The Fathers of Dad Rock: The Relentless Rise of Status Quo
Formed in 1962 as The Paladins, Status Quo went through several name and lineup changes before settling on their now-famous moniker and releasing their debut album, Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo (1968).
Before this, the band had released a few non-charting singles, so this debut felt like the true starting point. The single Pictures of Matchstick Men reached #7, with Ice in the Sun also performing well, peaking at #8.
The album itself didn’t chart, and neither did the next three. Few singles during this period made much impact. It wasn’t until Piledriver (1972) that Status Quo finally found real success. Fittingly, this was also the first time they showcased their signature honky-tonk shuffle, heard on the opening track Don’t Waste My Time.
Piledriver was recorded for a new label, self-produced, and laid down at full volume using their touring equipment. A standout moment on the album is their cover of Roadhouse Blues by The Doors.
Their next album, Hello! (1973), hit #1 in the U.K. charts and featured another shuffle boogie, Caroline. With lyrics like “If the night time is the right time” and “together we can rock and roll”, this was classic white rockers doing blues their way.
Quo (1974) took things a step further, becoming arguably their heaviest record. Tracks like Drifting Away didn’t sound like the Quo anymore, although the single Break the Rules stayed close to their established sound.
On the Level (1975) brought the band their first and only U.K. #1 single with Down Down. The track also topped the charts in Belgium and the Netherlands. It’s surprisingly heavy—borderline ’70s heavy metal—with the vocals being the only element softening the edge. The album also topped charts in France and Holland. A notable track here is the live version of Roll Over Lay Down, originally from Hello!, which, despite not being a single, remains a fan favourite.
Blue for You (1976) was another U.K. #1 and reached the top five in five other countries. Singles Rain and Mystery Song didn’t match the album’s commercial success. This was also the last album the band would self-produce.
By 1977, Status Quo had released nine albums and had been together for 15 years. They were primarily an album band with a devoted following across the U.K., Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The band had a signature sound and a clear musical direction—but no signature song. That was about to change.
With producer Pip Williams on board, the band cleaned up their sound—a move that split opinion within the group but ultimately proved successful. The title track of their next album, Rockin’ All Over the World, was a cover of a John Fogerty tune.
The album and single didn’t chart particularly well at the time, despite what nostalgia might suggest. The enduring popularity of Rockin’ All Over the World came later—through sports events, its performance at Live Aid in 1984, and countless pub bands playing it across the decades. Its legacy outshone its original chart performance.
The 2005 reissue of the album even includes a Beatles cover, Getting Better.
Next came If You Can’t Stand the Heat…, with Williams still at the production helm. It charted at #3, and the single Again and Again did reasonably well.
The ’70s era of Status Quo ended with one final anthem: Whatever You Want (1979), the title track of their next album and the tune that would become yet another defining moment for a band whose biggest hits came later than most.
Aquostic, Electric, Eternal: The Enduring Quo Catalogue
As we enter the 1980s, Status Quo moved on from producer Pip Williams and returned to self-producing, this time with engineer John Eden lending a hand.
The first album of the new decade, Just Supposin’ (1980), didn’t deliver any massive hits, but sales were solid—it reached #4 in the U.K. charts. The lead single What You’re Proposing has had some staying power and remains part of the band’s legacy.
The follow-up, Never Too Late (1981), had a similar performance both commercially and critically. The band continued with John Eden, and one noticeable feature of these records was their vocal blend—all members often sang lead simultaneously, creating a fuller, more robust sound.
For their next album, 1+9+8+2 (1982), they returned to fully self-producing. Sonically, it stayed in line with previous releases. Surprisingly, despite lacking a major single, the album reached #1 in the U.K.—a reminder of their devoted fan base.
After a live album in 1983, they released Back to Back in 1984. Oddly, it didn’t include their cover of The Wanderer (originally by Dion), even though the single was released around the same time and remains one of their more recognisable ‘80s tracks.
Following a brief hiatus, Status Quo returned in 1986 with In The Army Now, reuniting with Pip Williams. The production now had a distinctly ‘80s sheen—likely a point of contention within the band. Still, the title track (a cover of a song by the Dutch duo Bolland & Bolland) became a major hit and one of their last big singles.
This album marked the end of Status Quo’s commercially successful era. They would go on to release another sixteen studio albums, none of which produced hits.
Two notable entries from this later period are the acoustic collections Aquostic (Stripped Bare) and Aquostic II – That’s A Fact!, which offered fans a fresh take on the band’s back catalogue.
Their most recent album, Backbone (2019), brought the total to over 30 studio albums released across more than 50 years. Not bad for the self-declared Fathers of Dad Rock—(a nickname I made up, let’s see if it sticks!).
Status Quo Tunes | Related Pages
Rockin’ All Over The World | Chords + TAB
You can learn to play Rockin’ All Over The World by Status Quo using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C5 (C6) | C5 (C6) |
Oh here we are and here we are and here we go…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Rockin’ All Over The World (Status Quo) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Status Quo on the web
