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.
Restless
Status Quo Lyrics
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There are words to say but I swear I just can't find them
Though in my heart I know fools
May hesitate from the memories behind them
While the angels laugh and say, I told you so
Oh, I'm restless, darling I'm restless
I don't think that I can wait another day
I cry when the feeling overtakes me
'cause the love I give seems so little in your eyes
The test of time always breaks me
With nothing tried, and nothing realised
Oh, I'm restless, darling I'm restless
Waiting for you to look my way
I don't think that I can wait another day
No man is an island but you do that very well
It sure takes a fool to find another
But I believe for every heart that's broken
There's a stranger's smile to put it on the mend, then
Those old familiar feelings seldom spoken
Out of nowhere come back again
And I'm restless, darling I'm restless
Waiting for you to look my way
I don't think that i..., the hour is getting late
I can't wait another day
The song, Restless, by Status Quo is a song about the restlessness one feels when waiting for someone they love to notice them. The lyrics explain the frustration one feels when they are unable to express themselves but know that they must. The song opens with the lines, "There are words to say but I swear I just can't find them. Though in my heart, I know fools may hesitate from the memories behind them." These lines beautifully encapsulate the feeling of being at a loss for words, despite knowing what you want to say.
The song then goes on to describe the heartache one feels when they realize that the love they have to offer is not enough. The lines, "I cry when the feeling overtakes me, 'cause the love I give seems so little in your eyes. The test of time always breaks me, with nothing tried and nothing realized" describe the pain of unrequited love. However, the song does offer hope. It talks about how there is someone out there who can fix a broken heart with just a smile.
Overall, Restless is a beautifully written song that speaks to the universal feeling of longing for someone who may not reciprocate those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
There are words to say but I swear I just can't find them
I have feelings for you, but I am unable to express them properly.
Though in my heart I know fools
I am aware that I might be foolish to keep waiting for you.
May hesitate from the memories behind them
I am hesitant because of the past experiences that may hold me back.
While the angels laugh and say, I told you so
Even though I may fail, I still believe that the angels are rooting for me and want me to be happy
Oh, I'm restless, darling I'm restless
I am yearning for you and my feelings for you make me restless.
Waiting for you to look my way
I am waiting for you to notice me and my love for you.
I don't think that I can wait another day
I am impatient and tired of waiting for you to reciprocate my love.
I cry when the feeling overtakes me
The depth of my emotions for you makes me cry.
'cause the love I give seems so little in your eyes
I feel unappreciated, like my love is not valued by you.
The test of time always breaks me
I am unable to withstand the test of time and my love for you is constantly tested.
With nothing tried, and nothing realised
I am frustrated because I feel like I haven't tried anything and nothing has been achieved.
No man is an island but you do that very well
You seem to be independent and self-sufficient, not needing anyone in your life.
It sure takes a fool to find another
Only a foolish person like me would continue to wait for someone who doesn't notice them.
But I believe for every heart that's broken
I still have faith that love can happen and heal broken hearts.
There's a stranger's smile to put it on the mend, then
I trust that a kind stranger's smile can help me heal and move on from heartbreak.
Those old familiar feelings seldom spoken
I am experiencing old feelings that I haven't been able to express or talk about.
Out of nowhere come back again
My feelings for you seem to keep resurfacing unexpectedly.
And I'm restless, darling I'm restless
I am still yearning and restless for your love.
I don't think that i..., the hour is getting late
I can't wait for you forever, and I feel like the time is running out.
I can't wait another day
I am eager to have you notice me and my love for you, and I cannot wait any longer.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Newroad79
I own a CD of this album "Thirsty work"!!! This song is my most fav in the album.
Sompol Onnuam
Thank you … this is my favorite song
status quo-all
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Roy Palacios
Los maestros. Saludos desde NEZA México
status quo-all
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Mike Willis
Been looking for this for ages good song
Parone Paraniejiranont
กว่าจะได้ฟังเพลงนี้ผ่านยูทูปต้องใช้เวลารอนานมาก
parrygirl1
It's available on itune kha
status quo-all
https://www.facebook.com/groups/489354311102647/
Simon Wood
What bollocks