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.
Lonely Night
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing all the old songs like we often used to do
It was a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely night
It was a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely night
Went by a friend, he said, this is not a lie
You're back again, and I couldn't laugh or cry
'Cos I never thought I'd see or hear you again
Didn't take me too long to find you there with a crowd
It was a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely night
I had a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
I tried to find something right for me to say
Can't you decide when you left me on that day
'Cos I never thought I'd see or hear you again
Oh no, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
No, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
Oh no, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
No, no, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
No, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
No, no, I never thought I'd see or hear you again.....
The lyrics of Status Quo’s “Lonely Night” tell a story of heartbreak and nostalgia. The singer is sitting by the window where he and his lover used to spend time together, reminiscing about the past and listening to old songs. The night is described as being “lonely” multiple times, emphasizing the isolation and pain that the singer is feeling.
The lyrics take a turn when the singer runs into a friend who tells him that his ex-lover is back in town. He goes to a place called Sally’s where the band is playing loud and, in a crowd, he finds his ex-lover. Despite the loneliness of the night, the singer is overcome with emotion at the sight of his former love interest.
The chorus repeats the phrase “no, I never thought I’d see or hear you again” three separate times, driving home the surprise and shock of the singer’s encounter. The lyrics of “Lonely Night” are a poignant reminder of how powerful memories can be and how even the most unexpected moments can stir up strong emotions.
Overall, the lyrics of “Lonely Night” tap into universal feelings of longing, regret, and heartache. The song is a clear expression of the pain that comes from lost love and the power that memories can hold.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting by the window where I used to sit with you
I am sitting in the same place where we used to spend time together
Playing all the old songs like we often used to do
I am listening to the same music we used to enjoy together
It was a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely night
I feel incredibly alone and sad tonight
It was a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely night
The night was so lonely and difficult
Went by a friend, he said, this is not a lie
I bumped into a friend who told me something shocking and true
You're back again, and I couldn't laugh or cry
You've returned into my life, but I don't know how to feel about it
'Cause I never thought I'd see or hear you again
I never expected to have contact with you anymore
Took me down to Sally's where the band was playing loud
My friend brought me to Sally's where there was loud music and a party
Didn't take me too long to find you there with a crowd
I quickly found you in the midst of a group of people
It was a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely night
Despite being around people, I still felt incredibly lonely
I had a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
I was so lonely with you around, it was unbearable
I tried to find something right for me to say
I struggled to come up with the right thing to say to you
Can't you decide when you left me on that day
I can't believe you left me and I'm still struggling to cope with it
'Cause I never thought I'd see or hear you again
I'm in shock that we've crossed paths after all this time
Oh no, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
I never believed I'd have to confront you again
No, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
I never thought I'd have the chance to speak to you once more
No, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
It's still hard for me to believe that you're here now
No, no, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
I'm still coming to terms with the fact that you're really back in my life
No, I never thought I'd see or hear you again
My mind is racing trying to process all of this
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN CHARLES LANCASTER, BOB YOUNG, FRANCIS DOMINIC NICHOLAS ROSSI, RICHARD JOHN PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jarrett Gardner
Not only is it the exact same chord progression - granted there's a million songs with similar chord progressions...
But it is also the exact same vocal melody!!
Taken together one cannot deny that The Angels "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" is a straight rip of Status Quo "Lonely Night" with an added new guitar melody lick and different lyrics.
Status Quo "Lonely Night" released in 1974 as an obscure B-side
The Angels "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" released 1976 as A-side single.
Jarrett Gardner
Not only is it the exact same chord progression - granted there's a million songs with similar chord progressions...
But it is also the exact same vocal melody!!
Taken together one cannot deny that The Angels "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" is a straight rip of Status Quo "Lonely Night" with an added new guitar melody lick and different lyrics.
Status Quo "Lonely Night" released in 1974 as an obscure B-side
The Angels "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" released 1976 as A-side single.
jackfrostyfly
LMAO I came to do the same thing , cheers
theresa maleady
I love this bonus track on this album long live the mighty Quo
clifford lee
Great song, proper rock n roll. Love it.
Mike Hayes
"Borrowed" heavily by The Angels in Australia for their most successful single, "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again"...
Lyall G
The same melody. I believe The Angels ended up paying royalties or whatever the lingo is….and rightly so.
Gin Gin
@Big_E hell yeah. R.I.P Doc
Nick Pollard
I looked this song up after reading about this, expecting it to just be the same chord structure or something, and I'm stunned by just how uncanny it is. It sounds like The Angels just played someone else's song faster, and the audience added the chant. When Doc Neeson said it wasn't their song, but the audience's song, he wasn't lying. I'm kind of disappointed.
A Jo
@Big_E So did Led Zep on a couple of occasions, but that doesn't stop it being plagiarism.
A Jo
@glen phillips One size doesn't get close to fitting all. There's a vast difference between a similar chord progression or melody compared to lifting an entire song. Aussie rock fans have been better off for Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, and I'm glad they did it, but the band also acknowledged the blatant rip off by paying Status Quo for it.