Rick Parfitt - Trouble in Paradise

Alan Lancasteritis 👏🏻👏🏻😂

This is what was missing from the Hello Quo documentary for me. A more in depth look at post 1986. As much as I prefer the 70s material and the, "classic line-up." Their story has been done to death. But as usual the documentary just zoomed through the post '86 period up to present day via some brief mentions of the novelty stunts they did to keep the profile raised.

As for what he says in this clip. He may be correct that the band wasn't pulling together as a band and producing the right music. But if he isn't going to make the effort to get in there and work on the material, then what could he have expected?

How could I play this to my family? That's what I am sure he wanted to say there.

Could say that...
Reading between the lines, Francis wanted to be in control. He brought his songs forward, he was doing everything, Rick was told he wasn't needed on days he went in. Rick was insecure and he saw what happened Alan when he tried to put forward stuff and ideas.

Granted, Rick could have helped the album, but if that is the case above, can't really blame him for not wanting to rock the cradle. Plus, he wasn't exactly writing anything particularly good at the time

Interesting stuff. Obviously all in retrospect because, at the time and during the promotion for it, Rick was extolling the virtues of the more "guitar sounding - back to basics" Perfect Remedy. Which I suppose you'd expect when you want to sell records and the music company insists. But very few fell for it, hence the lowly chart position post Ain't Complaining and the uninspired Not At All single. 

It's funny him mentioning the line from Man Overboard. I thought that was pretty much the best track on the album  But the production of the whole thing was very flat. There was no 'crunch' for want of a better word. 

I think the album sort of sums up some of Quo's long term issues which have never really been resolved. Francis is by far and away the most prolific songwriter in the band; always has been. But the general direction that he wants to take the music, certainly without Bob in tow, differs from the others. So when everyone else isn't coming up with much, you get a lot of material that he may like but which is not very popular with everyone else, including the fans.

That's a generalisation of course. Rick made no contribution to the writing on the Dog album but it's still a classic. However, they were in their twenties and even Francis had an edge to his writing and musical approach back in the early 70's.

I agree that this stuff is way more interesting than much of the Hello Quo! documentary but that had a cinema release so I imagine the in depth information about specific albums or recordings wasn't what was asked for.