Better Times

[Isaac Ryan]

Playing this a lot recently, can't believe it didn't make it onto an album ( was it RTYD??)

[mortified]

I think so. It was one of the B-sides to the withdrawn Fakin' The Blues single. Don't know precisely when it was recorded though. Whether it was the same sessions or later. It would make any album better though. It's a great track 

[statusquid]

Yes it was recorded as part of the Rock til you drop sessions. Classic Quo. Unbelievable it was left of the album along with Mysteries from the ball & Heavy Daze etc. Instead they opted for a new version of Tommy & a few decent covers. Strange, still a great album, probably one of the better Quo Mk2 albums. 4500 times reworked is awesome.

[mortified]

Jul 18, 2021 13:28:06 GMT statusquid said:

Yes it was recorded as part of the Rock til you drop sessions. Classic Quo. Unbelievable it was left of the album along with Mysteries from the ball & Heavy Daze etc. Instead they opted for a new version of Tommy & a few decent covers. Strange, still a great album, probably one of the better Quo Mk2 albums. 4500 times reworked is awesome.

I'm never sure who takes the decisions on these things. Many acts will decide for themselves I suppose but I never get the impression Quo have ever had that level of control. Or even want it. Leaving it to those whom they THINK know better from a commercial point of view. 

The three tracks you mention replacing another three fillers would have made this a truly stunning album instead of just being very good. But I suppose it's that light and shade argument again. Most of us would leave out the same ones 

[cammythemortonfan]

Jul 18, 2021 13:37:43 GMT mortified said:

Jul 18, 2021 13:28:06 GMT statusquid said:

Yes it was recorded as part of the Rock til you drop sessions. Classic Quo. Unbelievable it was left of the album along with Mysteries from the ball & Heavy Daze etc. Instead they opted for a new version of Tommy & a few decent covers. Strange, still a great album, probably one of the better Quo Mk2 albums. 4500 times reworked is awesome.

I'm never sure who takes the decisions on these things. Many acts will decide for themselves I suppose but I never get the impression Quo have ever had that level of control. Or even want it. Leaving it to those whom they THINK know better from a commercial point of view. 

The three tracks you mention replacing another three fillers would have made this a truly stunning album instead of just being very good. But I suppose it's that light and shade argument again. Most of us would leave out the same ones 

Although politics is often involved ( like having to record I Know You’re Leaving which none of them wanted ) , on RTYD and ISOTFC I suspect Francis had a big say.

Nobody else would have wanted Tommy on RTYD.

And four out of five loved I Ain’t Wasting My Time yet Francis thought it was a bit throwaway, hence it not making the album officially .

[mortified]

Aug 11, 2021 21:21:27 GMT cammythemortonfan said:

Jul 18, 2021 13:37:43 GMT mortified said:

I'm never sure who takes the decisions on these things. Many acts will decide for themselves I suppose but I never get the impression Quo have ever had that level of control. Or even want it. Leaving it to those whom they THINK know better from a commercial point of view. 

The three tracks you mention replacing another three fillers would have made this a truly stunning album instead of just being very good. But I suppose it's that light and shade argument again. Most of us would leave out the same ones 

Although politics is often involved ( like having to record I Know You’re Leaving which none of them wanted ) , on RTYD and ISOTFC I suspect Francis had a big say.

Nobody else would have wanted Tommy on RTYD.

And four out of five loved I Ain’t Wasting My Time yet Francis thought it was a bit throwaway, hence it not making the album officially .

Which would suggest he's at least objective about it, seeing he and Bob wrote it. 

Although these 'bonus tracks' can often be a bit of a con to get some of us to buy more than one version of an album. I don't think I've ever actually seen a copy of Heavy Traffic without Money Don't Matter on it   

[cammythemortonfan]

Aug 12, 2021 4:47:34 GMT mortified said:

Aug 11, 2021 21:21:27 GMT cammythemortonfan said:

Although politics is often involved ( like having to record I Know You’re Leaving which none of them wanted ) , on RTYD and ISOTFC I suspect Francis had a big say.

Nobody else would have wanted Tommy on RTYD.

And four out of five loved I Ain’t Wasting My Time yet Francis thought it was a bit throwaway, hence it not making the album officially .

Which would suggest he's at least objective about it, seeing he and Bob wrote it. 

Although these 'bonus tracks' can often be a bit of a con to get some of us to buy more than one version of an album. I don't think I've ever actually seen a copy of Heavy Traffic without Money Don't Matter on it   

I have a copy ……the US version of Heavy Traffic doesn’t have it.

I bought it years ago purely for the novelty .

What an idiot!!!

[mortified]

Aug 12, 2021 13:03:18 GMT cammythemortonfan said:

Aug 12, 2021 4:47:34 GMT mortified said:

Which would suggest he's at least objective about it, seeing he and Bob wrote it. 

Although these 'bonus tracks' can often be a bit of a con to get some of us to buy more than one version of an album. I don't think I've ever actually seen a copy of Heavy Traffic without Money Don't Matter on it   

I have a copy ……the US version of Heavy Traffic doesn’t have it.

I bought it years ago purely for the novelty .

What an idiot!!!

Not at all! If I'd seen one, I'd have grabbed it as well!   

I bet you've got the two versions of Riffs. One with and one without the DVD. Haven't we all?   

[frozenhero]

According to the deluxe liner notes, there was a plan to release two albums in succession (as had been done with JS/NTL) but that was shelved. I guess some of those songs would've appeared on the second album, whatever it would've been called (Fame Or Money? Better Times?)