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.
Medley: The Anniversary Waltz
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, oh what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
I learned to love all of Hollywood money
You came along and you moved me honey
I changed my mind, looking fine
You kissed me baby, woo, it feels good
Hold me baby, learn to let me love you like a lover should
You're fine, so kind
I'm a nervous world that your mine mine mine mine
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm really nervous but it sure is fun
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
Well kiss me baby, woo-oooooo, it feels good
Hold me baby
I want to love you like a lover should
You're fine, so kind
I got this world that your mine mine mine mine
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous 'cause it sure is fun
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
Status Quo's song "Medley: The Anniversary Waltz" is a rock 'n' roll medley filled with several classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s. One of the featured songs in the medley is Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire", which is regarded as one of the most iconic tracks of the rock era. The lyrics of the song revolve around the singer's experience of being passionately in love with someone, but finding it extremely exhausting and overwhelming at the same time. The opening lines, "You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain/Too much love drives a man insane", set the tone for the rest of the song.
As the song continues, the singer describes how his love interest has completely taken control of his life and how he's become completely powerless in the face of her charm. Despite being overwhelmed, the singer still can't get enough of his lover, as evidenced by the lines "You're fine, so kind/I'm a nervous world that your mine mine mine mine". The singer, who is thoroughly infatuated with his lover, admits that he is nervous when he's around her, but it's a good kind of nervousness that he can't get enough of.
Overall, Status Quo's "Medley: The Anniversary Waltz" is a high-energy tribute to some of the most celebrated tunes of the rock era, showcasing the group's prowess at delivering a satisfying jam session. The inclusion of "Great Balls of Fire" in the medley is particularly significant, considering the song's status as a timeless classic that continues to be covered and referenced by artists even today.
Line by Line Meaning
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
You trouble me so much that I feel an earthquake in my mind
Too much love drives a man insane
Excess love can be overwhelming and drive a man to madness
You broke my will, oh what a thrill
You overpowered me and it felt exciting
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
An expression of surprise and passion
I learned to love all of Hollywood money
I used to value money and fame, but love changed my priorities
You came along and you moved me honey
You entered my life and stirred my emotions
I changed my mind, looking fine
I shifted my thinking and it made me feel good and attractive
You kissed me baby, woo, it feels good
Kissing you feels wonderful
Hold me baby, learn to let me love you like a lover should
Embrace me and allow me to express my love for you the way lovers should
You're fine, so kind
You're attractive and compassionate
I'm a nervous world that your mine mine mine mine
I feel anxious all the time, but I'm happy that you're mine
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm fidgety and can't stay still
I'm really nervous but it sure is fun
Although I'm anxious, being with you is still enjoyable
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
You make me feel wild and uncontrollable
Well kiss me baby, woo-oooooo, it feels good
I want more of your wonderful kisses
I want to love you like a lover should
I want to express my love for you in the right way
You're fine, so kind
You're attractive and compassionate
I got this world that your mine mine mine mine
I feel like I own the world because I have you
I cut my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm fidgety and can't stay still
I'm real nervous 'cause it sure is fun
I'm anxious, but I still enjoy being with you
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
You make me feel wild and uncontrollable
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
An expression of surprise and passion
Lyrics © Roba Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK HAMMER, OTIS BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yon van Rosse
For those who are interested, with a little help from Wikipedia I was able to complete the tracklist:
1. Chuck Berry - Rock and Roll Music
2. Billy Swan - Lover Please
3. Buddy Holly - That’ll Will Be The Day
4. Marty Robbins - Singing the Blues
5. Phil Everly - When Will I Be Loved
6. Wilbert Harrison - Let’s Work Together
7. Little Richard - Keep A-Knockin’
8. Chris Montez - Let’s Dance
9. Johnny & The Hurricanes - Red River Rock
10. Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go
11. Dion - The Wanderer
12. Smiley Lewis - I Hear You Knocking
13. Little Richard - Lucille
14. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire
Cliff Wheeler
The finest Rock n’ Roll medley ever recorded.
Tim Robinson
One of the worlds most under rated bands in the world of Rock ! ... great stuff ... thanks uploader :)
kdunstfan1
+Tim Robinson very true
Christopher Smallbone
Hardly under rated Tim one of the biggest bands in the UK and still touring and knocking em dead where ever the go only Rick's recent heart attack has slowed them down but it wont be long before Rick is back to full health and off they will go again cant see either Rick or or Francis dying any where else than live on stage. You dont get O.B.E.s for being underrated.
Laura Grandelle
i was at that show, Rick was really on fire !! he's gonna be ok soon
Sammy Bryant
Wouldn't say rated they are the most successful rock band ever 😍
Nelson Fernando
É um tipo de música que não cansa de ouvir dont let Rock die
Matt Heenan
Extremely brilliant Band great beat and fantastic songs
Yon van Rosse
For those who are interested, with a little help from Wikipedia I was able to complete the tracklist:
1. Chuck Berry - Rock and Roll Music
2. Billy Swan - Lover Please
3. Buddy Holly - That’ll Will Be The Day
4. Marty Robbins - Singing the Blues
5. Phil Everly - When Will I Be Loved
6. Wilbert Harrison - Let’s Work Together
7. Little Richard - Keep A-Knockin’
8. Chris Montez - Let’s Dance
9. Johnny & The Hurricanes - Red River Rock
10. Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go
11. Dion - The Wanderer
12. Smiley Lewis - I Hear You Knocking
13. Little Richard - Lucille
14. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire
blasio pinto
Thank you