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.
Make Me Stay A Little Bit Longer
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you see a man or just a jagged outline of one?
Do you hear my words, or do they go straight through you?
We get it together now and then
But I can feel we won't again
Still I can't stop this endless strain of you
I'll leave you today, 'cos I am nothing to you
Oh-oh make me stay a bit longer
Make my heart and my body get stronger
Make me stay, don't send me away or I'll be alone
Make me stay a bit longer
Make my heart and my body get stronger
Make me stay, don't send me away or I'll be alone
When you look at me tell me what you see
Do you see a man or just a jagged outline of one?
Do you hear my words, or do they go straight through you?
Oh-oh make me stay a bit longer
Make my heart and my body get stronger
Make me stay, don't send me away or I'll be alone
Make me stay a bit longer
Make my heart and my body get stronger
Make me stay, don't send me away or I'll be alone
The song "Make Me Stay a Little Bit Longer" by Status Quo is a plea from a man who is longing for his partner to show him more love and affection before their inevitable separation. The beginning of the song introduces the sense of doubt and insecurity that the man is feeling in the relationship. He wonders if his partner truly sees him as a valuable part of her life, or if he is just an empty shell of a man to her. He questions whether his words, which are filled with emotion, are even being acknowledged by his partner, or if they are being completely ignored. Despite this, he is still stuck in a cycle where he desperately wants to stay with her, even though he knows it is probably not the best thing for him.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the man is aware that his partner no longer feels the same way about him. He can sense that they may never be together again, and all the while, the sadness within him seems to be growing stronger. As he tries to confront this sadness, he realizes that he needs his partner's help to overcome it, even if just for a little while. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get her to love him more, even if it means begging her to stay with him for a bit longer. He believes that if she does, his heart and body will become stronger, and he won't feel so alone.
The song is a poignant reminder of how love can be both wonderful and painful. It highlights the desperation of wanting to hold onto something that is slipping away, even if it ultimately means suffering in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
When you look at me tell me what you see
Can you truly see me or just an outline of my existence?
Do you see a man or just a jagged outline of one?
What is your perception of me, and is it accurate?
Do you hear my words, or do they go straight through you?
Am I truly being heard or are my thoughts falling on deaf ears?
We get it together now and then
Our relationship has brief moments of cohesion
But I can feel we won't again
I anticipate these moments will not last
Still, I can't stop this endless strain of you
I cannot escape the lingering weight of our connection
Listen to my words and talk the sadness that I bring you
Hear me out and express the sorrow that my presence brings
I'll leave you today, 'cos I am nothing to you
I will depart because I recognize my insignificance to you
Oh-oh make me stay a bit longer
I desire additional time in your company
Make my heart and my body get stronger
Allow me to strengthen my emotions and physical being with you
Make me stay, don't send me away or I'll be alone
Please let me stay, as I fear being lonely without you
Make me stay a bit longer
My desire for prolonged companionship persists
Make my heart and my body get stronger
Allow me the opportunity to emotionally and physically grow with you
Make me stay, don't send me away or I'll be alone
I implore you to keep me by your side, as the thought of being alone frightens me
When you look at me tell me what you see
Is it possible that you could see beyond the surface-level?
Do you see a man or just a jagged outline of one?
Can your vision afford me a greater level of depth and complexity?
Do you hear my words, or do they go straight through you?
I hope that my thoughts and feelings are not being dismissed or disregarded
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Francis Rossi, Richard Parfitt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rock oldieprof
Hey, "fast" Ruud - thank you very much for THIS ONE !!! Great joy, Didi 🙂😎👍👍👍
PS: I agree - some strange sounds but i like it (strange sounds also: "Paint It Black" and "Over Under Sideways Down"....)
hidden sounds revealed by headphones
maybe because WE are strange? :-)
https://youtu.be/bb5qdH7sABs
Claudette Preisinger
Another good one by Status Quo! I think the intro was to introduce some psychodelia into it. Anyway, it has a great 60s sound. Thanks, Ruud 😀😀😀😀😀
hidden sounds revealed by headphones
it was the chorus & Didi that persuaded me to do the edit
Cissy2cute
I really like some portions of this song. It has variety.
hidden sounds revealed by headphones
the "oooh make me stay a bit longer..." sounds very nice, harmonic
should have been right at the beginning
missed the charts because of that, I'm sure
so yes, you're right, Sharon, some portions are nice :-)