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(from scrapbook 2, page 21)

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ARMY LIFE

STATUS QUO 'In The Army Now' (Vertigo VERH36) ***

ON THE face of it, not a lot has changed for Status Quo. The colours are all the same ('In The Army Now' is, as always, blue for you), the 12 bar beat chugs on remorselessly, and even the legendary logo remains the same. But scrape away beneath the surface and you'll find that rather more has changed chez Quo than just Francis Rossi's appearance.

Of course they went away, and now - as the blurred joke upon the back of the sleeve will attest - Quo are back, with a couple of hit singles, a couple of supports for Queen and a new chartbound album. And in some ways 'In The Army Now' is Quo's most complete and comfortable work to date.

The sound is softer and less didactically demanding, suggestive rather than downright insistent. Contrast this album's 'Calling' with the blueprint upon which it is based, most overwhelmingly 'Don't Waste My Time', and taste the difference. The overriding melodies, the renewed stress placed upon Andy Bown's keyboards, the poppier, less arrogant production: all of these combine to make this new Status Quo a more serious and more worthy con tender in the latter part of the '80s.

Bolstering the dynamic duo of Rossi and Parfitt, and contributing considerably in terms of musicianship and songwriting (the credits on this album make it quite clear that this is a group and not merely the old guard plus a supporting cast) are Jeff Rich, ever so briefly of Def Leppard, on drums, someone called Rhino Edwards on bass and the ever reliable Bown on keyboards. These three, as much as Batman and Robin, are to be congratulated on their success in breathing fresh life into one of the more timeless institutions of British rock and pop.

Obviously there's nothing here to rival the simple rock piledriver mentality of the prime time 'Down Down', 'Rain' or 'Mystery Song', but then that isn't the game anymore. Over a generously long album, the new look and confident Status Quo explore a variety of feels and styles. This band has, finally, matured. And as long as you're prepared to part with the icon that shaped all those long hours of mindless boogie, this is good news.

ROGER HOLLAND

Image caption: QUO: a tonic for the troops