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Post by juansupposin on Dec 15, 2022 10:03:03 GMT
I quite liked when it was released, I remember reading an interview back then , I believe it was çin a Spanish magazine (Popular 1 or Heavy rock maybe) Francis saying how much he got bored recording Aint Complaining, saying that the song was a complete shit, it had not chorus etc.. As a Young Quo fan I couldn't believe a musician could speak like this of his own music, it took me a while, probably some months to understand he was right, I guess from a musician perspective , someone who has recorded over decades this should be usual( Not to be happy with your own music).
But if you ask Francis about the recording 2 years later of PERFECT REMEDY probably he would say that he enjoyed it...
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Dec 15, 2022 11:20:08 GMT
Francis likes a catchy melody and a hook. Something that grabs the attention of as many people as possible when it's played on the radio. I think pretty much the whole of Backbone is like that and it detracts from it, although I prefer it as an album to Ain't Complaining. Ain't Complaining, the title track, doesn't really have that radio hook so, for me, that makes it stand out as probably the best track on there. And the 12" especially so. I do like the title track. Always have. But the video that accompanied it was awful. Worst they ever made, so that did the single no favours. But my agenda and musical taste is different to Francis's. Always has been. I suppose like many Quo fans, I like as many changes in tempo as they can fit in as well as that melody and the hook. I like lengthier musical breaks. None of those make a song particularly radio friendly, if that's where your agenda is. It's also probably why I'm not a rock star. Well, that and a lack of talent
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Post by 4th Chord on Dec 15, 2022 11:30:23 GMT
Public Service Announcement: Those who use the title track to test they have their speakers wired up correctly should know that 'there's nothing left' comes out the right speaker, and 'there's nothing right' comes out the left speaker.
You're welcome.
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Dark
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Post by Dark on Dec 15, 2022 12:41:55 GMT
I really like the track, think it is a great 80s ballad and had it been put out in the US by one of the hair metal tracks prevalent at the time, then I think it could have been a really bit hit. Is melodic and it builds to a nice crescendo, and has that great thing with bands with more than one singer, when Rick comes in for the bridge and lifts the song by virtue of another voice taking over.
For me, I think there are some genuinely great songs on that album. Definitely not tracks you would associate with the Quo sound. It definitely makes a mockery of all Rick's claims during interviews that Quo were like an old steam train that would head on down the tracks ignoring the current musical trends and fashions.
If I was in the mood to listen to some Status Quo then I wouldn't go near this album. But if I fancied listening to some polished AOR with lots of melodic hooks, then Ain't Complainin', particularly Side One, is a good shout for me.
I was surprised when reading Rossi's book that he said this album was terrible due to having to make room for contributions from everyone regardless of quality. While Perfect Remedy was superior, as him and Frost contributed the majority of tracks, leading to great quality control. Personally I think it is the other way round, and Ain't Complainin' is the far superior album of the two.
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Post by backbone on Dec 15, 2022 14:18:02 GMT
If this song had been done by Bryan Adams, phil collins or Rod Stewart or one of those 80s euro pop bands it could have been a massive hit. Quo do a Good version but a little too off the wall. They released similar in Who Gets the love and that wasn’t really successful. Exactly - musical snobbery. A great track
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Dec 15, 2022 14:30:55 GMT
If this song had been done by Bryan Adams, phil collins or Rod Stewart or one of those 80s euro pop bands it could have been a massive hit. Quo do a Good version but a little too off the wall. They released similar in Who Gets the love and that wasn’t really successful. Exactly - musical snobbery.A great track Of course it is. We're rock fans. It's a given
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Post by 4th Chord on Dec 15, 2022 14:47:27 GMT
It's probably telling that listening to gav's link is the first time I've heard it since 1988. Made me quite emotional listening to it, thinking of the time that's passed since we were young, hearts broken along the way, laughter, tears, new places travelled, loved ones lost, we're all older, wiser...at peace with who we are. Track's still fucking pish mind.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Dec 15, 2022 14:58:48 GMT
It's probably telling that listening to gav 's link is the first time I've heard it since 1988. Made me quite emotional listening to it, thinking of the time that's passed since we were young, hearts broken along the way, laughter, tears, new places travelled, loved ones lost, we're all older, wiser...at peace with who we are. Track's still fucking pish mind. I wasn't even young in 1988! At peace with who I am? Yep. Because half the time I can't remember who I am. Nurse, the screens! I've spilt my yoghurt. Oh, hang on....
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Post by musiktruhe on Dec 15, 2022 16:38:21 GMT
Quo were never good in making good AOR Rock, Rossi was and is never a good singer for emotional ballads. Quo were good like in making boogie rock and they were good in making rock and they were good in making boogie rock. That would have been enough sadly one the four had other plans.
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Post by freewilly on Dec 15, 2022 16:49:40 GMT
I was surprised when reading Rossi's book that he said this album was terrible due to having to make room for contributions from everyone regardless of quality. While Perfect Remedy was superior, as him and Frost contributed the majority of tracks, leading to great quality control. Personally I think it is the other way round, and Ain't Complainin' is the far superior album of the two. You've a lot to learn my friend...
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tqontq
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Post by tqontq on Dec 15, 2022 22:37:10 GMT
Quo were never good in making good AOR Rock, Rossi was and is never a good singer for emotional ballads. Quo were good like in making boogie rock and they were good in making rock and they were good in making boogie rock. That would have been enough sadly one the four had other plans. And that's where it all went horribly wrong. Quo with their MOR/AOR commercial pop output are mediocre at best. Downright terrible at worst - and there was plenty of that. They, and I include everyone in the band here, have very little talent in that genre of music. Its just not their 'thing'. They are no good at it. Not by any stretch. The problem was they never recognised this and carried on regardless thinking this is what the public wanted and what Francis wanted to product in the bucket loads. They only got by as well as they did by relying on their back catalogue and long standing reputation and brand recognition built and generated during their heyday. Quo as a pop band would never have had a look in by both the industry and the fans had they not already built up their legacy from what came before. Quo as a pop band/brand are absolutely terrible. No redeeming features whatsoever.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Dec 16, 2022 8:01:37 GMT
I think the point about AOR or more accessible rock is fairly valid but, for me, I don't think Quo are particularly bad at it. It's just a style of rock music I personally can't be bothered with. I find most of it extremely bland. In other words, although it's all down to taste, I don't think anyone is any good at it It was that blandness that resulted in the late 80's albums and also Thirsty Work. The albums that pretty much turned many Quo fans away after years of following the band. For me, they got their mojo back but, for many, it was too late. I Know You're Leaving is nowhere near the worst track from that period. Not even close. I guess Quo wanted more strings to their bow, which is fair enough. Unfortunately, Quo fans - and most of the public ironically - didn't want them to vary the music to that degree. Record sales proved that.
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Post by MrWaistcoat on Dec 16, 2022 8:07:51 GMT
It's a good song song but imo totally wrong for Quo. It was almost a single. Might have suited the Bee Jees
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Post by 4th Chord on Dec 16, 2022 9:49:16 GMT
I think the point about AOR or more accessible rock is fairly valid but, for me, I don't think Quo are particularly bad at it. It's just a style of rock music I personally can't be bothered with. I find most of it extremely bland. In other words, although it's all down to taste, I don't think anyone is any good at it It was that blandness that resulted in the late 80's albums and also Thirsty Work. The albums that pretty much turned many Quo fans away after years of following the band. For me, they got their mojo back but, for many, it was too late. I Know You're Leaving is nowhere near the worst track from that period. Not even close. I guess Quo wanted more strings to their bow, which is fair enough. Unfortunately, Quo fans - and most of the public ironically - didn't want them to vary the music to that degree. Record sales proved that. Love a bit of yacht rock! You just like a racket made by a bunch of yobbos where you can't even understand what they're saying!
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Dec 16, 2022 11:47:31 GMT
Right, let's have a look at these: Journey - could never stick' em. Sorry. They pretty much sum up, maybe even define, AOR. Adult oriented? Hmph 😝 Climax Blues Band - Terrific stuff. No way are they AOR. Never have been 😛 Jackson Browne - Nah Al Stewart - Not really Bread - Definitely not Gerry Rafferty - The finest vocalist and songwriter ever. You leave him out of this Bill LaBounty - Very early 80's. Can't say I've heard of him. But Wikipedia says his background is 'soft rock'. I rest my case. That's a contradiction in terms But as one outsize person of some note once said, 2 out of 7 ain't bad. Or something
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