Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book traces the band’s development from 1962 to early 1970. During that period, they emerged as a phenomenal live act playing rock ‘n’ roll, soul and blues covers. THe book focuses on an exposition of key tracks from the band’s first rock recordings in 1970. It begins with the birth of the Frantic Four-era Status Quo and then moves into a series of album track analyses and expositions to reveal just how musically intricate, creative and original the band had become by 1971. The book focuses on Status Quo’s move to Vertigo Records and the release of their 1972 album Piledriver. It begins by highlighting the continuity of writing style between Dog of Two Head, Piledriver and Hello.