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.
Getting Better
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The teachers that taught me weren't cool
Holding me down, and turning me round
Filling me up with your rules
Got to admit it's getting better
It's getting better all the time
Have to admit it's getting better
I used to be angry young man
Me hiding me head in the sand
You gave me the word, I finally heard
I'm doing the best that I can
Got to admit it's getting better
It's getting better all the time
Have to admit it's getting better
It's getting better, since you'll be mine
Getting so much better all the time
It's getting better all the time, better, better, better
It's getting better all the time, better, better, better
I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her
And kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man I was mean but I'm changing my scene
And I'm doing the best that I can
Got to admit it's getting better
It's getting better all the time
Have to admit it's getting better
It's getting better, since you'll be mine
Getting so much better all the time
The song "Getting Better" by Status Quo is known for its upbeat and catchy melody, but its lyrics are also quite introspective. The first verse expresses frustration and resentment towards the education system, specifically the teachers who are perceived as holding the singer down and imposing rules upon him. However, the chorus suggests a positive outlook on the situation, as the singer admits that things are improving all the time. This could be seen as a commentary on personal growth and maturity, as the singer learns to adapt to the rules and regulations of society.
The second verse takes a similar approach, with the singer reflecting on his past as an angry young man who avoided responsibility. However, he credits someone else with turning his life around and inspiring him to do better. The chorus is repeated, affirming the idea that things are getting better all the time, and the bridge introduces a new theme. The line "I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her" is quite shocking, but the singer quickly follows up with "man, I was mean but I'm changing my scene." This suggests that he has recognized and taken responsibility for his past mistakes and is actively working to make things right.
Overall, the lyrics to "Getting Better" seem to be about personal growth and change. The singer acknowledges past mistakes and frustrations but embraces the idea that things are improving all the time, thanks in part to the influence of certain individuals in his life. The message is hopeful and positive, reflecting the overall tone of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to get mad at my school
I used to be upset because I did not like the teachers in my school.
The teachers that taught me weren't cool
The teachers that taught me were not likable.
Holding me down, and turning me round
The teachers were controlling and manipulative.
Filling me up with your rules
The teachers were constantly making and enforcing rules.
Got to admit it's getting better
I have to accept that things are improving.
It's getting better all the time
Things are consistently improving in a positive way.
Have to admit it's getting better
I have to accept that things are improving.
It's getting better, since you'll be mine
Things are getting better because of the presence of the person I am with.
I used to be angry young man
I used to be an angry and upset youth.
Me hiding me head in the sand
I used to avoid and ignore my problems.
You gave me the word, I finally heard
You gave me the advice and guidance I needed to finally understand.
I'm doing the best that I can
I am trying my hardest to improve.
Getting so much better all the time
Things are consistently and significantly improving for the better.
It's getting better all the time, better, better, better
Things are constantly improving in a positive way, and it keeps getting better.
I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her
I used to abuse and harm the woman I was with.
And kept her apart from the things that she loved
I did not allow her to enjoy the things she loved and kept her separated from them.
Man I was mean but I'm changing my scene
I used to be a cruel person, but now I am changing and making positive changes.
Getting so much better all the time
Things are consistently improving for the better.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jaime Alvarado
on Rain
great song ,,, !!!!!!!