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Post by blagult on Aug 4, 2020 12:25:33 GMT
I don’t mind this album to be honest. Different and of it’s time. The late 80’s when nearly all albums were big on synths! By this time i had come to terms with the fact Quo were a different band so any comparisons with the 70’s was futile. I actually like the mix on this album. Most songs I enjoy. Particularly ‘ I know your Leaving ‘ It’s an album I still find myself enjoying more than ‘ The Army ‘ album. But having said that it’s been a few years since I played some of these albums being reviewed.
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Dark
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 331
Favourite Quo Album: Quo
Favourite other bands.: Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Huey Lewis,
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Post by Dark on Aug 4, 2020 15:49:52 GMT
I really like this album, definitely one of my favourites of the post Lancaster era of the band. It is quite a different album for the band, and certainly belies Rick’s often held claim that Quo were like an old steam train that would just plough on right through fashions and trends. As with this album the boys certainly jumped on the late 80s music production fads, covering the album in synths and lush keyboard motifs.
If you were to ask me what I wanted from a Quo album, I definitely wouldn’t describe anything that materialised on Ain’t Complaining. But as a one off, I do really enjoy it. Side 1 in particular, once you get past the title track which, though enjoyable, is derivative lightweight Quo, I really enjoy.
For me tracks 2 to 6 are a near faultless run of class AOR tracks culminating in a wonderful power ballad, I Know You’re Leaving. I love the change from Francis singing to Rick and then the guitar solo, wonderful stuff. Then the outro choruses, love the drum hits at the end of each one.
Side 2 doesn’t, for me isn’t quite as high quality. Cross that Bridge, & Cream of the Crop are pretty average while I think Magic is pretty much unlistenable. But I really enjoy, The Loving Game, a decent rocker in my book with a great guitar break and Who Gets the Love is a class track.
As for the big hit, as a kid I bought the single and loved it. Was quite surprised when I got the album a few years later to find the extra couple of lines at the start of the first verse. I did enjoy it live during the 90s when first seeing the band.
I do remember in the 90s reading old copies of Kerrang and they had quite a complimentary review of the album, saying Quo had gone all out AOR.
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Post by Quoincidence on Aug 4, 2020 16:43:13 GMT
Massive fan of the Complaining album these days... It happened around the time of the Deluxe Edition release, coincidentally.
I've always been a fan of the title track, Who Gets The Love, Cream Of The Crop and Burning Bridges, but I've grown to appreciate the album as a whole now.
I find it pointless including tracks like That's Alright and Halloween. That's Alright, fair enough, was actually re-recorded by Quo during those sessions but it's still just Rossi / Frost singing it and whether Rick is playing on the track is questionable.
Halloween, Rossi doesn't play on at all. It's just Quo in the sense of Rick, Jeff and John.
Both Rick and Francis are credited on each others solo tracks simply for a cut of the royalties.
Here's the original tracklisting from when it was still know as "The Fighter" back in 1987;-
Another Shipwreck Don't Mind If I Do The Reason For Goodbye One For The Money Ain't Complaining Cream Of The Crop Everytime I Think Of You The Greatest Fighter Magic The Loving Game That's Alright Lean Machine
and the original artwork was supposed to be similar to the Beatles SGT Pepper album cover.
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stringybob
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 315
Favourite Quo Album: Quo
Favourite other bands.: Many and varied
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Post by stringybob on Aug 4, 2020 16:56:20 GMT
Disappointing, and not helped by the '80s production tropes which have dated horribly. 'One For The Money' is, for me, the single worst thing the band ever recorded. Up until 'Aquostic', anyway.
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Post by rockonquo on Aug 5, 2020 4:13:38 GMT
Don't mind 'Ain't Complaining' album, great for test the surround system out as 4th said. But it's good 80's feel to it, if it had the tracklist as 'the fighter' it would be even better.
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Post by frozenhero on Aug 5, 2020 8:20:27 GMT
I quite like bits of the album, but as I've said elsewhere, it could've been a lot better if some of the weaker tracks were replaced by the b-sides. There is a bit of a theme running through with the "alright" coming up in the title track and Another Shipwreck, and the two Bridges songs... but the intended title track The Fighter got left off. For me the second half is the more consistent one, even if the first one has three highlights in the shape of the title track, Another Shipwreck and Don't Mind If I Do. Still, I don't think anything hits me as being as out-and-out bad as Speechless and Dreamin' from ITAN, so that's a step up, although One for the Money is definitely a headscratcher. Miami Vice, anyone? Essentially a Pip Williams solo album with contributions from Quo but at the time I did like some of it, some of it was typical Pip, smooth and way too over produced for Quo. Best songs for me were Andy's contributions. I did think it was odd Pip had so many writing credits... Three writing credits isn't that much, especially considering that he was Rick's main writing partner at the time. Only one song was written by him without a band member, and that wasn't a first after Who Am I, Accident Prone and the unreleased-at-the-time Bad Company. I've noticed that Don't Mind If I Do gets some better press than the rest of the album. It was the same on the other message board when this subject cropped up. I don't really get that. I'm obviously missing something because, to me, it's as bland - if not more so - as every other song. I guess (maybe much like Thirsty Work) it's down to the arrangements or production of the songs as opposed to the material itself. But this track is lost on me. My loss, though, I guess. It's the riff. I guess it's also down to the placement coming after three pretty fluffy tracks. Major and minor references are lost on me. I read music about as well as I can ballet dance. That is, I can't. Lest there be any Darcey Bussell jokes You don't have to read music to hear the difference between major and minor scales, mate... all jazz musicians were capable and many of them couldn't read. I find it pointless including tracks like That's Alright and Halloween. That's Alright, fair enough, was actually re-recorded by Quo during those sessions but it's still just Rossi / Frost singing it and whether Rick is playing on the track is questionable. Halloween, Rossi doesn't play on at all. It's just Quo in the sense of Rick, Jeff and John. Nonetheless it was in the running for the LP. And why not? If Rossi/Frost could get several tracks onto 1982 and BTB that the rest of the band didn't perform on, why not a song without Francis?
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,775
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 Aug 5, 2020 8:27:00 GMT
I'll be honest, I've based my views on what I used to think of it. I don't know if I still do. I haven't played it all the way through in a long time. I recently discovered that I liked a song ( Gone Thru The Slips) that used to make me roll my eyes and yawn with boredom, so perceptions definitely change. I should give it another go, although I do still feel familiar with all of the songs. As I do with most of Quo's output. I may come back on this. Then again....
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Post by paradiseflats on Aug 5, 2020 9:31:35 GMT
I'll be honest, I've based my views on what I used to think of it. I don't know if I still do. I haven't played it all the way through in a long time. I recently discovered that I liked a song ( Gone Thru The Slips) that used to make me roll my eyes and yawn with boredom, so perceptions definitely change. I should give it another go, although I do still feel familiar with all of the songs. As I do with most of Quo's output. I may come back on this. Then again.... You are right. I feel this way about a lot of their output. Time changes how you view things. I used to like Bon Jovi in the 80s and now would never put an album on by them.
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,775
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 Aug 5, 2020 9:45:20 GMT
I'll be honest, I've based my views on what I used to think of it. I don't know if I still do. I haven't played it all the way through in a long time. I recently discovered that I liked a song ( Gone Thru The Slips) that used to make me roll my eyes and yawn with boredom, so perceptions definitely change. I should give it another go, although I do still feel familiar with all of the songs. As I do with most of Quo's output. I may come back on this. Then again.... You are right. I feel this way about a lot of their output. Time changes how you view things. I used to like Bon Jovi in the 80s and now would never put an album on by them. We're almost the same. I never have put on an album by Bon Jovi and I never will Actually, that's not strictly true. I bought their first album whenever it was ('86?) on the strength of all the music press hype. I honestly should have known better. I detested every note from start to finish so that was that. My sister likes them (him?) though. We do have some interesting discussions
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Post by fretbuzzzzz on Aug 5, 2020 11:53:08 GMT
You are right. I feel this way about a lot of their output. Time changes how you view things. I used to like Bon Jovi in the 80s and now would never put an album on by them. We're almost the same. I never have put on an album by Bon Jovi and I never will Actually, that's not strictly true. I bought their first album whenever it was ('86?) on the strength of all the music press hype. I honestly should have known better. I detested every note from start to finish so that was that. My sister likes them (him?) though. We do have some interesting discussions Back in the mid 80s, a girlfriend and just about all females I knew, of a similar age at the time, were keen on Bon Jovi. 'Livin' On A Prayer' seemed to be the one that had them hooked. Incidentally there is a bit of a Quo link with Bon Jovi in the shape of 'Rockin' All Over The World'. Has been a part of their set for a long time, I think. In fact there is some youtube footage of BJ being joined on stage by Steven Van Zandt at Wembley in '95. John BJ introduces the song by talking about Live Aid and how the song kicked it all off. He doesn't actually mention Quo by name though. I remember seeing Steven Van Zandt on the bill with Quo at Crystal Palace in '84. He must have struck up a friendship of sorts with Rossi as they sat together backstage at Live Aid in '85. My teenage daughter has just discovered Bon Jovi, well more specifically their 'Wanted Dead or Alive' track via the medium of spotify! I keep hearing that one at the moment. There is footage on youtube of Bon Jovi playing this track live on stage in Moscow ('89?). Sambora used a triple neck guitar (the flash git! ) a mandolin, standard and a 12 string guitar, I think. Actually I can respect that from a guitarist's viewpoint and the dramatic tension of the intro on stage!
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,775
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 Aug 5, 2020 12:37:13 GMT
We're almost the same. I never have put on an album by Bon Jovi and I never will Actually, that's not strictly true. I bought their first album whenever it was ('86?) on the strength of all the music press hype. I honestly should have known better. I detested every note from start to finish so that was that. My sister likes them (him?) though. We do have some interesting discussions Back in the mid 80s, a girlfriend and just about all females I knew, of a similar age at the time, were keen on Bon Jovi. 'Livin' On A Prayer' seemed to be the one that had them hooked. Incidentally there is a bit of a Quo link with Bon Jovi in the shape of 'Rockin' All Over The World'. Has been a part of their set for a long time, I think. In fact there is some youtube footage of BJ being joined on stage by Steven Van Zandt at Wembley in '95. John BJ introduces the song by talking about Live Aid and how the song kicked it all off. He doesn't actually mention Quo by name though. I remember seeing Steven Van Zandt on the bill with Quo at Crystal Palace in '84. He must have struck up a friendship of sorts with Rossi as they sat together backstage at Live Aid in '85. My teenage daughter has just discovered Bon Jovi, well more specifically their 'Wanted Dead or Alive' track via the medium of spotify! I keep hearing that one at the moment. There is footage on youtube of Bon Jovi playing this track live on stage in Moscow ('89?). Sambora used a triple neck guitar (the flash git! ) a mandolin, standard and a 12 string guitar, I think. Actually I can respect that from a guitarist's viewpoint and the dramatic tension of the intro on stage! I won't let Mr BJ hijack this thread. I just thought I'd mention my disdain for the man, his band and his music from the word 'go'. Not that he'll lose any sleep I don't suppose However, a little anecdote comes to mind. My mates at work knew of my less than complimentary opinions so a few years ago for my birthday they secretly enrolled me in the Bon Jovi fan club. And then proceeded to order me a stars and stripes bandana. The ba$tards Of course, from then on, I received all manner of correspondence and offers. All of which I declined. I couldn't unsubscribe or delete them because they got I.T. involved and somehow they prevented me! All jolly good fun of course. So I retired And what happens? He only goes and releases a new album this year called, imaginatively, 2020. Not even a pandemic can stop him
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Post by dennis on Aug 5, 2020 13:02:25 GMT
Back in the mid 80s, a girlfriend and just about all females I knew, of a similar age at the time, were keen on Bon Jovi. 'Livin' On A Prayer' seemed to be the one that had them hooked. Incidentally there is a bit of a Quo link with Bon Jovi in the shape of 'Rockin' All Over The World'. Has been a part of their set for a long time, I think. In fact there is some youtube footage of BJ being joined on stage by Steven Van Zandt at Wembley in '95. John BJ introduces the song by talking about Live Aid and how the song kicked it all off. He doesn't actually mention Quo by name though. I remember seeing Steven Van Zandt on the bill with Quo at Crystal Palace in '84. He must have struck up a friendship of sorts with Rossi as they sat together backstage at Live Aid in '85. My teenage daughter has just discovered Bon Jovi, well more specifically their 'Wanted Dead or Alive' track via the medium of spotify! I keep hearing that one at the moment. There is footage on youtube of Bon Jovi playing this track live on stage in Moscow ('89?). Sambora used a triple neck guitar (the flash git! ) a mandolin, standard and a 12 string guitar, I think. Actually I can respect that from a guitarist's viewpoint and the dramatic tension of the intro on stage! I won't let Mr BJ hijack this thread. I just thought I'd mention my disdain for the man, his band and his music from the word 'go'. Not that he'll lose any sleep I don't suppose However, a little anecdote comes to mind. My mates at work knew of my less than complimentary opinions so a few years ago for my birthday they secretly enrolled me in the Bon Jovi fan club. And then proceeded to order me a stars and stripes bandana. The ba$tards Of course, from then on, I received all manner of correspondence and offers. All of which I declined. I couldn't unsubscribe or delete them because they got I.T. involved and somehow they prevented me! All jolly good fun of course. So I retired And what happens? He only goes and releases a new album this year called, imaginatively, 2020. Not even a pandemic can stop him 2020? What a visionary!
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,775
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 Aug 5, 2020 13:08:55 GMT
I won't let Mr BJ hijack this thread. I just thought I'd mention my disdain for the man, his band and his music from the word 'go'. Not that he'll lose any sleep I don't suppose However, a little anecdote comes to mind. My mates at work knew of my less than complimentary opinions so a few years ago for my birthday they secretly enrolled me in the Bon Jovi fan club. And then proceeded to order me a stars and stripes bandana. The ba$tards Of course, from then on, I received all manner of correspondence and offers. All of which I declined. I couldn't unsubscribe or delete them because they got I.T. involved and somehow they prevented me! All jolly good fun of course. So I retired And what happens? He only goes and releases a new album this year called, imaginatively, 2020. Not even a pandemic can stop him 2020? What a visionary! Along with Ronan Keating apparently. The marketing men have gone to town this year Sorry, marketing individuals with a knob
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Post by paradiseflats on Aug 5, 2020 13:23:50 GMT
Back in the mid 80s, a girlfriend and just about all females I knew, of a similar age at the time, were keen on Bon Jovi. 'Livin' On A Prayer' seemed to be the one that had them hooked. Incidentally there is a bit of a Quo link with Bon Jovi in the shape of 'Rockin' All Over The World'. Has been a part of their set for a long time, I think. In fact there is some youtube footage of BJ being joined on stage by Steven Van Zandt at Wembley in '95. John BJ introduces the song by talking about Live Aid and how the song kicked it all off. He doesn't actually mention Quo by name though. I remember seeing Steven Van Zandt on the bill with Quo at Crystal Palace in '84. He must have struck up a friendship of sorts with Rossi as they sat together backstage at Live Aid in '85. My teenage daughter has just discovered Bon Jovi, well more specifically their 'Wanted Dead or Alive' track via the medium of spotify! I keep hearing that one at the moment. There is footage on youtube of Bon Jovi playing this track live on stage in Moscow ('89?). Sambora used a triple neck guitar (the flash git! ) a mandolin, standard and a 12 string guitar, I think. Actually I can respect that from a guitarist's viewpoint and the dramatic tension of the intro on stage! I won't let Mr BJ hijack this thread. I just thought I'd mention my disdain for the man, his band and his music from the word 'go'. Not that he'll lose any sleep I don't suppose However, a little anecdote comes to mind. My mates at work knew of my less than complimentary opinions so a few years ago for my birthday they secretly enrolled me in the Bon Jovi fan club. And then proceeded to order me a stars and stripes bandana. The ba$tards Of course, from then on, I received all manner of correspondence and offers. All of which I declined. I couldn't unsubscribe or delete them because they got I.T. involved and somehow they prevented me! All jolly good fun of course. So I retired And what happens? He only goes and releases a new album this year called, imaginatively, 2020. Not even a pandemic can stop him As a ‘man’ I have time for his charity work which seems genuine. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.today.com/today/amp/tdna176535
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Post by paradiseflats on Aug 5, 2020 13:34:38 GMT
Now getting back to the thread. How I view it, will be influenced by where I was at.
I really didn’t like the way the band had returned and musically the album just was vastly inferior to what I enjoyed in my view.
1988 ? Where was I musically ?
Metallica And justice.... Queensrÿche Operation Mindcrime DLR Skyscraper Bon Jovi New Jersey Slayer South of Heaven Living Colour Vivid Pixies Surfer Rosa
It’s about opinions but whatever their strengths or weaknesses the albums didn’t suffer from 80s production.
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