Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon
Encyclopedia
Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon is the third album by English rock band Status Quo. It was the first album by the band to leave behind their early psychedelic sound and begin experimenting with the hard rock style which remains their signature sound.
The band began experimenting with the new sound when they hired Australian singer-songwriter Carl Groszmann to write a song for them. The song became "Down the Dustpipe
", which was released as a non-album single in March 1970, with the Rossi/Parfitt song "Face Without a Soul" from the band's previous album Spare Parts
as its b-side. In Francis Rossi's words, “it was the first record to feature our soon-to-be trademark boogie shuffle”. It became one of the most popular numbers in their live set. The single took the media by surprise as it was so different in sound from their previous work. Radio 1 presenter Tony Blackburn dismissed it on air the first time he played it with the comment, "Down the dustbin for this one." Nevertheless, it was an instant hit, reaching #12 in the UK singles chart and remaining in the top-50 for a solid 17-weeks.
The new album was released in August 1970, and failed to chart. It remains unique among most studio albums as it did not have any songs from it slated for a single release.
October 1970 saw the release of yet another non-album single, this time a Rossi/Parfitt composition - "In My Chair", with the non-album b-side "Gerdundula" (written while in Germany
by Rossi and Young under the pseudonyms of Manston and James, with a title reportedly inspired by their German friends Gerd and Ula) - and the band had another hit, with the single reaching #21, just missing the top-20. "Gerdundula" would later be re-recorded by the band for their next album, Dog of Two Head
.
While on tour the same year, organist Roy Lynes fell in love, claiming that he could see how serious the other band members were about fame and glory, and that he just wanted to settle down to a life with his new found love. According to the group's producer John Schroeder, who wrote the booklet notes for the 3-CD compilation The Early Years, Lynes was 'the quietest member of the group' and 'somehow always seemed to be the odd one out'. Rick Parfitt has said Lynes was 'a bit laid back, the Open University type who liked tinkering and finding out about things,' and Francis Rossi remarked that he showed up at a gig they were playing in New Zealand about ten years later to say hello; 'He seemed a much happier bloke.'
The band began experimenting with the new sound when they hired Australian singer-songwriter Carl Groszmann to write a song for them. The song became "Down the Dustpipe
Down the Dustpipe
"Down the Dustpipe" is a song written by Australian singer-songwriter Carl Groszman. He was a client of Valley Music, who were affiliated to Status Quo’s management in their early days. The group recorded it, and in Francis Rossi’s words, “it was the first record to feature our soon-to-be...
", which was released as a non-album single in March 1970, with the Rossi/Parfitt song "Face Without a Soul" from the band's previous album Spare Parts
Spare Parts (album)
Spare Parts is the second album by the English rock band Status Quo, and the final one in the psychedelic vein. It is also the first in which the group's roadie Bob Young began writing and co-writing songs for and with the band....
as its b-side. In Francis Rossi's words, “it was the first record to feature our soon-to-be trademark boogie shuffle”. It became one of the most popular numbers in their live set. The single took the media by surprise as it was so different in sound from their previous work. Radio 1 presenter Tony Blackburn dismissed it on air the first time he played it with the comment, "Down the dustbin for this one." Nevertheless, it was an instant hit, reaching #12 in the UK singles chart and remaining in the top-50 for a solid 17-weeks.
The new album was released in August 1970, and failed to chart. It remains unique among most studio albums as it did not have any songs from it slated for a single release.
October 1970 saw the release of yet another non-album single, this time a Rossi/Parfitt composition - "In My Chair", with the non-album b-side "Gerdundula" (written while in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by Rossi and Young under the pseudonyms of Manston and James, with a title reportedly inspired by their German friends Gerd and Ula) - and the band had another hit, with the single reaching #21, just missing the top-20. "Gerdundula" would later be re-recorded by the band for their next album, Dog of Two Head
Dog Of Two Head
Dog of Two Head is a 1971 rock album by Status Quo released by Pye Records, their fourth studio album. At the time of recording, the band consisted of Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan....
.
While on tour the same year, organist Roy Lynes fell in love, claiming that he could see how serious the other band members were about fame and glory, and that he just wanted to settle down to a life with his new found love. According to the group's producer John Schroeder, who wrote the booklet notes for the 3-CD compilation The Early Years, Lynes was 'the quietest member of the group' and 'somehow always seemed to be the odd one out'. Rick Parfitt has said Lynes was 'a bit laid back, the Open University type who liked tinkering and finding out about things,' and Francis Rossi remarked that he showed up at a gig they were playing in New Zealand about ten years later to say hello; 'He seemed a much happier bloke.'
Track listing
- "Spinning Wheel Blues" (RossiFrancis RossiFrancis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is a British musician best known for being a co-founder of the English rock band Status Quo, in which he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar.- Career :...
/YoungBob Young (artist)Robert Keith Young is an English musician and author, who became famous for being the unofficial fifth member of the rock band Status Quo.- Collaborations with Status Quo :...
) - 3:21 (listed as "Spinning Wheel" on the original LP) - "Daughter" (LancasterAlan LancasterAlan Lancaster is a bassist and a founding ex-member of the English rock band, Status Quo...
) - 3:01 - "Everything" (Rossi/ParfittRick ParfittRichard John Parfitt, OBE is best known for being a singer and the rhythm guitarist in the English rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
) - 2:36 - "Shy Fly" (Rossi/Young) - 3:49
- "April, Spring, Summer and Wednesdays" (Rossi/Young) - 4:12
- "Junior's Wailing" (WhiteKieran WhiteKieran Raymond White was a British vocalist and guitarist. He sang and played in the blues-rock band Steamhammer, formed in 1968. Their debut album Steamhammer was released in 1969, on which he co-wrote many of the songs and also played harmonica. He left the band in 1971...
/PughMartin PughMartin John Pugh is a British guitarist who came to prominence after joining blues-rock band Steamhammer in 1968, staying with that band through five years and four albums. Their debut album, Steamhammer, was released in 1969 and yielded a minor hit single in Europe, "Junior's Wailing"...
) - 3:33 - "Lakky Lady" (Rossi/Parfitt) - 3:14
- "Need Your Love" (Rossi/Young) - 4:46
- "Lazy Poker Blues" (GreenPeter Green (musician)Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
/AdamsClifford Davis (musician)Clifford Davis is a British musician and music manager, chiefly known for his time as manager of successful blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, from 1967 to 1974.He also used the pseudonyms Clifford Adams and C.G...
) - 3:37 - "Is it Really Me/Gotta Go Home" (Lancaster) - 9:34
2003 reissue bonus tracks
- "Is it Really Me/Gotta Go Home" (Early Mix) (Lancaster)
- "Daughter" (Early Mix) (Lancaster)
- "Down the DustpipeDown the Dustpipe"Down the Dustpipe" is a song written by Australian singer-songwriter Carl Groszman. He was a client of Valley Music, who were affiliated to Status Quo’s management in their early days. The group recorded it, and in Francis Rossi’s words, “it was the first record to feature our soon-to-be...
" (Grossmann) - 2:04 - "In My Chair" (Rossi/Parfitt) - 3:14
- "Gerdundula" (ManstonFrancis RossiFrancis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is a British musician best known for being a co-founder of the English rock band Status Quo, in which he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar.- Career :...
/JamesBob Young (artist)Robert Keith Young is an English musician and author, who became famous for being the unofficial fifth member of the rock band Status Quo.- Collaborations with Status Quo :...
) - 3:49 - "Down the Dustpipe" (BBC Session) (Grossmann)
- "Junior's Wailing" (BBC Session) (White/Pugh)
- "Spinning Wheel Blues" (BBC Session) (Rossi/Young)
- "Need Your Love" (BBC Session) (Rossi/Young)
- "In My Chair" (1975 Promo Flexi) (Rossi/Parfitt)
Personnel
- Francis RossiFrancis RossiFrancis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is a British musician best known for being a co-founder of the English rock band Status Quo, in which he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar.- Career :...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Rick ParfittRick ParfittRichard John Parfitt, OBE is best known for being a singer and the rhythm guitarist in the English rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
- guitar, vocals - Alan LancasterAlan LancasterAlan Lancaster is a bassist and a founding ex-member of the English rock band, Status Quo...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - John CoghlanJohn Coghlan (drummer)John Robert Coghlan was an original member of the English rock band, Status Quo.The son of a Glasgow-born father and a London born half-French mother, Coghlan grew up in Dulwich, and was educated at Kingsdale Comprehensive school until leaving school at 15 to begin an apprenticeship as a...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Roy LynesRoy LynesRoy Alan Lynes was the keyboardist and occasional singer with Status Quo...
- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
,