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The Status Quo are one of the longest-running rock bands around, with almost thirty studio albums to their credit, they've managed to build a respectable career over time. Their origins date back to the distant 1962 as a rock & roll and beat group, then they turned towards psychedelia, followed by a decisive shift towards simple and straightforward boogie rock, a genre of which they became true standard-bearers. Great success especially at home, Status Quo are still one of the most loved bands in England. Much of the band's fame stems from their extraordinary live attitude; like other artists and bands, the Quo gave their best on stage. It was therefore no coincidence, nor a fallback, that in 1992 the famous English broadcaster Radio One decided to celebrate its first twenty-five years by organizing a great concert in which Status Quo were the main protagonists. The event took place at Sutton Park in Birmingham, attended by over one hundred thousand people. A large part of the same show, six tracks, was used to make up this live album, the band's third official release, while the last three tracks were from a previous performance in 1990 at Wembley Stadium. In addition to the album, released in November 1992, a VHS was also published, but it only contained the songs performed in Birmingham.
On that occasion, Status Quo once again demonstrated that they knew exactly what it meant to hold a great live act and they delivered an excellent performance. The Telecaster duo of Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt put on a show; the chemistry between the two was extraordinary, a guitar tandem that fears no comparison.
One of the peculiarities of their sound is indeed the ability of dialogue between the two guitarists, intertwining and an understanding that can, with the necessary differences, resemble that of the Young brothers in AC/DC, with Rossi in the role of lead guitar and Parfitt on rhythm. However, the two Quo are also the band's singers and even in that role they alternate magnificently, each with clear ideas on what to do and when. The rhythm section, composed of bassist John Edwards and the precise and incisive drummer Jeff Rich, is also excellent. Completing the picture are the keyboards and harmonica played by Andy Bown. A powerful rock-blues, tending towards hard rock, but never too mean, and always with an eye towards melody, punctuated by boogie rhythms and enriched by Rossi's excellent improvisations, a simple but winning formula, especially live. Nothing pompous, nothing superfluous, Status Quo are one of those bands capable of putting together an entire album with just three chords.
From the opener, the very famous "Whatever You Want", in one of its best versions, you know that good old rock will be the protagonist. Even though right after, a moment of relative calm arrives, with the more subdued and melodic "In The Army Now". The party atmosphere returns with the dancey and fun "Burning Bridges". Then it's the turn of "Rockin' All Over The World", composed by the great John Fogerty, but made famous by Status Quo, who gave the song new life, essentially making it their own. This is followed by the free-spirited ride of "Caroline", rock'n'roll in Chuck Berry style. The songs follow one another without breaks, with the usual riffs and four-four time signature. The climax comes with the "Roadhouse Medley", twenty minutes of pure enjoyment; the group dusts off the old Doors classic and mixes in a bunch of other tracks, both their own and cover pieces, like the well-known "The Wanderer", and create an epic medley. Great vocal performance by Parfitt, while Rossi gives his best, unleashing solos that shine for inventiveness and melodic taste. Bown's harmonica gives the whole thing the right blues atmosphere. The same track in the single edit version will then be added as a bonus on the remastered CD. Here the first part ends, the remaining three tracks - funk rock "Don't Drive My Car", the boogie anthem "Hold You Back", and the pure rock and roll of "Little Lady" - as already mentioned, come from Wembley 1990 and further confirm what has already been heard, with another extraordinary audience that, judging by the screams and applause, seems to genuinely enjoy the performance of the English band in the capital.
In short, a more than appreciable live album, at times surprising, engaging and vital music that fulfills its task well, which is healthy and simple rock and roll entertainment. Certainly much better than many other live albums from musicians with far more famous names. When it's time to play and give it their all, Status Quo don't disappoint; they are a guarantee, one of those bands that has made stages around the world their home. Their basic rock, made of mountains of riffs and sweat, may not be of high artistic value, perhaps nothing particularly memorable or historic, but in the end, who cares, as the Stones sang, it's Only Rock and Roll, but I like It.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Whatever You Want (04:26)
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you loose
You're showing off
You're showing out
You look for trouble
Turn around, give me a shout
I take it all
You squeeze me dry
And now today
You couldn't even say goodbye
I could take you home
On the midnight train again
I could make an offer you can't refuse
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you loose
You're showing off
You're showing out
You look for trouble
Turn around, give me a shout
I take it all
You squeeze me dry
And now today
You couldn't even say goodbye
I could take you home
On the midnight train again
I could make an offer you can't refuse
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you loose
Whatever you want
02 In the Army Now (04:15)
A vacation in a foreign land
Uncle Sam does the best he can
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
Now you remember what the draft man said
Nothing to do all day but stay in bed
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
You'll be the hero of the neighbourhood
Nobody knows that you left for good
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
Smiling faces as you wait to land,
But once you get there no one gives a damn
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
Hand grenades flying over your head - - - - - -
Missiles flyin' over your head if you wanna survive,
get out of bed
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army, now
Shots ring out in the dead of night
The sergeant calls : "Stand up and fight!"
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
You got your orders standing to shoot on sight
Your finger's on the trigger but it don't seem right
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
Night is falling and you just can't see
Is this illusion or reality
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
03 Burning Bridges (03:51)
Building dreams has always been my way
Making time and living for the day
Burning bridges never made me cry
I could walk away with no goodbye
Easy take or easy leave them all
'Til you scratch the writing on the wall
It's on and off and on again
Going on and then
Taking all I got again
Bleeding me, leaving me dry
You're hanging on for what you can
Dragging out the pain
Taking all I give again
Faking it, making me cry
One day some day I may slide away
Turn around and call it all a day
Even though I've fooled myself for years
I can't escape this ringing in my ears
It's on and off and on again
Going on and then
Taking all I got again
Bleeding me, leaving me dry
You're hanging on for what you can
Dragging out the pain
Taking all I give again
Faking it, making me cry
04 Rockin' All Over the World (03:36)
Oh here we are and here we are and here we go
All aboard and we're hittin' the road
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
Well gidy up gidy up and get away
We're goin' crazy and we're goin' today
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
And I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
I li-li-like it, li-li-li
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
I'm gonna tell your mama what you're gonna do
So come on out with your dancing shoes
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
And I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
I li-li-like it, li-li-li
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
And I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
I li-li-like it, li-li-li
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
And I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
I li-li-like it, li-li-li-
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
And I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
I li-li-like it, li-li-li
Here we go
Rockin' all over the world
06 Caroline (03:59)
If you want to turn me on to
Now anything you really want to
Turn me on to your love
Sweet love
If the night time is the right time
Oh anytime of yours is my time
We can find time for love
Sweet love
Come on sweet Caroline
You're my sweet Caroline
You know I wanna take ya
I really gotta make ya
Come on sweet Caroline
Take my hand, together we can rock'n'roll
When I'm thinking of you sleeping
I'm at home alone and weeping
Are you keeping your love
Sweet love
Do you still care when I'm not there
Now do you really wish I was there
Can I come there for love
Sweet love
Come on sweet Caroline
You're my sweet Caroline
You know I wanna take ya
I really gotta make ya
Come on sweet Caroline
Take my hand, together we can rock'n'roll
If you want to turn me on to
Now anything you rally want to
Turn me on to your love
Sweet love
Come on sweet Caroline
You're my sweet Caroline
You know I wanna take ya
I really gotta make ya
Come on sweet Caroline
Take my hand, together we can rock'n'roll
07 Don't Drive My Car (04:04)
Ah ah ah ah, don't drive my car
I'm just a boy, my favourite toy
And I'm telling you woman
Don't push me too far
I'm telling you straight, don't drive my car
Ah ah ah ah, don't drive my car
Stay where you are, stay where you are
'Cos I'm telling you woman
Now don't you push me too far
I'm telling you straight, don't drive my car
And I'm telling you woman
Now don't you push me too far
I'm telling you straight, don't drive my car
And I'm telling you woman
Now don't you push me too far
I'm telling you straight, don't drive my car
08 Hold You Back (04:31)
How d'you know the music when you don't know the score
Do you think that you can make it when you don't need no more
Is it really the reason when it is not a need
Are you trying hard to write it before you can read
Hold you back, hold you back, and slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Slow you down, you've gotta try
Does the clock that you're watching ever tell you 'bout the time
Does the song that you're singing sound to you like a rhyme
Will there be an answer when you stop asking why
All because of the jigsaw that makes up a lie
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Slow you down, you've gotta try
How d'you know the music when you don't know the score
Do you think that you can make it when you don't need no more
Is it really the reason when it is not a need
Are you trying hard to write it before you can read
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Slow you down, you've gotta try
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down, slow you down
Hold you back, hold you back, slow you down
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