STATUS QUO: 'Spinning Wheel Blues' - 1970

Reaganite Republican ^ | November 12, 2011 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

When I was a kid growing up in the late 70s, I used to comb through discount rack and often came-across various LPs by British boogie-rockers Status Quo in those bargain-bins

and thinking 'Who the hell is this... and why are their records always being dumped by the dozens...?'

None of my friends where into the band, they didn't get US airplay, and I never did buy them, perhaps spooked by the glut of unloved product out there. Most Americans would be likely know the band best for 1967's US/UK psychedelic-rock hit 'Pictures of Matchstick Men'- a song which in fact was their only Top 40 chart hit in the United States. 

Yet while in my mind they were has-been one hit wonders -commercial success largely eluded them on our side of the pond- Status Quo's true genius came only after they switched from then-trendy psychedelic style to a more earthy, blues-based boogie rock in the vain of Canned Heat and early Humble Pie as the 1970s rock era dawned.

This new formula brought an avalanche of hits in the UK such as "Paper Plane" (1972), "Caroline" (1973), "Down Down" (1975), "Rain" (1976), "Rockin' All Over the World" (cover of John Fogherty/1977) and "Whatever You Want" (1979)-- a personal favorite of mine  would be 1970's Down the Dustpipe as well.

And as you might suppose, this group is brilliant live: I myself had the privilege of seeing Status Quo play live this year, and the two star guitarists -Mike Rossi and Rick Parfitt, now in their early 60s- are really are something else. They sounded great, are gifted entertainers, and their love for what they do really comes across in every minute of the show.

In fact, Status Quo not only tours with both original frontmen plus the bass player, the band continues to release new material -which really isn't bad at all- and has sold over 120M (!) records- their 60 UK chart hits unparalleled by any other group in history in music history (yep, more than the Beatles)...

Status Quo: Spinning Wheel Blues - 1970:

[YouTube]

Video/more at Reaganite Republican

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StatusQuo.co.uk   Wikipedia   YouTube

[duckman]

The band used to get some air play on WPIX NY on the Allison Steel ‘Night Bird’ show.

[Reaganite Republican]

I was from Cleveland where we had the very innovative WMMS (broke Rush in the States) but somehow I really had no awareness of this band.

My loss, glad I got into them over time on my own. I first heard a lot of their stuff on an European ‘oldies’ station

[duckman]

I believe the cut WPIX played the most was Down Down.

[ez]

Trippy...

[Jeff Vader]

I grew up in the UK in the 70s and the quo were huge. I’ve probably still got a bunch of their albums at my parents place over there.

[CtBigPat]

I’d heard of Pictures of matchstick men, then YouTube recommended some of their newer videos.

These guys need a new agent!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h8F1Q3L6Gs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFAmbHSTKgM&feature=related

[Reaganite Republican]

Most UK natives I’ve know where shocked to hear SQ wasn’t a household name in the States

Hard to understand for me too