roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 26, 2024 21:47:28 GMT
Francis didn't have a stab at a solo career until he was 36, and even then he was proped up by Bernie Frost.
Shouldn't Francis have gone solo long before that, or could that have been the end of Quo.
It just seems like 36 is old to start a solo career.
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Post by curiousgirl on Jul 27, 2024 10:21:36 GMT
An interesting topic but my first thought is why should Francis' have gone solo?
If he tried it first in his 30s and then later in 2010, but didn't in between, this makes me wonder 2 things.
Did he have enough things to say - musically? That is what drives solo artists, from my point of view. Eg Freddie (M) and his collaboration with Monsterrat Caballé and that track Barcelona is one that springs to mind. Or Mark Knopler who has no shortage of new songs and plenty of musicians who love to work with him. Or Jeff Beck who had so many types of guitar styles to play, that being in his own band was the way to go.
Working solo can be lonely. Even if you use other musicians to play live. It's all down to you coming up with good ideas. He learned to write music bouncing off with fellow musicians. Looking at how his career panned out, I don't see being solo suited him.
Or course, the cynics and maybe even Francis would say, it's all about the money. ie: Quo was a known product that could give him a living.
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Post by 4th Chord on Jul 27, 2024 10:55:31 GMT
None of Francis's solo stuff, IMO, has been strong enough commercially. His vocal style that works so well live on his acoustic tour, and on the best Quo tunes, doesn't work well where the vocal is the main focus. Exhibit A.
If the tunes are lightweight his vocal performance seems to be the same, and the overall effect isn't good. Not good at all.
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Post by curiousgirl on Jul 27, 2024 11:04:24 GMT
Agree 4th Chord. He needed to excel in one of those 2. Again Jeff Beck wasn't a singer but boy was he a great guitarist. |
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 27, 2024 11:25:59 GMT
I think, reading between the lines over the years, Francis has felt confined by Quo's music and the need for it to 'sound' like Quo. The repetition of shuffles and 12-bar music has come to bore him.
When the band strayed from that, the output is largely regarded as poor by most Quo fans. And I get the impression albums like Thirsty Work are, or were, more akin to what Francis wanted to do. And when it wasn't well received, the only way to do stuff like that was as a solo artist.
I wasn't keen on King of the Doghouse as an album but, looking back, it was really just a mutually convenient vehicle for Tony McAnany's songs with Francis as the name (and vocal) to give it some commercial presence.
I much preferred One Step At A Time but was it really no more than a lighter version of Quo at the end of the day?
We Talk Too Much just wasn't my thing. But Francis enjoyed making it and that's more important than anything.
It was all planned in the mid-80's when he and Bernie recorded together but history, and the record company, dictated that there was more money to be had elsewhere. The Rossi/Frost thing was never going to be a success and the failure of two singles paved the way for 'Quo's back'.
Francis is a talented musician and songwriter. In my opinion, Rhino is a talented musician and a better songwriter. But he's not commercially successful either. As has always been touted, Quo are the sum of all parts. And they were too well established by 1985/1995/2010 etc for anyone to make it as a solo artist, not just Francis.
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 28, 2024 6:45:36 GMT
An interesting topic but my first thought is why should Francis' have gone solo? If he tried it first in his 30s and then later in 2010, but didn't in between, this makes me wonder 2 things. Did he have enough things to say - musically? That is what drives solo artists, from my point of view. Eg Freddie (M) and his collaboration with Monsterrat Caballé and that track Barcelona is one that springs to mind. Or Mark Knopler who has no shortage of new songs and plenty of musicians who love to work with him. Or Jeff Beck who had so many types of guitar styles to play, that being in his own band was the way to go. Working solo can be lonely. Even if you use other musicians to play live. It's all down to you coming up with good ideas. He learned to write music bouncing off with fellow musicians. Looking at how his career panned out, I don't see being solo suited him. Or course, the cynics and maybe even Francis would say, it's all about the money. ie: Quo was a known product that could give him a living. No sorry I didn't mean I think Francis or Rick for that matter should have had a stab at a solo career in their younger years. I'd much rather have a Quo than either of them taking off as solo stars. I think what I meant, although didn't explain it well, was I often thought, why did Francis in particular bother to mold some kind of solo or semi solo career at 36, as we all know the music industry seems so fickle and suffers agism. It was always going to be a tall order for Francis to actually have success outside of Quo. I think we got so used to seeing him in that band situation, I think he actually looked really alone as a solo artist. I remember watching him on the Lottery show with Give myself to love, and I was willing him some success with it, but I was more distracted by the fact wheres Rick, wheres the band. It was really quite surreal. I suppose after Live Aid, Quo were done at that moment in time, so I guess Francis thought what the heck, I may aswell do something else than sit on my ass. Which kind of put him out there as a solo artist occasionally along side Quo, but Quo we're always going to over shadow his attempts at solo hits. It could be what kept Quo going for so long. In hindsight had Modern Romance and others been huge hits, Quo might have not been his priority anymore. Of course this is all hypothetical. |
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 28, 2024 6:58:41 GMT
I think, reading between the lines over the years, Francis has felt confined by Quo's music and the need for it to 'sound' like Quo. The repetition of shuffles and 12-bar music has come to bore him. When the band strayed from that, the output is largely regarded as poor by most Quo fans. And I get the impression albums like Thirsty Work are, or were, more akin to what Francis wanted to do. And when it wasn't well received, the only way to do stuff like that was as a solo artist. I wasn't keen on King of the Doghouse as an album but, looking back, it was really just a mutually convenient vehicle for Tony McAnany's songs with Francis as the name (and vocal) to give it some commercial presence. I much preferred One Step At A Time but was it really no more than a lighter version of Quo at the end of the day? We Talk Too Much just wasn't my thing. But Francis enjoyed making it and that's more important than anything. It was all planned in the mid-80's when he and Bernie recorded together but history, and the record company, dictated that there was more money to be had elsewhere. The Rossi/Frost thing was never going to be a success and the failure of two singles paved the way for 'Quo's back'. Francis is a talented musician and songwriter. In my opinion, Rhino is a talented musician and a better songwriter. But he's not commercially successful either. As has always been touted, Quo are the sum of all parts. And they were too well established by 1985/1995/2010 etc for anyone to make it as a solo artist, not just Francis. No true, but don't you think Francis was at a crossroads after Live Aid because he didn't want to work in Quo at that time, especially with Lancaster, so his two singles with Bernie Frost we're a pleasant distraction. I can't help but think had Modern Romance, and Jealousy actually we're big hits, Francis might not have bothered with Quo at all, or at least for quite a while. Contractually Quo owed the record company more albums, but then why did the same record company offer Francis the solo deal? Some things never made sense to me. We are supposed to believe Rick persuaded Francis to fire Quo back up due to obligations with the record company, but I always thought it was due to the failed solo attempt, the band suddenly looked the better option, and with two new band members Francis was very much back on board. |
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 28, 2024 7:43:54 GMT
We get snippets of information about what happened before and after Live Aid but I dare say we'll never know the entire story. And the main protagonists were out of it most of the time so I suspect memory, or lack of it, is an issue  But In The Army Now was massively successful so there was really no turning back after that. Any solo work was and is simply a side show for the main event. |
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 28, 2024 19:56:57 GMT
We get snippets of information about what happened before and after Live Aid but I dare say we'll never know the entire story. And the main protagonists were out of it most of the time so I suspect memory, or lack of it, is an issue But In The Army Now was massively successful so there was really no turning back after that. Any solo work was and is simply a side show for the main event. It was so obvious Quo were always going to sell records and tickets, they had such a huge following really. I suppose there are way too many what if's to count. Like what if they continued to record those contractual albums with Alan, or what if Modern Romance was a huge hit, or what if Live Aid didn't exist. Or what if Quo didn't use Jeff and Rhino from Rick's project. There seemed to be a major crossroad happening all at once. In hindsight you couldn't make it up really. Such a pivotal point too from a fans perspective. |
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Post by MrWaistcoat on Jul 28, 2024 20:32:25 GMT
Age is the remarkable thing here
Well into his 70's,his acoustic solo shows
have been a resounding success. I find myself hoping next year's huge tour will yield a live album. If it does, I think it will be his most successful solo album.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 29, 2024 6:08:17 GMT
....what if Live Aid didn't exist. We'd have been spared decades of " oh, how good were Queen?"  |
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 29, 2024 6:45:50 GMT
....what if Live Aid didn't exist. We'd have been spared decades of " oh, how good were Queen?" Haha, yeah thats true, drives me crazy that does. I didn't even think it was Queen at their best either, but they love rubbing it in. But do you think had Quo we're not forced into doing that gig, would they have just faded completely into the background, or am I over thinking things? I do now in hindsight find it very bizzare so many things took place at relatively all the same period of time in 1985 or late 84 to 86 I suppose you could say. After the End of the road tour finished, we were told it will be a band as normal, so basically stop worrying. So I naturally just assumed they will take a short break, and start working on the new albums that they said they would do minus the touring. But the rut was running deeper than we even thought between Francis and Alan, or at least I thought at the time. Very confusing times because then unexpectedly we were presented with the Rossi/Frost singles, when really I was expecting a new Quo album or single. I remember thinking what the hell is going on, has Quo really called it a day completely. It makes me wonder if Quo were contractually obliged to give the record company 3 more albums I think it was, why on earth offer Francis a solo deal? Flying Debris obviously never got released but it was all in the can, and the singles got released, but I do believe had those singles been hits, lets be honest they could have been, I think all the attention would have been directed away from Quo and towards supporting Francis and his solo career, but I don't really understand why that happened at all when as a fan patiently waiting for more Quo material we get a Francis half baked single instead, sorry singles. But then we had a new Quo, with Jeff and Rhino from Ricks band. Something I'm not sure we we're expecting at all, especially me. I think emotionally, I can't speak for everyone but from the end of the road to the army comeback, I've never been so confused trying to maintain being an actual fan. Quo really we're my life then, I lived and breathed them. All my school mates loved them too, but not as much as me. |
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Post by Quoincidence on Jul 29, 2024 18:53:30 GMT
An interesting topic but my first thought is why should Francis' have gone solo? If he tried it first in his 30s and then later in 2010, but didn't in between, this makes me wonder 2 things. Did he have enough things to say - musically? That is what drives solo artists, from my point of view. Eg Freddie (M) and his collaboration with Monsterrat Caballé and that track Barcelona is one that springs to mind. Or Mark Knopler who has no shortage of new songs and plenty of musicians who love to work with him. Or Jeff Beck who had so many types of guitar styles to play, that being in his own band was the way to go. Working solo can be lonely. Even if you use other musicians to play live. It's all down to you coming up with good ideas. He learned to write music bouncing off with fellow musicians. Looking at how his career panned out, I don't see being solo suited him. Or course, the cynics and maybe even Francis would say, it's all about the money. ie: Quo was a known product that could give him a living. No sorry I didn't mean I think Francis or Rick for that matter should have had a stab at a solo career in their younger years. I'd much rather have a Quo than either of them taking off as solo stars. I think what I meant, although didn't explain it well, was I often thought, why did Francis in particular bother to mold some kind of solo or semi solo career at 36, as we all know the music industry seems so fickle and suffers agism. It was always going to be a tall order for Francis to actually have success outside of Quo. I think we got so used to seeing him in that band situation, I think he actually looked really alone as a solo artist. I remember watching him on the Lottery show with Give myself to love, and I was willing him some success with it, but I was more distracted by the fact wheres Rick, wheres the band. It was really quite surreal. I suppose after Live Aid, Quo were done at that moment in time, so I guess Francis thought what the heck, I may aswell do something else than sit on my ass. Which kind of put him out there as a solo artist occasionally along side Quo, but Quo we're always going to over shadow his attempts at solo hits. It could be what kept Quo going for so long. In hindsight had Modern Romance and others been huge hits, Quo might have not been his priority anymore. Of course this is all hypothetical. Quo were far from done, post Live Aid. As soon as the record label saw the response they got, they came knocking for the 3 albums they were contractually owed. By September, 1985, they had already brought in Jeff and John and were in the studio recording their next album, In The Army Now. Francis would have already had things in place for releasing both of his solo singles, and not thinking Quo would ever go on tour again he would've been silly to not pursue this possible venture with Bernie. Jealosuy being put out was also probably one way of hiding the fact that Quo were recording their next studio album from Alan. The sooner he knew, the sooner the lawsuit would've happened. Once the lawsuit started, it stopped Quo from releasing their originally planned comeback single "Naughty Girl" (intended for release in Jan. 1986). |
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 29, 2024 19:22:20 GMT
No sorry I didn't mean I think Francis or Rick for that matter should have had a stab at a solo career in their younger years. I'd much rather have a Quo than either of them taking off as solo stars. I think what I meant, although didn't explain it well, was I often thought, why did Francis in particular bother to mold some kind of solo or semi solo career at 36, as we all know the music industry seems so fickle and suffers agism. It was always going to be a tall order for Francis to actually have success outside of Quo. I think we got so used to seeing him in that band situation, I think he actually looked really alone as a solo artist. I remember watching him on the Lottery show with Give myself to love, and I was willing him some success with it, but I was more distracted by the fact wheres Rick, wheres the band. It was really quite surreal. I suppose after Live Aid, Quo were done at that moment in time, so I guess Francis thought what the heck, I may aswell do something else than sit on my ass. Which kind of put him out there as a solo artist occasionally along side Quo, but Quo we're always going to over shadow his attempts at solo hits. It could be what kept Quo going for so long. In hindsight had Modern Romance and others been huge hits, Quo might have not been his priority anymore. Of course this is all hypothetical. Quo were far from done, post Live Aid. As soon as the record label saw the response they got, they came knocking for the 3 albums they were contractually owed. By September, 1985, they had already brought in Jeff and John and were in the studio recording their next album, In The Army Now. Francis would have already had things in place for releasing both of his solo singles, and not thinking Quo would ever go on tour again he would've been silly to not pursue this possible venture with Bernie. Jealosuy being put out was also probably one way of hiding the fact that Quo were recording their next studio album from Alan. The sooner he knew, the sooner the lawsuit would've happened. Once the lawsuit started, it stopped Quo from releasing their originally planned comeback single "Naughty Girl" (intended for release in Jan. 1986). I don't think Naughty Girl was the most obvious choice of comeback single either, although it was released not long after as Dreamin. I know its easy looking back now armed with certain knowledge, but I was more referring to how I felt at the time, trying to wade my way through all the mass of contractions. As a fan it was perplexing trying to work out what Francis wanted out of the break from touring at the time, especially releasing out of the blue two semi solo singles. There was no easy path to follow, or direction. I suppose it was the same for all concerned themselves, but why did Francis feel the need to have Frost prop him up. I can only assume he missed Rick beside him, but I think the single Modern Romance would have been huge had Francis stood tall on his own. I know lots of people that adores that song, mostly Mothers of my mates at the time, I think it was Marguerita Time all over again. But it just wasn't managed or promoted correctly. I just feel I got pretty grim memories of that period 1985 trying to establish exactly what was going on, and if we were ever going to have a proper Quo again. I still had on the one hand The End Of The Road band blasting in one ear, and before we knew it Modern Romance playing on my turntable. It really was a strange place to be in as a fan. |
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Post by Quoincidence on Jul 29, 2024 20:03:12 GMT
Quo were far from done, post Live Aid. As soon as the record label saw the response they got, they came knocking for the 3 albums they were contractually owed. By September, 1985, they had already brought in Jeff and John and were in the studio recording their next album, In The Army Now. Francis would have already had things in place for releasing both of his solo singles, and not thinking Quo would ever go on tour again he would've been silly to not pursue this possible venture with Bernie. Jealosuy being put out was also probably one way of hiding the fact that Quo were recording their next studio album from Alan. The sooner he knew, the sooner the lawsuit would've happened. Once the lawsuit started, it stopped Quo from releasing their originally planned comeback single "Naughty Girl" (intended for release in Jan. 1986). I don't think Naughty Girl was the most obvious choice of comeback single either, although it was released not long after as Dreamin. I know its easy looking back now armed with certain knowledge, but I was more referring to how I felt at the time, trying to wade my way through all the mass of contractions. As a fan it was perplexing trying to work out what Francis wanted out of the break from touring at the time, especially releasing out of the blue two semi solo singles. There was no easy path to follow, or direction. I suppose it was the same for all concerned themselves, but why did Francis feel the need to have Frost prop him up. I can only assume he missed Rick beside him, but I think the single Modern Romance would have been huge had Francis stood tall on his own. I know lots of people that adores that song, mostly Mothers of my mates at the time, I think it was Marguerita Time all over again. But it just wasn't managed or promoted correctly. I just feel I got pretty grim memories of that period 1985 trying to establish exactly what was going on, and if we were ever going to have a proper Quo again. I still had on the one hand The End Of The Road band blasting in one ear, and before we knew it Modern Romance playing on my turntable. It really was a strange place to be in as a fan. I suppose it would have been clear to some fans more than others. I know on one of the German dates of the End Of The Road tour, Hannover 24th April to be specific, Francis and Alan got into an argument on stage and were immensely pissed off with one another - so I've read / heard from several fans in attendance |
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