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.
Saddling Up
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Treat me bad, it's gonna get badder
Sad times'll be a whole lot sadder
Changed my mind, now I feel fine
Kissed goodbye to all your flirtin'
Calling time on all your hurtin'
I admit, it just ain't workin'
And I'm saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
Saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
Yeah saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
And I'm saddlin' up, I'm-a thinkin' straight
Saddlin' up, I just can't wait
Saddlin' up, it's-a never too late
Whoa, saddlin' up
Whoa, I'm saddlin' up
I'll put you back in your place girl
Trailer trash, a waste of space girl
Shouldn'a called me cactus face, well
I ain't fussed, now eat my dust
Cos I'm saddlin' up, I've got no fear
Saddlin' up, I'm outta here
Saddlin' up, I'm-a disappear
Whoa, saddlin' up
Whoa, I'm saddlin' up
I thread my reins
Adjust my girth
I wax my boots
I shine my spurs
Whoa, saddlin' up
I'm saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
I'm saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
I'm saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
Whoa, saddlin' up
I'm saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
Yeah saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
I'm saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
Whoa, saddlin' up
I'm saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
Yeah saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
I'm saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
Whoa, saddlin' up
The lyrics of "Saddling Up" by Status Quo are about a person who has had enough of being mistreated by their partner and decides to leave the relationship. The first verse talks about how the mistreatment will only get worse and how sad times will become even sadder. However, the singer decides to book some space in a different place and is now feeling fine about the decision. The chorus has the singer saddling up, which is a metaphor for getting ready to leave the relationship. The second verse includes some insults directed at the partner but the singer is not fussed and is going to leave anyways. The final verse has the singer getting ready to leave, adjusting their gear, and preparing to ride away. Overall, the lyrics suggest the theme of moving on from a bad relationship and feeling good about it.
Line by Line Meaning
Always there, you think I don't matter
You consistently treat me poorly and believe that my presence in your life is insignificant
Treat me bad, it's gonna get badder
Continuing to mistreat me will only make things worse for you
Sad times'll be a whole lot sadder
If you continue to hurt me, the negative effects on both of us will be amplified
Changed my mind, now I feel fine
I have made the decision to move on from this relationship and I am now happy with my choice
Kissed goodbye to all your flirtin'
I have said goodbye to your habit of flirting with other people
Calling time on all your hurtin'
I am putting a stop to the way you constantly cause me emotional pain
I admit, it just ain't workin'
I acknowledge that our relationship is not successful
I booked some space in a different place
I have found somewhere else to go
And I'm saddlin' up (saddle up, saddle up)
I am preparing to leave
I'm-a thinkin' straight
I am making a logical decision to end this relationship
I just can't wait
I am eager to start a new chapter of my life
It's-a never too late
It's not too late for me to leave and find happiness elsewhere
I'll put you back in your place girl
I will show you that you don't control me and put you in your rightful place
Trailer trash, a waste of space girl
You are lowly and unimportant in my eyes
Shouldn'a called me cactus face, well
You shouldn't have insulted me
I ain't fussed, now eat my dust
I am not bothered by your insults and am ready to leave you behind
I've got no fear
I am not afraid to move on without you
I'm outta here
I am leaving this place
I'm-a disappear
I am going somewhere else and won't be coming back
I thread my reins
I am getting ready to ride away on my horse
Adjust my girth
I am making sure that my saddle is secure
I wax my boots
I am taking care of my gear
I shine my spurs
I am making sure that my spurs are clean and in good condition
I'm saddlin' up (he's saddlin' up)
I am getting ready to leave (repeated)
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Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jaime Alvarado
on Rain
great song ,,, !!!!!!!