mortified
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Post by mortified on Feb 5, 2018 14:49:57 GMT
I blame it all on the success of Anniversary Waltz. That really laid down the blueprint of them shifting from their comeback in the 80s to what was to come in the 90s. It was almost as if they didn't know how to define themselves, I don't think they did. Or rather one wanted to be defined as one thing (although not enough to actually walk away) and the other didn't want to be defined at all. He just wanted it to keep going at all costs. Every time they pull a sort of recording 'stunt' like this it has had a tendency to give the band new found success. The Anniversary Waltz and the Rockin' All Over The Years compilation followed the huge failure of Perfect Remedy. Job done. Back in the limelight. Don't Stop followed the very heavy criticism that was given to Thirsty Work and the subsequent failure of King Of The Doghouse. It went platinum or something. Job Done. Back in the limelight. Aquostic didn't really follow anything that went particularly badly (unless we count the movie) but it went at least gold. Job done. Back in the limelight. They were back in the limelight with the reunion as well. That was also a marketing stunt no what matter what anyone else thinks. Different audience, same outcome. All of these things will therefore be seen as justification - and I dare say it is. It largely depends on where you stand on marketing the band as light entertainment. I've always detested that approach but they've done enough in the studio over the years and on stage to keep me interested. I can live with covers albums and kerrap movies. For every Don't Stop, thankfully there's a Heavy Traffic and a Rock 'Til You Drop. Just as well  |
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Post by cammythemortonfan on Feb 5, 2018 19:50:19 GMT
I love the overall sound on Riffs- it’s the best guitar sound since Rock Til You Drop, for me.
I have to exclude RAOTW and WYW from that as they were recorded a year or two before the rest of the tracks.
But On the Road Again sounds fantastic.
It’s a real pity Heavy Traffic didn’t sound like Riffs
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Feb 6, 2018 6:33:17 GMT
It’s a real pity Heavy Traffic didn’t sound like Riffs Which is odd because they must have been recorded at roughly the same time as both were to be released simultaneously. There are good tracks on all of the covers albums like On The Road Again, which is one of the stand-outs. Just not enough of them. And because Quo tended to stick close to the original arrangements, if you didn't like a song originally you're hardly going to like their version. |
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Post by lazypokerblues on Feb 6, 2018 9:33:24 GMT
Yes it was my understanding that both albums were recorded at the same time. Indeed, wasn't Riffs advertised in the Heavy Traffic tour programme? I seem to recall there being a leggy blonde on the advert, reminiscent of the old Top of the Pops albums. I thought at the time, how inappropriate the image was, like the marketing department were still stuck in the 1970s.
So I was expecting Riffs to come out earlier in 2003, but then it got pushed back to an Autumn release, and they named the 2003/2004 tour after it.
Morty, how do you feel these days about the follow up album, The Party Ain't Over Yet? I always remember at the time of its release that lots of us were raving about it, but then that enthusiasm seemed to wane, whereas you consistently and continually would praise it. Do you still feel the same about it? Sorry for going off on a tangent here.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Feb 6, 2018 9:50:51 GMT
Yes it was my understanding that both albums were recorded at the same time. Indeed, wasn't Riffs advertised in the Heavy Traffic tour programme? I seem to recall there being a leggy blonde on the advert, reminiscent of the old Top of the Pops albums. I thought at the time, how inappropriate the image was, like the marketing department were still stuck in the 1970s. So I was expecting Riffs to come out earlier in 2003, but then it got pushed back to an Autumn release, and they named the 2003/2004 tour after it. Morty, how do you feel these days about the follow up album, The Party Ain't Over Yet? I always remember at the time of its release that lots of us were raving about it, but then that enthusiasm seemed to wane, whereas you consistently and continually would praise it. Do you still feel the same about it? Sorry for going off on a tangent here. I still very much like The Party Ain't Over Yet. I think I'm the only one that does  Even the band dismissed it fairly quickly! Just a question of taste I guess. Apart from the title track, which is so-so, I love the rest. I love the production and arrangement of it as well. Quite a lot of acoustic guitar in the background backing up the, eh, plugged in guitar riffs. SO much better than the experiments they did with synths doing the same job in the 80's and 90's. As for Riffs, you're right. It was advertised in the programme. I think it was originally called Rocking All Over The Riffs and that rather fetching, if stupidly retro approach of using a scantily clad model, was still there on the reverse sleeve if I remember rightly. Or a version of it. But Heavy Traffic was so well received and sold so many that they had to put back the covers album they never wanted to do in the first place! It was a good tour though.  |
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Post by smokie on Feb 6, 2018 10:03:36 GMT
I love the overall sound on Riffs- it’s the best guitar sound since Rock Til You Drop, for me. Agreed  |
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Post by lazypokerblues on Feb 6, 2018 10:08:21 GMT
Oh yes, that's right! Heavy Traffic was continuing to sell well, and they didn't want to curtail its success by rush releasing Riffs. It's coming back to me now.
So the message at the time was that Quo Were Back (again). It was the rocking Quo of old, with a new drummer. They has slowed down the songs and everything felt tight and heavy again. I'm pretty sure that's why, when the Riffs tour first started, they brought back a rocking set, which only lasted a few gigs, and then they reverted back to something that 'flowed'.
I think it seems a bit of a shame that they didn't capitalise upon all the brouhaha around Heavy Traffic - it was followed by a covers album and then by yet another greatest hits. It was a full 3 years before 'Party'. And then even that was sort of wrapped up in a weird 40 year anniversary tie in with Coronation Street.
But like you said yesterday, they always seemed to get back in the spotlight whenever they did a 'stunt' rather than an original album, which most of the people who buy their records aren't really that bothered about.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Feb 6, 2018 11:45:27 GMT
I think it seems a bit of a shame that they didn't capitalise upon all the brouhaha around Heavy Traffic - it was followed by a covers album and then by yet another greatest hits. It was a full 3 years before 'Party'. The success of Heavy Traffic and the praise that it received all round, from fans and music mags alike, should have maybe shone a bit of a light bulb. This was what many Quo fans had been dreaming of for decades! Maybe there was a lack of material although sometimes I think they just toured so much they didn't have time to record. But I do remember Francis saying in the FTMO at the time that there wasn't enough 'light and shade' in it for him. I'm not sure I agree with that. Green, Money Don't Matter, Diggin' Burt Bacharach and Rhythm Of Life were hardly blistering. But I couldn't complain about the proper follow-up once it arrived. I really liked it and, to be fair, I've liked all albums of self-penned material ever since. In fact, I don't think I've disliked any since Thirsty Work nearly 24 years ago! |
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Post by lazypokerblues on Feb 6, 2018 12:31:03 GMT
I just thought to myself, "It can't possibly be 24 years since Thirsty Work came out" - I was only 24 at the time! But I've just turned 48, so yeah... it must be! I was Living On An Island at the time, having moved to Jersey. Very happy memories of a sunny climate listening to Thirsty Work. I don't mind that album at all - in fact I have quite a soft spot for it - even Restless! Which brings us nicely back round to the original topic of this thread!
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Post by cammythemortonfan on Feb 6, 2018 18:45:49 GMT
Riffs was recorded in a different studio - I think that accounts partly for the different sound to Heavy Traffic.
It was recorded after Heavy Traffic ( but not long after )👍
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Feb 7, 2018 6:41:00 GMT
I just thought to myself, "It can't possibly be 24 years since Thirsty Work came out" - I was only 24 at the time! But I've just turned 48, so yeah... it must be! I was Living On An Island at the time, having moved to Jersey. Very happy memories of a sunny climate listening to Thirsty Work. I don't mind that album at all - in fact I have quite a soft spot for it - even Restless! Which brings us nicely back round to the original topic of this thread! I must admit I haven't listened to it in ages. And I don't think I've listened all the way through for a couple of decades! And I've never listened to the remaster. I should give it a spin. I always say that I give Quo more second chances than anyone else. But I'm not going in with an unbiased view and an open mind |
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Post by snakelady on Feb 7, 2018 8:36:28 GMT
Riffs was recorded in a different studio - I think that accounts partly for the different sound to Heavy Traffic. It was recorded after Heavy Traffic ( but not long after )👍 Interesting .. Did they use different studios for JS/NTL too as these two albums sound as different as can be too, despite allegedly having been recorded at the same time ? |
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Post by cammythemortonfan on Feb 12, 2018 19:58:58 GMT
Riffs was recorded in a different studio - I think that accounts partly for the different sound to Heavy Traffic. It was recorded after Heavy Traffic ( but not long after )👍 Interesting .. Did they use different studios for JS/NTL too as these two albums sound as different as can be too, despite allegedly having been recorded at the same time ? Hi. No, it was the same studio except for one of the tracks for NTL/JS. John Eden confirmed this on the old message board |
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Post by snakelady on Feb 13, 2018 8:03:51 GMT
Interesting .. Did they use different studios for JS/NTL too as these two albums sound as different as can be too, despite allegedly having been recorded at the same time ? Hi. No, it was the same studio except for one of the tracks for NTL/JS. John Eden confirmed this on the old message board Thanks So many interesting things were talked about on the old mb, from Pip Williams too, but sadly by now I've forgotten most of it. JE talked about the albums on here as well (and whether to look into remixing IYCSTH next - guess we talked him out of that ..), but after Marc's big 'clean-up' the posts were gone and my memory isn't what it used to be ..  |
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Feb 13, 2018 8:35:40 GMT
I'd give John Eden free rein to do all sorts of things but that's not going to happen. I always think remixes are interesting and very often improve on the originals.
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Even the band dismissed it fairly quickly! Just a question of taste I guess. 
sorry I mean 64 
