STATUS QUO – Piledriver [Reissue]

As you may have read by Metal Express earlier this year, Status Quo is celebrating their first 40 years hard with a compilation album, a DVD, a book, endless touring, and reissues of their 70s albums. The first one out; 1972’s Piledriver.

This is the first Status Quo-album to chart in England, and it peaked at number 5 in 1972. It is the first album of their golden era between 1972 and 1981 with full time members Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi, accompanied by Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan.

There are only 8 songs on the original version of this album, starting off with the Quo-classic “Don’t Waste My Time,” which also makes for the bonus track on this reissue (in a live version) from The Reading Festival back in 1973.

This is, in many ways, the album where Status Quo simply became Status Quo, as they came known to be. The aforementioned “Don’t Waste My Time” has followed them for well over 30 years now, and the album’s best track “Big Fat Mama” is likewise a classic, sung by Rick Parfitt. “Paper Plane” is also featured on Piledriver, earning them a visit to the Top 10 in England with it’s highest position at No. 8 in 1972.

“Oh Baby” and “A Year” are 2 songs on this album which don’t quite suit Status Quo compared to the kind of boogie monster that Quo grew to be in the 70’s. These are two very Blues-orientated ballads, and “A Year” is probably the closest Status Quo ever got to Led Zeppelin with it’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” recipe.

There is also a cover of the legendary The Doors track “Roadhouse Blues,” and one has to wonder why they did this, because it is an easily forgotten piece. Nevertheless, Piledriver is, for many, the first decent Status Quo-release, with which many fans started their Quo-career … and with subsequent albums people were taken on a fun ride …