Disco de Status Quo: “Heavy Traffic”

I used to be a fanatic of this band during the mid seventies through to mid eighties when Alan Lancaster was still with the band and saw them play over 50 times. I was disappointed beyond belief when they went country pop and almost left them for dead. They didn't have that edge anymore and I never thought they would ever get it back. Well, the wait has been over 20 years but they have finally done it. I now can't stop living and breathing the band again, after all this time. And all it took was Heavy Traffic. By far their finest offering since Never Too Late in 1981, and many would say their best since Blue for You in 1977.

Play their first track, Blues and Rythym and you will sit up and take notice. Play it a few times and you will be hooked. The whole CD is like that. It grips you and you can't let go. Damn, its so good to hear this kind of music again from Quo. The Quo Army are revelling in this CD, and with just reason. Lets hope the boys keep the ball rolling and don't let up again. If they keep with what they do best their next original studio album could even herald their finest work since Hello! Wishful thinking perhaps but the enthusiasm I get after hearing Heavy Traffic is nothing like I have had for rock music in over 20 years.

Do yourself a favour and get this CD. It will provide you with so many good times.

Fantastic job boys. You have one extremely happy resurrected Quo fanatic here!!

'blues and rythym, something for my soul. my decision, give me rock and give me roll'

Great anticipation for Status Quo's first original CD since 'Under The Influence" in '99.They vowed this album would be more traditional Quo-up tempo rockers like they did mostly in the 70's,when they had FOUR albums enter the UK charts at #1.Highlights on the CD are the first single,"Jam Side Down",a catchy 12 bar song with a great melody.It 's a perfect rock single complete with a great riff,sing-along chorus,and a foot-tapping beat."The Oriental"is perhaps the most unique song on the album.Some say it's offensive(the lyrics referring to oriental ladies),but I say,...I consider it a compliment to Asian women.Nobody made a big deal about Queen's "Fat Bottom Girls".I'm sure some overweight women felt insulted about that song.GREAT guitar riff throughout the song and I find myself moving my head back and forth to the beat.Great song-so different in it's makeup and beat.Also "Solid Gold" has a great chorus sing-along as well as "All Stand Up",a real rocker.A typical Quo kick ... song is Rick Parfitt's "Creeping Up On You",which is what Rock & Roll should be-12 Bar,3 chord boogie that should have you bopping your head and stomping your feet.If not,go see a neurologist."Do It Again" is a simple,feel good song about enjoying the finer things in life....A few songs are mediocre,but all in all,a great effort by England's most successful rock group of all time on the UK charts!!

And Better and Better, to paraphase Rick Parfitt and Andrew Bown's famous "again and again and again" line.

"Heavy Traffic" is the latest solid hard Rockin' and Rolling album from this veteran British band who first came to note with the psychedelic gem "Pictures of Matchstick Men" waaaaay back at the end of 1967, beginning of 1968. From the mid-1970s on, Quo has established a solid reputation as a demin-clad, no frills 3-4 chord rock and roll band that has rocked its way to being the number 3 hard rock band in Britain behind the Beatles and the Stones, illustrious company to be sure, but outside of "...Matchstick Men" and a couple of tours behind Peter Frampton and Slade, the Francis Rossi-Rick Parfitt powered band unfortunately have never been able to crack the USA market.

"Heavy Traffic" is an album that should close that deal for them, if there are enough of us "baby boomers" out there who love a great original rock and roll band, something that has been sadly lacking in the states in recent years.

All of the songs, from the opening Rossi-Bown (he was the keyboards man for Peter Frampton prior to joining Quo in 1976) "Blues and Rhythm" through the heavy-hitters "Heavy Traffic" and "Solid Gold" through the pop sensible "Jam Side Down" have solid, guitar-keyboards fuelled straight ahead rock and roll imprinted on them but are also extremely listenable as Francis Rossi is not only one of the very best guitarists in rock and roll, but one of the finer and more distinctive vocalists too. Rick Parfitt is certainly no chopped liver either. Real Rock Radio would jump on the central London driving lament title track, or even the bouncy pop of "Jam Side Down" too. Then there's "All Stand Up" (Never Say Never) the Rock Anthem of the 21st Century, and let's not forget "Green, Green" a catchy Bown-penned composition sung by Parfitt (hey guys, let Andrew sing lead on occasion), the funny and funky "Digging Burt Bacharach" or "Creeping Up On You". If you want good, meat and potatoes rock, and haven't yet picked up a Quo album (even their cover albums "Don't Stop" and "Famous in the Last Century" are outstanding), "Heavy Traffic is the place to begin!

I first met Quo as a fledgling rock journalist during their first tour of the states in the early seventies, and have been an admirer ever since. Quo has become virtually the only rock and roll band I can listen to, ever since the sad demise of their contemporary, Humble Pie's Stevie Marriott in 1991. Since most of their albums are only available in the UK and in Europe, it has been one import after another. Here is hoping that not only will Quo come back to the states soon (their recent club concerts were all sell-outs!), but that Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andrew Bown, John Rhino Edwards and Matt Letley will keep rocking again and again and again and again!

Together for over 30 years ~ Status Quo sends rocking vibes through "Heavy Traffic", latest release from Hip-O Records. An even bakers dozen of tracks thirteen to exact. Opening track is a killer "BLUES & RHYTHM", unparalleled beat will grab you immediately which launched the band's super stardom all over the world more than three decades. And if you thought you'd never say never well listen to "ALL STAND UP (NEVER SAY NEVER)", cause we ain't giving it up, we're living it up.

Now the lineup is Francis Rossi (vocal/guitar), Rick Parfitt (vocals/guitar), Andy Bown (keyboards/guitars/harmonica/backup vocals), John "Rhino" Edwards (bass/guitar/backup vocal) and Matthew Letley (drums/percussion) set you on your ear with tunes like "I DON'T REMEMBER ANYMORE", old time Rock N' Roll, everybody do the Twist! We all know Austin Powers digs Burt Bacharach, but listen to "DIGGIN' BURT BACHARACH", some great guitar fingering takes this song to another level. If it's jammin' you long for "JAM SIDE DOWN", get your fingers crossed, cause we need America to get us through, great lyrics. Let's take up the blues genre with "GREEN", is a shear delight, non-stop Cajun' counter beat, gotta love it.

Total Time:52:32 on 13 Tracks ~ Hip-O/Universal 440-064-435-2 ~ (2/25/2003)

I can say that this is almost as good as their peak period from 70-85. This one just rocks and it does it in a fun manner with strong songs. If you enjoy status quo and good time rock and roll then you will enjoy this one.

Their isn't a bad song on here and it makes up for the 'famous in the last century' debacle. It is their strongest cd since 1982, that was 20 years earlier than this release, not that their wasn't some great songs in that twenty year period , most of their cds , were filled with lots of pop stuff , which is decent but not great quo.

although 1986's 'in the army now' is more slick rock and it's better. And 'rock til you drop' in 91 was more back to form and damn good too. But this one was a relief to quo fans and brought the band many new fans for it's slammin three chord boogie fun.