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Status Quo weren't always crap


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Old 27-04-2014, 21:03
culttvfan
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Just wondered if there were others here who can't stand their repetitive drivel from from the 70s onwards but like their early stuff, in particular their first album, Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo?
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Old 27-04-2014, 21:33
Ancient IDTV
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Nope, it's the opposite for me. I really like their 'repetitive drivel from from the 70s onwards' (up to Red Sky/Rollin' Home, anyway). 12 Gold Bars is probably one of my most listened to discs. I actually used to get taunted at school in the '80s for admitting to liking their music!
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Old 28-04-2014, 09:06
culttvfan
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12 Gold Bars encapsulates very nicely the repetitive drivel I'm referring to. Just my opinion though - each to their own.
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Old 28-04-2014, 10:19
Glawster2002
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12 Gold Bars encapsulates very nicely the repetitive drivel I'm referring to. Just my opinion though - each to their own.
How many of their albums from the 1970s have you actually listened to? I'm guessing none.

To appreciate Quo at their best you need to see them live. Bob Geldof asked Quo to open Live Aid for one reason, he knew they would get the crowd on their feet, which is precisely what they did.

Quo might not be to your taste, but to dismiss it as "repetitive drivel" shows a remarkable ignorance.
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Old 28-04-2014, 10:35
Kiko H Fan
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Just wondered if there were others here who can't stand their repetitive drivel from from the 70s onwards but like their early stuff, in particular their first album, Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo?
Have you tried listening to "Dog Of Two Head".

Give it a try, then tell me a track like "Someone's Learning" is 'repetitive drivel'.

I am a massive Quo fan and I don't care who knows.

Try these other tracks.

4500 Times.
Whatever You Want.
Down Down.

Now try playing them on a standard tuned guitar.
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Old 28-04-2014, 10:49
Alrightmate
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Just wondered if there were others here who can't stand their repetitive drivel from from the 70s onwards but like their early stuff, in particular their first album, Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo?
Yes, I agree.
I had heard Pictures of Matchstick Men over the years, but it was only a few years ago that I found out it was by Status Quo, which really surprised me.

It's really strange, but weirdly brilliant.
I don't think you could listen to it too often though because that guitar would get very annoying.
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Old 28-04-2014, 10:59
Glawster2002
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Have you tried listening to "Dog Of Two Head".

Give it a try, then tell me a track like "Someone's Learning" is 'repetitive drivel'.

I am a massive Quo fan and I don't care who knows.

Try these other tracks.

4500 Times.
Whatever You Want.
Down Down.

Now try playing them on a standard tuned guitar.
Or something like 'Slow Train' from Quo.

I don't play but I know quite a few professional musicians and they have all told me that Quo's music is deceptively "simple".
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Old 28-04-2014, 11:09
Kiko H Fan
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Or something like 'Slow Train' from Quo.

I don't play but I know quite a few professional musicians and they have all told me that Quo's music is deceptively "simple".
The last 3 tracks I mentioned are all played in a different tuning from a standard EADGBE and/or make use of a capo to transpose the key.
That would make them, by my definition, more difficult as you've have to write them originally in a different tuning.

Slow Train is more like a 'basic' 12 bar, but it's a rollicking tune!
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Old 28-04-2014, 11:18
RikScot
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Or something like 'Slow Train' from Quo.

I don't play but I know quite a few professional musicians and they have all told me that Quo's music is deceptively "simple".
“Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can play weird; that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.”
― Charles Mingus


From an old jazz man...
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Old 28-04-2014, 12:04
culttvfan
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How many of their albums from the 1970s have you actually listened to? I'm guessing none.

To appreciate Quo at their best you need to see them live. Bob Geldof asked Quo to open Live Aid for one reason, he knew they would get the crowd on their feet, which is precisely what they did.

Quo might not be to your taste, but to dismiss it as "repetitive drivel" shows a remarkable ignorance.
A rather sensitive Quo fan. Unfortunately I had to endure virtually all of their 70s output (teenager then). You may disagree with my view but it's based on being subjected to many hours of their cacophony, not ignorance.

Yes, I agree.
I had heard Pictures of Matchstick Men over the years, but it was only a few years ago that I found out it was by Status Quo, which really surprised me.

It's really strange, but weirdly brilliant.
I don't think you could listen to it too often though because that guitar would get very annoying.
Have a listen to the whole album I mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNFR22NRVic

Even then they weren't averse to a little repetition (the famous track you mention and the first track of the album have a VERY similar riff) but it's still an excellent album.
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Old 28-04-2014, 13:45
Glawster2002
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A rather sensitive Quo fan. Unfortunately I had to endure virtually all of their 70s output (teenager then). You may disagree with my view but it's based on being subjected to many hours of their cacophony, not ignorance.



Have a listen to the whole album I mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNFR22NRVic

Even then they weren't averse to a little repetition (the famous track you mention and the first track of the album have a VERY similar riff) but it's still an excellent album.
You obviously have me confused with someone else as I am certainly not a "sensitive Quo fan".

However if you are going to be so dismissive of a band's work, perhaps you would care to enlighten us as to what you consider is better.......
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Old 28-04-2014, 14:15
Kiko H Fan
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Have a listen to the whole album I mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNFR22NRVic

Even then they weren't averse to a little repetition (the famous track you mention and the first track of the album have a VERY similar riff) but it's still an excellent album.
It's a very 60s psychedelic influenced album.
Nothing like their 70s heads down boogie output.
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Old 28-04-2014, 14:22
swingaleg
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Someone in my teenage 'gang' in the late 60s bought 'Pictures of Matchstick Men'.......after a while we got bored with it and decided that the B side 'Gentleman's Joe's Sidewalk Cafe' was better.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBh97yB-HXI

Playing that takes me right back...........
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Old 28-04-2014, 14:25
Kiko H Fan
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Francis Rossi wrote POMM whilst on the toilet.
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Old 28-04-2014, 16:41
taffboy 13
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Thanks for that I have always though they were carp but I have never heard any of ther early stuff
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Old 28-04-2014, 19:47
Chris1964
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Have you tried listening to "Dog Of Two Head".

Give it a try, then tell me a track like "Someone's Learning" is 'repetitive drivel'.

I am a massive Quo fan and I don't care who knows.

Try these other tracks.

4500 Times.
Whatever You Want.
Down Down.

Now try playing them on a standard tuned guitar.
Down Down and Whatever You Want are fine tunes imo. Down Down is Quo's only UK number 1 and is a brilliant banging sound.

The thing about Quo is that the older they got the more they became rocks answer to Chas and Dave than anything else. Perhaps a few too many party style covers.

I do have soft spot for a song called Rock and Roll from 1981.
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Old 29-04-2014, 02:59
FrankBT
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Just wondered if there were others here who can't stand their repetitive drivel from from the 70s onwards but like their early stuff, in particular their first album, Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo?
Status Quo have shown that they can play plenty of other stuff apart from their more famous powerhouse blues/boogie tunes.

Like Ice In The Sun from 1968, Gerdundula from 1972, In My Chair from 1970, Whatever You Want, In The Army Now and Everytime I Think Of You are just a few examples that demonstrate more than enough versatiliity within this band. However their fans demand their boogie stuff live, so that's what tends to get played.the most. And of course one of the greatest live bands of all time.
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Old 29-04-2014, 11:33
Rocketpop
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Always found them to shite to be honest. Hundreds of derivative albums no-one gives a shit about, greatest hits staple of pub jukeboxes all over the land....urg. Like an even more shit version of Queen.
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Old 29-04-2014, 12:09
Kiko H Fan
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Always found them to shite to be honest. Hundreds of derivative albums no-one gives a shit about, greatest hits staple of pub jukeboxes all over the land....urg. Like an even more shit version of Queen.
Given that they've sold over 118 million units, I'd wager there's a fair few people who 'give a shit about' Quo.
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Old 29-04-2014, 13:10
Rocketpop
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Given that they've sold over 118 million units, I'd wager there's a fair few people who 'give a shit about' Quo.
Ah yeah sorry I forgot this is the DS forum where everything always comes back to units sold...
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Old 29-04-2014, 13:19
bryemycaz
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Ah yeah sorry I forgot this is the DS forum where everything always comes back to units sold...
Well they must have done something right to still be around. Fair enough people don't like them it's a free country. Me I love them great music and fantastic live.

This sums them up as far as I am concerned. Great beat nice soloing from Frame, solid Rhythm from Rick, Spud and Nuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr3JO0MhFTY
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Old 29-04-2014, 14:08
Kiko H Fan
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Well they must have done something right to still be around. Fair enough people don't like them it's a free country. Me I love them great music and fantastic live.

This sums them up as far as I am concerned. Great beat nice soloing from Frame, solid Rhythm from Rick, Spud and Nuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr3JO0MhFTY
A good choice.
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Old 29-04-2014, 14:48
Lucy Van Pelt
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They started out as a psych band called the Spectres in the mid 60's - they did a song called You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet which is pure class


The also did a song called You're Just What I was Looking For Today around the time of Matchstick Men which is lovely ballad

there is far more to them than meets the eye
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Old 29-04-2014, 14:59
bryemycaz
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They started out as a psych band called the Spectres in the mid 60's - they did a song called You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet which is pure class


The also did a song called You're Just What I was Looking For Today around the time of Matchstick Men which is lovely ballad

there is far more to them than meets the eye
Yes that's off their 2nd Album Spare Parts, which featured this song. Note the Cilla Black haircut on Ricky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5m5V_ESHAE
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Old 30-04-2014, 09:05
jackol
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The last 3 tracks I mentioned are all played in a different tuning from a standard EADGBE and/or make use of a capo to transpose the key.
That would make them, by my definition, more difficult as you've have to write them originally in a different tuning.

Slow Train is more like a 'basic' 12 bar, but it's a rollicking tune!
Down Down is certainly anything but difficult. Try capo 3 and then its only 3 very simple chords, G, C and the odd D chord
Whatever You Want is even easier, predominantly 2 chords (D and A)
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