STATUS QUO – Never Too Late [Reissue]

When Status Quo traveled to Ireland to record 1980’s Just Supposin’, they also recorded what was to be 1981’s Never Too Late. In other words, this particular album was also self-produced.

The first thing that comes up when Never Too Late is mentioned nowadays, is that this is actually the last release that includes the classic line-up of Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Lancaster, and John Coghlan. By 1982’s release 1+9+8+2, Coghlan had been replaced.

“There’s Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like” was the first single off of Never Too Late, a song that’s still in their set, and was played both in the Oslo Concert house and at the Sweden Rock Festival this year. But other than that, Never Too Late shows a tired band, and where Just Supposin’ was an o.k. album, Never Too Late is in fact comprised of songs that were left over from those sessions.

“Take Me Away” is a mediocre rocker recorded so many times before. The Chuck Berry track “Carol” is way better, with a lot of energy and a kicking chorus. Then “Mountain Lady” is a stand out of the more melodic mainstream kind.

The album’s best tracks, being “There’s Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like” and “Carol” are both cover songs. In fact, rather than picking a second single from Never Too Late, they picked “Rock ‘N’ Roll” again from the Just Supposin’ album, which was a single released in some countries just the year before.

As the beginning of the 80’s progressed, Status Quo was falling apart, and the band announced their farewell shows at the Milton Keys Bowl in 1984. However, only the year after Status Quo did Live Aid, they had a new line-up and released their most successful album since Whatever You Want with In The Army Now in 1986.