STATUS QUO – Live [Reissue]

After five chart-busting albums since 1972, 1976’s second release from Status Quo was a live album, recorded in Glasgow at the Apollo Theatre.

Finally, the album is released with the songs in the same order as they actually were played during these two shows in October 1976. Before an enthusiastic crowd, Status Quo shows the rawness and energy that came to be known as their trademark, and these are two discs of pure partying.

Their medleys and crossovers between songs were already famous at this point, and after a solid introduction, they start off with “Junior’s Wailing,” and they don’t come up for air until “Bye Bye Johnny” fades out on disc two, well over 90 minutes later.

In between, you get really rocking versions of “Is There A Better Way,” “Rain,” “Roll Over Lay Down,” and “Don’t Waste My Time,” amongst others. It is truly an honest release, with no post production tampering. Charming with it’s occasional flaws, and a young Rick Parfitt struggling on “Big Fat Mama,” this is a classic recording from the old legends.

“Just Take Me” is totally killed with it’s tempo, completely losing it’s funky touch, but other than that, there is really nothing to point the finger at as less than stellar. Also, a 17 minute version of “Forty Five Hundred Times,” and a 14+ minute version of “Roadhouse Blues” never gets boring. Now that is something to tell Ritchie Blackmore about …