Status Quo - Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon

Status Quo
Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon


Released 1970 on Pye
Reviewed by The Count, 06/09/2005ce


Yes, I know. It's THAT Status Quo. Form an orderly queue and kick my ass. But...

From their rock'n'roll beginnings through psych-pop to the uneasy "Spare Parts" LP, Quo had a strange 1960s, and by 1970 had distilled it into a monster. "Kelly" is a schizophrenic mix of straight blues boogies, early-Purple-gone-mad rockouts, bizarre cello arrangements on dreadful acoustic ballads, and one or two absolutely stunning tracks...

"(April), Spring, Summer And Wednesdays" is one of the greatest unsung rock tracks of its era. And then there is "Is It Really Me?/Gotta Go Home", a brain-numbing onslaught of all that was right and/or wrong about early 70s rock with one-chord wildness from a guitarist who clearly didn't know what he was doing. The song is about 9 minutes long. Naturally it was at least twice as long live, and was prog as all hell.

All this and the CD includes stoner anthem "In My Chair". Balls to the elitists, it's well worth your while, as is the next LP, "Dog Of Two Head". Best bits : "Umleitung", "Gerdundula" and "Someone's Learning".

Hopefully someone will.


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