gerh
Grizzled Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 2,946
Favourite Quo Album: 'Hello' [and 'Quo Live']
Favourite other bands.: Zappa, Kansas, Rush, Deep Purple, Yes, Richard Thompson, Horslips, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest etc etc. [ANYONE but Kiss!]
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Post by gerh on Oct 2, 2020 14:01:27 GMT
I'm falling over myself to do this 'cos my memory of it from the time of its release is still painful [putting it mildly!] and I'm bloody well not putting it on now either!! I liked [nothing more tho'] the first 4 tracks, esp. TCTTG which I still think is one of their best and most emotive songs. I find/found that if I approach B2B 'as an album that sounds somewhat like a group I used to love called Quo' then I can just about tolerate MT too. Everything else on it though is pure and 100% shite and an embarrassment to what went before it [including even the PMM and SP albums which I have only ever listened to once - such is the esteem I hold them in!!] - the Reissues ['Cadillac Ranch', apart] did nothing to change what I think - it's just feckin' awful tripe. I'd go as far as to say that after this I completely, and without regret, abandoned Quo until I heard 'Heavy Traffic' and I've only dipped back in occasionally since then [FF13/14 excepted of course!]
Have a nice day! 🙄
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Post by sqcollector on Oct 2, 2020 14:58:11 GMT
Interestingly (or not) one track left off was the cover of Cadillac Ranch. OK, not exactly vintage all guns blazing Quo but still the best thing they did from that entire sorry episode. Why it was left off, only those in control of such things can answer. Even if it had been a single B-side it would have brightened my demeanour a little. I think Cadillac Ranch (and The Wanderer) were recorded later, after the album release. But yeah, the sound and the mood on Cadillac Ranch is better in my opinion too.
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Post by frozenhero on Oct 2, 2020 17:06:51 GMT
Things were so bad, I turned to Tears for Fears, Nik Kershaw and Thompson Twins. Could've done worse! The thing about Alan's lead vocal on ORB is a strange conundrum. Especially since Francis went away and remixed the track to make it sound like full-blown pop. I don't like the composition as-is much, but the more stripped down version with Alan's lead vocal does have a bit more grit to it. Still hate the awkward "Pictures of Lily" reference and the fact that the title has "blues" in it but no "blues" in the music to be found... always found that disappointing. The only song that I have no problems with admitting to liking is "Can't Be Done"... that tuned down guitar just sold me instantly. "Too Close to the Ground" is OK, but it just somehow passes me by. "Stay the Night" is OK too, and "A Mess of the Blues" could've been a good cover if it had gotten the production of "The Wanderer". As it is, Pete's flabby drum sound really sticks out negatively.
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gav
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 2,149
Favourite Quo Album: On The Level
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Post by gav on Oct 2, 2020 17:14:02 GMT
Interestingly (or not) one track left off was the cover of Cadillac Ranch. OK, not exactly vintage all guns blazing Quo but still the best thing they did from that entire sorry episode. Why it was left off, only those in control of such things can answer. Even if it had been a single B-side it would have brightened my demeanour a little. Two cover versions on a 7"? Guessing they couldn't lose the songwriting royalties twice!
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gav
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 2,149
Favourite Quo Album: On The Level
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Post by gav on Oct 2, 2020 17:22:04 GMT
Still hate the awkward "Pictures of Lily" reference and the fact that the title has "blues" in it but no "blues" in the music to be found... always found that disappointing. So this "pictures of lily" thing - i believe Pete Townshend is quoted as saying The Who song of the same name is about masturbation.
So "pictures of lily crying...you know what i mean?" - is that a wink wink, nudge nudge, or is ORB about growing out of younger habits of something, the faded, ragged jeans a metaphor for youth, and maybe a signal of Quo's more AOR/MOR direction - getting older.
I wonder if that was Alan's lyric, or Keith Lamb's? Which one had decided to abstain? I guess we'll never know.
Asking for a friend, btw.
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Post by railroad007 on Oct 2, 2020 18:38:47 GMT
I sighed when I played it and never went back to it.
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viza
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 411
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Post by viza on Oct 2, 2020 19:16:09 GMT
Maybe their worst album so far but not as bad as it became later in the 80's and even some albums in the 90's and 20's. Overall it's actually listenable.
It starts of with a little sleepy version of Mess of the Blues.
I like Ol' Rag Blues and even if I understand the record company's desition to release the Rossi-version I do prefer the version with Alan's vocals. Great lead guitar parts on this song.
Can't Be Done is OK i guess
Too Close to the Ground is probably the best song of the album, beautiful.
I used to think No Contract was great but now it's not even sounding heavy anymore. It's like it's going nowhere. This must be a drum machine right?
Win or Loose is to popy for my taste. I don't want this kind of music from Quo. It's a catchy melody though and it gets stuck in the head.
Have changed my mind about Marguerite Time. It's still not a song I want from Quo but I don't hate it anymore. It actually has some great melodies.
Your Kind of Love is OK. It brings another harmonic feel to the album.
Stay the Night is OK.
I don't understand Going Down Town Tonight at all. Don't think it's a great song to begin with but it's totally destroyed by the production and all the synthezisers.
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viza
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 411
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Post by viza on Oct 2, 2020 19:27:27 GMT
Still hate the awkward "Pictures of Lily" reference and the fact that the title has "blues" in it but no "blues" in the music to be found... always found that disappointing. So this "pictures of lily" thing - i believe Pete Townshend is quoted as saying The Who song of the same name is about masturbation.
So "pictures of lily crying...you know what i mean?" - is that a wink wink, nudge nudge, or is ORB about growing out of younger habits of something, the faded, ragged jeans a metaphor for youth, and maybe a signal of Quo's more AOR/MOR direction - getting older.
I wonder if that was Alan's lyric, or Keith Lamb's? Which one had decided to abstain? I guess we'll never know.
Asking for a friend, btw.
I've read an interview with Alan where he said that he and Lamb wrote different parts of that song on their own and that "Lamb came up with the When you look into the mirror-part" what exactly that means. That could be everything from that exact line to all the verse parts I guess.
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Post by blagult on Oct 2, 2020 22:57:09 GMT
Not good. I do like the first 4 then the rest of the album is just a mish mash of crap. As for GDTT and that organ sound..I still shudder !! I good indicator that Quo were losing the plot was WOL. I remember buying the Lew Lewis version (Single) a good while, maybe even a year or more, before Quo released their version. I loved Lewis’s version and I was really looking forward to hearing the track on B2B. After all it was Francis who gave the track to Lew. What a major disappointment when the track started playing that was in comparison. Lew’s version sounded more old Quo than what Quo recorded here !!
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,835
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 Oct 3, 2020 7:01:24 GMT
Incidentally, just as an aside. I know the album tends to get a panning on here but the Aquostic II version of A Mess of Blues blows the Back to Back version out of the water.
It's much more sympathetic in feel to the Elvis original and is actually very listenable. One of the music paper reviews of the 1983 recording said that Quo had become a parody of themselves with it. Couldn't really disagree entirely with that.
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gav
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 2,149
Favourite Quo Album: On The Level
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Post by gav on Oct 3, 2020 10:03:03 GMT
Incidentally, just as an aside. I know the album tends to get a panning on here but the Aquostic II version of A Mess of Blues blows the Back to Back version out of the water. It's much more sympathetic in feel to the Elvis original and is actually very listenable. One of the music paper reviews of the 1983 recording said that Quo had become a parody of themselves with it. Couldn't really disagree entirely with that. Agree with you there, it's one of the very few Quo-sounding tracks that transposed to the Aquostic format well, without descending into accordian-based parody. Retains that earthy Quo feel and bounce. Nice solo, and good to hear Rick doing the harmony vocal and not the girls, as it should be - reminds you that the harmonies between FR & RP were important to the Quo sound.
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Post by paradiseflats on Oct 3, 2020 10:13:40 GMT
It might be the case with other albums. As I listen to hardly anything after Never too late. But this must be the most imbalanced album put out under the name Status Quo.
Side A is not too bad and would be better if the production wasn’t so poor. Side B is pretty poor. But in line with what Francis would write for years without Bob to reign him in.
I really like Ol rag blues. I know a lot don’t. But it’s as good as any single they released in the next 20 years. For me. It’s the pop rock, they wanted to do. Your kind of love isn’t bad.
Has this thread made me think I should go back to it again. Well no.
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Post by Quoincidence on Oct 3, 2020 12:51:00 GMT
The Wanderer and Cadillac Ranch weren't recorded until September 1984, so they weren't even in the running for the Back To Back album which was recorded in early 1983
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Dark
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 334
Favourite Quo Album: Quo
Favourite other bands.: Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Huey Lewis,
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Post by Dark on Oct 3, 2020 14:50:50 GMT
This was the first Quo album I ever owned, got it on cassette along with a walkman for Christmas in ’85. Already had 7” singles for Ol’ Rag Blues, Going Down Town Tonight & The Wanderer, which, including b-sides, meant I already had 5 of the 10 songs included.
Obviously I wasn’t coming at the album encumbered by the weight of golden period in the 70s. And I can step back and see why those who were dislike this album with a passion. But to me at the time this album was bright, full of energy with great songs, and it still feels that way to me today.
In saying that, I do think it starts a bit weakly with Mess of the Blues, which is okay, just a bit dull. But the rest of side 1 for me is just fantastic. Can’t Be Done has been a favourite of mine since I first heard it, and it gets regular play to this day. Too Close to the Ground I didn’t really like as a kid, thought it quite dull. But now I love it, really emotive, especially the guitar solo. I wish a version with Rick singing it did exist, as I do enjoy both the versions of Ol ‘Rag Blues. As an aside, I think back in the day that would have made good b-sides, alternative lead vocals on tracks.
I actually don’t have a problem with the 80s production on No Contract, think it quite suits the song. Think that track really rocks. On the other hand the 80s production was taken far too far on the closing track on side B, with Going Down Town Tonight. I don’t find the second side quite as strong, Win or Lose is a decent sing-a-long pop rock track. The most divisive song on the track, Marguerita Time. Sometimes when it comes on I can get really into the track as a really good melodic tune, other times it just completely annoys me!
Your Kind of Love & Stay the Night, for me are two great commercial hard rock tunes. Think they would well suit Planet Rock if they were ever to play them.
Of the two songs recorded in the aftermath, I’m a real fan of the Wanderer, but when I first heard CadillacRanch on the Rockers Rollin boxset I was pretty unimpressed, really don’t think it is that good.
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Post by dontthinkitmatters on Oct 3, 2020 19:57:51 GMT
I'd given up with them with the previous 1982 album , so dont think I have ever listened to B2B in its entirety . Having said that, when I last listened to 1982, (probably as a result of this Album of the Month thread), I found it so much better than some of the later dross and probably not as bad as I remember back in the day.
As a result, I shall give B2B a fair spin with an open mind. Probably compare it to later Quo albums rather than anything from the classic period.
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