A few years back, my patience was rewarded when The Fantastic Four version of rock band Status Quo reconvened for some tour dates – with Wilko Johnson, no less. THIS was the edition of Quo that I had first seen at The Castle in Tooting, S W London back in the mists of time on a double bill with a fledgling Mott The Hoople, for twelve shillings..half a pound, to you. At last my son could experience this rocking but sophisticated crew and their material. Of course, the pairing of Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt had lost none of its bite and the show we saw in London was fiery.

Rick sadly passed but he leaves as part of his legacy this album. Co-producers Jo Webb and Rick Parfitt Jnr worked on the release and the mixes are by Ash Howes. The musicians aboard here include bassist Dave Marks, multi-instrumentalist Jo Webb, pianist Shannon Harris, Rick Parfitt Jnr singing and percussion, drummer Alex Toff, keys man Tim Oliver, Rhino Edwards on bass, Bob Young on harp, the Husseys strings, Wayne Morris guitar, drummer Jeff Rich, Pip Williams guitar, Alan Lancaster vocals and more.

Twinkletoes the lead cut also includes Brian May on guitar. It starts with tremelo’d guitar and a strong Rick vocal. Melodic, catchy rock, soaked in axe motifs with no vocal grandstanding or over-emoting. And what might you have been expecting, dear listener? This man’s swansong was always going to have these ingredients. The Octaver is tapped on for the utterly Quo pounding Lonesome Road. Parfitt’s voice sounds fine, bang-on key and pitch. The steady-rolling roadhouse guitar breaks are sparky with no showing off. Billy Gibbons. Two minutes or so and a galloping tempo takes over.

Over And Out commences with chorus’d arpeggio guitar. Rick sings a reflective, questioning lyric. It’s haunting and touching and beautifully sung. The progression is steady, almost stately. The Leslie’d guitar so beautiful. Brings a lump to the throat, it really does. Next up, When I Was Fallin’ In Love sounds like a Wilburys outtake and none the worse for that, I suppose. Listenable AOR radio-friendly rock, as the ghost of Roy Orbison smiles down. Jeez, even the string arrangement reeks of Jeff Lynne!

Fight For Every Heartbeat is brisk melodic rock, the rhythm section lit up and swaggering, the singing urgent and effective. Stainton-style piano pounds away across the Tele chording. Sounds tough, focussed, catchy, fun. Without You has soft baroque strings to the fore and a piano with a solemn tread. Rick is really singing at the top of his range on this one, recounting lost love. What jumps into my head is the wonderful BadFinger. It’s that soulful. Long Distance Love isn’t the Little Feat gem, but an original by John David. A chugging rocker which could be off any of the first four Cars albums. On to Everybody Knows How To Fly hits a magnetic bluesy groove with harp, electric piano, crisp axe chording and Rick singing up a storm over electric slide curls, all very stirring! Led by solid drumming, the lively Lock Myself Away is a chance to sing along on a RockPile style bouncing jukebox tune. Things end with a song called Halloween with dirty, greasy overdriven guitars leading it off before a number that totally nods to The Frantic Four era – fantastic. Gives Rick an Alice Cooper moment and he takes it with a tough vocal. An edgy band sound brings this one home, a brilliant closing outing.

A second album, same track order gives the Band Mixes of these songs, doubling your pleasure…and a great Telecaster t- shirt

Rock brother Parfitt – we salute you and thank you!

Pete Sargeant