On August 23, 2024, this much-loved British Rock institution played what is likely to be their last ever show. In a career that goes back to 1962, after several name changes, they settled on Status Quo in 1968. Signing to Pye Records for their breakthrough hit single, “Pictures Of Matchstick Men,” Francis Rossi (guitar and vocals), Rick Parfitt (guitar and vocals), Alan Lancaster (bass and vocals) and John Coghlan (drums and percussion), had a Psychedelic Sound and image in keeping with the fashion of the time.
Quo eventually found their signature, stripped down, boogie sound and image with their third album for Pye, “Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon” (CD 1), in 1970 (CD 2 of this collection features the rare mono mix of the album which was released in Argentina titled “Everything“).
Discarding their now unfashionable Carnaby Street clobber in favour of jeans and T-shirts, their sound and image was moving further towards a more hard rock and progressive flavour, then de rigueur with the early 1970s as reflected on their fourth and final LP for Pye, “Dog Of Two Head” (CD 1) in 1971.
During this period Quo released singles that didn’t automatically make it to the corresponding LPs, including fan favourites and live staples “Down The Dustpipe,” “In My Chair,” “Gerdundula” and “Tune To The Music,” which are collected together on CD 3, while CD 4 features alternative versions of many of these key tracks, including “Mean Girl,” “Daughter” and “Something Going On In My Head.”
Status Quo were very much a live band, where their Boogie and Hard Rock could really shine, as demonstrated on the fifth CD of this set, which includes sessions and live tracks.
• Most comprehensive collection to date of Quo’s early recordings for between 1970 and 1972.
• Captures an era when this much-loved Rock band found their signature sound.
• Includes rare mono version of third album, “Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon,” various singles and B-sides, outtakes and alternative versions, plus a version of The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues.”
• With liner notes from Status Quo aficionado Dave Ling, and track annotations from mastering engineer Andy Gamble.
Pre-Order “Status Quo: The Early Years Vol 2 (1970-1972)” here: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/status-quo-the-early-years-vol-2-1970-1972-5cd-box-set
DISC ONE — Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon
01. Spinning Wheel Blues
02. Daughter
03. Everything
04. Shy Fly
05. (April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays
06. Junior’s Wailing
07. Lakky Lady
08. Need Your Love
09. Lazy Poker Blues
10. Is It Really Me / Gotta Go Home
Dog Of Two Head (1971)
11. Umleitung
12. Nanana (Extraction)
13. Something’s Going On In My Head
14. Mean Girl
15. Nanana (Extraction)
16. Gerdundula
17. Railroad
18. Someone’s Learning
19. Nanana
DISC TWO — Everything (Argentinian Mono Version of “Ma Kekky’s Greasy Spoon)
01. Spinning Wheel Blues
02. Daughter
03. Everything
04. Shy Fly
05. (April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays
06. Junior’s Wailing
07. Lakky Lady
08. Need Your Love
09. Lazy Poker Blues
10. Is It Really Me / Gotta Go
DISC THREE — A & B-Sides, Demos & Outtakes
01. Down The Dustpipe (A-Side)
02. In My Chair (A-Side)
03. Gerdundula (B-Side 1970 Version)
04. Tune To The Music (A-Side)
05. Good Thinking (B-Side)
06. Railroad (Part 1) (A-Side Mono Mix)
07. Railroad (Part 2) (B-Side Mono Mix)
08. Mean Girl (A-Side Mono Mix)
09. Gerdundula (A-Side 1971 Mono Mix)
10. In My Chair (Flexidisc)
11. Laughing Machine (Hidden Track Unreleased Outtake)
12. In My Chair (Backing Track)
13. Time To Fly
14. Shifting Sand (1971 Rossi / Young Demo)
15. Tune To The Music (Instrumental)
16. (So Little) Time To Fly (Previously Unreleased Version)
DISC FOUR — Alternate Mixes Versions
01. Down The Dustpipe (Alternate Mix)
02. Daughter (Working Mix)
03. Junior’s Wailing (Alternate Mix)
04. Is It Really Me (Previously Unreleased Version)
05. In My Chair (Alternate Mix)
06. Gerdundula (Alternate Mix 1970 Version)
07. Gotta Go Home (Rough Mix)
08. Something Going On In My Head (Previously Unreleased Version)
09. Mean Girl (Previously Unreleased Version)
10. Nanana (Previously Unreleased Version)
11. Gerdundula (Previously Unreleased 1970 Version)
12. Nanana (Previously Unreleased Version)
13. Mean Girl (Rough Mix)
14. Tune To The Music (Previously Unreleased Version)
15. Good Thinking (Previously Unreleased Version)
16. Tune To The Music (Previously Unreleased Backing Track Version)
BBC Sounds of the Seventies Session (7/2/72)
17. Mean Girl
18. Railroad
DISC FIVE — Live & In Session 1970-1972 (Dave Lee Travis BBC Sessions)
01. Junior’s Wailing (6/4/70)
02. Down The Dustpipe (6/4/70)
03. Spinning Wheel Blues (6/4/70)
04. In My Chair (6/4/70)
05. Need Your Love (15/6/70)
Live in Manchester
06. Roadhouse Blues
07. Down The Dustpipe
08. Spinning Wheel Blues
09. Is It Really Me / Gotta Go Home
Beat Club Session (26/9/1970)
10. Spinning Wheel Blues
11. (April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays
12. Is It Really Me / Gotta Go Home