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.
Christmas Time
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh how time flies
It's funny but it seems like yesterday
I put the tinsel away
It's a time we can all look forward to
I like to feel the festive spirit don't you
When you switch on your lights and say
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
Stand up stand up and raise a glass of wine
And you let yourself go underneath the mistletoe
Well it's Christmas time
It's Christmas time
Wake up wake up and find the snow outside
And your presents will be underneath the Christmas tree with me
Do you wanna hear the sleigh bells in the sun
It's not much fun try and build yourself a snowman
By the sea well it ain't gonna be
I'll be roasting chestnuts by the fire
Write a note with all my heart's desire
And let it burn all the way to Santa
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
Stand up stand up and raise a glass of wine
And you let yourself go underneath the mistletoe
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
Wake up wake up and find the snow outside
And your presents will be underneath the Christmas tree with me
It's a time we can all look forward to
I'd like to feel the festive spirit of you
When you switch on your lights and say
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
Stand up stand up and raise a glass of wine
And you let yourself go underneath the mistletoe
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
Wake up wake up and see the snow outside
And your presents will be underneath the Christmas tree
Ooh it's Christmas time
The lyrics to "Christmas Time" by Status Quo speak about the joy and excitement of the holiday season. The song starts off by reflecting on how fast time flies and how quickly another year has gone by. The lead singer mentions the memory of putting away the tinsel from last year's Christmas decorations, which seems like it was only yesterday. Then he talks about how Christmas is a time for everyone to look forward to, and he likes to feel the festive spirit in the air. When people switch on their Christmas lights, he feels the magic of the season.
The chorus encourages people to stand up and raise a glass of wine, as well as let go and enjoy themselves underneath the mistletoe, because it's Christmas time. The second verse talks about the differences in Christmas experiences based on geography. The singer asks if people want to hear sleigh bells in the sun, and notes that building a snowman by the sea is not a viable option. He then talks about the familiar image of roasting chestnuts by the fire while contemplating his heart's desire and writing a letter to Santa.
Overall, "Christmas Time" celebrates the joy and traditions that come with the holiday season, and encourages everyone to let go, have fun, and make the most of their time together.
Line by Line Meaning
Another year's gone rock and rollin' by
Another year has passed by quickly and full of energy
Oh how time flies
Time seems to pass quickly
It's funny but it seems like yesterday
Time seems to pass quickly, to the point that it doesn't feel like that long ago
I put the tinsel away
I stored Christmas decorations after last year's Christmas
It's a time we can all look forward to
Christmas is a time people anticipate and wait for every year
I like to feel the festive spirit, don't you
I enjoy experiencing the joy, enthusiasm and excitement that comes with Christmas, do you?
When you switch on your lights and say
When you turn on Christmas lights and say or do something to acknowledge Christmas
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
It's the Christmas season
Stand up stand up and raise a glass of wine
Get up, raise a glass filled with wine
And you let yourself go underneath the mistletoe
You give yourself a chance to relax and have fun, maybe underneath the mistletoe
Well it's Christmas time
It's definitely Christmas season
Wake up wake up and find the snow outside
Wake up and notice snow outside
And your presents will be underneath the Christmas tree with me
Presents will be found under the Christmas tree that we'll share
Do you wanna hear the sleigh bells in the sun
Do you want to experience Christmas in a warm climate?
It's not much fun try and build yourself a snowman
It's not enjoyable to try building a snowman if there's no snow
By the sea, well it ain't gonna be
It's impossible to have snow near the sea or in a warm climate
I'll be roasting chestnuts by the fire
I'll be preparing to roast chestnuts over the fire
Write a note with all my heart's desire
Write a letter to Santa before Christmas with all one's wishes
And let it burn all the way to Santa
Toss the letter in the fire so that it reaches Santa via the smoke
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
It's the Christmas season
Stand up stand up and raise a glass of wine
Get up, raise a glass filled with wine
And you let yourself go underneath the mistletoe
You give yourself a chance to relax and have fun, maybe underneath the mistletoe
Wake up wake up and see the snow outside
Wake up and notice snow outside
And your presents will be underneath the Christmas tree with me
Presents will be found under the Christmas tree that we'll share
It's a time we can all look forward to
Christmas is a time people anticipate and wait for every year
I'd like to feel the festive spirit of you
I'd like to experience your joy, enthusiasm and excitement that comes with Christmas
When you switch on your lights and say
When you turn on Christmas lights and say or do something to acknowledge Christmas
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
It's the Christmas season
Stand up stand up and raise a glass of wine
Get up, raise a glass filled with wine
And you let yourself go underneath the mistletoe
You give yourself a chance to relax and have fun, maybe underneath the mistletoe
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time
It's the Christmas season
Wake up wake up and see the snow outside
Wake up and notice snow outside
And your presents will be underneath the Christmas tree
Presents will be found under the Christmas tree
Ooh it's Christmas time
It's certainly Christmas season, oh yeah!
Writer(s): Wayne Moose Morris, Richard John Parfitt
Contributed by Annabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PxDemaR
Let the memories glow, for Alan and Rick!
Nick R
God how we all miss Rick, such a party soul.
amangogna68
Great Christmas music and amazing band !
Ian Ogier
This should have been massive! Do people not understand what they're missing? Play the mighty Quo!!!!!
colin keyworth
I've never heard of this song so it was like a brand new song to me and for 3:49 Rick was back in Quo and the world was right
Martinjr1975
same here, wow ... how we miss Ricky :-(
Marc Lennard
YES! This is my favorite X MAS Song of all time...THANKS to Wayne Morris and Ricki for this Masterpiece! A shame it wasn't a huge hit! Great memories!
Norberto Camacho hernandez
Por siempre los maestros de Inglaterra. Afortunados los que pudimos asistir a un concierto de ellos en México. saludos desde Chimalhuacán edo de mex.
carmen Martínez Pérez
Sin duda mi canción favorita de Navidad.. Cada año, cuando llegan estas fechas y la escucho, siento que mi alma entera se llena de Navidad. Muchísimas gracias por esta gran canción y FELIZ NAVIDAD 😘
Rob Snowden
Matt Letley - best Quo drummer of all. And all round nice guy.