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.
Paradise Flat
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me, what d'you think of that?
No goodbye
Just a pat on the back
Well I know she's made her mind up
That she don't need me around
?????? what you're trying to do to me
Right through the ground oh yeah
In paradise flats there's rooms for hire No-one cares who you are
You won't come back, it's too late now
You've been seen too much
I know what you are
You won't come back, no you won't come back
Well I know she's made her mind up
That she don't need me around
?????? what you're trying to do to me
Your trying to screw me down
Right through the ground oh yeah
The song "Paradise Flat" by Status Quo is a somber and reflective commentary on the tragic story of a young woman who was sold at the titular Paradise Flats, presumably a motel or establishment that rents out rooms or apartments. The lyrics, "She was sold at the paradise flats," and "No goodbye, just a pat on the back," paint a picture of a woman who has been forced into some sort of prostitution or trafficking. The lyrics speak to the feeling of betrayal and abandonment, with the woman being sold off and left with no one to help her.
The chorus of the song highlights the stark reality of the establishment where she was sold. It describes Paradise Flats as a place where "no one cares who you are," and where "rooms are for hire." The line "You won't come back, it's too late now, you've been seen too much," speaks to the idea that the woman is now marked by her experience and cannot go back to her former life. The singer knows what she is and that she won't come back.
Overall, "Paradise Flat" is a song about loss, betrayal, and the painful reality of life for women caught in the cycle of trafficking and prostitution.
Line by Line Meaning
She was sold at the paradise flats
A woman was sold in a location called Paradise Flats.
Tell me, what d'you think of that?
What's your opinion on the fact that someone was sold at Paradise Flats?
No goodbye
There was no farewell.
Just a pat on the back
The only gesture of parting was a tap on the back.
Well I know she's made her mind up
I'm aware that she has come to a decision.
That she don't need me around
She doesn't want me to be present in her life.
?????? what you're trying to do to me
I don't understand what you're attempting to do to me.
Your trying to screw me down
You're attempting to oppress me.
Right through the ground oh yeah
Your attempt to oppress me is so strong that it feels like I'm being pushed through the ground.
In paradise flats there's rooms for hire
People can rent rooms in Paradise Flats.
No-one cares who you are
No consideration is given to your identity.
You won't come back, it's too late now
Once you're gone, there's no return; the opportunity is gone.
You've been seen too much
You've been seen too much, and it's too suspicious.
I know what you are
I'm aware of your true nature.
You won't come back, no you won't come back
As previously noted, you won't be able to return to Paradise Flats.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTY WILDE, RONNIE SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bigbira2007
She was sold at the paradise flats
Tell me, what d'you think of that?
No goodbye, just a pat on the back
Well I know she's made her mind up
That she don't need me around
I'm trying just to see what you're trying to do to me
Your trying to screw me down
Right through the ground oh yeah
IN PARADISE FLATS THERE'S ROOMS FOR HIRE
NO-ONE CARES WHO YOU ARE
YOU WONT COME BACK' IT'S TOO LATE NOW
YOU'VE BEEN SEEN TO MUCH
I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
YOU WON'T COME BACK ' NO YOU WON'T COME BACK
Well I know she's made her mind up
That she don't need me around
Oh I'm trying just to see what you're trying to do to me
Your trying to screw me down
Right through the ground oh yeah
@christophrohde7932
Rick, R. I. P. You powered yourself out too much. Thanks for your greatness
@loftusroad10
Great album, this is my favourite track. Not a duff track on it, and had their own vibe going throughout. Only Quo album I’d invest money in.
@iancrockert5110
RIP Rick Parfitt. Thanks for everything.
@Cl4rendon
Hail Alan Lancaster - I`ve been practicing that bass line and to me, it`s one fucker to play fluently.
@xiropigado
I'm surprised that this has so many views as i didn't think it was that well know. Great record, very doomy, dark and apocalyptic
@stechriswillgil3686
Yeah , before the denim and long hair they were a phenomenal, spooky , English psych. band in carnaby st togs .
@john111257
loved their 6os
@MrRoostercrow
I saw these guys perform at the famous RPM club on Queens Quay, Toronto.90's I think. Wow.
@kaefermichaify
Thank you for posting this song.
@aabacchi
Their psychodelic times were great!