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.
What You're Proposin'
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
What you're proposin' the other night
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
And not believin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin', now get it right
If I'm composin', but then I might
Be runny nosin'
I might be runny runny runny runny nosin'
But you're supposin'
Don't be so sure, and just supposin'
We yell for more, and compromisin'
And compromisin' leads to really really feelin'
And just supposin', don't get me wrong
I'm only dreamin', it can't be long
I must be dreamin'
I must be dreamin', dreamin', only only dreamin'
Am I just supposin'
It sounds so nice, what you're proposin'
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
What you're proposin' the other night
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
And not believin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
What you're proposin'
What you're proposin'
The lyrics to Status Quo's song "What You're Proposing" depict the internal struggle of a person who is attracted to someone but hesitant to act on their feelings. The first verse suggests that the proposition being made is tempting but the person is unsure about revealing their true feelings. The second verse seems to be a recollection of a similar situation from the past, where the person was surprised that they were considering leaving. The third and fourth verse address the idea of compromise and caution, with the person not wanting to rush into anything but also not wanting to miss out on anything.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be about the push and pull of romantic attraction, with the person desiring to act on their feelings but also scared of the consequences. The repetition of "what you're proposing" implies that the person is still considering the offer, but is unsure if it's the right move.
Line by Line Meaning
It sounds so nice, what you're proposin'
You are presenting something that sounds desirable
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
The proposal is for a limited time and will be kept a secret
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
The true emotions behind the proposal will not be revealed
What you're proposin' the other night
The proposal was made recently
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
The proposal was unexpected and caught the singer off-guard
And not believin'
The singer had a hard time accepting the proposal
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
The proposal made the singer consider ending a current situation
What you're proposin', now get it right
The singer wants more information about the proposal
If I'm composin', but then I might
The singer is unsure if they are ready to make a decision
Be runny nosin'
The proposal might make the singer emotional
But you're supposin'
The proposal comes with assumptions
Don't be so sure, and just supposin'
The singer wants the proposer to be less presumptuous
We yell for more, and compromisin'
The singer wants to negotiate and find a middle ground
And compromisin' leads to really really feelin'
Compromise can help bring out true emotions
And just supposin', don't get me wrong
The singer wants to clarify their position
I'm only dreamin', it can't be long
The proposal seems unlikely to the singer
I must be dreamin'
The singer is in disbelief about the proposal
What you're proposin',
Reiterating the proposal
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
The proposal makes the singer contemplate leaving a current situation
What you're proposin'
Reiterating the proposal
What you're proposin'
Reiterating the proposal
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERNARD JOHN FROST, FRANCIS ROSSI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Giovanni Martinez Angulo
It sounds so nice, what you're proposin'
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
What you're proposin' the other night
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
And not believin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin', now get it right
If I'm composin', but then I might
Be runny nosin'
I might be runny runny runny runny nosin'
But you're supposin'
Don't be so sure, and just supposin'
We yell for more, and compromisin'
And compromisin' leads to really really feelin'
And just supposin', don't get me wrong
I'm only dreamin', it can't be long
I must be dreamin'
I must be dreamin', dreamin', only only dreamin'
Am I just supposin'?
It sounds so nice, what you're proposin'
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
What you're proposin' the other night
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
And not believin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
Cesco Mucinelli
It sounds so nice, what you're proposin'
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
What you're proposin' the other night
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
And not believin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin', now get it right
If I'm composin', but then I might
Be runny nosin'
I might be runny runny runny runny nosin'
But you're supposin'
Don't be so sure, and just supposin'
We yell for more, and compromisin'
And compromisin' leads to really really feelin'
And just supposin', don't get me wrong
I'm only dreamin', it can't be long
I must be dreamin'
I must be dreamin', dreamin', only only dreamin'
Am I just supposin'?
It sounds so nice, what you're proposin'
Just once or twice, and not disclosin'
And not disclosin' how we're really really feelin'
What you're proposin' the other night
As I was leavin', I looks left and right
And not believin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin'
And not believin' that I'd finally be leavin'
What you're proposin
silver588
2020...immortal song...always STATUS QUO.
Xanthippe
You are so right! 2021 and til forever...STATUS QUO! Nearly best Band ever! If anybody can sit still while hearing this kind of music is dead with emotion and feeling - on my opinion, sorry... ;=)
Geneci Lopes
Recorda é viver, saudades bons tempos 🎸🔊🤘👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
sascha herrmann
Francis' and my favourite Quo song!
Thefatscotsman
My 76 year old mum loves this tune!
Alistair Gmail
The first 45 single I ever bought and saw them on that tour makes me feel 14 agian!!! Still love them Thanks Rick Francis John and Alan and all the other incarnations of this much loved band!!!
Io
THEY DO HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT SONGS. UNTOUCHABLE.
Tony J Lorns
Io We British Rock bands just do all day all week year after year ! It’s what we do !!!
ricomar Cieslak
rock maravilhoso, boas recordações, parabéns a todos que curtem
Joseluis Hernández
Amo está cansion 😍😘💪