Following the move from psychedelic Pop to Rock that began with 1970’s Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon, Status Quo further their journey into harder territory. The previous album had contained remnants of what they had been, but this effort firmly stated their intention. It was the first Quo album not to feature original keyboardist Roy Lynes, although he did co-write one track on the album. Also the last to be produced by John Schroeder. It was the final album to be released on the Pye label, before the band’s move to Vertigo to record 1972’s Piledriver.
When the album was first issued, no singles were released. Around this time, the band released non-album singles including Tune to the Music and In My Char. Mean Girl, taken from this album, was later issued as a single in 1973, to take advantage of the band’s increased popularity.
Album Cover
one of the most striking album covers in Quo’s entire catalogue, Dog of Two Head features just that! Situated on a red background with small pictures of each band member in the corners. The design provides inspiration for decades worth of merchandise, and properly introduces the band in a new light; The following album cover, Piledriver, would cement the concept further.
The Album
Umleitung: A long lingering chugger that just rocks. It was the last Quo song to be credited to Roy Lynes, and what a parting gift. The title is German for detour, but rarely does so. The rhythm section is right, while the solos sound spontaneous. The thunderous shuffle towards the end is arguably the most memorable part of the song.
Nanana: A jaunty number that gets stuck in your head, and makes you want to sing along. It’s pretty low-key, and almost like a holdover from the Ma Kelly sessions. It is included in two extracts and the complete song, it feels like an attempt at a concept album feel. The song was given new life in 2014, when a re-recorded version was included on the Aquostic album.
Something’s Going on in My Head: Written by Alan Lancaster, an uptempo boogie rocker with a little nod to their previous psychedelic path. The intro motif is repeated at several points throughout the song. The little middle eight section, featuring a different rhythm, harmony and clean ringing guitars, is like a final goodbye. The solo, which is still a little meandering, is the sound of Rossi earning his stripes, while the band confidently keeps the beat going.
Mean Girl: Who can forget the pounding to this number, followed by the sound of Rossi and Parfitt rhythmically syncing together in two octaves? Rossi’s vocal tone reminds me of Tune to the Music, a low-key vibe; The harmonies during the chorus help lift it. The instrumentation of this track embodies much of what would come to be known as the Quo sound, although still a little rough around the edge. Pye must’ve thought so, as they issued this recording as a single in 1973 following Quo’s Vertigo success of Paper Plane. It reached a UK chart position of #20.
Gerdundula: Written by Francis Rossi and Bob Young under the name of Marsten / James, the song was named after two people they knew in Germany. The song is a Folk inspired number that is different to the rest of the album. It allows the band to show off their chemistry, and harmonies. The acoustic guitars matched with the memorable lead guitar lines later became a live staple. It is also often used in dance classes across the world. It is one you wouldn’t immediately identify with Quo, but the hallmarks are there.
Railroad: An early Rossi / Young classic, an eventual staple in the live set as part of a medley. The main chorus and verses of Railroad are a familiar boogie blend, topped off with a catchy harmony. The lyrics are pretty memorable too. The song, like much on this album, has many parts. The Bluesy harmonica that transitions the composition from an upbeat number to a slow Blues section will seem like an unexpected moment on first listen. The whole version of Railroad was performed on the Frantic Four Reunion tours in 2013 and 2014.
Someone’s Learning: An underrated Quo classic. The lyrics aren’t important here, it is all about the musical set pieces. The growing connection between the band becomes obvious, as they weave their way through multi-layered lead parts with accuracy. As is the case with a few of their later efforts, the song also plays with musical anticipation. The real highlight of the track is the high double lead section that eventually finds wings and bows out; A piece that would be praised into legendary status if performed by any other band.
Sound Quality:
A step on from Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon, the album packs more of a crunch while still maintaining a level of cleanness in the guitars. The production is a little more polished, with John Schroeder ensuring every musician’s contribution can be heard. This is also helped in the stereo version by hard panning.
Although a few keyboards are present here and there, the guitar becomes the main instrument here. Alan’s bass is pretty beefy too, much more present than in previous releases. The vocal production is perhaps a little thin, but it allows the instrumentation to shine.
Conclusion
This is the sound of a band coming into their own. Whereas the previous effort had felt like an experiment with various genres, this one has just a little more cohesion. Some of the solos still ramble a little, but the song structures are tighter. So too are the band who refined their sound to focus fully on guitars.
The album’s only setback, as far as I’m concerned, is the repetition of Nanana in the tracklisting. They were clearly going for a concept, one which is retrospectively frustrating in the digital age.
Although the album originally heralded no singles on release, tracks such as Mean Girl, Railroad and Gerdundula have become standout Quo tracks.
Side One
- Umleitung (Alan Lancaster, Roy Lynes)
- Nanana (Extraction)
- Something’s Going on in My Head (Lancaster)
- Mean Girl (Rossi/Young)
- Nanana (Extraction)
Side Two
- Gerdundula (Marsten / James
- Railroad (Rossi/Young)
- Someone’s Learning (Lancaster)
- Nanana
Producer: John Schroeder
Label: Pye
For more discussion on the 60+ career of Status Quo, check out The Quo-Cast: A Status Quo fan podcast, first established in 2019. Old Time Review’s Jamie Dyer hosts the podcast, which has a prescience in audio and on YouTube.
