BMG is to release a new 5-disc box set focusing on the early years of Status Quo, particularly the period between 1966 and 1969. This release has been endorsed by the band, who have uploaded a promotional video to their social media.
DISC ONE & TWO will feature mono and stereo mixes of the band’s first two albums; Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo (1968) and Spare Parts. (1969). This includes the singles Pictures of Matchstick Men, Black Veils of Melancholy, Ice in the Sun and Are You Growing Tired of My Love. Many highlights include When My Mind Is Not Live, Technicolour Dreams, So Ends Another Life, and Nothing At All. Both albums were produced by John Schroder.
DISC THREE focuses on the era before the band became known as (the) Status Quo. Early singles released under The Spectres and Traffic Jam and other songs from those sessions are included. For the first time on CD are The Spectres’ Love in Vain and Say That You Need Me. Also included on this disc are BBC sessions from this era.
DISC FOUR features A-sides, B-sides, outtakes, demos and rarities.
DISC FIVE contains a large collection of BBC Radio sessions from the period. All of these recordings were previously included in the Live at the BBC Boxset, but the inclusion here will be a welcome addition for fans who missed out.
In addition, a 40-page booklet is included, featuring extensive sleeve notes and memorabilia.
The set will be released on the 15th of March 2024. It is available to pre-order from Amazon.
Tracklisting
Disc One: Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo & Spare Parts – Original Mono albums
Picturesque
- Black Veils Of Melancholy
- When My Mind Is Not Live
- Ice In The Sun
- Elizabeth Dreams
- Gentleman Joe’s Sidewalk Café
- Paradise Flat
- Technicolor Dreams
- Sheila
- Spicks And Specks
- Sunny Cellophane Skies
- Green Tambourine
- Pictures Of Matchstick Men
Spare Parts
- Face Without A Soul
- You’re Just What I Was Looking For Today
- Are You Growing Tired Of My Love
- Antique Angelique
- So Ends Another Life
- Poor Old Man
- Mr. Mind Detector
- The Clown
- Velvet Curtains
- Little Miss Nothing
- When I Awake
- Nothing At All
Disc Two: Picturesque & Spare Parts – Stereo albums
Same tracklisting as disc 1
Disc Three: Before Status Quo
The Spectres:
- I (Who Have Nothing
- Neighbour, Neighbour
- Hurdy Gurdy Man
- (Her Name Was) Laticia
- (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet
- I Want It
- Spicks And Specks
- Walking With My Angel
- When He Passed You By
- Love In Vain
- Say That You Need Me
- Neighbour Neighbour (Alternate version)
- Gloria
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - Interview With Francis Rossi
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - I (Who Have Nothing)
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - Neighbour, Neighbour
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - Bloodhound
(BBC Session (Saturday Club - Bird Dog
(BBC Session, Saturday Club)
Traffic Jam: - Almost But Not Quite There
- Wait Just A Minute
- I Don’t Want You
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - Almost But Not Quite There
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - It Takes Two
(BBC Session, Saturday Club) - Spicks And Specks
(BBC Session, Saturday Club)
Disc Four: A-Sides, B-Sides, Demos & Outtakes
- To Be Free
- Make Me Stay a Bit Longer
- Auntie Nellie
- Are You Growing Tired Of My Love
- The Price Of Love
- Little Miss Nothing
- Nothing At All (Demo Excerpt)
- Josie (From Spare Parts sessions)
- Do You Live In Fire (From Spare Parts sessions
- Pictures Of Matchstick Men (Mix Of An Alternate
Version) - Paradise Flats (Alt Version remixed in stereo by Mike
Brown for 1998 remaster) - Hey Little Woman (You’re Just What I Was Looking For Today) (Alternate version)
- The Price Of Love (Alternate version)
- Auntie Nellie (Stereo remix)
- Josie (Alternate mix)
- Pictures Of Matchstick Men (Mix of Alternate Version)
Disc Five: BBC In Session, 1968-1969
- Spicks And Specks
(David Symonds) - Judy In Disguise
(David Symonds) - Pictures Of Matchstick Men
(David Symonds) - Interview With Brian Matthew
(Saturday Club) - Pictures Of Matchstick Men
(Saturday Club) - Things Get Better
(Saturday Club) - Gloria
(David Symonds) - Interview With Alan Lancaster
(David Symonds) - Black Veils Of Melancholy
(David Symonds) - Bloodhound
(David Symonds) - Ice In The Sun
(Saturday Club) - When My Mind Is Not Live
(Saturday Club) - Paradise Flats
(Saturday Club) - Interview
(Symonds on Sunday) - Make Me Stay A Bit Longer
(Symonds on Sunday) - Are You Growing Tired Of My Love
(Symonds on Sunday) - The Price Of Love
(Symonds on Sunday) - The Price Of Love
(Symonds on Sunday)
Jamie’s Commentary:
Yes, I know! ANOTHER release of the Pye era, but this one does seem to stand out from the rest. Previous releases tended to mix up the eras, opting to include recordings from Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon and Dog of Two Head. Focusing entirely on the 60s gives the material a chance to shine on its own. I often feel this part of the story gets a bit overshadowed, as it doesn’t represent what the band later became. However, I see it as a document of the early journey to what the band became. Even in those first recordings as the Spectres, there are little hints as to what would come next. I look forward to what this set can teach me about the building of the unit.
One piece of praise I have right now is for the artwork, which isn’t misleading. How many times has a later Rock image of the band been used for an album that mainly contains psychedelic Pop? Too many times to mention! This artwork leaves you in no doubt as to what you’re going to get.
Overall, I am excited for this set. It will be quite handy for those of us who have somehow missed picking up that era physically. I especially like that they’ve chosen to include a “before Status Quo” disc, as many of those tracks often live rent-free in my head! Hopefully, this will prompt more discussion of Roy Lyne’s contribution too, as he plays a pivotal role in those early stages. I shall be buying this set and will give a full review at a later date. Groovy man!
