The Early Years Vol 2 (1970-1972)

Most comprehensive collection to date of Quo’s early recordings for between 1970 and 1972. Captures an era when this much-loved rock band found their signature sound. Includes rare mono version of third album, Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon, various singles and B-sides, outtakes and alternative versions, plus a version of The Doors’ ‘Roadhouse Blues’. With liner notes from Status Quo aficionado Dave Ling, and track annotations from mastering engineer Andy Gamble.

On August 23, 2024, this much-loved British rock institution played what is likely to be their last ever show. In a career that goes back to 1962, after several name changes, they settled on Status Quo in 1968. Signing to Pye Records for their breakthrough hit single, ‘Pictures Of Matchstick Men’, Francis Rossi (guitar and vocals), Rick Parfitt (guitar and vocals), Alan Lancaster (bass and vocals) and John Coghlan (drums and percussion), had a psychedelic sound and image in keeping with the fashion of the time.

Quo eventually found their signature, stripped down, boogie sound and image with their third album for Pye, Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon (CD 1), in 1970 (CD 2 of this collection features the rare mono mix of the album which was released in Argentina titled 'Everything').

Discarding their now unfashionable Carnaby Street clobber in favour of jeans and T-shirts, their sound and image was moving further towards a more hard rock and progressive flavour, then de rigueur with the early 1970s as reflected on their fourth and final LP for Pye, Dog Of Two Head (CD 1) in 1971.

During this period Quo released singles that didn’t automatically make it to the corresponding LPs, including fan favourites and live staples ‘Down The Dustpipe’, ‘In My Chair’, ‘Gerdundula’ and ‘Tune To The Music’, which are collected together on CD 3, while CD 4 features alternative versions of many of these key tracks, including ‘Mean Girl,’ ‘Daughter’ and ‘Something Going On In My Head’.

Status Quo were very much a live band, where their boogie and hard rock could really shine, as demonstrated on the fifth CD of this set, which includes sessions and live tracks.