The Anniversary Waltz

[I Ain't Complaining]

I've not played it, but have been thinking about this recently.....I'm not sure if I've ever seen it discussed on a Quo message board!

It was one of their 'David Walker stunts', and whatever you think about the record, it definitely increased their profile after the disastrous Perfect Remedy album.

So, what do you think about the songs on the 2 AW records, the idea itself, the chart performances (fantastic in the UK), the video etc.  Were you aware of it, did you enjoy it, or did you hide behind the sofa and cringe?

I preferred listening to it all the way through, but I think the only place I've got that full version is on the 12" vinyl of the AW Part 1....might have to dig it out and give it a spin! I think it had Perfect Remedy and The Power of Rock on the b-side.

[Deleted]

I always liked the A.W, thought it was one of their better stunts, along with RTYD,, David Walker saved the band from financial ruin at the time, he was also a bloody nice guy too,, funny how times change

[frozenhero]

I've lobbied for the full version to be released on CD, maybe when Perfect Remedy gets "deluxed" (which is possible, but not guaranteed).

For me, it's simply fun listening. You hear the band playing some of their favourites live and having a blast. The covers albums were overall far less inspired.

[Deleted]

Oct 26, 2017 19:37:49 GMT frozenhero said:

I've lobbied for the full version to be released on CD, maybe when Perfect Remedy gets "deluxed" (which is possible, but not guaranteed).

For me, it's simply fun listening. You hear the band playing some of their favourites live and having a blast. The covers albums were overall far less inspired.

Both versions were combined for a full version

[frozenhero]

Oct 26, 2017 19:48:33 GMT @irp said:

Oct 26, 2017 19:37:49 GMT frozenhero said:

I've lobbied for the full version to be released on CD, maybe when Perfect Remedy gets "deluxed" (which is possible, but not guaranteed).

For me, it's simply fun listening. You hear the band playing some of their favourites live and having a blast. The covers albums were overall far less inspired.

Both versions were combined for a full version

I know, but CDs tend to include either the two halves or only part 1

[Deleted]

Oct 26, 2017 19:53:11 GMT frozenhero said:

Oct 26, 2017 19:48:33 GMT @irp said:

Both versions were combined for a full version

I know, but CDs tend to include either the two halves or only part 1

I am sure there was a CD released with the two versions joined together, wasn't there ?

[frozenhero]

Oct 26, 2017 19:56:07 GMT @irp said:

Oct 26, 2017 19:53:11 GMT frozenhero said:

I know, but CDs tend to include either the two halves or only part 1

I am sure there was a CD released with the two versions joined together, wasn't there ?

The original CD single, but other than that? Though Quo have a plethora of compilations, so I wouldn't rule it out...

[smokie]

Thought the video for part1 was quite novel. 

@irp, I never met David Walker but that's the impression that I had of him too. 

I thought that he genuinely appreciated the support and loyalty of the fans and didn't take them for granted either. 

I'm not sure if I would say the same about Quo's management these days. 

[Deleted]

Oct 26, 2017 21:42:42 GMT smokie said:

I thought that he genuinely appreciated the support and loyalty of the fans and didn't take them for granted either. 

I'm not sure if I would say the same about Quo's management these days. 

Correct, he did, unlike the current shambles

[gav]

I think it's got a nice crunchy Quo sound and Jeff's drums haven't become too synthetic sounding as they did later. It's fast n fluid, and rocks enough not to stray too far into cheese territory.

And if i'm correct, this was the last recording session before Francis changed the pickups on his Tele?

[snakelady]

I wasn't aware of it at the time. My first contact with it was on that video collection AAA and it was divided into two parts on there - two very different videos as well - so I never knew it was meant to be played in one go.
To be honest, I found the whole exercise a bit pointless, damaging even, same as all the covers albums, despite them all creating some media interest. I'm aware though, that many older acts did - had to do - covers at the time.
The choice of songs does nothing for me, they're from the band's youth not mine, but I've got to admit, that jukebox video is one of their best with that girl in her Monsters Of Rock t-shirt. And never did Francis look sexier .. 

[mortified]

I actually liked it and because there hadn't really been any up to that point, I didn't see it as a 'stunt'. The whole Jive Bunny thing was happening and this was Quo's contribution to it, hence the "it's live, sonny" logo on the sleeve. 

Ive's right. The full length version (i.e. parts 2 and 1 combined) was released as a CD single and as 12" vinyl. The 7" single was The Anniversary Waltz - Part 1 and was what you heard on the radio. The follow-up, even on CD, was just ....Part 2. 

I always felt a bit cheated because I'd already bought the full length version (like most Quo fans probably) so the second single was really just a duplicate unless you only had the 7" release. 

I never liked the video and it was the first time I'd seen that whole Mud/Tiger Feet elbow dance thing done to Quo's music. Unfortunately, it seemed to strike a chord with Mr & Mrs Public and I kept seeing it from then on at gigs. If you'd done that at Glasgow Apollo they'd have taken you out on a stretcher 

I used to quite like it when they played it live but it's been a while now. Not sure how long. Seems ages. 

But I guess it was the beginning of the 'stunts' approach. Or marketing as they call it in 'the biz' 

[gogs]

The full 12" release was (as stated above) a dig at the Jive Bunny thing, and was recorded in one hit at Bray Studios. I remember Rick saying at the time that they preferred recording live because it came close to a stage sound. This is probably most notable on the RTYD version of 4500 Times with its false start. AW was also the release used to publicise the Minehead 25 gig and all the associated merchandising. It then morphed into various bits in the live set including the Roadhouse Medley (AW25 single release).

They were all OK, even quite good, at the time, but sadly led to the 3 covers albums. And at one point bits of The Wanderer appeared 3 times in the set; on its own in the opening mash up, in Roadhouse Medley at the end of the main set, and in AW during the encore. No wonder we're all sick of it. 

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2017 9:20:08 GMT mortified said:

Ive's right. The full length version (i.e. parts 2 and 1 combined) was released as a CD single and as 12" vinyl. The 7" single was The Anniversary Waltz - Part 1 and was what you heard on the radio. The follow-up, even on CD, was just ....Part 2. 

Would you mind if I framed your'e reply ?!! I ain't used to people telling me I am right on anything (even though I usually am!, er,,,, IMHO)  

[cayan]

I have always liked AW. The sound of the guitars and the way that Francis and Rick voices blend, that for me was the Quo sound.
In spite of the fact that I am a fan of the band, it can be denied that after 1976, they changed their sound and gained a lot new fans with the cover of the RAOTW.
Although they somehow managed to write hits of their own, (WYW and WYP), they survived trough the eighties thanks to covers (SBYIL, DJ which was not written by the band, ITAN, BB which is a version of a folk song), and as it has been previously posted, AW put them again on track and brought attention to the band.
Needless to say that in the nineties it was the DS album which maintained their “status”, and the RTYD album, which was a return to form, was full of covers too and songs revisited by the band.
To me, post 76’ Quo success has a lot to do with covers.

[snakelady]

Oct 28, 2017 19:10:40 GMT cayan said:

I have always liked AW. The sound of the guitars and the way that Francis and Rick voices blend, that for me was the Quo sound.
In spite of the fact that I am a fan of the band, it can be denied that after 1976, they changed their sound and gained a lot new fans with the cover of the RAOTW.
Although they somehow managed to write hits of their own, (WYW and WYP), they survived trough the eighties thanks to covers (SBYIL, DJ which was not written by the band, ITAN, BB which is a version of a folk song), and as it has been previously posted, AW put them again on track and brought attention to the band.
Needless to say that in the nineties it was the DS album which maintained their “status”, and the RTYD album, which was a return to form, was full of covers too and songs revisited by the band.
To me, post 76’ Quo success has a lot to do with covers.

Not only post 76 .. Francis and Rick have always stated how important hearing Roadhouse Blues was for the musical direction the band aimed for from then on, and so they covered it too. And for many years they opened their shows with Juniors Wailing and finished with BBJ (they use a snippet of it to this day..) - two cover songs.
In 76 they recorded a version of Wild Side Of Life which acquired them lots of new fans as proven with every 'what got you into Quo' topic. I'm one of those too and there are more examples of pre-76 covers ..

There haven't been many covers from Heavy Traffic on, certainly less than ever before (not counting Riffs). Since then the band has been mainly relying on itself, although they did use the odd outside songwriter i.e. John David. The stand alone singles of the time though have been own material - You'll Come Round and Thinking Of You. And over the last decade with singles having become obsolete so obviously have covers ..

[mortified]

Oct 29, 2017 9:20:47 GMT snakelady said:

Oct 28, 2017 19:10:40 GMT cayan said:

I have always liked AW. The sound of the guitars and the way that Francis and Rick voices blend, that for me was the Quo sound.
In spite of the fact that I am a fan of the band, it can be denied that after 1976, they changed their sound and gained a lot new fans with the cover of the RAOTW.
Although they somehow managed to write hits of their own, (WYW and WYP), they survived trough the eighties thanks to covers (SBYIL, DJ which was not written by the band, ITAN, BB which is a version of a folk song), and as it has been previously posted, AW put them again on track and brought attention to the band.
Needless to say that in the nineties it was the DS album which maintained their “status”, and the RTYD album, which was a return to form, was full of covers too and songs revisited by the band.
To me, post 76’ Quo success has a lot to do with covers.

There haven't been many covers from Heavy Traffic on, certainly less than ever before (not counting Riffs). 

They've sort of covered themselves with the Aquostic albums.     But with that they are simply part of yet another 'trend'.  Several acts have done the same, both before and since. Simple Minds' acoustic album is a thing of real beauty and is the best I've heard outside of Aquostic - Stripped Bare. And I'm not even a huge Simple Minds fan. Bits and bobs over the years.

However, back on topic, The Anniversary Waltz was again one of those pivotal moments in the band's career where things were on the slide and they turned it round. They've done it time and time again. It gave them a massive hit single after the failure of the previous two and the Perfect Remedy album and, of course, included it on the Rockin' All Over The Years compilation the same year, which was also huge. As was the associated video (NEC live) which went to no.1. 

If in doubt, bring out a compilation of some sort. The public will lap it up 

[mortified]

Oct 28, 2017 10:04:26 GMT gogs said:

....at one point bits of The Wanderer appeared 3 times in the set; on its own in the opening mash up, in Roadhouse Medley at the end of the main set, and in AW during the encore. No wonder we're all sick of it. 

I know! I remember those days. Mental. 

[I Ain't Complaining]

Oct 29, 2017 10:34:57 GMT mortified said:

Oct 29, 2017 9:20:47 GMT snakelady said:

There haven't been many covers from Heavy Traffic on, certainly less than ever before (not counting Riffs). 

However, back on topic, The Anniversary Waltz was again one of those pivotal moments in the band's career where things were on the slide and they turned it round. They've done it time and time again. It gave them a massive hit single after the failure of the previous two and the Perfect Remedy album and, of course, included it on the Rockin' All Over The Years compilation the same year, which was also huge. As was the associated video (NEC live) which went to no.1. 

Excellent points!

We're talking about the AW and I'd almost forgotten that it was a prelude to the RAOTY Greatest Hits album that went to number 2 in the UK chart and spent about 6 weeks in the top ten over the Christmas period. After the disastrous Perfect Remedy, those 2 releases were probably pivotal in the band's continuation, and the future releases of the RTYD and DS albums which were also important for different reasons.

I loved the 1989/90 NEC DVD at the time, but find it a bit flat these days.

[I Ain't Complaining]

Oct 28, 2017 10:04:26 GMT gogs said:

The full 12" release was (as stated above) a dig at the Jive Bunny thing, and was recorded in one hit at Bray Studios. I remember Rick saying at the time that they preferred recording live because it came close to a stage sound. This is probably most notable on the RTYD version of 4500 Times with its false start. AW was also the release used to publicise the Minehead 25 gig and all the associated merchandising. It then morphed into various bits in the live set including the Roadhouse Medley (AW25 single release).

They were all OK, even quite good, at the time, but sadly led to the 3 covers albums. And at one point bits of The Wanderer appeared 3 times in the set; on its own in the opening mash up, in Roadhouse Medley at the end of the main set, and in AW during the encore. No wonder we're all sick of it. 

I like the sound on the AW.....forgot how good it was actually!

[I Ain't Complaining]

Oct 26, 2017 20:01:41 GMT frozenhero said:

Oct 26, 2017 19:56:07 GMT @irp said:

I am sure there was a CD released with the two versions joined together, wasn't there ?

The original CD single, but other than that? Though Quo have a plethora of compilations, so I wouldn't rule it out...

After the AW Part 1 CD single (which won't be available now), I don't ever remember seeing the whole version appear on any compilations. We usually just get part 1, as that was the part that was the big hit single.

I agree that it would be good if it appeared on a future release. I much prefer it from the beginning all the way through. It builds and builds until it gets to Great Balls of Fire....just the way it was supposed to.

The fact that they released the full 12" version with part 1, followed by part 2, was a) a little strange; I would have probably released the full version with part 2), but b) possibly contributed to the huge UK chart success of part 1. I think that was one of those times where everything just aligned at the same time to help it be successful (the success of Jive Bunny, Quo's 25th Anniversary, the radio 1 airplay, the memorable video).

[I Ain't Complaining]

Oct 28, 2017 9:20:08 GMT mortified said:

I never liked the video and it was the first time I'd seen that whole Mud/Tiger Feet elbow dance thing done to Quo's music. Unfortunately, it seemed to strike a chord with Mr & Mrs Public and I kept seeing it from then on at gigs.  If you'd done that at Glasgow Apollo they'd have taken you out on a stretcher 

[I Ain't Complaining]

Oct 28, 2017 9:00:27 GMT snakelady said:

The choice of songs does nothing for me, they're from the band's youth not mine.

Fair enough....

I see it differently. With a lot of the covers Quo did; the AW, the RTYD covers, and the 3 albums that followed, I haven't known a lot of them when I first heard them, but that was fine because it opened me up to a whole host of old songs that I maybe should have known but didn't.  And I'm sure some of the older fans were familiar with more of those songs, but I found the fact that I wasn't a good thing not bad.

[snakelady]

Oct 30, 2017 17:54:51 GMT I Ain't Complaining said:

Oct 28, 2017 9:00:27 GMT snakelady said:

The choice of songs does nothing for me, they're from the band's youth not mine.

Fair enough....

I see it differently. With a lot of the covers Quo did; the AW, the RTYD covers, and the 3 albums that followed, I haven't known a lot of them when I first heard them, but that was fine because it opened me up to a whole host of old songs that I maybe should have known but didn't.  And I'm sure some of the older fans were familiar with more of those songs, but I found the fact that I wasn't a good thing not bad.

Maybe that's my problem - I do know most original versions and their very different sound of old.

Generally speaking - concerning the covers albums too - I do think that Quo are a great covers band, simply because they're a great band, but they have a tendency to choose the wrong songs IMO. They were never going to improve Don't Stop i.e. Rumoury is one of the most successful albums in pop history and they should've kept well away from it instead of covering one of the songs and even naming their album after it.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule - meaning songs that were great choices - Wild Side Of Life, RAOTW, I knew The Bride or Not Fade Away to name a few ..

[I Ain't Complaining]

Oct 30, 2017 18:28:14 GMT snakelady said:

Oct 30, 2017 17:54:51 GMT I Ain't Complaining said:

Fair enough....

I see it differently. With a lot of the covers Quo did; the AW, the RTYD covers, and the 3 albums that followed, I haven't known a lot of them when I first heard them, but that was fine because it opened me up to a whole host of old songs that I maybe should have known but didn't.  And I'm sure some of the older fans were familiar with more of those songs, but I found the fact that I wasn't a good thing not bad.

Maybe that's my problem - I do know most original versions and their very different sound of old.

Generally speaking - concerning the covers albums too - I do think that Quo are a great covers band, simply because they're a great band, but they have a tendency to choose the wrong songs IMO. They were never going to improve Don't Stop i.e. Rumours is one of the most successful albums in pop history and they should've kept well away from it instead of covering one of the songs and even naming their album after it.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule - meaning songs that were great choices - Wild Side Of Life, RAOTW, I knew The Bride or Not Fade Away to name a few ..

I don't think naming the album Don't Stop (certainly in the UK) did it's performance any harm!!