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Post by railroad007 on May 19, 2020 15:07:25 GMT
A far more pleasant listen than I expected. However, Quo just isn't Quo without John & Alan , in the studio anyway. I couldn't help thinking that Tongue Tied would have been improved by swapping the vocals over. "Quo just isn't Quo without John & Alan" And Bob Young Jimmy Horowitz Damon Lyon-Shaw Richard Manwaring Andy Bown Steve Farr Stuart Blandamer Andy Miller Hugh Jones These are the personnel who engineered,produced or played on Piledriver through to Blue For You.
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Post by dennis on May 19, 2020 22:26:46 GMT
A far more pleasant listen than I expected. However, Quo just isn't Quo without John & Alan , in the studio anyway. I couldn't help thinking that Tongue Tied would have been improved by swapping the vocals over. "Quo just isn't Quo without John & Alan" And Bob Young Jimmy Horowitz Damon Lyon-Shaw Richard Manwaring Andy Bown Steve Farr Stuart Blandamer Andy Miller Hugh Jones These are the personnel who engineered,produced or played on Piledriver through to Blue For You. Strangely enough I was actually referring to the band Status Quo & none of the people you list were in the band, as I recall. I don't think they all contributed on Piledriver through to Blue For You, in many cases they made a small contribution to the odd track. Bob's contribution is well known, but I wouldn't say they were a diminished Quo when he's not on stage with them. Of all the people you list, the one whose contribution might be missed the most from the era you highlight is probably Damon Lyon-Shaw, at least as regards their studio output. However, maybe it's foolish to think that four guys defined a sound & were each integral to it, so when Status Quo celebrate a century of rocking with a line-up of musicians that haven't even been born yet that'll be just as Quo as ever, no doubt.
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Post by railroad007 on May 20, 2020 14:49:39 GMT
"Quo just isn't Quo without John & Alan" And Bob Young Jimmy Horowitz Damon Lyon-Shaw Richard Manwaring Andy Bown Steve Farr Stuart Blandamer Andy Miller Hugh Jones These are the personnel who engineered,produced or played on Piledriver through to Blue For You. Strangely enough I was actually referring to the band Status Quo & none of the people you list were in the band, as I recall. I don't think they all contributed on Piledriver through to Blue For You, in many cases they made a small contribution to the odd track. Bob's contribution is well known, but I wouldn't say they were a diminished Quo when he's not on stage with them. Of all the people you list, the one whose contribution might be missed the most from the era you highlight is probably Damon Lyon-Shaw, at least as regards their studio output. However, maybe it's foolish to think that four guys defined a sound & were each integral to it, so when Status Quo celebrate a century of rocking with a line-up of musicians that haven't even been born yet that'll be just as Quo as ever, no doubt. I base my comments on the sound on the albums produced at IBC and the sound of RAOTW...SO THERE DEN!
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Post by dennis on May 21, 2020 0:54:14 GMT
Strangely enough I was actually referring to the band Status Quo & none of the people you list were in the band, as I recall. I don't think they all contributed on Piledriver through to Blue For You, in many cases they made a small contribution to the odd track. Bob's contribution is well known, but I wouldn't say they were a diminished Quo when he's not on stage with them. Of all the people you list, the one whose contribution might be missed the most from the era you highlight is probably Damon Lyon-Shaw, at least as regards their studio output. However, maybe it's foolish to think that four guys defined a sound & were each integral to it, so when Status Quo celebrate a century of rocking with a line-up of musicians that haven't even been born yet that'll be just as Quo as ever, no doubt. I base my comments on the sound on the albums produced at IBC and the sound of RAOTW...SO THERE DEN! Well, you made reference to Blue for you which was recorded at Phonogram Studios rather than IBC, as was some of On the level, verily indeed!
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Post by railroad007 on May 22, 2020 22:40:05 GMT
I base my comments on the sound on the albums produced at IBC and the sound of RAOTW...SO THERE DEN! Well, you made reference to Blue for you which was recorded at Phonogram Studios rather than IBC, as was some of On the level, verily indeed! That's it Uncle fcuking expert Den,expect a sneezed bucket of infected goo by first post.
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Post by dennis on May 26, 2020 14:06:05 GMT
Well, you made reference to Blue for you which was recorded at Phonogram Studios rather than IBC, as was some of On the level, verily indeed! That's it Uncle fcuking expert Den,expect a sneezed bucket of infected goo by first post. It'll be like Christmas!
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Post by frozenhero on May 27, 2020 10:05:38 GMT
I'm a fan of this album. I've always had a bit of an issue with the production of a few tracks though, going back to listening to the pre-release versions that were changed slightly. "Alright" sounds like a mess - I think it's possibly the keyboard for keyboard's sake being too high or too central in the mix and making it all sound muddled. "Gravy Train" is a simple track and decent one at that, but the production honestly gives me a headache. I get the idea of a chugging train sort of sound, but it feels as though there's no highs or lows and no time for the appreciating the track because it's just forced at you. That's okay perhaps if the musicianship is interesting, but for the most part it isn't. You could recreate most of the song with some two-second loops of the drums and rhythm guitar. The vocals seem rather buried too. "Beginning of the End" is a cracking track to open with and a welcome and fitting one in the live set that's stood the test of time. "Pennsylvania Blues Tonight" is a great track and I'm a big fan of the more moody production on this one. I've liked "Figure of Eight" since I first heard it; always thought it almost had a glam rock kind of simplicity to it. "Electric Arena" too stood out the first time I heard it; it's perhaps let down slightly by being overproduced and not enough focus on he guitar; it feels like it needs an epic guitar solo rather than multiple choruses. Not going to mention every track but there's not a single one I don't really like, besides what I've mentioned above. A good coherent album with a good mix of new ideas and 'the usual'. A long album but doesn't feel like it has too much in the way of filler. A good touch of the country influences too. I've not heard the pre-release versions but the mastering is a problem on this album. It's Quo's loudest / most compressed release. It doesn't bother me as much as with the Paxman productions because the recording and mix itself is much better, but it's still annoying. I guess the vinyl release sounds better. Still, I love this album. I think it's full of great songs, well played, well performed. Rick's voice was damaged, but it sounds better than on TPAOY to me. And the Rossi/Young team was on a roll here, as was the Rossi/Bown and Rossi/Edwards team, and even Matt comes up with a decent track.
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Post by frozenhero on May 27, 2020 10:21:57 GMT
Decided to have a re-fresher and just listened to 'Bad News' again after a long break as seems to be one that has its fans. Freddie Edwards plays lead guitar on the track I believe. Francis does the first solo, Freddie the 2nd and 3rd (which are really one separated by the breakdown, which I love). Overall a surprising and sadly only temporary return to the multi-part songwriting of old.
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Post by Victor on May 27, 2020 17:23:50 GMT
It's a strange album for me...definitely not one of my favorite ones. I know I am probably in the minority when saying this but I enjoyed The arty Ain't Over Yet album more and 4th Chord was a bit of a let down for me compared to the previous.
I used to like Beginning of the End but heard it too many times and so it became a bit boring to me, still one of the songs on the album though that I do like at times, also since the chorus reminds a bit of ELO for me. I like Allright quite a bit Also like Pennsylvania Blues tonight, especially the chorus I don't wanna hurt you anymore is one of my two favorite tracks from the album. Bit of a shame that the good solo guitar work in the end faded out so quick Electric Arena has never been enjoyable for me Gravy Train is the other favorite track for me on the album, absolutely love that one !
Figure of Eight I really dislike big time ! You're the one for me, My little Heartbreaker and Hold me are songs for me that make me feel neither warm nor cold
Saddling up I like in itself, except for the stupid "Saddling up, saddling up background voices in the chorus
Again probably in the minority with this, but Bad News I really never liked at all.
I do like Tongue Tied and One by One
I am familiar with the I ain't wastin' my time track as well but that's also never been a favorite for me
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,841
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
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Post by mortified on May 28, 2020 7:56:49 GMT
It's a strange album for me...definitely not one of my favorite ones. I know I am probably in the minority when saying this but I enjoyed The arty Ain't Over Yet album more and 4th Chord was a bit of a let down for me compared to the previous. I used to like Beginning of the End but heard it too many times and so it became a bit boring to me, still one of the songs on the album though that I do like at times, also since the chorus reminds a bit of ELO for me. I like Allright quite a bit Also like Pennsylvania Blues tonight, especially the chorus I don't wanna hurt you anymore is one of my two favorite tracks from the album. Bit of a shame that the good solo guitar work in the end faded out so quick Electric Arena has never been enjoyable for me Gravy Train is the other favorite track for me on the album, absolutely love that one ! Figure of Eight I really dislike big time ! You're the one for me, My little Heartbreaker and Hold me are songs for me that make me feel neither warm nor cold Saddling up I like in itself, except for the stupid "Saddling up, saddling up background voices in the chorus Again probably in the minority with this, but Bad News I really never liked at all. I do like Tongue Tied and One by One I am familiar with the I ain't wastin' my time track as well but that's also never been a favorite for me I'm going to take a screenshot! That's the first time I can ever remember someone agreeing with me on that
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Post by charles on May 28, 2020 14:33:04 GMT
Enjoy the moment. It's also going to be the last time.
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Post by Mrs Flittersnoop on May 29, 2020 12:38:37 GMT
Before we run out of May, just to say, I didn't have the energy to comment on this one, but in fact some of the tracks I really like. Electric Arena, Pennsylvania Blues, Tongue Tied ... Bad News is generally enjoyable. I didn't care for BOTE at the beginning, but it's proved a good live track. It's defo Quo Lite, though even if it's a good version of it. I don't think they would have made a top career with albums like this one.
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Post by asthequoflies on Oct 31, 2021 13:05:04 GMT
ISOTFC, along with QPQ I would place at the top tier of Quo's work this millenium. Heavy Traffic would be next in line, but all three are quality albums.
I re-listened to it recently, along with a little of TPAOY, and the first difference would be the production. I recall at the time the anticipation on Pip Williams' return, for some good news, for some not, given the track record, but most agreed the songs would sound good. Whether the writing would be good was another story. The opening few tracks I thought were the best opening to a Quo album in ages - 'Beginning of the End' and 'Alright' storm in. Guitars cranked and raucous, vocal melodies very good, driving tempos. That moment on BOTE when the drums, bass and lead guitar lick come storming in (about 10 seconds into it) was and is a great beginning.
'Alright', 'Hold Me' and 'Pennsylvania Blues Tonight' are three of my favourite modern era Quo tracks. 'Alright' thunders along, wonderful chorus, while 'Hold Me' has an addictive 80s rock vibe and some lovely guitar licks on the chorus. PBT is one of the strongest on the album - terrific arrangement and verses, with an anthemic chorus. Euphoric even. From first listening, to most recent, PBT is one of the highlights.
Not everything obviously is as high quality; however, in saying that, there are no tracks I skip, even 'Figure of Eight'. A quirky Bown track, and Andy's songs can be very offbeat. 'Green' for example is one of my most listened to from HT, and while 'Figure of Eight' is not quite there, it's a song I don't skip and actually do enjoy.
'I Ain't Wasting my Time' is a terrific blue shuffle, 'One on One' a quality Rick ballad.
'Gravy Train' and 'Bad News' are basic and noisy, but on the good side of noisy thrash rather than the bland side. Of the 'train' tracks (Velvet, on TPAOY, and Gravy, on ISOTFC), Gravy has that stinging lead break after the verses that makes it memorable. Both thunder along, not album highlights, but raw and raucous enough to be enjoyable.
As a whole, the high points elevate this one and place it up there with QPQ. BOTE, Alright, Hold Me, PBT, I Ain't Wasting my Time, You're the One for Me - plenty high quality songs, some superb musicianship, and a rocking production, make this album a keeper.
Next up, will be a full revisiting TPAOY for a listen after a few years of not hearing it in full...
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