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Post by curiousgirl on Feb 25, 2017 21:54:57 GMT
My first album was On The Level. Its where I joined in the Quo dance. Was it his finest hour? Dunno 'cos I don't think of it like that. I always appreciated his melodic contribution to the Quo sound, even in later songs. But I prefer the country influences, like Claudie to the pop ones on the later albums.
Disappointed though I am the Quo sound changed, I do understand why he might have wanted to change. I've found it hard to keep doing the same thing again and again if you get bored of it. I even gave up on my dream job after 10 years cos of that. So I do sympathise. And then you find yourself somewhere else, it might not be better but you keep going anyway because what choice do you have.
When on form, I love his solo playing too. I have both albums by his daughter, Bernadette and you can easily spot his solos on the first one.
My favourite period was the late 70s/early 80s, and I can still remember being at those gigs - well snapshots of moments anyway.
And I'm grateful that he put aside his pride for those reunion gigs to give me one last chance to relive those heady, magical days.
Yep, for me Francis was a vital contribution the Quo sound, as they all 4 were to creating it. And not forgetting Bob Young and Andy B.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 22:30:51 GMT
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. Correct. I've been chased through the east end of Glasgow by a thirty foot canary, and I couldn't write a song to save my life. I'm pretty sure that same feckin canary chased me down Corporation Street back in 85....ah great days.
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Post by jaynieeee on Feb 25, 2017 22:32:07 GMT
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. Correct. I've been chased through the east end of Glasgow by a thirty foot canary, and I couldn't write a song to save my life. Maybe the canary had a song it wanted to give you
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Post by Railroad17 on Feb 25, 2017 22:48:12 GMT
Sacking those 2 parasites Coghlan and Lancaster and then moving Quo forward into a golden age of creativity was a standout moment.Getting Status Quo playing live sitting on stools is another highlight.Or you could go for the entry to the second solo in Don't Waste My Time....last place I expected the guitar to be.Or the ROLD solo from the end of the second verse until parasite Coghlan comes crashing in.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 23:06:11 GMT
Sacking those 2 parasites Coghlan and Lancaster and then moving Quo forward into a golden age of creativity was a standout moment.Getting Status Quo playing live sitting on stools is another highlight.Or you could go for the entry to the second solo in Don't Waste My Time....last place I expected the guitar to be.Or the ROLD solo from the end of the second verse until parasite Coghlan comes crashing in. . You crack me up.
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Post by Mrs Flittersnoop on Feb 25, 2017 23:06:24 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. It's been said that Pip Williams was brought in to give the band a more USA-friendly sound. So he would have had a crucial influence (this is what the band was paying him for.) Also I remember in the 80s reading one of the band telling an interviewer that Pip tended to be influenced himself, by whoever he had last been drinking with. This means that the "band democracy" was still in operation. PW has a reputation IIRR of being a disciplined producer, and here he is listening to all the band members who are talking to him. The inpulse for the shift in direction came from "the band" and their management. From my POV, it wasn't the writing that suffered, it was the "band sound", the guitar-driven, varied songs, a lot of drive. They never entirely lost it, but it drifted into the background behind a lot of flannel and parp. Whether or not Pip did a good job of this or not by his own lights, it was the band's idea. They seemed happy to accept whatever the outcome was, if it succeeded. The question I wonder is, were they getting bored? They were capable of writing all sorts of stuff. Or scared, as the rise in keyboard bands and the eclipse of progressive and rock bands seemed to threaten their success? Long story short, I don't think that things would have been very different if the FF had stayed together and stayed on the coke. Except, they might (if they had the goodwill to stay together) have resolved their impulse to morph back into a pop band with their ability and desire to play music with real drive, and pulled out of the decline sooner. I was going to say that F's finest hour was the ability to join with the others in creating 4500 Times. But really it was his first 8 bars (16 bars?) of that song, in co-operation with Rick.
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Post by MrWaistcoat on Feb 25, 2017 23:11:01 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. Cannabis has been used by musicians and artists for centuries. It enhances appreciation of music, sex and other things. Less so (if at all) John, but the other 3 smoked extensively until the last US tour of the 70's. I think Francis continued with it (did he ever stop?) but Rick stopped Coke then replaced dope. I've never heard any musician claim that coke is creative or helpful for making better music. It can turn you into a complete dick head , and make you think that you (and your music) are a heck of a lot better than others think. Alan never got into it, which of course must have caused great tension in many different ways Quowise, cocaine has a hell of a lot to answer for ! As for creativity , most artists or musicians have long peaked by 30. Quo were no different. I also think that Quo benefited massively from the creative environment of the four of them working on things together. That changed around the same time as the drugs changed....Man!
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Post by Railroad17 on Feb 25, 2017 23:13:18 GMT
Very sad to say,and I'm sure it's not his fault..but.Pip William's name has the same effect on me as Cleaning Woman does on Rigby Reardon...here's what I mean. PIP WILLIAMS,PIP WILLIAMS,PIP WILLIAMS,PIP WILLIAMS, PIP WILLIAMS,PIP WILLIAMS,PIP WILLIAMS
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Post by Mrs Flittersnoop on Feb 26, 2017 0:10:58 GMT
Agree it's On The Level and in particular the magnificant Over and Done, where his vocals are superb. This thread prompted me to go and listen again to OTL right through with no skips or breaks. (I often tend to concentrate on live tracks or the earlier albums.) and agree it has some corking material on it and nothing which doesn't feature some ear-interesting Quo features. (Apart from Where I am, which to my ears could have come off any of the 80s/90s pop albums.) Over and Done is a top Quo track, great in every respect, fine song, wonderful vocals, great overall sound, captivating guitars. Real drive. I feel mournful when I think how Francis's guitar playing was back in the day, riffs and solos. Where did it go? I always thought Quo albums were a mixed bag in which you would find treasures.
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Post by curiousgirl on Feb 26, 2017 10:32:25 GMT
Interesting point about cannabis MrWaistcoat . I hate it cos of what I witnessed amongst a crowd I grew up with. But its not all bad. But I don't agree about artists peaking by 30. I agree that many seem to because they don't know how to sustain their instinctive talent, to keep generating creative ideas without stimulants etc... Its where the craft side comes in. Youth doesn't know the rules which is great because its more experimental and new ideas come out. So whether we like the output or not, its what Francis did. He spent a lot of time learning how to play music. Maybe not song writing? if he already believed he was good at that.
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Post by paradiseflats on Feb 26, 2017 12:03:44 GMT
Forty five hundred times. Original album version.
Never better.
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Post by Detroit on Feb 26, 2017 16:16:29 GMT
Fantastic album and I couldn't give 2 shits that Rossi thinks it's poppish.
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Post by 4th Chord on Feb 26, 2017 18:07:11 GMT
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. Cannabis has been used by musicians and artists for centuries. It enhances appreciation of music, sex and other things. I've never needed other stimulants to fully appreciate either of those.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 18:36:52 GMT
Hi All, Right then having read all the comments about drugs would it be a fare assumption to say that while Coke is just a recreational drug, Dope could actually help stimulate in some the creative process in peoples brains ? Thus while some just act stupid or hallucinate others actually benefit from smoking it ?
Geoff.
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Post by Victor on Feb 26, 2017 18:46:59 GMT
Hi All, Right then having read all the comments about drugs would it be a fare assumption to say that while Coke is just a recreational drug, Dope could actually help stimulate in some the creative process in peoples brains ? Thus while some just act stupid or hallucinate others actually benefit from smoking it ?
Geoff. Whether one benefits from dope or acts completely stupid has everything to do with how and how much it is being used...in moderation it can certainly have it's benefits and not just in creative ways, it also can and has benefit people going through cancer treatments, ms and a few other things to help deal with pains and nausea
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