Why was Alan's lead vocals never on any singles?

Ol' Rag Blues?

I think the question is here is one that Alan wondered aloud. No doubt his feelings contributed to the break up

In fairness to Francis and the record company, not many spring to mind as radio friendly. It would have been great to see how Backwater might have got on if it had had the nod over BTR

In the record company's mind, even back in the 70s and 80s, Quo were Rossi and Parfitt, the front and centre of the band, and anything for release would include either one or the other singing - and not Lancaster! Alan reminds me oddly of Brian Jones from The Stones, one of the founding members, who ultimately gets side-lined by band-mates who can control the band narrative better than they can. Sad but true!

Just marketing reasons. Francis was seen as the frontman from the off and Rick secondary when he joined the band. Perhaps some of Alan’s songs weren’t strong enough no offence. Backwater was the band’s preferred choice as single until the record company insisted on Break the rules instead. I suppose not many groups have three lead singers. The Beatles stones and the who did but rarely got any singles with John Entwhistle , Bill Wyman singing on them. Even bands like Queen had 3 singers but none of Roger Taylor’s or Brian may’s ones got put out.

Alan's Who Asked You, would of made a good 3rd choice single from the Whatever You Want album as it was completely different to Living On An Island.

But Alan doesn't sing lead vocals on Who asked you.

I understand why the Record company went with the Rossi sung, Ol' Rag Blues, as he was the recognised frontman of the band, and had sung lead on the majority of their singles. But I think from a marketing opportunity, to have released the Lancaster version. Surely they could have got column inches/coverage out of saying, for the first time here is a single release sung by Alan. Actually made a thing about it.

On the topic of who sung the singles. There was that period in the mid to late 70s where you had Rick sing a few, two each from Blue For You & Whatever You Want, plus Again & Again. After which it never happened again, unless you count Don't Drive My Car, but for all you can say it was a double A-side, in reality it was on the flip side of the vinyl. So other than tracks which had a Rick sung verse or bridge, the record company decided to only release Rossi sung tracks.