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.
Better Than That
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that feeling is back
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
While I'm in for the ride
while I'm hangin on in
you ain't got nothing to hide
I have a dream what somebody said
and now I'm waiting, waiting
Oh we're bringing it back
the feeling is back
like mama said the other day
but better than that
we're bringing it back
we're bringing it back
you know it could be something good
but better than that
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
Getting ready to go
no waiting around
I wanna tell you something I know
simplify, demystify you know
it's all been there all along
but now I'm waiting, waiting
Oh we're bringing it back
the feeling is back
like mama said the other day
but better than that
we're bringing it back
we're bringing it back
you know it could be something good
but better than that
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
So now that you know
and taken it in
and it'll feel like living I know
it's flying high, my oh my
and when this song has
come to an end
I'll be waiting, waiting
We; ll be bringing it back
the feeling is back
like mama said the other day
but better than that
we're bringing it back
we're bringing it back
you know it could be something good
but better than that
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
We're bringing it back
the feeling is back
like mama said the other day
but better than that
we're bringing it back
we're bringing it back
you know it could be something good
but better than that
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
all over the world
it's gonna be a remedy
but better than that
The lyrics to Status Quo's song "Better Than That" speak about the feeling of homecoming and bringing back the memories and emotions associated with it. The song expresses a sense of hope, as things are going to get better than they were before. The feeling of returning home and the comfort that comes with it will act as a remedy to any challenges and obstacles. The song speaks of the dream of someone and waiting for something to happen. It talks about looking forward to the future and everything it holds. The lyrics also reflect the simplicity of life, the fact that everything we need is already there, and we just have to wait for the right time to unveil it.
The repetition of the phrase "we're bringing it back" reinforces the idea of the return of the feeling and the sense of new beginnings. The song expresses a strong desire to move forward and not remain stuck in the past. It calls for a simplified life and the eradication of uncertainties as the way for things to get better. The song's message is that, while life may be full of ups and downs, it is always possible to go back, start anew, and make things better than they were before.
Line by Line Meaning
Home is bringing you back
Returning home brings back memories and emotions associated with it.
that feeling is back
Those memories and emotions evoke a certain feeling within oneself.
all over the world
This feeling is not just limited to one place or person, but can be felt by many across the world.
it's gonna be a remedy
This feeling can serve as a cure or solution to problems one might be facing.
but better than that
However, this feeling is not just good, but actually better than what one might initially think.
While I'm in for the ride
Going along with this feeling and experience just to see where it takes you.
while I'm hangin on in
Sticking with this feeling and experience even when it gets difficult.
you ain't got nothing to hide
Being open and honest about oneself, not hiding anything or putting up a facade.
yet you fly through the line
Despite being open and honest, still moving forward with determination and confidence.
I have a dream what somebody said
Recalling a dream or a vision that someone else had shared with them.
and now I'm waiting, waiting
Anticipating the fulfillment of that dream, waiting for it to become a reality.
Oh we're bringing it back
Reviving that feeling and emotion associated with home and memories.
like mama said the other day
Recalling advice or wisdom from a loved one.
we're bringing it back
Continuing to revive and bring back that feeling and emotion.
you know it could be something good
This feeling and experience has the potential to be positive and beneficial.
Getting ready to go
Preparing oneself for a new journey or experience.
no waiting around
Taking action and not hesitating to move forward with that experience.
I wanna tell you something I know
Sharing knowledge or insights with someone else.
simplify, demystify you know
Making something easier to understand or comprehend.
it's all been there all along
Realizing that the answer or solution has been present all along.
it'll feel like living I know
That experience or feeling will be so real and intense that it will feel like true living.
it's flying high, my oh my
That experience or feeling is soaring and thriving, exceeding expectations.
and when this song has come to an end
When this journey or experience has concluded.
We'll be bringing it back
Continuing to revive and bring back that feeling and emotion.
Contributed by Kaitlyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alan Strom
The whole album is brilliant!!!!!
Peter JP Critchley
This is a cracking tune! Quo flying in top form.
Miha
Good music.
status quo-all
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