TGIF Rock n Roll Oldies: STATUS QUO: Down The Dustpipe

When I was a kid growing up in the late 70s, I used to comb through discount record bins to find stuff not heard on Aerosmith/Supertramp-dominated FM radio of the day. And I often took a chance on something unknown, even just based on the cover art if the price was right- like $.99 back then in olden times. But I 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?"

Never did buy them, perhaps spooked by the daunting oversupply I'd witnessed... but that's not without regret: years later I came to realize they were the band who did 1967's US/UK psychedelic-rock hit 'Pictures of Matchstick Men'- their only Top 40 hit in the States. Yet while in my mind they were has-been one hit wonders, Status Quo's true genius -and massive commercial success in the UK- 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.

Once I got myself acquainted with their mega-hits in the UK i.e. "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), I would say without qualification that Status Quo is the finest English rock band to never make it commercially in the US. And that's hard for me to understand, as imo they absolutely kick ass... any rock fan owes it to themselves to check 'em out.

And as you might suppose, these guys are brilliant live... the two guitarists really are something else. Status Quo actually continue to tour up to the present day with both original frontmen, and the band has sold over 118M (!) records- their 60 UK chart hits unparalleled by any other group in history... any... ever:

As a rocker of quite a few decades now.....I so agree with you that there was/is MASSIVE talent out there that just never seemed to hit it big....and not always from Europe, but that was often the case. I offer a few stellar examples: artists who should have been unbelievably HUGE vs. just...well, popular with their fans:

- Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush (years ahead of his time on the axe; simply stunning guitarist)

- Gary Moore (simply the best blues/rock guitarist who ever walked the earth....and my God how he could tear up a power ballad better than ANYone...May he rest in peace.)

- Great White (I know I know....but they got REALLY famous only after that horrible nightclub fire, but they could rock like few others)

- Tesla (underappreciated...great talent)

- Cinderella (hair band or not, these guys could play gut-busting blues rock with the best of them)

- Gorky Park (Russians; listen to their version of “My Generation”; it’ll forever change the way you think of that song)

- Uriah Heep (mentioned by another above; somewhat spotty material overall, but MAN they could kick it when hitting on all cylinders)

- Gus (American; never heard of him? Only one LP, I think, and I have a copy....the album is superb; sparse production sense....I just love it)

- Savoy Brown (the band that spawned Foghat; highly underrated boogie band)

I’ll think of ten more after I post this, no doubt.

Definitely agree about Gary Moore. I became a fan fairly late in his career (”Still Got the Blues” was my introduction to him), but I’ve been hooked ever since. Also agree on Cinderella. I didn’t like everything they did, but they had a nice bluesy edge that I dug. “Shelter Me” is a fave to this day.

I’m not as familiar with Uriah Heep, though I do really like “Stealin’” quite a bit. Rainbow (Dio era) is another band from around that time I really enjoy.

There are also a number of acts I’ve recently become a fan of that were either before my time, or that I just never knew about:

-Atomic Rooster (esp. the lineup with Chris Farlowe on vocals) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVf7SG1-DGg

-Pacific Gas and Electric http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTPLNsRGJXo

-Moby Grape. Oh lord, I cannot get enough of these guys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAUGyED5vH0

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