Album review: STATUS QUO – Perfect Remedy

UMC [Release date 06.03.20]

Albums nineteen, twenty and twenty one. How many bands can say that? Each one now reissued, and expanded to within an inch of its life. With added liner notes and pics.

“Perfect Remedy” (1989), “Rock Till You Drop” (1991) and “Thirsty Work (1994) all charted worldwide, and all supplied a handful of best selling singles.

The band’s continued (and almost unprecedented) success begins with the notion that the pop/boogie blueprint is indelibly tattooed on Francis Rossi’s soul. He’s not reinventing the wheel on any of these albums. But his songwriting bends and shapes the blueprint, putting fresh spins on old ideas. Those ideas hold hands with Bob Young’s memorable hooks and melodies, and Bernie Frost’s everyman lyrics. The traditional building blocks that every good song needs are there in abundance.

Despite its occasional slack, and the odd track fraying at the seams, Perfect Remedy is still tightly knotted where it counts. That said, it’s probably the least Quo of these three albums – the band’s stylistic compass seemed to point in a country rock direction once too often, even for hardcore fans.

Two bonus CDs here. The first is armed with an avalanche of bonus tracks. Outtakes, special edits, live versions, 12” versions. A veritable cornucopia of Quo arcana. Special mentions : ‘The Anniversary Waltz’ (Spanish promo version), and ‘Fighting For Love’, an early version of ‘Power Of Love’. They don’t come any more esoteric than that.

The second is a full length recording of the band’s “Live At The SEC” gig, in 1989. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

For Tracklists, see : https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/deluxe-status-quo-albums/

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 6 April (Fifth Anniversary!)

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 23 February 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 25 February 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025

THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.