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.
Little Lady
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I asked her, where you going to?
Well I saw my little lady walking down the street
She said she'd found somebody new
Found myself all alone
Ain't no fun on your own
Now I'm like a rolling stone
Didn't really know which way to go
So I met another lady and so many more
But no one did I get to know
Found myself all alone
Ain't no fun on your own
Now I'm like a rolling stone
Well I saw my little lady walking down the street
Now you know where she was going to
Well I saw my little lady walking down the street
Now you know what I've been going through
Found myself all alone
Ain't no fun on your own
Living like a rolling stone
I was like a rolling...
I was like a rolling stone
Walking alone, a street with no phone
Could I be younger most of the time?
Doing her wrong, taking so long
Should I do all things in my own time?
May I be wiser, yes, than most men will ever be?
May I be younger most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
May I be wiser, yes, than most men will ever be?
May I be younger most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
Most of the time, most of the time
The song "Little Lady" by Status Quo tells a story of heartbreak and loneliness. The lyrics follow the singer as he watches his ex-girlfriend, referred to as his "little lady," walking down the street with someone else. He reflects on how he found himself alone after she left him and attempted to move on with other women but was ultimately unsuccessful. He feels like a "rolling stone," aimlessly wandering without a sense of direction or purpose. The chorus repeats the lines "Found myself all alone/Ain't no fun on your own/Now I'm like a rolling stone" to emphasize his feelings of isolation and helplessness.
The lyrics also include a short interlude near the end of the song, where the singer questions his choices and wonders if he should have done things differently. He acknowledges that he may not have been wise in his decision-making, but ultimately longs to be young and carefree again.
Overall, "Little Lady" is a bittersweet reflection on the aftermath of a failed relationship and the struggle to move on. The simple yet poignant lyrics convey a sense of sadness and longing that is relatable to many.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I saw my little lady walking down the street
The singer sees his former lover and wonders where she's going.
And I asked her, where you going to?
The singer asks his former lover where she's going.
She said she'd found somebody new
His former lover tells him she's found someone else.
Found myself all alone
The artist is alone after his former lover leaves him.
Ain't no fun on your own
The artist is lonely and not having a good time.
Now I'm like a rolling stone
The singer is directionless and uncertain about his future.
So I met another lady and so many more
The singer starts dating other women but doesn't find a connection.
Didn't really know which way to go
The artist is lost and unsure of what he wants.
But no one did I get to know
The artist doesn't form a deep connection with any of the women he dates.
Now you know where she was going to
The artist reveals where his former lover was going.
Now you know what I've been going through
The singer's experiences of heartbreak and loneliness are shared.
Living like a rolling stone
The artist is still uncertain about his future and wandering aimlessly.
Walking alone, a street with no phone
The singer is wandering alone without a way to communicate with anyone.
Could I be younger most of the time?
The singer wonders if he could relive his youth and avoid mistakes.
Doing her wrong, taking so long
The singer acknowledges his mistakes and regrets taking so much time to fix them.
Should I do all things in my own time?
The artist questions if he should take control of his own life and make changes.
May I be wiser, yes, than most men will ever be?
The artist hopes to gain more wisdom than most men.
Most of the time, most of the time
The singer reflects on the past and how he wishes to change it.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alan Strom
Alan Lancaster 7/02/1949 - 26/09/2021
Bassist/Singer/Songwriter/ Producer/Genius of STATUS QUO fame, has died aged 72 of Multiple Sclerosis at his Sydney home, surrounded by his family.
Born in London, he moved to Australia in 1976 after marrying his beautiful wife Dayle.
Alan wrote and co-wrote many classic Rock songs
The 9 1/2 minute Psych/Rock song "Is It Really Me, Gotta Go Home" was written by the Genius of Alan Charles Lancaster.
Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon album 1970 on the Astor / Pye Label.
Produced by the late / great John Schroeder.
Anyone who met Nuff would know first hand what a beautiful, sweet and charming gentleman he was.
I had the pleasure of socialising with Alan at a few gigs in the late 80's, at some of his gigs with The Lancaster Bombers
and The Lancaster / Brewster Band and The Party Boys, the latter having 2 Chart Topping Hits.
" Hold Your Head Up " by Argent and " He's Gonna Step On You Again " by John Kongos.
Alan produced a multi-platinum selling album for Pianist Roger Woodward.
The Party Boys’ leader Paul Christie told TMN that as a rock bassist who played with a plectrum, Lancaster was one of the true greats.
“He played a Kramer bass with an aluminium neck, not a wooden one. As a result he sounded like an industrial hammer bashing on steel.
“He was truly phenomenal. The Party Boys needed two drummers in the line-up, it was the only way to match him "
RIP Alan
Alan Levy
I was a massive Quo fan back in the 1970's - and I still am! I am 60 and this kind of music keeps me young!!
watchingsoul1
60 is still young not old for a man
sean thornton
The magic of Old Quo...Quality.
Denis Matthke
Albúm incrível,fantástico,pra mim o melhor da banda.
Mark Jones
Greatest era for Quo ever!
elizabeth hughes
This is the first album that i bought of Quo,every song on the album is so good,love it, got it in the car,windows open sometimes,i get some looks,lol, R,I P Rick,
Bryan Ladden
Seen the boys live many many times and this is one of my all time faves...the instrumental break from 1.30 to 2.30 is epic, but I must confess to blowing one or two in-car speakers when I've turned it to maximum volume at 2.16 for the awesome chord change and climax...fantastic...
Harmony Daniels
Love this. Classic Quo. 💕
Mark Burch
I need to get this out the loft and more importantly buy something to play the vinyl on
joao batista alexandre ferreira
Pure rock and roll !!!