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Post by dennis on Apr 28, 2023 16:05:46 GMT
That's a valid point 👍 My main gripe is, he's barely had a good word to say about them in 35 years. The articles are now not worth reading and I think the writings are tainted because the band have produced some very good stuff, especially since the turn of the millennium. We all have our opinions and are all entitled to them. He just has a journalistic forum on which to foist them on us. He was quite positive in regards Heavy Traffic and ISOTFC and QPQ if I remember correctly (Could be wrong, open to correction) However, it's a fact. A lot of stuff they produced post 81, in comparison to what came before it, is not great. Emotion, feeling and commitment levels are not even comparable. No one can deny that. Ling also saw through the Rossi/Parfitt side show and saw what the band were turning/turned into. I respect a guy for calling it out and asking the real questions. Do I agree with everything he writes? No. But, in a world where journalists tell us that Rossi lived in campervan, Freddie Starr ate a hamster, where they hounded a dying man in Freddie Mercury or where they labelled Michael Jackson "jacko" (slang for monkey) and come out with headlines like "The Jappos go wild for Jacko," I'd rather read a journalist with integrity than any of the rest of them Really? I've never heard that, ever. Is that an Americanism?
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Post by 4th Chord on Apr 28, 2023 17:09:43 GMT
He was quite positive in regards Heavy Traffic and ISOTFC and QPQ if I remember correctly (Could be wrong, open to correction) However, it's a fact. A lot of stuff they produced post 81, in comparison to what came before it, is not great. Emotion, feeling and commitment levels are not even comparable. No one can deny that. Ling also saw through the Rossi/Parfitt side show and saw what the band were turning/turned into. I respect a guy for calling it out and asking the real questions. Do I agree with everything he writes? No. But, in a world where journalists tell us that Rossi lived in campervan, Freddie Starr ate a hamster, where they hounded a dying man in Freddie Mercury or where they labelled Michael Jackson "jacko" (slang for monkey) and come out with headlines like "The Jappos go wild for Jacko," I'd rather read a journalist with integrity than any of the rest of them Really? I've never heard that, ever. Is that an Americanism? It probably is coincidence, but you could certainly imagine the sleazeball journalists of the time laughing at how clever they were using the name. "Jacko Macacco" was the name of a famous monkey used in monkey-baiting matches at the Westminster Pit in London in the early 1820s. Subsequently, the term "Jacco" or "Jacco Macacco" was Cockney slang to refer to monkeys in general."
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Post by dennis on Apr 28, 2023 17:18:40 GMT
Really? I've never heard that, ever. Is that an Americanism? It probably is coincidence, but you could certainly imagine the sleazeball journalists of the time laughing at how clever they were using the name. "Jacko Macacco" was the name of a famous monkey used in monkey-baiting matches at the Westminster Pit in London in the early 1820s. Subsequently, the term "Jacco" or "Jacco Macacco" was Cockney slang to refer to monkeys in general." Ah, cockernees - say no more. Although, if it wasn't widely known as a racial slur then maybe the "journalists" weren't so clever after all. I think it's more likely that they went for the idea that jacko rhymed with wacko, tbh.
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Post by freewilly on Apr 28, 2023 18:04:18 GMT
It probably is coincidence, but you could certainly imagine the sleazeball journalists of the time laughing at how clever they were using the name. "Jacko Macacco" was the name of a famous monkey used in monkey-baiting matches at the Westminster Pit in London in the early 1820s. Subsequently, the term "Jacco" or "Jacco Macacco" was Cockney slang to refer to monkeys in general." Ah, cockernees - say no more. Although, if it wasn't widely known as a racial slur then maybe the "journalists" weren't so clever after all. I think it's more likely that they went for the idea that jacko rhymed with wacko, tbh. That's what I always thought. Then, I saw the publication who were one of the first printing it. Given their history, I wouldn't be surprised if they knew what it originally meant. Anyways, that's my point above. I'd much rather read about music from a journalist like Ling, as opposed to any of those sleaze bags, who print anything, good or bad, true or false, just to generate money, or clicks as it's now known as
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allyp
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 577
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Post by allyp on Apr 29, 2023 10:50:43 GMT
Francis was always consistent in interviews and even now defends this period but has admitted this particular album wasn’t very good now. Rick seem to flit around on opinion depending who he was talking to and often contradicted on the output not sure if he didn’t want to upset francis at times.
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gav
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 2,152
Favourite Quo Album: On The Level
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Post by gav on Apr 29, 2023 11:08:12 GMT
I'd honestly have thought Ain't Complaining would still be rated highly by Francis - seems like it would be right up his street. Maybe it was made during a bad period in his life or something, or through a haze of something and he can't remember.
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Post by The Lord Flasheart on Apr 29, 2023 20:30:54 GMT
I'd honestly have thought Ain't Complaining would still be rated highly by Francis - seems like it would be right up his street. Maybe it was made during a bad period in his life or something, or through a haze of something and he can't remember. He only likes Burning Bridges from it, while I still love this album (album of my youth) It's quite standalone with the 80s production. ITAN is different and PR is underdeveloped. RTYD is the album Francis still loves and it was a massive return to form, though Rick hated that one. I should think Francis is not a fan of the 2 Rick 80s Rock tracks and he only has 4 songs co-written by him.
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Post by blagult on Apr 29, 2023 21:45:26 GMT
I think your spot on in that it is a stand alone album by the band especially in sound. Obviously aimed commercially to what was the popular sound at that time. It’s totally different to anything else and I think that is why I quite like the album. I really like the production on it. Sometimes it’s just worth a listen for that reason. for me anyway.
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matt
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 1,013
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Post by matt on Apr 30, 2023 8:09:39 GMT
I'd honestly have thought Ain't Complaining would still be rated highly by Francis - seems like it would be right up his street. Maybe it was made during a bad period in his life or something, or through a haze of something and he can't remember. He only likes Burning Bridges from it, while I still love this album (album of my youth) It's quite standalone with the 80s production. ITAN is different and PR is underdeveloped. RTYD is the album Francis still loves and it was a massive return to form, though Rick hated that one. I should think Francis is not a fan of the 2 Rick 80s Rock tracks and he only has 4 songs co-written by him. Sounds like we are of s similar age. AC was the first album I bought with my own money - £4.99 from Morrisons. I have a particular affinity with it. The production is slick and tight and sound expensive. Whether it’s what’s expected for quo is debatable but I think there’s far worse albums. Uti while having some good tracks sounds really done on the cheap to me.
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 5,861
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 Apr 30, 2023 8:24:10 GMT
Ain't Complaining was a bit disappointing for me (being one of those of greater vintage ). I really liked the title track when it came out as a single, especially the 12" version, but the rest of it just wasn't my thing. I'd actually liked In The Army Now and, although different from classic Quo, I thought it was much better than the last two they recorded with Alan. Perfect Remedy was a step too far and I don't like most of it at all. I find it all a bit too bland. A bit too safe. I didn't realise Rick hated Rock 'til You Drop. I also can't think why. At the time, it was easily their best release in 10 years. I think both Francis and Rick changed their views over the years about this album and that. Those they can actually remember. Which they are perfectly entitled to do, just like the rest of us. But they're unfortunate to have a fan base that can recount every word that's come out of their mouths, because its all been documented.
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Post by MrWaistcoat on Apr 30, 2023 12:21:15 GMT
Fancy telling a HM magazine that it's fine if you want to call us a pop band!
I remember being depressed reading it at the same. Worse was the Quo poster that came with, utterly cringing as I recall
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allyp
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 577
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Post by allyp on Apr 30, 2023 16:25:58 GMT
Ain’t complaining was one of the first Quo studio albums I heard from start to finish apart from Back to Back. These two albums probably not the best way to be introduced to the band but certainly made an impact to seek the superior back catalogue a short while after. It is very much a product of the time dabbling with new production techniques and trying to appeal to various audiences. Rock music commercially generally was a bit out of fashion at the time apart from those american radio rock And the hair band power ballad thing. Maybe they should have stayed closer to what Bryan Adams was doing with maybe a hint of zz top added?? Obviously in interviews you are going to defend your product even if you have reservations and years later you can say it was in retrospect a load of crap looking back for example. Bowie did this and Elton too I think.
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Post by The Lord Flasheart on Apr 30, 2023 18:46:14 GMT
Ain’t complaining was one of the first Quo studio albums I heard from start to finish apart from Back to Back. These two albums probably not the best way to be introduced to the band but certainly made an impact to seek the superior back catalogue a short while after. It is very much a product of the time dabbling with new production techniques and trying to appeal to various audiences. Rock music commercially generally was a bit out of fashion at the time apart from those american radio rock And the hair band power ballad thing. Maybe they should have stayed closer to what Bryan Adams was doing with maybe a hint of zz top added?? Obviously in interviews you are going to defend your product even if you have reservations and years later you can say it was in retrospect a load of crap looking back for example. Bowie did this and Elton too I think. I was similar but it was initially 12 Gold Bars 1-2 but ITAN and AC were my first full albums before I was old enough to start buying the back catalogue. You can change your mind Roger Taylor kind of defended Hot Space at the time but now says it was awful.
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