|
Post by granny on Apr 14, 2022 14:00:34 GMT
I must be the only one who hasn't got a problem with Army... The original isn't great but, the band made it great and so did the producer. It's a class song... It's not very Quo but, it's stood the test of time and it's far from a ball of cheese like MT or BB (Although, that was great live) In my top 10? Not even in my top 40 but, I still think it's a great tune that I'd happily listen to. Live though, that's another story. Always felt the gig went flat after that. That's the trouble with these slick produced tracks. Near impossible to replicate on stage Strange reading your comment re live performance. I'll always remember, after a Quo gig at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, walking back through Peasholm Park and seeing the benches along the path filled with folk who had been listening for free. Several spoke to me and said how much they had enjoyed ITAN because they could see much of the lighting effects as well as hearing the sound. It is one of those songs where the lyrics fit the music and are worth paying attention to.
|
|
|
Post by asthequoflies on Apr 15, 2022 11:41:54 GMT
I always think that quite a few bands morphed from one thing into another over several years. There are quite a few that I used to like then drifted away from them because they became, I don't know, more commercial? ELO were one. I loved things like Roll Over Beethoven, 10538 Overture and Ma-Ma-Ma Belle but once they went stratospheric with their Out Of The Blue album, I wasn't interested. Didn't like it. Or them after that. Same with Queen. Up to Sheer Heart Attack, brilliant. After that, not really for me. And I guess when the Stones released Emotional Rescue there must have been a few raised eyebrows. Quo did something similar from the early to mid-80's onwards but thankfully they were still able to come up with stuff that I really liked on a regular basis. In The Army Now maybe reflects more than any other song the direction they were intending to take. Softer, lighter and definitely more commercial. Despite the success they'd had in NOT being deliberately commercial Good point on Emotional Rescue. I love it and the full album, but I only discovered them in the early 90s and when going back through catalogue you can see the progression with hindsight. At the time though ER (album) was seen as definitely more lightweight than Some Girls. SG introduced a bit of that disco/funk sound (as Black and Blue did in '76), ER dived further into new wave, dance, light funk, reggae. She's So Cold for instance, lightweight pop but mighty addictive. ER the single was pure late 70s dance, powered by a synth and bass riff. Micks falsetto - now that sound must have made older fans wonder what the hell they were at!
|
|
mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,861
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
|
Post by mortified on Apr 15, 2022 12:55:57 GMT
I always think that quite a few bands morphed from one thing into another over several years. There are quite a few that I used to like then drifted away from them because they became, I don't know, more commercial? ELO were one. I loved things like Roll Over Beethoven, 10538 Overture and Ma-Ma-Ma Belle but once they went stratospheric with their Out Of The Blue album, I wasn't interested. Didn't like it. Or them after that. Same with Queen. Up to Sheer Heart Attack, brilliant. After that, not really for me. And I guess when the Stones released Emotional Rescue there must have been a few raised eyebrows. Quo did something similar from the early to mid-80's onwards but thankfully they were still able to come up with stuff that I really liked on a regular basis. In The Army Now maybe reflects more than any other song the direction they were intending to take. Softer, lighter and definitely more commercial. Despite the success they'd had in NOT being deliberately commercial Good point on Emotional Rescue. I love it and the full album, but I only discovered them in the early 90s and when going back through catalogue you can see the progression with hindsight. At the time though ER (album) was seen as definitely more lightweight than Some Girls. SG introduced a bit of that disco/funk sound (as Black and Blue did in '76), ER dived further into new wave, dance, light funk, reggae. She's So Cold for instance, lightweight pop but mighty addictive. ER the single was pure late 70s dance, powered by a synth and bass riff. Micks falsetto - now that sound must have made older fans wonder what the hell they were at! As far away from Exile On Main Street as Thirsty Work was from Piledriver Not sure what Keef thought of all this dance influenced stuff. I personally rather liked it and Miss You, of course, was a big disco hit. But I much preferred Accident Prone
|
|
|
Post by asthequoflies on Apr 15, 2022 16:08:32 GMT
As do I, love ER, Miss You etc. Particularly Miss You, the 12" mix (the album version was an edit of the 8.5 minute full version) is glorious. The way the guitars weave in the mix, the uber-funky bass lines, the four on the floor rhythm. One of my all-time faves. ER is very good but not quite up to Miss You
ER is pure Jagger, Keef added minor guitar accompaniment. Keef likes groove, but wasn't so much a disco fan. The track Dance, which opens the album, is pure Keef though. The funky side of late 70s dance music, you could imagine James Brown having a go at it. Dance began as a wonderful instrumental. Its a definite highlight of their late 70s/early 80s ouvre and two versions were released; Dance Parts I and II.
|
|
|
Post by freewilly on Apr 15, 2022 18:02:00 GMT
I must be the only one who hasn't got a problem with Army... The original isn't great but, the band made it great and so did the producer. It's a class song... It's not very Quo but, it's stood the test of time and it's far from a ball of cheese like MT or BB (Although, that was great live) In my top 10? Not even in my top 40 but, I still think it's a great tune that I'd happily listen to. Live though, that's another story. Always felt the gig went flat after that. That's the trouble with these slick produced tracks. Near impossible to replicate on stage Strange reading your comment re live performance. I'll always remember, after a Quo gig at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, walking back through Peasholm Park and seeing the benches along the path filled with folk who had been listening for free. Several spoke to me and said how much they had enjoyed ITAN because they could see much of the lighting effects as well as hearing the sound. It is one of those songs where the lyrics fit the music and are worth paying attention to. I just don't think it was as good live as it is on record and to me, because of that, it felt flat...Nearly every other Quo song sounds better live, except for Island and Rock n Roll and I had the same issue with them when they were played Not sure where the confusion stems from... BTW, if someone needs a song to tell them about the horrors of the army and what comes with it, I'd suggest therapy.
|
|
mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,861
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
|
Post by mortified on Apr 16, 2022 4:40:39 GMT
As do I, love ER, Miss You etc. Particularly Miss You, the 12" mix (the album version was an edit of the 8.5 minute full version) is glorious. The way the guitars weave in the mix, the uber-funky bass lines, the four on the floor rhythm. One of my all-time faves. ER is very good but not quite up to Miss You ER is pure Jagger, Keef added minor guitar accompaniment. Keef likes groove, but wasn't so much a disco fan. The track Dance, which opens the album, is pure Keef though. The funky side of late 70s dance music, you could imagine James Brown having a go at it. Dance began as a wonderful instrumental. Its a definite highlight of their late 70s/early 80s ouvre and two versions were released; Dance Parts I and II. Dance Part II and a dance mix of Miss You turned up on a great Stones compilation called Rarities 1971-2003 a few years back. It's a terrific album. I didn't start grabbing 12" singles till the 80's took hold so I think I missed out on a few gems 👍
|
|
|
Post by asthequoflies on Apr 16, 2022 16:06:56 GMT
The Rarities album is great, yes. Through the Lonely Nights (B Side '74) one of my favourites. Dance II first appeared on what is my most played Stones comp - Sucking in the Seventies. The radio edits of some singles which are actually very well done, a BSide, an unreleased song (Dance II), a ripping live version of Whip Comes Down. Wonderful comp. Most fans add the Miss You Extended mix to their itunes version of the album.
|
|
photo4life
New Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 40
Favourite Quo Album: Blue For You
Favourite other bands.: Rush, Queen, Thin Lizzy, Genesis, Blue Öyster Cult
|
Post by photo4life on May 4, 2022 18:52:28 GMT
I have no problems with this song being the most streamed song or most sold. After all, it's not Judas Priest doing Johnny B Goode
|
|