This North American pressing of Status Quo's first LP, Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo (1968), differs significantly from the European version. Amended are both the original tongue-twister title to simply Messages from the Status Quo, as well as the track list, which omits the covers of Tommy Roe's "Sheila" and the Lemon Pipers "Green Tambourine." Although their sound would radically change, this is the same Status Quo that would drop the three-letter article from their name and go on to become one of the U.K.'s most revered rock and blues boogie bands. In fact, the core unit of Rick Parfitt (guitar/keyboard/vocals), Francis Rossi (guitar/vocals), Roy Lynes (keyboards/vocals), and Alan Lancaster (bass/vocals) remained (albeit sporadically) in a majority of the 1970s incarnations. As was all the rage at the time, a faux-stereo mix was used on this platter. This hideous phenomenon would generally consist of all the instruments being placed in one channel and all the vocals in the other. Add a heaping helping of echoplex and voilà, crudely simulated stereo. Musically, the Quo had developed out of the early-to-mid-'60s swinging London scene. First as the Spectres, then the Traffic Jam. They would hit upon their most successful incarnation yet with a blend of strong freakbeat and pop-oriented psychedelic originals. Most notable are the upbeat "Ice In The Sun" -- which features an acoustic autoharp a láJohn Sebastian in the Lovin' Spoonful -- and the suitably trippy "Technicolour Dreams." The Bee Gees' "Spicks and Specks" had been part of their repertoire dating as far back as the Traffic Jam. Concluding the effort is the band's biggest hit, "Pictures Of Matchstick Men," which reached the Top 20 on the Pop singles charts stateside, where it remains a staple of oldies radio. Enthusiasts wishing to thoroughly examine this era of the Status Quo are encouraged to locate a copy of Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo [Bonus Tracks]. This two-disc set includes a stereo and mono mix of the original 12-song LP as well as a plethora of BBC recordings, and an info-laden, full-color, 12-panel liner notes fold-out that is full of eye candy. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
Roy Lynes (Vocals), Alan Lancaster (Bass), Rick Parfitt (Keyboards), John Coghlan (Drums), Alan Lancaster (Guitar), John Schroeder (Producer), Roy Lynes (Organ), Rick Parfitt (Guitar (Rhythm)), Rick Parfitt (Guitar), Alan Florence (Engineer), Rick Parfitt (Vocals), Alan Lancaster (Vocals), Francis Rossi (Guitar), Francis Rossi (Vocals)
![Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo [10 Tracks]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drg000/g032/g03201osz2c.jpg)
