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Post by MrWaistcoat on Feb 25, 2017 10:09:29 GMT
I would plump for On The LevelWith a massive contribution to the songwriting - the album is a real corker. The sound is phenomenal, and I love the way we get BBJ and live crowd singing - making the point that Quo were essentially a live band. Great songs, great playing, great solos (so many twists and turns) and fantastic band performance. This for me was the album where Francis really tried to put his stamp on things - and it worked....brilliantly. Unfortunately for me, I never saw Quo until 86 - so I have no way of being able to say when each band member peaked on stage. But I think that in the studio, Francis peaked with this album. So when did Francis peak live? Over to our more mature members  |
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Post by Gaz on Feb 25, 2017 10:45:25 GMT
Bit hard to remember so far back to '75 but to be honest there are parts of 2014 Dublin gig DVD where he is obviously flying... his face doesn't lie. Deep down he is Quo.
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kiwipom
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 1,262
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Post by kiwipom on Feb 25, 2017 10:53:39 GMT
On The Level is probably still my favourite Quo album.
And yes – although the band’s overall mastery of the studio and arrangements probably matured even further on Blue For You, I think On the Level was probably Frame’s finest hour – you could almost feel the confidence, daring, enthusiasm and talent in his playing.
More than any other it seems to bring out the unique guitar tones that Quo could create – on the Francis/Bob inspired tracks and on the solos on the others too.
It really showcases that ”largely clean but just tipping into overdriven without going too distorted, heavy rock or heavy metal” sound that separated Quo from the heavier compatriots.
Live? – I only saw Quo from 79 onwards – but for me 79, 81, 82, 84 tours were great live Francis years where the Green Tele and the AC30s seemed to hit the spot perfectly.
He’s never reached those heights since.
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Post by dennis on Feb 25, 2017 11:37:27 GMT
Absotively! This was Francis at his peak. He'd co-written most of the singles to that point & here his latest effort reached number 1, together with the album of course. It was all down hill for Francis after this. All of a sudden Quo were releasing a live track that was originally recorded for a studio album a couple of albums back, then it was a reliance on covers & Rick's songs for the next few years. Eventually Francis generated a few songs with a new writing partner that hit the charts, but it was all a far cry from his golden era in the early '70s.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 11:53:00 GMT
Can only agree with all these posts. Love all the hey-day Quo albums, but OTL has that slight edge for me and was a peak for Francis.
I find it interesting that Rick had something of an inspirational edge over Francis by the time of the WYW and WYP albums. I think this applies to Alan too with songs like Who Asked You and Over The Edge.
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Post by Whoppa Choppa on Feb 25, 2017 12:18:11 GMT
Any hour from '71 to 76 will do... before the Lauda came. Before he started to think too much about what other people thought, and how he could "improve". He couldn't... And before they told Spud to "stop mess around and just keep the rhytm". imo...
On the other hand.... is there any other lead guitar player that is better 30 years on?
On the third hand... tafkar should do what Zappa said. Shut up and play yer guitar. Do not comment on fans, do not.
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Post by markquo on Feb 25, 2017 12:51:26 GMT
The solo on TAKE Me AWAY
Cheers
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Post by taximan2002 on Feb 25, 2017 15:57:46 GMT
Bit hard to remember so far back to '75 but to be honest there are parts of 2014 Dublin gig DVD where he is obviously flying... his face doesn't lie. Deep down he is Quo. Yep, there's now way that he didn't enjoy himself in 2013/14, on stage anyway. He's just doesn't want to admit it and his guitar playing was outstanding. On the Level, not one bad song on there, I'd say they were at their peak with that album.. |
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Post by Mrs Flittersnoop on Feb 25, 2017 19:12:33 GMT
The solo on TAKE Me AWAY Cheers Always liked that. |
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Post by madtom on Feb 25, 2017 19:46:52 GMT
Bit hard to remember so far back to '75 but to be honest there are parts of 2014 Dublin gig DVD where he is obviously flying... his face doesn't lie. Deep down he is Quo. Yep, there's now way that he didn't enjoy himself in 2013/14, on stage anyway. He's just doesn't want to admit it and his guitar playing was outstanding. On the Level, not one bad song on there, I'd say they were at their peak with that album.. Yep, nothing I saw in 2013 & 2014, either with my own eyes or on YT etc., suggests that he didn't enjoy every minute he was on stage. Then he goes and slates the band and audience. Go figure... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 20:18:14 GMT
Hi All, Here's a poser below as I am not to good at being a critique, to me I take or leave whatever band or track especially with Quo FF being my favourite era without a doubt. I can't remember if this has been asked before but I would say with my arm twisted that Piledriver/Hello/Quo/OTL and B4U are all in the same category.
What I was wondering is this:- If FF had managed to stick together and FR had carried on with the Snow, do you think he could have kept up writing the thumping rock that we all new them for the above albums before the turning as regards some say RAOTW/IYCSTH...? Personally with the exception of a couple of tracks I still like both albums.
Geoff. |
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Post by curiousgirl on Feb 25, 2017 20:24:51 GMT
Hi All, Here's a poser below as I am not to good at being a critique, to me I take or leave whatever band or track especially with Quo FF being my favourite era without a doubt. I can't remember if this has been asked before but I would say with my arm twisted that Piledriver/Hello/Quo/OTL and B4U are all in the same category.
What I was wondering is this:- If FF had managed to stick together and FR had carried on with the Snow, do you think he could have kept up writing the thumping rock that we all new them for the above albums before the turning as regards some say RAOTW/IYCSTH...? Personally with the exception of a couple of tracks I still like both albums.
Geoff. If he'd kept up with the snow, as you suggest, like Rick, he may no longer be with us. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 20:33:44 GMT
Hi All, curiousgirl I was thinking along the lines (Not sniff sniff!) of when writing he was obviously using and this along with a vast array of other influences would have affected that writing during that era.
Having said that as with RAOTW & IYCSTH I mentioned he was still using then so that poses another question did the producers have a bigger influence rather than the band ? It occurred to me that could be one influence why the writing has suffered before and since giving up ?..... 
Geoff. |
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accidentprone
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 230 
Favourite Quo Album: Piledriver
Favourite other bands.: Neil Young and Crazy Horse, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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Post by accidentprone on Feb 25, 2017 20:38:04 GMT
Agree it's On The Level and in particular the magnificant Over and Done, where his vocals are superb.
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Post by curiousgirl on Feb 25, 2017 21:36:38 GMT
Hi All, curiousgirl I was thinking along the lines (Not sniff sniff!) of when writing he was obviously using and this along with a vast array of other influences would have affected that writing during that era.
Having said that as with RAOTW & IYCSTH I mentioned he was still using then so that poses another question did the producers have a bigger influence rather than the band ? It occurred to me that could be one influence why the writing has suffered before and since giving up ?.....
Geoff. I don't buy the myth that its drugs that make great music, art or poetry. So I think its a coincidence that much of the music we like was produced during an era of heavy drug taking. And as you've pointed out, they were still using heavily during the 80s. |
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