British rock band Status Quo recorded their first official live album over three nights in October of 1976. Performed at the Glasgow Apollo and introduced by ex-Savoy Brown singer Jackie Lynton, the band rocked their way through a set list of songs from previous albums. The finished product was made up of select performances from these nights.
Unlike some of their contemporaries, Quo Live contained no additional overdubs; the musicianship presented as it was during recording. Since its release in 1977, Quo Live has often featured in conversations on the best live album of the 1970s. Some fans have always wondered whether all three original concerts existed in their entirety. Thanks to a new set from Demon Music, fans needn’t worry any more as they’re presented with all three gigs for the first time in a whopping 8-disc deluxe edition. Priced at £69.99, is this set worth it?
The Physical Set
This deluxe edition of Quo Live is presented in a wraparound cardboard sleeve, around the size of a 7-inch record. Inside are a couple of cardboard holders, four discs each, and a booklet. When opened, the CDs are housed in slits positioned on the end and in the centre of each of the left and right sides. There are a plethora of images, newspaper cuttings and band portraits on these cardboard holders, which is a nice touch. The cardboard feels sturdy enough, but the CDs are difficult to lodge from their confines, leading to fear of accidental damage. The end ones easy to slide out, that’s the ones towards the centre feel like they’re too tightly packed in.
The booklet contains line notes by Dave Ling, including quotes from interviews with all musicians who played on the album. In addition to rare photographs and memorabilia, there is a small piece at the back by Andy Gamble, discussing the remixing process.
The Music
The first two discs are the original Live album, in its original mix but remastered. The track listing has been altered to reflect the playing order, as the original had to favour the space constraints of vinyl. Some may question its inclusion, considering fans probably have several copies of it, but it offers a comparison opportunity. It also means a chance to dispense with any other versions they may have.
Following this, each night is given 2 discs each. The sound is different on these individual nights as they have been remixed recently by Andy Gamble of AVP Media. It is a world away from the original mix, which favoured ambient microphones. This version is much more immediate and feels like the band is right in front of you. You feel the power of Coghlan’s kick drum during Junior’s Wailing, the rumble of Lancaster’s bass and the thunderous chugging of Rick Parfitt’s guitar. The clarity is improved to such a degree that you hear every note in Francis Rossi’s guitar solos and each intonation in vocals. The harmonies are even more present than ever before, allowing Status Quo‘s underrated strengths to come to the fore.
The set list, later forming the basis for the Frantic Four reunion tours in 2013 and 2014, is mainly a smattering of songs from the band’s albums on Vertigo up to that point. There’s a handful of singles, including “Caroline”, “In My Chair” and the recently released “Rain”, but it’s predominantly album tracks that steal the show. It might seem odd not to include “Down Down”, their number one from a year previously, but it had yet to become a mainstay in the live show.
The set is an opportunity to hear three different versions of “Don’t Waste My Time”, “Big Fat Mama” and “Is There a Better Way”, among others; The loud Glasgow crowd singing on “Most of the Time” before the band launches into a Blues that demonstrates the cohesive nature of the rhythm section; The eclectic vibrancy of John Coghlan’s drum solos, injected with hints of Jazz, Swing and Military music; The tight Rock ‘n’ Roll intensity of “Roll Over Lay Down”. Marvelous.
Each night has the same set list, but they are not the same performances repeated 3 times. There are subtle differences in songs, such as missed notes, minor mistakes or changes, and moments of vocal human exuberance that cannot be replicated exactly in every performance. Hearing Rossi work up the crowd before the “Roadhouse Blues” jig, or Parfitt yelling “Go on Spud” during a number, is incredibly exhilarating. The biggest comparison between nights is Forty-Five Hundred Times, a nightly band jam with solidified sections. This means that while it has an initial song structure and established movements, the differences come in how they choose to get to them. Rossi’s guitar technique comes into its own during these numbers, as the spontaneous solos testify.
The other rarity is hearing the band’s chat to the audience between numbers, in particular Francis’ unsure quips. A selection was included on the original album, but these were edited and placed alongside stuff from different nights. Hearing them unedited and in the context of the full concert helps to establish the vibe and narrative of the performance.
Conclusion
This is an incredible set that gives the fans what they’ve been waiting for, and then some! It serves as a full-bodied record of 70s Quo at their height. The mixes of individual concerts capture the feel, musicianship and energy of a Quo concert in this period. The three nights, although initially similar, have enough variation to keep a Quo fan happy and present a few surprises. In retrospect, it might lack the big hits, but this performance was never meant to be a definitive representation of their career, simply a moment in time captured that would shape their live set for many years to come.
The presentation of the set is nice, with good-looking printed photographs and an informative booklet, but the housing of the discs falls short. For £70, some fans will see the packaging lacking an expected quality, and that is a shame given the outstanding work that has gone into presenting the music on the discs. Overall, hardcore Quo fans will love this! Quo Live is Available to order now (Affiliate link below)
Will you be buying the expanded edition of Quo Live? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Quo Live! Expanded 8CD Edition
£69.99