By spring 1974 and the release of Status Quo's seventh album, the band was already regarded as among the most reliable institutions in British rock, denim-clad purveyors of a rocking, rolling boogie beat that never knew when to quit. And, when "Break the Rules" peeled off the still unreleased LP to give the group its fourth Top 20 hit in little more than a year, it was clear that Quo would be business as usual. Eight tracks followed the now standard format for a new Quo album, a neat division between the two sets of songwriters (Rossi/Young, Parfitt/Lancaster), a final track that went on forever, and -- best of all -- a couple of intros that sounded nothing at all like Status Quo. Only the intros, though, and it quickly become one of the best games of the age, trying to predict how long it would last before the bandmembers ripped off their disguises and unleashed the boogie. "Backwater" keeps the mask on for one minute and eight seconds, but it's a hallmark of Status Quo's genius that, all these years later, it can still keep you guessing. "Just Take Me," too, packs more than its fair share of surprises, rolling in on a drum solo that itself grows out of "Backwater"'s back end. And if "Break the Rules" contrarily doesn't break a single one, that's probably just as well; there have been enough shocks already. Elsewhere, Quo indeed settles down to the status quo, with even the ballad "Lonely Man" holding onto the spirit of the band's earliest boogie excursions ("In My Chair" and "Gerdundula" spring to mind). The pièce de résistance, however, is the closing "Slow Train," an eight-minute epic that confusingly drives like an express, then collides with a Gaelic jig. The Chieftains would do such things a lot better -- but Status Quo did it louder. ~ Dave Thompson
Digitally remastered reissue approved by the band's official fan club! This album reached No. 2 in the UK charts in 1972 and contains the Top Ten hit single 'Break The Rules', plus the bonus track 'Lonely Night'. Mercury. 2005.
Good one Hard drive with the rhythm. Submitted by strapatyjuro (Calgary Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Perfection! This is absolute rock 'n' roll, boogie perfection. If you like anything to do with Status Quo this is the album to have. Played loud it offers maximum satisfaction from start to finish especially the epic Slow Train at the end! Highly recommended! Submitted by robert (Melbourne, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Vintage Quo! From 1970 to 1976 Quo has done their best albums. Probably Hello! is the most known of all of them and its consider as their best one. But for me they were better in the following efford : "Quo". Its a pity that these albums are not been released separately with their original covers and lyrics. If you think Status Quo are only Whatever You Want or In The Army Now try to listen to "Quo"(1974 UK Nº 2). It´s the heaviest album of the band and it shows incredible compositions like Backwater or Just Take Me with great solos from Francis Rossi. The heavy rock is here on songs like Drifting Away, Don´t Think It Matters or Just Take Me. Alan Lancaster voice sounds really powerful across the album. You have the opportunity to listen to a perfect boogie piece on UK Top 8 Break The Rules, with a guitar/piano/harmonica solos, a mid tempo hard rocking ballad on Lonely Man and a very well constructed masterpiece of 8 minutes with great guitar work and superb drums from Mr. John Coghlan on Slow Train, one of their best compositions . Even a countriesque Fine Fine Fine with a great guitar solo. Here you can listen to Lonely Night , originally released as the b side of Break The Rules back in 74 as the extra track. If you only know their hits you have to buy this one to know what the band was able to record! Vintage Quo! Submitted by kikeg (Spain) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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