Rating: 8/10

Track Amount: 8

Running Time: 39 minutes and 38 seconds

Genre: Classic Rock

Personnel: Francis Rossi (guitars, vocals), Rick Parfitt (guitars, piano and vocals), Alan Lancaster (bass guitar and vocals), John Coglan (drums and percussion)

Producer: Status Quo

Recording Location: IBC Studios (Portland Place, London)

Record Label: Vertigo Records

Art Direction: Dave Field

Best Tracks: Roll Over Lay Down, Caroline, Forty-Five Hundred Times

Quick Verdict: A decent and simply enjoyable Classic Rock album

Status Quo are one of the more underrated Rock Music groups out there. With a core fanbase globally and covering many different styles, sounds and genres during their history, they are not to be underestimated in the world of music. This album release was the first in the band’s history to chart at #1 in the group’s home country, the UK. It also continued their pioneering spirit of adapting music styles to the tastes in music at the time. This was a stroke of luck for the band commercially, whilst expanding their music palette. It also featured some notable guests, such as keyboardist Andy Bown and saxophonists Stewart Blandamer and Steve Farr. Let’s jump back to 1973 and take a listen to this album; hopefully, it should be a very good listen indeed.

1. Roll Over Lay Down begins the album with some simple and synchronised drumming and guitar riffing that is excellent. This is not a million miles away from the likes of Cream, musically speaking. It is nonetheless a very good listen at hand. The singing present is quintessentially English in its style and delivery. Nonetheless, this music is terrifically enjoyable for what it is. The music and sounds are indeed solidly good for what they are. A pounding and melodic tune that has some power and beauty to it all. The guitar playing throughout is also really quite good to hear, with some pretty and unique guitar solos abound. This is a fantastic listen that has some really cool and powerful music throughout it all. A solid tune that halts in the middle, followed by a unique and pretty melodic guitar figure to follow. This is, above all, very suspenseful and unique-sounding overall. This returns to pounding drums and searing guitars, which sound absolutely awesome. This is a dirty, sexual and yet classic tune that is indebted heavily to the Rock Music of years gone by. All in all, a fantastic listen for what it is. Very, very good music. The solo in the outro is neat. Awesome and exciting stuff.

2. Claudie begins with some neat and melodic guitar leads, and enters into a pleasant and upbeat tune with guitars and playing that sounds really great. This is some of the most overlooked and underrepresented British Rock Music that has some impressive and simple musicianship about it all. The guitars, drums and simple singing are heavily indebted to the likes of The Who and The Kinks as well. This is joyously melodic, and Status Quo sing a passionate and spirited song of love at hand. The guitar solo is simply impressive and melodically gorgeousas well. All in all, this early 1970s album kicks the proverbial, and sounds happy and upbeat to hear. A very simple, impressive and clever tune to listen to that sounds melodically simple and upbeat to listen to. A sensationally good tune musically to listen to. Very simple and good Pop/Rock Music with a quick fadeout.

3. A Reason For Living begins with some awesome guitar riffing that is really crunchy. This is a simple and listenable tune at hand with some singing about being alone and lonesome, before the whole thing launches into guitars, drums and piano about living and loving indeed. A simply enjoyable and incredible song with some neat and passionate slide guitar throughout. The music and performance throughout is stunningly good, with some upbeat and powerful guitar work throughout. This continues on very nicely throughout and is a real joy to listen to. A simple tune that reflects back on a simpler and easier time than the world that we live in today. Impressively enjoyable music that sounds great and makes sense to listen to. Seriously cool. It wraps up with a slide guitar solo that sounds really cool. Absolutely top, and the pseudo-Blues progression at the end is neat.

4. Blue Eyed Lady begins with some very Yes-sounding guitar riff progressions that are enjoyably fun to listen to. Eventually, this song launches into action with some clever and listenable guitars, drums and saxophone in the background. A sweet, upbeat and fun tune throughout that has more appeal than you’d originally think. A Pop/Rock tune that has some majesty and finesse about it all. Simply cool, Status Quo sing and play better than most bands do today. This is great music from back in the early 1970s that, in retrospect, sounds really cool and great. The pounding drums lead into a glorious guitar solo that is sweet and upbeat throughout. The piano, as well, is a very nice touch to hear. A powerfully moving and energetic song that is a winner. Good job overall. It fades out nicely.

5. Caroline is a straightforward and punchy hit song from the start, with an instantly lovable and recognisable guitar progression. This leads into an uptempo and fine Rock Music song that has power and energy pulsating throughout it all. This music is absolutely killer to listen to, and it is a simple and impressionable song about living and loving a lady at hand. An absolutely awesome and pretty song that is iconic from the early 1970s. This music is fun, simple and enjoyable music that is devoted to a lady at hand. The second half also has some upbeat and uptempo musicianship that sounds really sweet. An extraordinarily simple, fine and impressive song that has some impressively simple and top music from within. It gets more subtle towards the end, with some more muted guitar playing, before finishing up with a glorious Rock jam at hand. Superb. Good tune.

6. Softer Ride begins with some awesome and clean Blues guitar lead guitar work that is very akin to The Rolling Stones at hand. This music and performance is a decent cross between Blues and Rock that sounds tuneful and timeless. Without warning, it has some louder guitar breaks before leading into a top-notch song with some powerful drumming and an uptempo feel throughout. A seriously cool tune for what this song is. This music is seriously enjoyable and simply lovable throughout. This music is not a million miles away from the Rock trends of the early 1970s, and although it is simple for what it is, this is genuinely good as well. “I ain’t gonna work, no more…” is the call to arms for guitarists and musicians out there alike. This wraps up after four minutes of gloriously good Rock Music. Fantastic for what it is.

7. And It’s Better Now begins with some sweet and pretty guitar parts, launching into a good tune that is rather psychedelic in its orientation. It launches quickly into a Rock tune that sounds super cool. This music and performance are very good overall for what they are. An ode to music itself lyrically. There is a breakdown in the midsection with some treated vocals, which sound really cool to hear. A blissful listen, which has some slide electric guitar in the second half of it all. This is followed by dual synchronised guitar playing that sounds really awesome and cool to hear. This flows into a neat outro that is pleasant. A really great tune overall, and a worthwhile ode to music itself.

8. Forty-Five Hundred Times begins with some clean and clear jangly electric guitars, launching into a superb arpeggio-style riff progression. This is quickly layered with other guitars as well, which sound really great. Some singing emerges that sounds clean, clear and articulate. Drums follow, and this tune sounds really great and awesome at hand. A simply enjoyable and extended tune that runs for nearly 10 minutes in length, so strap yourselves in. Saxophone is present in the background as well, if you listen carefully. This music is very, very good, and it is simple music for simple people who have a taste for songs and sounds from the past. This extended piece does sound genuinely interesting and good for what it is. A Blues based progression tune that has a dramatic change towards the middle with some interesting and fantastic guitar playing that emerges. This tune is a good one, and it sounds fine and killer for what it is. This continues on very nicely and has some descriptively good guitar work and playing that is definitely out there in terms of music appeal. It enters into a quick and upbeat section of music that is perfect for young lovers back in the day to listen to and make out to. The second half also has some dramatic and interesting guitar solos throughout that add some dramaticism to this song. It speeds up gradually, with some piano playing in the background as well. This music goes to speedily play along extremely nicely, and although it is fast, the melodicism is clearly heard in this song. An awesome tune at hand, with some more muted guitar playing towards the end. This gradually reaches its conclusion with some awesome and memorable musicianship, with the piano and guitars battling it out melodically. The piano stops, with the guitars building back into the final conclusion of this song. Exciting, fantastic Rock Music for fans is present. This finalises with a neat and sweet jam that sounds absurdly good. A great listen that needs to be heard more often. A neat tune. It fades out quickly.

This is a simple, listenable and accessible Classic Rock album that does not disappoint. Yes, it is fairly dated listening today, but despite that, there are no real faults to point out from this album release. Status Quo were beginning to become popular at the time of this album release, and this only further cemented their popularity. One can hear why. The simple Rock Music is unpretentious and enjoyable to listen to overall. Should you listen to this album? Yes, if you love guitar-based music, but no if you prefer Electronic Music or similar genres of music.

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