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(from scrapbook 2, page 3)

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Identikit boogies

STATUS QUO: "Hello" (Vertigo)

I GUESS I ought to be grateful to Status Quo. If I hadn't heard this album, I wouldn't have thought of writing the "Heavy Metal" piece that appeared in last week's issue.

I doubt it that'll comfort them any, since I am told that when Francis Rossie (or "Mick Rossi" as he used to be in more innocent days) was told that I was reviewing this album, he waxed profane ind opined that the band had "had it now."

Well, rest easy, Francis. I don't think that "Hello" is going to end up in my "Top 10 Albums of 1973" list, but it ain't too offensive.

In fact, it sounds quite nice if you don't listen too closely. It chugs along quite effectively, and Quo bang out dem 'ol tried and trusted riffs with a certain amount of precision and enthusiasm.

There's even a very nice little neo-Beatles tune called "Claudie", which would be quite charming if the lads had modified their basic heavy approach slightly, not to mention a cut which winds like a bastardised version of "Truckin".

Now to the bad news. Once you get past the basic sound and production, there's naught of any real substance there. The solos are woefully unimaginative, and the songwriting also lacks any real inspiration. Quo's trouble is basically that they're rather cliché-ridden.

Clichés aren't necessarily bad in themselves, as to a certain extent most good rock music depends on an imaginative and creative juxtaposition of clichés.

The problem here is that Quo are not masters of the cliché, but slaves to it. In the hands of a master, the presentation of something half-familiar (or even totally familiar) can be quite enlightening.

On the other hand, the same cliché presented badly simply causes anguished mutterings of "Oh shit, not that again". And sad-to-say, when Status Quo trot out their identikit boogie, it is the latter reaction that prevails.

But again, Francis, rest easy. Most of the people who dig you are going to enjoy the album, so why worry? Gotta rush now - I'm going over to Nick Kent's to hear some Carpenters albums.

Charles Shaar Murray