Ain't Complaining

Last updated

Ain't Complaining
SQuoComplaining.jpg
Studio album by
Released6 June 1988 [1]
Studio Chipping Norton Recording Studios and Ridge Farm Studio, UK
Genre Rock
Length52:16
Label Vertigo
Producer Pip Williams
Status Quo chronology
In the Army Now
(1986)
Ain't Complaining
(1988)
Perfect Remedy
(1989)
Singles from Ain't Complaining
  1. "Ain't Complaining"
    Released: 14 March 1988 [2]
  2. "Who Gets the Love?"
    Released: 9 May 1988 [3]
  3. "Burning Bridges (On and Off and On Again)"
    Released: 21 November 1988 [4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Ain't Complaining is the eighteenth studio album by British rock band Status Quo. Initially released on the Vertigo label on 6 June 1988, it was the group's first album on that label to fall short of the UK Top 10, breaking a streak of 12 studio albums in the process. It reached no higher than its entry position of number 12 in the UK Albums Chart. The band would re-enter the Top 10 three years later with Rock 'til You Drop .

Contents

Ain't Complaining spawned three singles: the title track, the ballad "Who Gets the Love?" and the only UK Top 10 hit among them, "Burning Bridges", which partially incorporated the melody of the traditional folk song "Darby Kelly" within its distinctive instrumental breaks, without crediting it as such. John Edwards and Jeff Rich contributed compositions for the first time since joining Quo. "Another Shipwreck" had originally been a solo track by Andy Bown from his 1978 solo album Good Advice [7] and was released as a single [8] with him singing lead vocals. [9] On Ain't Complaining, Rossi sings the song.

An unusual move by Status Quo on this album was the use and endorsement of Charvel guitars.

"The music was too polite," Rick Parfitt later remarked of the album. "There was no weight behind what we were doing. The edge had gone; we weren't real anymore." [10]

Track listing

  1. "Ain't Complaining" (Rick Parfitt, Pip Williams) – 4:40
  2. "Everytime I Think of You" (John Edwards, Jeff Rich, Mike Paxman) – 3:49
  3. "One for the Money" (Rick Parfitt, Pip Williams) – 4:52
  4. "Another Shipwreck" (Andy Bown) – 3:48
  5. "Don't Mind If I Do" (Francis Rossi, John Edwards) – 4:41
  6. "I Know You're Leaving" (Eric van Tijn, Jochem Fluitsma) – 4:45
  7. "Cross That Bridge" (John David) – 3:31
  8. "Cream of the Crop" (Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost) – 4:03
  9. "The Loving Game" (Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Jeff Rich) – 4:23
  10. "Who Gets the Love?" (Pip Williams, John Goodison) – 5:33
  11. "Burning Bridges" (Francis Rossi, Andy Bown) – 4:19
  12. "Magic" (Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost) – 3:52

2006 remaster bonus tracks

  1. "That's Alright" (Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost, Rick Parfitt) – 3:29
  2. "Lean Machine" (Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt) – 3:37
  3. "Halloween" (Rick Parfitt) – 4:59
  4. "The Reason for Goodbye" (Pip Williams, Johnny Goodison, Rick Parfitt, Francis Rossi) – 3:54
  5. "The Greatest Fighter" (Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost) – 3:57
  6. "Running All Over the World" (John Fogerty) – 3:31

2018 Deluxe Edition

Disc one matched the regular album tracklist.

Disc two

  1. "That's Alright" – B-Side – 12″ version of "Ain’t Complaining"
  2. "Lean Machine" – B-Side – 12″ version of "Ain’t Complaining"
  3. "Halloween" – B-Side – 12″ version of "Who Gets the Love?"
  4. "The Reason for Goodbye" – B-Side – 12″ version of "Who Gets the Love?"
  5. "The Greatest Fighter" – Outtake*
  6. "Running All Over the World" – Single
  7. "Ain’t Complaining" – Extended
  8. "Who Gets the Love" – Extended
  9. "Rockin All Over the World" – 1988 Re-recording
  10. "Burning Bridges" – Extended
  11. "Running All Over the World" – Extended
  12. "The Fighter" – Stand Up and Fight Remix – 4 Track Demo*
  13. "The Fighter" – Army Remix – 8 Track Demo*

Disc three (Live at Wembley, 07/07/1988; from BBC broadcast)

  1. "Whatever You Want"
  2. "Little Lady"
  3. "Roll Over Lay Down"
  4. "Cream of The Crop"
  5. "Who Gets the Love"
  6. "Hold You Back"
  7. "Don't Drive My Car"
  8. "Dirty Water"
  9. "In the Army Now"
  10. "Rockin' All Over the World"
  11. "Don't Waste My Time"
  12. "Bye Bye Johnny"

Personnel

Status Quo:

Additional personnel:

Charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [11] 11
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [12] 12
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] 33
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [14] 13
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [15] 19
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [16] 5
UK Albums (OCC) [17] 12

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [18] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Whatever You Want</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Status Quo

Whatever You Want is the twelfth studio album by the British rock band Status Quo.

<i>Rockin All Over the World</i> (album) 1977 album by Status Quo

Rockin' All Over the World is the tenth studio album by British band Status Quo. It is their first to be produced by Pip Williams. Released in November 1977, it reached #5 in the UK.

<i>If You Cant Stand the Heat...</i> 1978 studio album by Status Quo

If You Can't Stand the Heat... is the eleventh studio album by English rock band Status Quo. Recorded at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Holland, and produced by Pip Williams, it was released in October 1978 and reached number three in the UK Albums Chart. The sleeve notes that Aphex Aural Exciter was used in the recording process. Unusually for a Status Quo record, a brass section, the David Katz Horns, was used, as well as a backing vocal trio: Jacquie Sullivan, Stevie Lange, and Joy Yates.

<i>Just Supposin</i> 1980 studio album by Status Quo

Just Supposin' is the thirteenth album by Status Quo. Co-produced by the group and John Eden, it was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin. Released on 17 October 1980, it entered the UK albums chart at number 4.

<i>Perfect Remedy</i> 1989 studio album by Status Quo

Perfect Remedy is the nineteenth studio album by English rock band Status Quo. In terms of British chart success, it marked a new low for the band, reaching a high of only No. 49 during a two-week run. The two singles from it, "Not at All" and "Little Dreamer", peaked at No. 50 and No. 76 respectively. In Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt's duel 2004 autobiography, XS All Areas, Rossi said that it sold well in Europe and Australia, but they were back to square one in Britain: "I don't know why it did so poorly. You could argue that the scene had moved on."

<i>Rock til You Drop</i> 1991 studio album by Status Quo

Rock 'til You Drop is the twentieth studio album by English rock band Status Quo and their last on the Vertigo label after nearly 20 years. Singer and guitarist Francis Rossi produced the album.

<i>Thirsty Work</i> 1994 studio album by Status Quo

Thirsty Work is the twenty-first studio album by English rock band Status Quo. It yielded three hit singles, "I Didn't Mean It", "Sherri Don't Fail Me Now", and the uncharacteristic ballad "Restless". "Goin' Nowhere" was released as a single in Germany. "Sorry" had originally been recorded by Demis Roussos and released on his 1980 album Man of the World, with Francis Rossi and Bernie Frost on all instruments and backing vocals.

<i>Dont Stop</i> (Status Quo album) 1996 studio album by Status Quo

Don't Stop is the twenty-second studio album by English rock band Status Quo. A covers album, it includes guest appearances from Tessa Niles on tracks 6 and 14, The Beach Boys on track 1, Brian May of Queen on track 7 and Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span on track 15.

<i>Heavy Traffic</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Status Quo

Heavy Traffic is the twenty-fifth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, and their first to feature drummer Matt Letley. Released in 2002, it hit #15 in the UK.

<i>XS All Areas – The Greatest Hits</i> 2004 compilation album by Status Quo

XS All Areas – The Greatest Hits is an album by English rock band Status Quo, released in September 2004. It is a best-of compilation with two new tracks, "You'll Come 'Round" and "Thinking of You". A DVD collection of promo videos, live concert footage and television appearances from throughout the band's history to that point, also titled XS All Areas – The Greatest Hits, was released on the same day. The album and DVD coincided with the release of band members Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt's duel autobiography XS All Areas.

<i>The Party Aint Over Yet</i> 2005 studio album by Status Quo

The Party Ain't Over Yet... is the twenty-seventh album by English rock band Status Quo, released 19 September 2005. A DVD documentary on the making of the album and the band's history to that point, The Pary Ain't Over Yet...40 Years of Status Quo, was released on the same day.

<i>Under the Influence</i> (Status Quo album) 1999 studio album by Status Quo

Under the Influence is the twenty-third studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released in 1999.

<i>Never Too Late</i> (Status Quo album) 1981 studio album by Status Quo

Never Too Late is the fourteenth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, co-produced by the group and John Eden. Released on 13 March 1981, it had been recorded at the same sessions – at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin – as its predecessor Just Supposin'. It reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>1+9+8+2</i> 1982 studio album by Status Quo

1+9+8+2 is the fifteenth studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released on 16 April 1982. It was the first to include new drummer Pete Kircher, who had recently replaced John Coghlan, and also the first to credit keyboard player Andy Bown as a full member of the band.

<i>Live Alive Quo</i> 1992 live album by Status Quo

Live Alive Quo was the third live album by English rock band Status Quo and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 1 as part of the station's 25th Anniversary 'Party in the Park' celebrations in Birmingham, England. The concert was watched by nearly 125,000 fans.

<i>In Search of the Fourth Chord</i> 2007 studio album by Status Quo

In Search of the Fourth Chord is the twenty-eighth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released on 17 September 2007. The title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the rumour that the group always plays the same three chords, and a reference to the album In Search of the Lost Chord by British rock band the Moody Blues. The album's artwork is a parody of the Indiana Jones films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burning Bridges (Status Quo song)</span> 1988 single by Status Quo

"Burning Bridges (On and Off and On Again)" is a single released by the British rock band Status Quo in 1988. It was included on the album Ain't Complaining. The tune is based on the traditional English folk song "Darby Kelly".

<i>Quid Pro Quo</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Status Quo

Quid Pro Quo is the twenty-ninth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released in May 2011. The album debuted at number 10 in the UK Albums Chart and featured 14 new songs, as well as the 2010 version of their 1986 hit "In the Army Now" which was re-recorded in support of the Help for Heroes and British Forces Foundation charities. The accompanying Official Live Bootleg album features 12 older songs recorded by the band in concert in Amsterdam and Melbourne in 2010. In the UK the album was only available at branches of Tesco stores for its first week before being released conventionally on the band's Fourth Chord label on 6 June 2011.

<i>Bula Quo!</i> (album) 2013 soundtrack album by Status Quo

Bula Quo is the thirtieth studio album and the first soundtrack album by English rock band Status Quo, released on Monday 10 June 2013. It is the last Status Quo album recorded with drummer Matt Letley, who announced his departure from the band before the album had been released.

References

  1. "UK Albums 2". Statusquo.org.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  2. Hung, Steffen. "Status Quo - Ain't Complaining". Hitparade.ch.
  3. Hung, Steffen. "Status Quo - Who Gets The Love?". Hitparade.ch.
  4. Hung, Steffen. "Status Quo - Burning Bridges (On And Off And On Again)". Hitparade.ch.
  5. Thompson, Dave. "Status Quo Ain't Complaining review". AllMusic . Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  6. Reynolds, Dave (11 June 1988). "Review: Status Quo – Ain't Complaining". Kerrang! . 191. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd.: 18.
  7. "Andy Bown - Another Shipwreck". Discogs.com. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  8. "Andy Bown - Good Advice". Discogs.com. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  9. "TOPPOP: Andy Bown - Another Shipwreck" . Retrieved 8 December 2022 via YouTube.
  10. Ling, Dave (March 2017). "R.I.P. Rick Parfitt". Classic Rock #233. p. 51.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Status Quo – Ain't Complaining" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Status Quo – Ain't Complaining" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  14. "Norwegiancharts.com – Status Quo – Ain't Complaining". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  15. "Swedishcharts.com – Status Quo – Ain't Complaining". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. "Swisscharts.com – Status Quo – Ain't Complaining". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  17. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  18. "British album certifications – Status Quo – Ain't Complaining". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 4 February 2021.