A Midlife Musical Reflection from Rick Parfitt's Over and Out
Rick Parfitt always seemed one of the more anonymous figureheads of rock, safe and sturdy, more crafty pauper than prince. Much like Status Quo, the band he lovingly served and kept alive for fifty years.
In many ways, Rick’s debut album Over and Out was supposed to be a middle of the road record to continue in the vein of Quo. But, in the stars, it was always to become something more than that. It was to be bought mostly by those who didn’t (or who flat out refused to) understand modern technology. It’s the kind of album that would sell more copies on CD than obtain Spotify plays; in a time where convenience outweighs effort and hearing twenty seconds of a track before skipping onto the next is more important than listening for the nuances and bass line hiding inside each song, there’s little more rock and roll in 2018 than that. Death has a funny way of making the world see you, even if you’ve remained relatively anonymous in how you’ve gone about the pomp of rock and roll.
Death has a funny way of making the world see you, even if you’ve remained relatively anonymous in how you’ve gone about the pomp of rock and roll.
But we’re not here to talk of death and we’re not here to talk about Status Quo. We’re here to look at Rick Parfitt’s aptly titled Over and Out. And despite the saddening circumstances that surrounded the months before its release, it remains an album for those who want meat and potatoes, not foie gras.
Despite the fact Rick had finished recording his guitar and vocal parts, a recording session was planned for February 2017. Certain tracks were not totally finished when Rick died. A call to help ensured that his work could be completed and so that the world could hear it. The call was answered by Queen’s Brian May and Muse’s Chris Wolstenholme, both of whom knew Rick well. Rick’s son, Rick Parfitt Jnr, was also involved in the creative process, as were John “Rhino” Edwards and Alan Lancaster, amongst many others.
The thumping opening drums drive the opening song ‘Twinkletoes’ and suggest a rawer side that rarely featured in the sheen of Quo’s work. The vocal harmonies are reminiscent of Brian May’s work with Queen and his own solo work. Those looking for fresh Queen or May with a classic sound will eat this one up. ‘Lonesome Road’ and ‘Everybody Knows How to Fly’ are satisfyingly bluesy and continue the drive of ‘Twinkletoes’. The energy that sweats out of the tracks suggests the fun Rick and co. must have had. It feels all the more redemptive following his forced retirement from the road itself. Equally, it offers a slightly melancholy view into what was may have been to come from an exciting solo career. The title track is spacey, the repeating vocals offer an almost trippy view from way up above, carried elegantly by synths and that guitar. Then ‘When I Was Fallin’ in Love’ comes from nowhere with a major Tom Petty vibe and Roy Orbison nostalgia, pushing a shmaltzy but head-bobbing ballad.
With the exception of the single ‘Long Distance Love’ by far the catchiest and most recognisable song here, ‘Fight For Every Heartbeat’ is the one most similar to the rock he’s been churning out for fifty years with the Quo. Between them lies ‘Without You’ the first single. Played at Rick’s funeral, the piano ballad is the right kinds of spine-tingling and touchingly prophetic and the placement works; it’s a string-adorned beauty between two pure rock thorns.
The closing track ‘Halloween’ might as well have been recorded in the ’80s with playful synths and shrieking Slade-like vocals and guitars painting everything that your ears can feast on.
At ten tracks, Parfitt’s first and last solo album lacks fat and hits all the right notes. As you sit listening to Over and Out, whether in traffic or as you’re scrubbing the Newcastle Brown out of your double denim, somewhere beyond the quality meaty riffs and high-flying vocals on show, you can’t help but wonder why he didn’t do this sooner. Regardless we should be thankful that we had him in the first place and that he left a gift to be loved by his fans and classic rock fans searching for something new and more alive than many pure rock albums you’ll hear all year.
It feels too good to make the thought of that even remotely sad.
In many ways, Rick's debut album 'Over and Out' was supposed to be another middle of the road, classic rock record to continue in the vein of Quo but, in the stars, it was always to became something more than that. We should be thankful that we had him in the first place and that he left a gift to be loved by his fans and classic rock fans searching for something new and more alive than many pure rock albums you'll hear all year.
I *think* that’s a good review but to be honest I struggled to wade through the nonsense of the first two paragraphs. Parfitt “anonymous”? Really? He’s been called many things in his life but anonymous is certainly not one of them. Methinks this perception is more attributable to the dismissive media who declared Quo irrelevant 30 years ago and those who chose to blindly believe them, oblivious to their going on to sell 120 million records, or the sneering cuntery of supposedly serious music publications such as Q magazine, who couldn’t even bring themselves to mention his death in passing, let alone afford him an obituary in their hallowed pages. Back in a world less troubled by what a stranger may think about what’s on your iPod, Parfitt has always remained the epitome of a true rock star, whether or not that has always remained true of his band mates. That aside, it goes on to be a pretty fair review and, for info, Halloween WAS recorded in the 1980s – 1985 to be precise. It’s had some spit and polish but it’s the same recording.
Cheers.
I thought the term ‘anonymous’ was a bit strange too.
Maybe not on the radar of the young but the same could be said of most figureheads of rock.
This is his 2nd solo album,,,1st one was called UNRECODRED DELIVERY ,,1987 it was unreleased ,,cos the manangement and recording studios staff said ,,,its too noisy and who is the artist,,,,