Back To Back
Encyclopedia
Back To Back is the sixteenth studio album by English rock band Status Quo and released in November 1983. For the first time in the group's history, it featured four singles, "Ol' Rag Blues" (highest position No. 9), "A Mess of Blues", originally a hit for Elvis Presley
(No. 15), "Marguerita Time" (No. 3), and "Going Down Town Tonight" (which reached No. 20 in a different, re-recorded version to the album version.) The album entered the UK chart at its highest position of No. 9.
It was the last recorded before the group temporarily disbanded in 1984 and therefore the last to feature original bass guitarist Alan Lancaster
and drummer Pete Kircher
. Lancaster co-wrote the first single, "Ol' Rag Blues", and was angered when the production company declined to release the version featuring his lead vocal (which has since been made available as a bonus track on the 2005 remastered reissue), in preference to that featuring the voice of Francis Rossi
. He also made no secret of his dislike of "Marguerita Time", which he thought was too pop-orientated for the group. When they appeared on BBC
's Top of the Pops
to mime to the single, his place was taken by Jim Lea
of Slade
, who were also on the programme that week.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
(No. 15), "Marguerita Time" (No. 3), and "Going Down Town Tonight" (which reached No. 20 in a different, re-recorded version to the album version.) The album entered the UK chart at its highest position of No. 9.
It was the last recorded before the group temporarily disbanded in 1984 and therefore the last to feature original bass guitarist Alan Lancaster
Alan Lancaster
Alan Lancaster is a bassist and a founding ex-member of the English rock band, Status Quo...
and drummer Pete Kircher
Pete Kircher
Peter Derek Kircher , is a retired English rock/pop drummer.He played between 1982 to 1985 in the rock band Status Quo...
. Lancaster co-wrote the first single, "Ol' Rag Blues", and was angered when the production company declined to release the version featuring his lead vocal (which has since been made available as a bonus track on the 2005 remastered reissue), in preference to that featuring the voice of Francis Rossi
Francis Rossi
Francis 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 :...
. He also made no secret of his dislike of "Marguerita Time", which he thought was too pop-orientated for the group. When they appeared on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
to mime to the single, his place was taken by Jim Lea
Jim Lea
Jim Lea , is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade.-Career:...
of Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
, who were also on the programme that week.
Track listing
- "A Mess of Blues" (PomusDoc PomusJerome Solon Felder, better known as Doc Pomus , was a twentieth-century American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lyricist of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the category of non-performer in 1992. He was also inducted into...
/ShumanMort ShumanMort Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas"...
) - 3:23 - "Ol' Rag Blues" (Lancaster/LambKeith Lamb (musician)Keith Lamb was the lead singer and founding member of the Australian glam rock band, Hush. He sang since the age of 10 years old, fronting bands such as Mr. Toad, The Case and Sleepy Talk in England. Mr. Toad supported some great UK acts such as the Who and the Equals...
) - 2:51 - "Can't Be Done" (Rossi/Frost) - 3:07
- "Too Close to the Ground" (Parfitt/Bown) - 3:43
- "No Contract" (Parfitt/Bown) - 3:40
- "Win or Lose" (Rossi/Frost) - 2:35
- "Marguerita Time" (Rossi/Frost) - 3:27
- "Your Kind of Love" (Lancaster) - 3:24
- "Stay the Night" (Rossi/Frost/Miller) - 3:02
- "Going Down Town Tonight" (Johnson) - 3:33
2006 reissue bonus tracks
- "The Wanderer" (MarescaErnie MarescaErnest "Ernie" Maresca is an American singer-songwriter and record company executive, best known for writing or co-writing some of Dion's biggest hits....
) - 3:27 - "Going Down Town Tonight" (Johnson) - 3:38
- "I Wonder Why" (Rossi/Frost) - 3:59
- "Ol' Rag Blues" [Extended version] (Lancaster/LambKeith Lamb (musician)Keith Lamb was the lead singer and founding member of the Australian glam rock band, Hush. He sang since the age of 10 years old, fronting bands such as Mr. Toad, The Case and Sleepy Talk in England. Mr. Toad supported some great UK acts such as the Who and the Equals...
) - 4:54 - "A Mess of Blues" [Extended version] (PomusDoc PomusJerome Solon Felder, better known as Doc Pomus , was a twentieth-century American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lyricist of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the category of non-performer in 1992. He was also inducted into...
/ShumanMort ShumanMort Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas"...
) - 4:48 - "Cadillac RanchCadillac Ranch (Bruce Springsteen song)"Cadillac Ranch" is a song written by Bruce Springsteen that was first released on Springsteen's 1980 album The River. In 1981 it was released as single in Europe, backed by "Be True" in France and by "Wreck on the Highway" in the UK. Although it was not released as a single in the US, it did...
" (SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
) - 4:15 - "Ol' Rag Blues" [Alternate vocal version] (Lancaster/Lamb) - 2:49
- "The Wanderer" [Sharon the Nag Remix] (MarescaErnie MarescaErnest "Ernie" Maresca is an American singer-songwriter and record company executive, best known for writing or co-writing some of Dion's biggest hits....
) - 3:34
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 :...
- Vocals & lead guitar - 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:...
- Vocals & guitar - Alan LancasterAlan LancasterAlan Lancaster is a bassist and a founding ex-member of the English rock band, Status Quo...
- Bass & vocals - Andy BownAndy BownAndy Bown is an English musician, who has specialised in keyboards and bass guitar. He is a member of the rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
- Keyboards - Pete KircherPete KircherPeter Derek Kircher , is a retired English rock/pop drummer.He played between 1982 to 1985 in the rock band Status Quo...
- Drums