It’s an exciting month to be a Status Quo fan. Later, there’s an expanded box set of Quo Live! on the way. First, a newer piece of Quo history was released on the 2nd of May by EarMUSIC! The Way We Were Vol 1 offers listeners a chance to hear 17 demo recordings from the Francis Rossi archives; Many of the compositions appeared on Status Quo albums in the 2000s, while others featured on Rossi’s One Step at a Time album in 2010. In addition, this collection contains five previously unreleased songs that haven’t been heard before. The songwriting partnership of Francis Rossi and Bob Young wrote all the songs.

As a long-time fan of the band and the host of a Status Quo-focused podcast, I was incredibly excited to hear these demos. I first became a fan in the late 90s. I collect all the band’s eras, but I have a soft spot for the 2000s. I was still discovering my fandom, and devoured new content. In essence, many of these compositions have been the soundtrack to my life. I feel privileged to get to hear their origins and take notes on any differences that may have occurred between Rossi’s demo and the band’s version.

Thoughts on the Album

Demos sometimes have a reputation for sounding a little dodgy. We’ve all heard draft recordings with inferior sound quality, usually due to the setbacks of the equipment used. The image of a musician sitting in a non-soundproofed room with a cassette player and an acoustic guitar, strumming away as the song is being worked out. Rossi’s demos bear no relation to this method. These are full studio demos, with most instruments played by the man himself alongside a drum machine. The sound, as a result, is remarkably clear to the point that you sometimes forget these are demos! The drum machine may sound jarring at first, but it soon becomes part of the experience.

Songs Later Recorded by Status Quo

For the songs from Quo albums, it’s interesting to compare these demos to their finished counterparts. A glimpse into the songwriting process that reveals slightly altered lyrics, different solos and ideas trialled before being refined or removed altogether. There are even cases where parts of the demo were deemed worthy of being part of the finished product. “Tongue Tied” acts as the prominent example, with “You’ll Come ‘Round” and “Pennsylvania Blues Tonight” possibly close behind.

“Gotta Get Up and Go” and “Money Don’t Matter” are songs which were Quo’d for their final product; Each band member putting their own stamp in their respective parts. It is fascinating to hear Rossi’s original blueprint, a more relaxed affair with occasional spaces left to allow for interpretation.

Solo Material

I assumed that Rossi’s solo tracks would basically just be carbon copies of the finished product, but I was mistaken. The template established for songs, including “If You Believe” and “Tallulah’s Waiting” are quite rigid, but “Faded Memory” offers an unexpected twist. The difference in time signature and tempo gives the track a different feel that I find very appealing. Brushing off the Quo-like tendency of the finished product, its steady pace accentuated the catchy melody and chords even more.

“Strike Like Lightning” was a Rossi / Young composition that first found its way as an album track for Blues artist Paul Camilleri’s 2007 album Camilleri 4. It was then featured on Rossi’s second solo album, and subsequently performed on his solo tour. It’s interesting to hear the sketch that started a rare Rossi/Young composition, first officially performed by a different artist. All the details were there in that demo, and now fans have four versions (including live) to draw from.

The “New” Songs

Alongside the known songs were five compositions, which hadn’t been released officially before. They are a peek into what could have been, in their purest form. “Scary Mary” was released as a digital single to promote this album, and gave an impression of what to expect. The song may have garnered mixed reactions, but the production was surprisingly solid, with only a few clues as to its origin. Firstly, the synthetic sounding drum machine and the crispy solo that wasn’t as polished as it could have been.

The two standout “new” tracks here are “Why I’m Walking” and “Load on My Mind”. Although perhaps not reinventing the wheel, they are bouncy, catchy numbers that have Quo characteristics coursing through their veins. It’s a shame they were next Quo’d up for an album… I certainly would have played them till the CD wore out, and I may still do! “Can’t Change the World” also showed a lot of promise and has been performed by another artist.

The album ends on one last unreleased track, “Life Has Changed”. It’s a change of pace from the rest of the material, as Francis takes on a more Folky vibe. For me, it felt reminiscent of acts such as Show of Hands, Steeleye Span and such artists. It’s nice to end the album on a change of pace, and an example of Rossi being more than simply a writer of Quo-type songs.

A Little Something Extra…

The CD edition of the album is presented in a digipak, with the CD sitting comfortably inside. The artwork was designed by Alexander Mertsch, with the cover photograph taken by Tina Korhonen. There is a six-page booklet inside containing 2000s period photographs by Christie Goodwin, and a short paragraph on each song from Francis Rossi. Each song is listed with its eventual album and release here outlined.

The Rossi anecdotes are an interesting glimpse into the origins of this song, some humorous, others enlightening, but I had hoped for a deeper dive into the recordings. It would have been nice to know when exactly these tracks were recorded, but I guess the eventual release year gives a ballpark figure. The only times this is mostly ambiguous are for the unreleased songs. However, I can appreciate that these things may not have been documented at the time, given the nature of the recordings.

Conclusion

This is an album that is a fascinating glimpse into the beginnings of some latter-day Rossi / Young material. A chance to hear the first initial ideas flourishing in Rossi’s ARSIS studio before being moved on to a project, or put in the cupboard until now. The sound quality is superb for something possibly never originally intended for release, and the songs are as catchy as ever.

There is a chance you may have missed some of these tracks in their finished form, and so these will be new to you. Although a collection of recordings from different years, the track listing flows nicely to the point that it can feel like hearing these as a new studio album.

This won’t be for everybody, but I think most people will find something to like about it. If you’re wondering how some memorable 2000s Quo songs started their existence, this is an intriguing listen that will reveal a secret or two. I look forward to hopefully hearing Volume 2 in the future. The Way We Were is available to order on CD & Double Vinyl on Amazon.

Tracklisting for The Way We Were Vol 1.

Gotta Get Up And Go (The Party Ain’t Over Yet)
Pennsylvania Blues Tonight (In Search of the Fourth Chord)
Scary Mary (Unreleased)
You’ll Come ‘Round (XS All Areas)
Tongue Tied (In Search of the Fourth Chord)
Electric Arena (In Search of the Fourth Chord)
I Don’t Wanna Hurt You Anymore (In Search of the Fourth Chord)
If You Believe (One Step at a Time)
Tallulah’s Waiting (One Step at a Time)
Money Don’t Matter (Heavy Traffic UK Edition)
Faded Memory (One Step at a Time)
Another Day (Heavy Traffic)
Why I’m Walking (Unreleased)
Load On My Mind (Unreleased)
Strike Like Lightning (One Step at a Time)
Can’t Change The World (Unreleased)
Life Has Changed (Unreleased)

What do you think of Francis Rossi – The Way We Were Volume 1? Let us know your thoughts via social media or by leaving a comment below!

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