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.
Cream Of The Crop
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta tell myself that anyway
I can't forget the way that we used to be
And all in all it seems so different to me
I said whoa oh Rosalie, I said whoa my Rosalie
Oh every time I see her I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
I don't believe I?d stand in your way
I want a lonely carriage with roses on
A funny love affair, a funny way to go home
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you'd have an answer for me?
I've been around this place for quite a time
I've been around just feeling really fine
I can't believe I feel like nothing today
And I don't feel too much anyway
In "Cream of the Crop," Status Quo lead singer Francis Rossi yearns to move on from a past relationship, but finds himself unable to forget his former lover Rosalie. He talks about wanting to get away and move on, while also reflecting on how different things are now that they've split. Despite the distance he's put between them, Rossi can't help but feel drawn to Rosalie every time he sees her. Others recognize her as being the best of the best, but Rossi acknowledges that if she showed any anger towards him, he wouldn't try to stop her from leaving.
The song is a classic example of the British rock band's signature sound - a blend of boogie rock and blues rock with catchy guitar riffs and a driving beat. The lyrics are relatively straightforward and convey the mixed emotions that come with a difficult breakup. "Cream of the Crop" was released on Status Quo's 1983 album "Back to Back" and later appeared on several greatest hits compilations. The track was a chart success in several European countries, including France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta get myself far, far away
I need to distance myself from the situation.
I gotta tell myself that anyway
It's important to remind oneself of what needs to be done.
I can't forget the way that we used to be
It's hard to let go of old memories.
And all in all it seems so different to me
Overall, everything has changed in my eyes.
I said whoa oh Rosalie, I said whoa my Rosalie
Expressing admiration for Rosalie.
Oh every time I see her I have to stop
She captures my attention whenever I see her.
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
Everyone regards her as the best of the best.
But if you're looking angry in any way
If I sense hostility from you,
I don't believe I'd stand in your way
I wouldn't interfere with your mood.
I want a lonely carriage with roses on
I desire a romantic, solitary setting.
A funny love affair, a funny way to go home
A whimsical, unusual relationship and way of living.
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I refuse to bend to your will since you refuse to do the same for me.
I don't suppose you'd have an answer for me?
I doubt you have a solution to my problem.
I've been around this place for quite a time
I've spent a significant amount of time here.
I've been around just feeling really fine
I've been in good spirits during my time here.
I can't believe I feel like nothing today
I can't believe how empty I feel today.
And I don't feel too much anyway
I'm not feeling too strongly about anything at the moment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Lucena
I gotta get myself far, far away
I gotta tell myself that anyway
I can't forget the way that you used to be
Now all in all it seems so different to me
I said oh-oh Rosalee
Oh my Rosalee
Oh every time I see you I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
But if you're looking angry in any way
I don't believe I could stand in your way
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
I've been around this place for quite a time
I've been around just feeling really fine
I can't believe I feel like nothing today
Well I don't feel too much anyway
I said oh-oh Rosalee
Oh my Rosalee
Oh every time I see you I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
But if you're looking angry in any way
I don't believe I could stand in your way
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
Oh every time I see you I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
But if you're looking angry in any way
I don't believe I could stand in your way
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
Daniel Lucena
I gotta get myself far, far away
I gotta tell myself that anyway
I can't forget the way that you used to be
Now all in all it seems so different to me
I said oh-oh Rosalee
Oh my Rosalee
Oh every time I see you I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
But if you're looking angry in any way
I don't believe I could stand in your way
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
I've been around this place for quite a time
I've been around just feeling really fine
I can't believe I feel like nothing today
Well I don't feel too much anyway
I said oh-oh Rosalee
Oh my Rosalee
Oh every time I see you I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
But if you're looking angry in any way
I don't believe I could stand in your way
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
Oh every time I see you I have to stop
And everybody says you are the cream of the crop
But if you're looking angry in any way
I don't believe I could stand in your way
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
My one and only carriage, it rolls along
My funny love affair has found a way to go on
I won't change for you, you haven't changed for me
I don't suppose you have an answer for me
петр мачехин
A cool team with the same telecasters and rock'n'roll themes. So be it! Greetings from Russia!
status quo-all
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POROTO empresa sublime
No puedo creer que esto haya salido de una banda inglesa!!!
status quo-all
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Jose Martinez
Ok chida rola
status quo-all
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leiper72
..Ooh my Rosaleeee.. :-)
status quo-all
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SaltySquatch
Nothing means nothing!!!!!!