Summary
In this edition of The Quo-Cast, Jamie Dyer takes a look at the three covers albums released between 1995 and 2003; Don’t Stop, Famous In The Last Century & Riffs.
About the Covers Albums
Don’t Stop was first released in February of 1996. It was produced by Pip Williams. It was the first time Quo had ever recorded a full album of covers. It featured versions of songs including Fun Fun Fun, You Never Can Tell, Get Out of Denver and Sorrow. Special guests on this album included The Beach Boys, Brian May, Tessa Niles, and Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span). A mimed concert of the album, filmed at the Brixton Academy, was released on VHS, The album reached a peak UK chart position of #2.
Famous in the Last Century was released in 2000, and was their second covers album. The album cover featured the band in a Sgt Pepper inspired portrait seemingly on a Buckingham Palace balcony. Famous figures surrounding the band included Harold Wilson, (Then) Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill Margaret Thatcher, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Nelson Mandela, Elvis Presley and John Lennon. It was produced by Mike Paxman, and featured songs including Old Time Rock and Roll, Mony Mony, Rave On, Hound Dog and Memphis Tennesee. A mimed concert was held at Shepherds Bush Empire, and released on VHS and DVD. The album reached a peak of no. 19 in the UK Album charts.
Riffs was recorded around the same time as Heavy Traffic, but released in 2003. It was produced by Mike Paxman, and featured songs including I Fought the Law, Don’t Bring Me Down and Pump It Up. It also included re-recordings of Quo favourites including Junior’s Wailing, Whatever You Want, Down the Dustpipe and Rockin’ All Over The World. It was also the first time that John ‘Rhino’ Edwards featured as lead vocalist on a Status Quo recording, with his interpretation of Centerfold.
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