123 Singles

CHARTING THE HISTORY OF QUO IN 123 SINGLES

By Jason Hodgson

During the twelve years we’ve run the From The Collectors Of… column in this esteemed publication, we’ve been keeping a running total of the band’s singles. Those with long memories may recall our starting point: way back in 2013, the new single ‘Bula Bula Quo (Kua Ni Lega)’ was proclaimed (by us!) to be Quo’s 100th global single A-side. Seeing a chance for a press release, the band’s management and PR jumped on our full list, sharing it widely to the world’s press. We also ran it in these pages.

Over time, however, the general knowledge pool deepens as new facts come to light – and so the list has now been amended slightly, as well as extended with a further dozen years’ worth of new releases. Now, in response to many questions (and a few arguments!), and for the benefit of many new FTMO… members and a whole new generation of Quo fans and collectors, we thought it was time to revisit the list.

Over the 59 years of the band’s recording career, the way the public consume music has changed considerably. So firstly the question needs to be asked: what exactly constitutes a single? As there is no definitive answer, we set our own criteria that hopefully will not prove to be too controversial. These are our rules:

If it was released anywhere in the world as the A-side of a single on any physical format, then it’s a single.
If it was a nominated double A-side track, then it’s a single.
If a different territory ‘flipped’ the sides and the local sleeve declared the usual B-side to be the A-side in that country, then it’s a single.
If it was the lead track on a physical EP, then it’s a single.
If it was a nominated digital single (often, but not always, accompanied by a physical promo single), that was available to buy digitally as a standalone single (as opposed to a digital album track), then it’s a single.

What isn’t a single:

Any physical B-side where the A- and B-sides have not been explicitly labelled, but there’s no evidence the usual B-side was ever intended as the A-side.
Any physical promo-only single with no commercial equivalent.
Any physical single intended only as a bonus product within an album box set, and not released individually.
Any individually-available digital album track that hasn’t been specifically nominated as a single.
Any track on a digital-only EP with no nominated A-side (examples: the ‘Status Quo At Live Aid’ EP issued by The Band Aid Trust, or the ‘Don’t Stop Extras EP’)

If it’s a reissue of a previous A-side, then it doesn’t count as a new single. But if it’s a totally different version of the A-side (example: ‘Caroline’, ‘Caroline (Live At The N.E.C.)’ & ‘Caroline (2022 Studio Version)’), then they do all count as separate singles.

Before we begin our list of Status Quo singles, we must of course remember the four 7” records released by the proto-Quo line-up of Francis Rossi, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan and Roy Lynes: ‘I (Who Have Nothing)’, ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’ and ‘(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet’ under the name The Spectres, and ‘Almost But Not Quite There’ as The Traffic Jam. That sequence of titles was to prove prescient as a further name change to The Status Quo finally brought hard-earned success.

The story of Status Quo’s 123 singles is the story of the band itself: the highs and the lows, the hits and the misses, the times they could do no wrong and the times they couldn’t buy a hit. It’s been quite a rollercoaster. Buckle up.

Status Quo’s 123 singles:

From the album Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo:

Pictures Of Matchstick Men (1968)

With the addition of Rick Parfitt to the ranks, and another name change for good measure, the band that is now known as The Status Quo finally struck gold at their fifth attempt. It was a worldwide smash, selling upwards of a million copies. Universally viewed as a psychedelic classic, this Francis Rossi composition has been covered countless times from 1968 through to the present day.

Black Veils Of Melancholy (1968)

The identikit follow-up, which was considered too similar to its predecessor to do much business in the UK, sold well in several other territories.

Ice In The Sun (1968)

Quo went back into the UK Top 10 with this hit written by Marty Wilde (father of Kim) and Ronnie Scott.

Technicolor Dreams (1968)

Cancelled in the UK, but its release went ahead in a selection of other countries.

Green Tambourine (c.1968)

Omitted from the 2013 list of Quo’s 100 singles, this little beauty was issued in tiny quantities in El Salvador only. It isn’t even credited to Status Quo, but the “18220” in its catalogue number – the same serial number as its UK parent album – is the giveaway. The mere existence of such an item renders it impossible to state with any degree of certainty that any list compiled now is 100% complete!

Standalone single:

Make Me Stay A Bit Longer (1969)

The first fruits of the Spare Parts sessions, but ultimately not included on that album. Credited to a mixture of ‘The Status Quo’ or just ‘Status Quo’ depending on territory.

Auntie Nellie (1969)

Even though this sleeve contained the UK-pressed 7” of ‘Make Me Stay…’, its B-side was nominated as the A-side in Portugal.

From the album Spare Parts:

Are You Growing Tired Of My Love (1969)

A Bee Gees-style piano ballad sung by Rick, it was a minor chart hit in the UK. Different countries were still undecided as to the band’s name!

Standalone single:

The Price Of Love (1969)

The ‘The’ is now gone! The first single to be consistently released as ‘Status Quo’ worldwide. Recorded and rush-released in late-1969 following a well-received live performance at the NME poll winners’ concert.

Back to the album Spare Parts:

Face Without A Soul (1970)

Issued in Argentina only, with ‘Mr Mind Detector’ on the flipside.

Standalone singles:

Down The Dustpipe (1970)

The first of a string of slow burners from the new-look Quo. Out with the psychedelic Carnaby Street clothing, in with dirty denim and long hair, and back into the charts for a 17-week stay – the longest chart run of any Quo single.

In My Chair (1970)

This one hung around the lower reaches of the UK charts for months despite peaking just outside the Top 20.

Tune To The Music (1971)

All of the singles from 1970 & 1971 were issued in isolation. No tracks from either Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon or Dog Of Two Head were released contemporaneously as singles in the UK.

From the album Dog Of Two Head:

Railroad (Part 1) (1972)

However, ‘Railroad’ was issued on 7” in Spain and Germany only, split into two parts with the second half appearing on the B-side.

From the album Piledriver:

Paper Plane (1972)

The first fruits of Quo’s move from Pye to Vertigo, and the beginning of the new, heavy Frantic Four era.

Don’t Waste My Time (1973)

Also omitted from our 2013 list of 100 singles. USA promo-only 7”s of ‘Don’t Waste My Time’ are relatively common, but there is now proof that an extremely rare commercial “stock copy” exists. In order to fulfil contractual obligations to release singles, it was not uncommon for USA labels during this period to utilise separate pressing plants on each coast, with maybe just one factory manufacturing a tiny batch that was then only distributed in one state, or even just one city. Its sheer rarity suggests this may have been the case here.

Back to the album Dog Of Two Head:

Mean Girl (1973)

Having seen the global success of ‘Paper Plane’, Pye decided to recoup some of their losses by raiding their two-years-old Dog… album for singles to sell to the band’s new fans. ‘Mean Girl’ was a sizeable hit across Europe.

Gerdundula (1973)

Hoping lightning would strike twice, Pye returned to Dog… and lifted the re-recorded ‘Gerdundula’ as an A-side (This version had John Coghlan playing drums. The track’s first appearance – as the flipside of ‘In My Chair’ – had Spud on bongos instead). This single performed particularly well in Spain, where it reached number 16.

Standalone single:

Need Your Love (1973)

Issued in Mexico only under the translated title ‘Necesito Tu Amor’, it may have been the local record company’s intention to licence the version originally heard on Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon. But for whatever unknown reason, instead they found themselves with a BBC session recording featuring Bob Young on lead vocals.

From the album Hello!:

Caroline (1973)

The second Vertigo single continued Quo’s trajectory towards mass popularity, and its parent album became their first UK number one.

From the album Quo:

Break The Rules (1974)

With albums coming thick and fast, this slice of pure boogie continued the run of Top 10 hits.

Just Take Me (1974)

A great choice of single, alas one only released in Spain. A rare Lancaster A-side lead vocal.

From the album On The Level:

Down Down (1974)

Quo’s one and only UK Number One single.

Standalone EP:

Roll Over Lay Down (Live) (1975)

The lead track from the Status Quo Live! 7” EP – supposedly the first EP to enter the UK singles chart since The Beatles’ days (which, to be fair, wasn’t too much earlier). Inexplicably replaced by the Hello! studio version on numerous singles compilations including 12 Gold Bars. In some overseas territories this was released as a 2-track single rather than a 3-track EP.

From the album Blue For You:

Rain (1976)

The first Parfitt lead vocal on a Vertigo single.

Mystery Song (1976)

Swiftly followed by the second!

Mad About The Boy (1976)

An unusual choice of single by New Zealand’s Vertigo office.

Standalone single:

Wild Side Of Life (1976)

The first Vertigo single to be produced by an outsider – in this case, Deep Purple’s Roger Glover.

Back to the album Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon:

Spinning Wheel Blues (1977)

There’s been confusion over the release date of this France-only 7”. Its catalogue number would suggest 1977, pointing to it being issued as a taster for the compilation Le Double Disque D’Or De Status Quo.

From the album Rockin’ All Over The World:

Rockin’ All Over The World (1977)

It’ll never catch on. Reissued in the UK in 1985 to capitalise on the band’s Live Aid performance.

Rockers Rollin’ (1977)

A non-UK single, but distributed throughout central mainland Europe and Australia & New Zealand. Its B-side, ‘Hold You Back’, was so popular in the Netherlands that it reached the Top 10 in its own right, for which reason we included it in our 2013 list of 100 singles. But we’re yet to see any evidence that it was ever officially promoted to “Double A-side” status, so we’ve chosen to remove it from our new list. If you have any historic proof that ‘Hold You Back’ was an official A-side, please send it through!

From the album If You Can’t Stand The Heat:

Again And Again (1978)

Later reworked by the Manchester United 1995 Football Squad, with help from Andy & Rhino, as ‘We’re Gonna Do It Again’ (which was not a Status Quo single by any definition!)

Accident Prone (1978)

The first UK Vertigo single to miss the Top 20, and by quite a distance too. Time has been kinder to this “Disquo” single than the British record-buying public were back in the day, but it performed significantly better in some other countries.

Like A Good Girl (1978)

A great choice of single, albeit one only made by Vertigo in Spain.

From the album Whatever You Want:

Whatever You Want (1979)

The song that launched a thousand adverts. A massive hit pretty much everywhere and a bonafide rock classic.

Living On An Island (1979)

And now for something completely different – an acoustic Parfitt-led ballad about exile on Jersey.

Runaway (1979)

‘Living On An Island’’s flipside was so popular in the Netherlands that this time – unlike with ‘Hold You Back’ – it was officially made a double A-side there, with alternative sleeves being printed that promoted this track to top billing.

From the album Just Supposin’:

What You’re Proposing (1980)

Narrowly missed the UK Number One spot. Nominated for an Ivor Novello award for Best Pop Song of 1980.

Lies (1980)

Issued as an official double A-side in the UK with…

Don’t Drive My Car (1980)

… which was listed on the UK sleeve as the ‘Other A Side’.

From the album Never Too Late:

Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like (1981)

Quo do Tom Jones, but better.

Never Too Late (1981)

Spain, uniquely, issued the album’s title track on 7”.

Back to the album Just Supposin’:

Rock ‘N’ Roll (1981)

Oddly returning to the previous album to lift a fourth A-side instead of finding another one from Never Too Late. John Coghlan’s final single with the band.

From the album 1+9+8+2:

Dear John (1982)

Not, as was often thought, a letter to the departed John Coghlan. Quo welcomed Pete Kircher as John’s replacement, with Andy Bown promoted to full band member.

She Don’t Fool Me (1982)

A rare miss, chart-wise. Deserved better.

Young Pretender (1982)

Issued in the Netherlands only.

Jealousy (1982)

Another different choice of single by Dutch Vertigo, this time joined by Ireland, Germany and Spain too, utilising a variety of different B-sides. Later re-recorded and released as a single by Francis Rossi & Bernard Frost.

I Love Rock And Roll (1982)

A rare Nuff lead vocal adorned this 7” in his adopted homeland of Australia.

From the album From The Makers Of…:

Caroline (Live At The N.E.C.) (1982)

This recording from the televised Prince’s Trust gig would likely have performed much better had it not been for industrial action by the BBC around the time of its release. A selection of that concert was issued as the third disc in the From The Makers Of… box set the following month, before it received a standalone album release titled Live At The N.E.C. two years later.

From the album Back To Back:

Ol’ Rag Blues (1983)

The first of a trio of quick-fire single releases from Quo in late-1983. An earlier version sung in the studio by its writer Alan Lancaster appeared some years later.

A Mess Of Blues (1983)

Quo do Elvis.

Marguerita Time (1983)

A massive hit, to the chagrin of many hardcore fans and some band members. Countless cover versions of this track exist, many rewritten in various Scandinavian languages.

Going Down Town Tonight (1984)

Perhaps not technically lifted from Back To Back, as this single was a re-recorded full-band take of a track whose original album version allegedly only features 20% of said band, it being a last-second replacement for the incongruous 1970s recording ‘Bad Company’.

Standalone single:

The Wanderer (1984)

Quo returned to the studio following the End Of The Road tour to record covers of Dion’s ‘The Wanderer’ and Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Cadillac Ranch’. The former sold by the truckload, whereas the latter remained unreleased until 2001.

From the album In The Army Now:

Rollin’ Home (1986)

Quo’s back, with Alan and Pete departed, and Rhino and Jeff Rich newly installed. This John David composition was produced by Dave Edmunds.

Red Sky (1986)

A second consecutive David/Edmunds collaboration, with Francis complaining that he didn’t want to be made to sound like ZZ Top. With Jeff also on Def Leppard duty, this single’s Top Of The Pops appearance featured Kenney Jones (Small Faces / The Who) on drums.

In The Army Now (1986)

One of Quo’s biggest-selling singles ever – an absolutely enormous chart hit throughout Europe and enduringly popular in Eastern Europe and Russia. Originally written about the conflict in Vietnam, an early Quo demo version features Francis singing the original Bolland lyric, “Smiling faces on the way to ’Nam”, before it was changed to, “Smiling faces as you wait to land”.

Dreamin’ (1986)

Scheduled for release as the first single from the Army sessions under its working title of ‘Naughty Girl’, it eventually became the fourth single release and another Top 20 hit.

Standalone single:

Quo Cake Mix (1987)

‘Dreamin’’s 12” vinyl B-side in the UK was ‘The Quo Christmas Cake Mix’, a glued-together medley of old Quo hits underlaid with a very dated 80s drumbeat. In Spain, a 12”-only release saw the UK sides flipped, with a slightly different version of the now-retitled ‘Quo Cake Mix’ (with ‘Roll Over Lay Down’ replaced by ‘In The Army Now’) promoted to the A-side.

From the album Ain’t Complaining:

Ain’t Complaining (1988)

Quo embrace technology and the use of samples!

I Know You’re Leaving (1988)

An odd choice of single, appearing briefly in France before being reportedly withdrawn.

Who Gets The Love? (1988)

Some contemporary reviews praised Quo for “maturing” in their sound, but the public weren’t buying into it and this single – to be fair, a very strong song – did little business chart-wise.

Standalone single:

Running All Over The World (1988)

Re-recorded with a new lyric for the charity Sport Aid. Two years earlier, Tears For Fears had hit big with their reworked single for the same charity, ‘Everybody Wants To Run The World’. Quo’s attempt wasn’t nearly as successful, and a planned appearance at a major promotional event was scuppered by their equipment being held up in customs on their way back into the UK.

Back to the album Ain’t Complaining:

Burning Bridges (On And Off And On Again) (1988)

A track that Vertigo executives had insisted be dropped from the album altogether eventually became a massive-selling UK Top 5 hit during Christmas 1988. The UK sleeve featured boxer Mike Tyson, whose long-awaited bout with British National Treasure Frank Bruno had been, errr, on and off and on again. As things stand – with no more gigs in the diary – it’s the last track Status Quo ever performed live.

Standalone single:

Drei Weisse Birrrken (1989)

Least said, soonest mended. A Germany-only release backing Stephan Remmler, former frontman of Trio, best known for their hit ‘Da Da Da’.

From the album Perfect Remedy:

Not At All (1989)

The first Vertigo single to miss the UK Top 40 altogether.

Little Dreamer (1989)

The first Vertigo single to miss the UK Top 75 altogether.

From the album Rocking All Over The Years:

The Anniversary Waltz – Part One (1990)

Following the failure of the two Perfect Remedy singles, plans were made to appease the fans by issuing that album’s standout moment, the hugely-popular ‘The Power Of Rock’, as a single. However, despite test pressings being made, the release was canned, the group’s management was changed, and new plans were put into place to totally relaunch the band.

Recorded to accompany the release of a new hits compilation, this global smash repeated the success of the other 21 cuts on the album in becoming Quo’s 22nd – and final to date – UK Top 10 single, reaching the Number Two position. ‘Part One’ was, confusingly, the second half of the full medley that appeared on the 12” and CD single formats only.

From the single ‘The Anniversary Waltz – Part One’:

The Anniversary Waltz – Part Two (1990)

Not included on ‘Part One’’s parent album, ‘Part Two’ – the first half of the full ‘Waltz’, obviously – is quite possibly the only example in UK chart history of a Top 20 hit single being lifted directly from the same band’s preceding single!

From the album Rock ‘Til You Drop:

Can’t Give You More (1991)

The one where the rot really took hold between Quo and their record label Vertigo. A commercial tie-in with Perrier water (hence the subtitle ‘Eau Eau Eau Eau’ on some pressings) had been arranged but cancelled prior to release. Despite that, the album was a real return to form, and provided a return to the Top 10 album charts.

Rock ‘Til You Drop (1992)

This one eventually limped out several weeks after schedule, with another single, ‘Fakin’ The Blues’, having been announced, manufactured, and then cancelled, in the interim. The ‘Rock ‘Til You Drop’ CD single was even cheaply housed in reused ‘Fakin’ The Blues’ packaging with stickers over the titles. An unspeakable mess, and bye bye to Vertigo after almost two decades.

From the album Live Alive Quo:

Roadhouse Medley (Anniversary Waltz Part 25) (1992)

Quo’s first single for new label Polydor. It had the original working titles of ‘Another Anniversary’ and, with anniversary fatigue setting in, ‘Not Another Anniversary!’.

Standalone single:

Come On You Reds (1994)

Its inclusion in this list may prove controversial… Even though the backing track is a full Status Quo band recording, it’s officially credited to just “The Manchester United Football Squad”, with Quo’s involvement only appearing in the small print. This reworking of ‘Burning Bridges’ hit the Number One spot in the UK and could have been Quo’s second chart-topper, if only they’d put their name on the front in big letters. However – and this is where it gets controversial – the Japanese CD release may have utilised the same inlay artwork as the European equivalent, but its obi (the card with Japanese text that wraps around the spine) credits the release to “ステイタス・クォー & マンチェスター・ユナイテッド”, which translates directly to “Status Quo & Manchester United”. So, with regard to our criteria that says a local label producing a sleeve flipping the B-side onto the A-side makes the flipside a single, the same logic would dictate that Japanese PolyGram producing artwork crediting this as a Status Quo single made it a Status Quo single in Japan!
(Incidentally, there are no criteria under which the Manchester United follow-up, ‘We’re Gonna Do It Again’, qualifies as a Quo single, despite its erroneous inclusion on Quo’s 4-CD Pictures – 40 Years Of Hits compilation.)

From the album Thirsty Work:

I Didn’t Mean It (1994)

Back to songwriter John David for this uptempo lead single.

Sherri Don’t Fail Me Now (1994)

Quo go pure pop, while all around them, Britpop guitar bands are going retro and loud. The biggest-selling band of the era, Oasis, are clearly influenced by ‘classic’ Quo, whilst Quo themselves hurtled in the opposite direction. The band later remarked along the lines of, “It was a good song, but totally wrong for Quo”.

Restless (1994)

Incredibly, Polydor actually marketed this as, “Quo’s New Number One Single”. The public begged to differ. Oasis started selling millions by imitating Quo, while Quo themselves disappeared down the end of Blackpool pier.

From the album Don’t Stop:

When You Walk In The Room (1995)

The first taster of Quo’s first covers album. With the PR surrounding the special guests the album was a great success, entering the UK charts at Number Two. In many ways, it was too much of a success…

Fun Fun Fun (1996)

A Beach Boys cover, recorded with The Beach Boys themselves. But not just any old Beach Boys line-up: the definitive line-up (minus Dennis of course, who had tragically drowned some years earlier). Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson himself, making his first UK stage appearance with the band in many moons. The accompanying press attention was enormous, and this was surely another great opportunity to showcase Quo Stateside? We’ll never know, as it was never even released there.

Don’t Stop (1996)

The Fleetwood Mac classic, destined to be Quo’d up.

All Around My Hat (1996)

The least successful of the Don’t Stop singles saw Quo accompanied by Steeleye Span’s Maddy Prior, who also joined the band on stage throughout the Can’t Stop 1996 UK winter tour.

From the album Under The Influence:

The Way It Goes (1999)

The first new, original studio material in five years – the longest gap in Quo’s history by quite some distance. PolyGram’s reluctance to back a self-penned album led to the band signing with the indie Eagle Records. This track was to be the set opener at the intimate pub gigs that followed.

Little White Lies (1999)

Rick’s gentle ballad may have appealed to radio pluggers, but it missed the Top 40.

Twenty Wild Horses (1999)

Peaking at Number 53, the band were struggling to buy a hit, though this one went down particularly well live. Briefly brought back into the set in 2022.

Back to the album Rock ‘Til You Drop:

Fakin’ The Blues (2000)

Take your pick as to where this could appear in our list. We didn’t include it in its original intended release spot of November 1991, as its release was cancelled and no copies were available to the public. We also didn’t place it in May 1993, when rescued CD single copies (without any artwork) were given away to members of the fledgeling FTMO… fan club, as that wasn’t a commercial release. So instead we’ve placed it in January 2000, when FTMO… sold copies of their newly-packaged ‘Millennium Issue’.

From the album Famous In The Last Century:

Mony Mony (2000)

Signing to Universal, the world’s largest record label, for another covers album brought mixed fortunes. In the UK the singles performed poorly, with Francis complaining it was, “the worst album we ever made”. However, following an appearance on Norway’s Big Brother show, the album – there titled Old Time Rock And Roll – climbed to the Number Two position.

Old Time Rock And Roll (2000)

Jeff Rich’s final single release. Missed the UK Top 75 altogether but remained in the set list for the next year’s tour.

From the album Heavy Traffic:

Jam Side Down (2002)

Matt Letley’s debut. Following the moderate overall success of Famous In The Last Century throughout Europe and Australia, Universal reluctantly retained Quo for a new album of original material, but only on the condition that a third covers album was recorded to accompany it. With Francis reuniting with Bob Young for songwriting duties, and two new compositions being extremely well-received from the stage a year before they were released, hopes were high for a truly rocking album. Ultimately the band ignored all their own compositions in favour of this bought-in twee ditty, which managed to both attract a new audience and further frustrate fans who’d hoped the band’s own rejuvenated songwriting would be placed in the spotlight. Aided by a great-looking video shot aboard HMS Ark Royal, the single entered the UK charts at Number 17 – their highest position in twelve years.

All Stand Up (Never Say Never) (2002)

The one that should have blown the band wide open, but was never given a chance. The previous year’s tour had been named after this track before it had even been released, hence it was already well known to audiences and hopes were high. Not launching the album with it was a baffling decision. It wasn’t allowed to compete, being released on just one physical format at a time when three formats could be counted towards chart position, and was poorly distributed and couldn’t be found in many towns and cities. Rather than being a massive hit, it limped into the chart at Number 51. A Top Of The Pops performance – filmed on the same day as ‘Jam Side Down’ in preparation for its expected appearance in the upper reaches, and with Francis giving it some real enthusiastic welly – went unbroadcast. And there the Heavy Traffic campaign was prematurely ended in readiness for the launch of Riffs, the third covers album from which no singles were lifted at all.

From the album XS All Areas:

You’ll Come Round (2004)

Wishing to focus more on cover versions and past glories, Universal launched another greatest hits compilation, albeit one with two new, original tracks. This first one, with its insistent Welleresque groove was a real hit with the fanbase and smashed in at Number 14 – their highest-charting self-penned single since ‘Burning Bridges’ 16 years earlier.

Thinking Of You (2004)

The second new track recorded for the compilation and another sizeable UK hit, reaching Number 21. Unlike its predecessor, this one made it into the live set for a while.

From the album The Party Ain’t Over Yet:

The Party Ain’t Over Yet (2005)

With Universal still resisting original material, Quo moved to the independent Sanctuary label and immediately hit big with another John David composition, only narrowly missing the UK Top 10 at Number 11. Last appearance on Top Of The Pops with a current single.

All That Counts Is Love (2005)

An identikit John David single, with fans frustrated at the seeming continued lack of confidence in the band’s own songwriting when there was far superior self-penned material on the album.

From the album In Search Of The Fourth Chord:

Beginning Of The End (2007)

The debut release on Quo’s own Fourth Chord Records label. Following the #17 – #14 – #11 trajectory of the previous three albums’ lead singles, a long-awaited return to the Top 10 was surely achievable? Alas this was scuppered by a misguided, premature attempt at a download-only release, on the strength of Gnarls Barkley recently having scored the UK’s first digital Number One single. Given the demographic of your average Quo fan and their collections of forty years’ worth of physical singles, this was never going to be a good idea, with management soon relenting and releasing a double-sided CD/DVD ‘DualDisc’. But, having already written to the entire mailing list to announce there would be no physical format, not enough people then went out shopping for an item they didn’t know existed. Rather than nestling in the Top 10 it missed the Top 40 altogether, but it’s never been out of the live set.

Standalone single:

Jump That Rock (Whatever You Want) (2008)

A “jumpstyle/hardstyle electronic” (it says here) project by German techno outfit Scooter. This kind of crossover collaboration has worked very well for classic rock acts such as Queen, so when Scooter reworked ‘Whatever You Want’ and invited Quo to be part of their project, it made sense to go along for the ride and introduce Quo’s music to a whole new audience. Credited to Scooter Vs Status Quo, it was a minor chart hit in the UK, but did considerably better in mainland Europe – peaking at Number 11 in Germany where it was multi-formatted including a 12” single and an enhanced CD containing the video and a ‘Making The Video’ documentary, both of which feature all five Quo members.

From the album Pictures – 40 Years Of Hits:

It’s Christmas Time (2008)

Issued in the UK on the same day as ‘Jump That Rock’. Recorded during the In Search Of The Fourth Chord album sessions the previous year, Rick’s attempt at penning a timeless festive classic eventually saw the light on a new greatest hits compilation. It has very gradually increased in popularity each Christmas, to the extent that it was reissued physically in 2022 as part of the Quo’ing In campaign.

Standalone single:

In The Army Now 2010 (2010)

Recorded with the Corps Of Army Music Choir, this re-written version with new, pro-Armed Forces lyrics was a charity release in aid of the British Forces Foundation and Help For Heroes. The sleeve’s liner notes were written by none other than the then- HRH The Prince Of Wales, now of course King Charles III. Issued as a CD single in the UK, but as the lead track of a mini-album elsewhere.

From the album Quid Pro Quo:

Rock ‘N’ Roll ‘N’ You (2011)

The beginning of two new phases for Quo. The good: a new respect from daytime radio that led to unprecedented amounts of airplay around this album. The bad: an industry shift to digital-only singles. So many ‘heritage’ acts fell victim to new chart rules around consumption methods of music that favoured younger acts and streaming over older fans’ preference for physical product. After a 42-year period containing 66 UK Top 75 hits, with 57 reaching the Top 40 and 22 peaking inside the Top 10, Status Quo would never again chart another single.

Two Way Traffic (2011)

The one that went miles towards rehabilitating Quo’s reputation. Wall to wall airplay on BBC Radio 2 produced such a buzz around this ace track that its parent album Quid Pro Quo became their first studio album of original material to reach the Top 10 of the album chart since Rock ‘Til You Drop twenty years earlier.

Better Than That (2011)

A disappointingly Quo-by-numbers choice of follow-up, bypassing much stronger material such as ‘Dust To Gold’ or ‘Frozen Hero’.

Movin’ On (2012)

Another rockin’ highlight of the album restored the momentum.

The Winner (Podium Mix) (2012)

This remix of the album track was issued several months later to tie in with the 2012 London Olympics, and remains unavailable on any physical medium other than the single’s promo CD-R.

From the album Bula Quo:

Bula Bula Quo (Kua Ni Lega) (2013)

Released almost immediately after the rabidly-received Frantic Four reunion tour, this title theme from Quo’s Fiji-set feature film couldn’t have been timed any more contentiously. Fan reaction to this single was enough for management to permanently close the band’s official bulletin board. It was predominantly a digital release, but also pressed on 7” vinyl as part of the album’s luxury box set – which was ineligible for the singles chart in any case. With added publicity from a press splurge naming this single as the band’s 100th A-side (my bad), the soundtrack album also entered the UK Top 10.

Looking Out For Caroline (2013)

A much better-received single than its predecessor, this earworm has proved enduringly popular.

GoGoGo (2013)

A clear highlight of the soundtrack album, and Matt Letley’s final single as a band member. The single’s video was the first to feature new drummer Leon Cave, though he doesn’t appear on the actual recording. It also sounded great live on that year’s winter tour.

From the album Aquostic – Stripped Bare:

And It’s Better Now (2014)

Marking Leon Cave’s Quo recording debut, this trio of download-only singles (with accompanying promo CD-Rs) picked up lots of airplay. Buoyed by the live BBC broadcast of the band’s triumphant gig at London’s Roundhouse, the album hit the UK Top 5 and stayed in the charts for almost six months – their longest chart run for a studio album since In The Army Now 28 years earlier. Incidentally, this is the only digital single to have exclusive artwork that differs from the accompanying promo CD-R.

Pictures Of Matchstick Men (2014)

Issued to great acclaim by the tastemakers, this was only a digital release in the UK (again with a promo CD-R), but a very limited 7” vinyl single crept out unannounced in Germany.

Paper Plane (2015)

Less well-received was this accordion-heavy remake of Quo’s first Vertigo hit. (Incidentally, a further 7” vinyl pressing, ‘Mystery Song / Little Lady Medley’ coupled with the exclusive ‘Claudie (String Mix)’, was restricted to a Germany-only box set of the Aquostic album, so does not qualify as a single release.)

From the album Aquostic – Live At The Roundhouse:

Break The Rules (Live & Acoustic) (2015)

Released digitally to accompany the Roundhouse live album, which could have been another sizeable chart hit had the 2CD&DVD and 2CD&Blu-ray sets not been (accidentally?) registered for the music video charts instead, leaving only the vinyl format to count towards the album charts!

From the album Aquostic II – That’s A Fact!:

That’s A Fact (2016)

Given the success of the first Aquostic album, a follow-up was inevitable. This Bo Diddley-esque reworking of the Blue For You album track kicked things off in style, while its parent album entered the UK chart at Number 7, giving the band their first run of four consecutive Top 10 studio albums since Never Too Late – 1+9+8+2 – Back To Back – In The Army Now thirty years earlier.

Hold You Back (2016)

Unbeknown to anyone at the time, this was to be Rick Parfitt’s final single appearance with the band. This Christmasified (is that a word?) update of the album cut, complete with sleigh bells, has only appeared physically on the UK promo CD-R.

From the album Backbone:

Backbone (2019)

The first studio material to feature Richie Malone as Rick Parfitt’s permanent replacement. Originally a digital-only release.

Liberty Lane (2019)

Also initially just a digital release, this and ‘Backbone’ were later coupled together on a mail-order only 7” vinyl record.

Crazy Crazy (2019)

The album’s two bonus tracks, ‘Crazy Crazy’ and ‘Face The Music’, were also paired together as a 7” mail-order release. Both of these 7” singles were released on the same day as the album, which crashed into the UK chart at Number 6, giving the band a string of five consecutive Top 10 studio albums. The singles chart may now be out of reach to any act that can’t generate millions of streams of fresh air that pay artists virtually nothing, but the albums chart – where real products still change hands in return for real money – is where the action now lies, and Quo have proven as resilient as almost any heritage act in that regard.

Face The Music (2020)

Having previously been the B-side of the ‘Crazy Crazy’ 7”, the Richie Malone-penned ‘Face The Music’ was given its own digital single release the following year.

Standalone single:

Dirty Water (Live At Knebworth) (2021)

The lead track on a three-song red vinyl 12” EP released for Record Store Day. Recorded at the enormous 1990 Knebworth charity event.

From the album Quo’ing In – The Best Of The Noughties:

Caroline (2022 Studio Version) (2022)

The first, digital-only, single from a compilation album that doesn’t know what the word ”noughties” means, with just ten of its 35 tracks actually dating from the noughties. This was one of a number of classic Quo hits re-recorded such that contemporary playback performances would feature the band’s current voices and arrangements.

Cut Me Some Slack (Out Out Quoin’ Mix 2022) (2022)

Eventually, a first single release for a Backbone track that had featured heavily in the live set for some time.

From the album Official Archive Series Vol. 1 – Live In Amsterdam:

Beginning Of The End (Live In Amsterdam) (2023)

The Ear Music label acquired the rights to a string of ‘instant’ CD-R live albums originally released straight after the gig by the Live Here Now and Live & Pure labels. They are gradually reissuing these Official Archive Series gigs as limited edition 3-LP or 2-CD sets. Each one has been accompanied by taster tracks issued as standalone digital singles with unique artwork based on their parent albums’ sleeves.

Don’t Drive My Car (Live In Amsterdam) (2023)

From the album Official Archive Series Vol. 2 – Live In London:

Rockin’ All Over The World (Live In London) (2023)

From the album Official Archive Series Vol. 3 – Live At Westonbirt Arboretum:

Paper Plane (Live At Westonbirt Arboretum) (2024)

The Wanderer (Live At Westonbirt Arboretum) (2024)

From the album Driving To Glory:

Driving To Glory (2024)

Bringing us right up to date, Quo’s 123rd A-side was released in November 2024. ‘Driving To Glory’ was originally recorded in 1999 for the soundtrack album to the German TV series Benzin Im Blut (“Gasoline In The Blood”), before later being issued in the UK as one of the B-sides to ‘Little White Lies’. Quo’s producer from that period, Mike Paxman, collected a bunch of bonus & non-album tracks from that period and remastered them for a new 14-track CD compilation album. It was accompanied by a 7-track 12” picture disc that was marketed by the releasing label as a single. It may be better described as a mini-album, but they declared it to be a single, so a single it is!