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The Singles Collection 1966-73


Status Quo - the Singles Collection 1966-73. Released on June 16th 1999, via Castle Communications (CCS CD 821), this mid-price 2 CD Collection documents Quo's early years and includes rare and previously unreleased tracks. The CD's are being released in advance of the re-issue of all of the PYE albums, and contain the A and B sides of every single released by PYE, a total of 26 tracks.

The package also includes a bonus CD containing the 8 tracks the band recorded as the Spectres and Traffic Jam, plus rare and previously unreleased versions of tracks recorded during sessions for the first four Quo albums.

The accompanying colour booklet features detailed liner notes, photographs and memorabilia. All 49 tracks in this double package have been re-mastered.

Read Dr Lee's Review of this CD.

CD One. The Singles Collection 1966-73 CD Two. The Rarities.
  1. Pictures Of Matchstick Men
  2. Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Cafe
  3. Black Veils Of Melancholy
  4. To Be Free
  5. Ice In The Sun
  6. When The Mind Is Not Live
  7. Technicolor Dreams
  8. Paradise Flat
  9. Make Me stay A Little Bit Longer
  10. Aunt Nellie
  11. Are You Growing Tired of My Love
  12. So Ends Another Life
  13. The Price Of Love
  14. Little Miss Nothing
  15. Down The Dustpipe
  16. Face Without a Soul
  17. In My Chair
  18. Gerdundula (Early Version)
  19. Tune To The Music
  20. Good Thinking (Batman)
  21. Mean Girl
  22. Everything
  23. Gerdundula
  24. Lakky Lady
  25. Railroad Part 1
  26. Railroad Part 2
    The Spectres
  1. I (Who Have Nothing)
  2. Neighbour, Neighbour.
  3. Hurdy Gurdy Man.
  4. Laticia.
  5. (We Ain't Got) Nothing Yet.
  6. I Want It.

    Traffic Jam
  7. Almost But Not Quite There.
  8. Wait A Minute.

    The Spectres
  9. Walking With My Angel
  10. When He Passed By.
  11. Spics and Specs - The Spectres
    (previously unreleased version)

    Status Quo
  12. Neighbour, Neighbour.
    (Previously unreleased mix of an alternate version)
  13. Pictures Of Matchstick Men
    (previously unreleased version)
  14. The Price Of Love
    (previously unreleased version)
  15. Josie
    (Previously unreleased mix of an alternate version)
  16. Tune to The Music
    (previously unreleased version)
  17. Time To Fly
    (previously unreleased version)
  18. Nanana
    (previously unreleased version)
  19. Laughing Machine
    (previously unreleased version)
  20. So Is It Really Me
    (previously unreleased version)
  21. Gerdundula
    (previously unreleased version)
  22. Tune to The Music
    (previously unreleased version)
  23. There's Something going On In My Head
    (previously unreleased version)

 
First impressions are good, the double CD is nicely packaged (in single CD case) for a budget release and the inner sleeve notes are substantial and well printed. A brief foreword by Rick and Francis gives way to excellent track notes on each of the tracks on offer here. Also included is a brief Quo history and some nice archive photos and picture sleeves are intermingled with the track notes.

CD1 consists of standard Pye Quo tracks (either lifted from albums or singles), here all re mastered. Their sound is noticeably cleaner but some sound a little harsh in their spruced up form. The most interesting track on this first CD is track 18, an early version of "Gerdundula" - it sounds as clear as a bell and fresh as a daisy. It is noticeably different to the more familiar version, being much simpler, rawer and substantially longer (but, as those who've seen Quo play the song live, you can make Gerdundula as long or as short as you feel like!).

CD2 kicks off with eight tracks forming the recorded back catalogue of the Spectres and Traffic Jam. The remainder are all unreleased tracks/versions of both Spectres and Status Quo tracks, and it is here that the real works of interest for collectors are to be found.

Review by Dr Lee Hawkins  

Other Pye Re-issues:
 Picturesque Matchstickable Messages From The Status Quo
Spare Parts
Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon
Dog Of Two Head


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