Search - Status Quo :: Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon 0

Three and 1/2 stars: Interesting blend of guitar boogie and

James Zinn | Kansas City, MO | 07/06/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Just so you know, I am relatively new to listening to much Status Quo. Even as a music collector, sometimes you miss a few bands that you end up liking later on that you probably should have known about sooner. Status Quo was one of those for me. I gained an interest in them when I re-watched the Live Aid 1985 & Knebworth Festival video footage of them, and decided, perhaps I need to explore a little further. I started out with their first LP on the remastered 2 CD edition, and the "Pictures" compilation, of which I enjoyed them both, making me explore further. I wondered, what makes this band so big in Europe but so relatively unknown in the U.S.?



A fan of 1960s psychedelia and the blues, I was intrigued what I read about the post-psychedelia early-boogie period of the band. "Ma Kelly's" was the first deeper purchase for me to try out. I listened to the entire remastered Castle/Sanctuary edition with the bonus tracks, and found it to not only be an enjoyable listen all the way through, but it creeped up on me as it progressed. The remastered sound quality and stereo separation was pretty good; better than many other recordings I've heard from 1970 on CD.



Most of the compilations and hype concern the song "Down The Dustpipe", which was a single recorded and released before this album's tracks were done (and is a bonus track on this CD). I felt it to be an OK song, but it only hints at other tracks of which I tend to enjoy more than it on this CD, such as "In My Chair". I highly recommend one to buy this version of the CD with bonus tracks, as I thought some of them were more interesting than some of what was on the original album, and few compilations include very many songs from this period. Both compilation CDs and the band itself seem to ignore the tracks of "Ma Kelly's", which I feel is a shame. Some live BBC tracks that finish off the disc are cool to have, but I don't feel add much overall to it.



This is not the same all the way through as different styles are presented. A little 1960s psychedelia pops up occasionally. Jethro Tull fans will find some to like.



Good informative liner notes and photos are included of the period. Note that keyboard player Roy Lynes was neither kicked out of the band nor suddenly departed. He just kinda evolved out with the new direction of the band. This CDs tracks were the last ones to include him.



I recommend this CD to those who like sparely arranged garage-y boogie blues-y music, such as less-rocking Foghat, or the early 1970s versions of Savoy Brown. I can imagine aspiring garage band members to enjoy the music on this CD."

A great cd just got better

Michael P. Dobey | colorado springs | 12/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this newest version of the album is now even better than the domestic release of 4 years ago. It has far more bonus tracks.
I kept my us version because it has a few different bonus tracks.
but inspite of that fact , I had to buy this disc for the great bbc tracks and other bonus tracks. ma kellys greasy spoon- was always a great disc. with songs of blues driven intensity mixed with psych rock influences. the most important fact is that this disc is alot of fun as well as a great rockin feast. I dare anyone to listen to " shy fly" and not crack a huge smile!. quo is still at it today, thankfully rockin on in great cds like heavy traffic. but this is where they significantly changed their style and went on to become the boogie monster group that so many millions love all over the world."