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Post by juansupposin on Jul 2, 2020 12:35:52 GMT
For me After Riffs anything was going to be an improvement but If I compare with HT, IN THE SEARCH, QUID PRO QUO ...it is a weak Album.
Covers and aquostic albums aside, also Bula, this is the weakest album for me of the last 2 decades. SOngs that I like; BELLAVISTA, GGUAG,YOU NEVER STOP.
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viza
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 407
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Post by viza on Jul 2, 2020 19:43:10 GMT
This was the last album I bought. I even saw them live for the last time on the TPAOY tour. I remember the album was a big let down to Heavy Traffic (I didn't make any comparison to Riffs as I always saw the cover albums as odd and not part of the real discography). After this I lost the interest in Quo and stopped following the band for a while. I came back around 2015 just to discover that I had missed the Frantic Four reunions I blame this album for that. Looked at the track list and didn't recognize more than a couple of songs so I had to listen to it again and it's almost like a new album to me. Some OK songs like "Gotta Get up and Go", "Familiar Blues" and "Belavista man" but also awful songs like "All that Count is Love" and "Cupid Stupid". It's not as good as HT, UTI or RTYD but I think I still prefer it to Backbone.
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Post by fretbuzzzzz on Jul 3, 2020 8:44:41 GMT
Mix n' match Heavy Traffic and The Party album and a decent set (or album's worth) of songs will be found for me.
I imagined that I would be "one voice, singing in the darkness" (cheers Mr Manilow) with regards to 'Velvet Train' so it's good to see a few others seem to enjoy that one. That track and 'The Bubble' from the Edwards/Bown stable were a surprise, different but hold up pretty well. Bob Young's contributions with Rossi are also worthy efforts.
Rick's 'Belavista Man' is familiar Rick territory but adds another side to the album. 'This Is Me' is indulgent Rick territory lyrically but musically I really rate the track.
In agreement with others on here about the lack of invention with 'Kick Me When I'm Down' and 'Cupid Stupid' and a bit pointless.
Ambivalent about the rest of the album tracks but musically they have some merit in places.
I have the 2 disc The Party DVD. Especially enjoy the behind scenes in the studio of the making of the album with Mike Paxman. Well put together documentary as such. It may have been a case of "smile and wave boys" for the cameras but the band did seem to be genuinely enjoying being together in the studio and that mix of work and fun. Proof at least that Rick was very much involved in making this album. A shame the DVD is tainted a bit by the appearance of a certain Mr Harris but not a lot can be done about that now.
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Post by paradiseflats on Jul 3, 2020 12:05:47 GMT
I did write a long post, but when I pressed post it disappeared.
So the short version.
Not as good as the singles that preceded it.
Way too long. A shorter album would have been better. Some very good moments as good as anything post Alan being jetissoned.
As ever some songs that they should have just said no to. At times I find the writing boring and cliched.
Still the best album they have done since HT.
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,772
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: 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 Jul 3, 2020 13:09:41 GMT
Just as an aside and also from reading comments in this thread and elsewhere about albums being too long, I think the advent of the CD has persistently caused problems in terms of overall quality. Not just for Quo's output but for every artist. Basically, because they could stick well in excess of a dozen tracks on an album with ease, it meant songs that would normally have been discarded or ended up as single B-sides were included because the music companies insisted on "value for money". Maybe even pressured artists indirectly to come up with more material. Quantity over quality. The days of the 8 or 10-song album are way behind us. I think I could go through most Quo albums since 1990, dig out, say, 8 tracks and come up with a relatively consistent or fine product. I'd maybe only struggle with Thirsty Work, which just isn't my cup of cookie. And including the extras with singles, they somehow managed to come up with 23 tracks! About 20 of them gruesome And none written by Rick. He knew
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Post by dennis on Jul 3, 2020 14:15:17 GMT
Aye, mortified, I bet there's many an ageing prog rocker bemoaning the advent of the cd about 20 years too late for them to utilise the extra capacity - all those triple albums that would have only been a double cd!
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viza
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 407
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Post by viza on Jul 3, 2020 17:07:31 GMT
Just as an aside and also from reading comments in this thread and elsewhere about albums being too long, I think the advent of the CD has persistently caused problems in terms of overall quality. Not just for Quo's output but for every artist. Basically, because they could stick well in excess of a dozen tracks on an album with ease, it meant songs that would normally have been discarded or ended up as single B-sides were included because the music companies insisted on "value for money". Maybe even pressured artists indirectly to come up with more material. Quantity over quality. The days of the 8 or 10-song album are way behind us. I think I could go through most Quo albums since 1990, dig out, say, 8 tracks and come up with a relatively consistent or fine product. I'd maybe only struggle with Thirsty Work, which just isn't my cup of cookie. And including the extras with singles, they somehow managed to come up with 23 tracks! About 20 of them gruesome And none written by Rick. He knew Agree. Around 40 minutes seems to be the perfect length for an album. The early 90's albums (when CD began to be more dominant) Rock 'til You Drop and Thirsty Work suffered the most.
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Post by paradiseflats on Jul 4, 2020 6:34:31 GMT
Just as an aside and also from reading comments in this thread and elsewhere about albums being too long, I think the advent of the CD has persistently caused problems in terms of overall quality. Not just for Quo's output but for every artist. Basically, because they could stick well in excess of a dozen tracks on an album with ease, it meant songs that would normally have been discarded or ended up as single B-sides were included because the music companies insisted on "value for money". Maybe even pressured artists indirectly to come up with more material. Quantity over quality. The days of the 8 or 10-song album are way behind us. I think I could go through most Quo albums since 1990, dig out, say, 8 tracks and come up with a relatively consistent or fine product. I'd maybe only struggle with Thirsty Work, which just isn't my cup of cookie. And including the extras with singles, they somehow managed to come up with 23 tracks! About 20 of them gruesome And none written by Rick. He knew This is totally the case for so many bands. Then of course there’s the tour edition of the cd or special edition where they add a track or so and sell you it again. Thankfully some more creative bands who still release albums quite often stick to about 45-50 of music. But there again I’m not the record companies target. When Status Quo release an album, I wouldn’t care if they stick 5 extra live songs on there.Thats for the shopper in ASDA.
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Post by MrWaistcoat on Jul 4, 2020 11:27:18 GMT
Can anyone explain something within the band at the time I don't get?
Francis didn't approve, and yet at least two songs were remixed with a heavier sound. TOY, ATCIL. It wasn't the producer, it was somebody from outside the Quo camp that did it. Who organised that, the RC?
It was annoying that the better and heavier remixes were for single releases only.
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Post by quolion on Aug 3, 2020 10:40:35 GMT
Good point. The previous singles (YCR and TOY) were also remixed for the single edits. (Done by the swedish guy you also produced/mixed THE HIVES at the time).
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Post by asthequoflies on Oct 30, 2023 22:11:09 GMT
Velvet Train popped up on s shuffle recently and I really enjoyed it. Ditto Belavista Man.
TPAOY has long been my least favourite of the 1999-2013 period (not counting the covers albums), but after watching the excellent 'Just Doin' It' again, it's high time for a revisit. My favourites were always Gotta Get Up and Go, Familiar Blues & Cupid Stupid, and while I'm not expecting a renaissance/revelation to place it on par with my favourite albums of that period, a good re-listening session is needed!
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