Status Quo’s history stretches back to the early Sixties, a long arc marked by shifts in fashion and musical identity. For many listeners, myself included, the run from Piledriver (1972) through Blue for You (1976) represents their peak years, obviously this is open to individual preference. It was during those years that I first stepped onto the Quo journey, which means much of their earlier catalogue remained unfamiliar to me until now. This new box set dives directly into that formative period.
Covering recordings from 1970 to 1972, the collection brings together the band’s third and fourth albums, a generous spread of A & B sides, demos, outtakes, alternate mixes, and early versions. Added to that are BBC sessions, Beat Club performances, and live material from Manchester. A rare mono edition of their third album, originally issued only in Argentina, also makes an appearance. The thirty‑two‑page booklet, featuring an essay by Dave Ling (Classic Rock Magazine) with additional notes from Andy Gamble, provides welcome historical context.
![Status Quo – The Early Years Volume 2 [1970-1972] (5CD Boxset)](https://theprogressiveaspect.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Status-Quo-–-The-Early-Years-Volume-2.jpg)
The release of their third album Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon (1970) coincided with the bands change in fashion style and musical direction, dropping their unfashionable Carnaby Street influenced outfits for the Jeans and t-shirt look that would become their trademark. It also signalled a shift in musical style as their sound moved towards a more hard rock, blues‑driven sound. The album opens with Spinning Wheel Blues, a statement of intent built on swaggering rhythms and that unmistakable Quo pulse. Several tracks would become live staples, signalling the band’s growing confidence in their new direction.
Disc one of this set continues with their fourth album, Dog of Two Head (1971), where Quo’s emerging hard‑boogie identity snaps into clearer focus, the sound they would fully crystallise on Piledriver. Featuring Railroad, Mean Girl and Gerdundula, songs that would become part of their live shows for many years.
Disc two presents a rare mono edition of Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon, retitled Everything for its Argentinian release. Despite mono’s decline in the early Seventies, most listeners still relied on single‑speaker turntables, making this mix historically relevant. It sounds remarkably good and offers an intriguing glimpse into how the album would have been experienced at the time. Worthy of note hear is the mastering which is crisp throughout, with strong separation and a pleasing clarity that carries across the demos and alternate versions.
Discs three and four gather a wide array of A & B sides, demos, outtakes and alternate mixes. The blues influence is unmistakable, reflecting the band’s move away from their earlier psychedelic leanings. Even when tracks recur in multiple versions, each brings its own character, sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, but consistently engaging.
The final disc turns to what made Quo such a force in the early Seventies, their live presence. BBC sessions, Beat Club recordings and the Live in Manchester performance capture the band in full flight. As expected from broadcast quality sources, the sound is excellent and the performances underline why their reputation grew so quickly during this era.
Taken as a whole, this box set highlights the band’s early‑Seventies evolution and the foundations of the classic Status Quo sound. Cherry Red Records have assembled a thoughtful, well presented release that will satisfy long‑time fans and collectors, while also offering newcomers a compelling window into the band’s formative years.
TRACK LISTING
Disc 1: Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon
01. Spinning Wheel Blues (3:21)
02. Daughter (3:04)
03. Everything (2:39)
04. Shy Fly (3:51)
05. (April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays) (4:12)
06. Juniors Wailing (3:35)
07. Lakky Lady (3:15)
08. Need Your Love (4:47)
09. Lazy Poker Blues (3:38)
10. Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home (9:33)
– Dog Of Two Head
11. Umleitung (7:10)
12. Nanana (Extraction) (0:51)
13. Something’s Going On In My Head (4:44)
14. Mean Girl (3:53)
15. Nanana (Extraction) (1:11)
16. Gerdundula (3:48)
17. Railroad (5:30)
18. Someone’s Learning (7:08)
19. Nanana (2:26)
Time – 78:45
Disc 2: Everything (Argentinian Mono version of Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon)
01. Spinning Wheel Blues (3:21)
02. Daughter (3:04)
03. Everything (2:39)
04. Shy Fly (3:51)
05. (April) Spring, Summer And Wednesdays (4:12)
06. Juniors Wailing (3:35)
07. Lakky Lady (3:07)
08. Need Your Love (4:47)
09. Lazy Poker Blues (3:35)
10. Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home (9:26)
Time – 41:38
Disc 3: A & B – Sides, Demos & Outtakes
01. Down The Dustpipe (A Side) (2:06)
02. In My Chair (A Side) (3:18)
03. Gerdundula (B Side 1970 version) (3:22)
04. Tune To The Music (A Side) (3:08)
05. Good Thinking (B Side) (3:43)
06. Railroad (Part 1) (A Side Mono Mix) (2:22)
07. Railroad (Part2) (B Side Mono Mix) (3:12)
08. Mean Girl (A Side Mono Mix) (3:57)
09. Gerdundula (A Side 1971 Mono Mix) (2:52)
10. In My Chair (Flexidisc) (1:38)
11. Laughing Machine (Hidden Track Unreleased Outtake) (0:42)
12. In My Chair (Backing Track) (2:39)
13. Time To Fly (4:19)
14. Shifting Sand (1971 Rossi/Young Demo) (3:00)
15. Tune To The Music(Instrumental) (3;43)
16. (So Little) Time To Fly (Previously Unreleased Version) (4:18)
Time – 48:27
Disc 4: Alternate Mixes & Versions
01. Down The Dustpipe (Alternate Mix) (2:10)
02. Daughter (Working Mix) (2:56)
03. Junior’s Wailing (Alternate Mix) (3:34)
04. Is It Really Me (Previously Unreleased Version) (5:43)
05. In My Chair (Alternate Mix) (3:33)
06. Gerdundula (Alternate Mix 1970 Version) (4:10)
07. Gotta Go Home (Rough Mix) (6:54)
08. Something Going On In My Head (Previously Unreleased Version) (4:57)
09. Mean Girl (Previously Unreleased Version) (4:00)
10. Nanana (Previously Unreleased Version) (3:01)
11. Gerdundula (Previously Unreleased 1970 Version) (3:41)
12. Nanana (Previously Unreleased Version) (2:31)
13. Mean Girl (Rough Mix) (3:51)
14. Tune To The Music (Previously Unreleased Version) (3:39)
15. Good Thinking (Previously Unreleased Version) (3:41)
16. Tune To The Music (Previously Unreleased backing Track Version) (3:00)
– BBC Sounds of the Seventies Session (7/2/72)
17. Mean Girl (3:11)
18. Railroad (5:58)
Time : 70:17
Disc 5: Live & In Session 1970-1972 | Dave Lee Travis BBC Sessions
01. Junior’s Wailing (6/4/70) (3:19)
02. Down The Dustpipe (6/4/70) (1:54)
03. Spinning Wheel Blues (6/4/70) (3:02)
04. In My Chair (6/4/70) (2:47)
05. Need Your Love (15/6/70) (3:55)
– Live in Manchester
06. Roadhouse Blues (5:44)
07. Down The Dustpipe (2:17)
08. Spinning Wheel Blues (3:17)
09. Is It Really Me/Gotta Go Home (12:46)
– Beat Club Session (26/9/1970)
10. Spinning Wheel Blues (3:09)
11. (April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays (4:20)
12. Is It Really Me/Gotta Go home (27:23)
Time – 73:58
MUSICIANS
Francis Rossi – Lead & Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
Ritchie Parfitt – Second Guitar & Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Alan Lancaster – Bass, Electric Guitar
John Coghlan – Drums, Various Percussion
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Cherry Red Records
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 3rd July 2026
