. Now, many many years later i have to admit that this is a great and very sad ballad. I like it really much and was catching myself
out of the bluewhen i was working in the garden suddenly this tune came to me and i was singing and whisteling "Baby Boy". Crazy in a way! Went into the house and put on the old record on my record player....Sitting there, looking back and listening - tears came to my eyes! "Großes Kino" as we say here in germany! An unusual classic!