Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo
Picturesque Matchstick Able Messages from the Status Quo, the debut album by British rock band Status Quo, was released on 27 September 1968. The album contains a large number of cover versions, including Green Tambourine by The Lemon Pipers. Unlike later albums the band attributable to the hard rock, has Picturesque Matchstick Able Messages from The Status Quo significant bonds to the psychedelic rock and pop.
The hit singles Pictures of Matchstick Men and Ice in the Sun, both of which reached the Top 20 in several countries ( → see Status Quo / Discography ). Also Black Veils of Melancholy, a relatively unimaginative copy of the first single, was able to place in the top 20 in the Netherlands. The album missed the charts.
Genesis
Under the name The Spectres or Traffic Jam Francis Rossi, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan and Roy Lynes had published in the years 1966 and 1967 a total of four singles that were largely unsuccessful. As mid-1967 Rick Parfitt joined as a second guitarist and vocalist for the band, the group name was changed to "The Status Quo ".
With new members, the band went into the recording studio in late 1967 to accommodate two pieces for the next single. Originally Gentleman Joe 's Sidewalk Cafe should be the A-side. As the psychedelic rock was in great demand, however, the sides were briefly exchanged hand so that Pictures of Matchstick Men was the new A-side.
Manager Pat Barlow himself -bought air time on Radio Caroline, one operating out of the North Sea from pirate radio stations. Thus, the single reached great fame and got into the British charts on 24 January 1968. Based on this success, the band was invited by the BBC to shoot in their studios. At this time there was The status quo to be companion of Madeline Bell on tour.
The next single was recorded in the spring of 1968 and published on 29 March. Black Veils of Melancholy resembled the first single to be strong and was panned by critics. Nevertheless, the band was on tour. With Bob Young musicians have been set as a roadie, the status quo later also supported in live performance on stage.
To the next single to gain more success, support was requested from the songwriting duo of Ronnie Scott and Marty Wilde. From the three proposed contributions chose producer John Schroeder Ice in the Sun as a title for the next single. The piece was published in July 1968 and brought back the status quo in the top 10.
Around the same time other recordings was made in order to bring the first album of "The Status Quo " on the market. First, the band play this one the base tracks. Later added John Schroeder other accompanying instruments and overdubs. Under the title Pictures Matchstick Able Messages from the Status Quo album then appeared on 27 September 1968.
In November of the same year would have been with Technicolor Dreams another single from the album to appear. The publication was stopped when there are already first copies were pressed. The few were circulating pieces are now sought-after collector pieces.
Title list
European version
In Europe, the album contained twelve tracks were written of which only four of the band itself. Originally, the album was available in a mono and a stereo version, which differ slightly in the mix. Later publications are limited usually to the stereo mixes.
U.S. version
The U.S. version was published under the title slightly shortened Messages from The Status Quo on the label Cadet Concept. Compared to the European edition pieces and Sheila Green Tambourine accounted for.
Bonus Tracks
Picturesque Matchstick Able Messages ... has been published over the years repeatedly on CD. Many of the re-releases have been provided with bonus tracks, in particular the various B-sides of the decoupled from the album Singles.
The most comprehensive re-release contains the album in mono and stereo, the B-sides and various live recordings from the BBC archives on two CDs. Some of these bonus tracks were recorded even without Rick Parfitt, as The Spectres or Traffic Jam.
Occupation
- Francis Rossi - Vocals & Guitar
- Rick Parfitt - Vocals & guitar (not at all Bonus Tracks )
- Alan Lancaster - bass guitar
- John Coghlan - drums
- Roy Lynes - Vocals and Organ