THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

108-Status Quo-Caroline.

1973-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. They were first called ‘The Scorpions,’ (1962-1963) then they changed to ‘The Spectres,’ (1963-1967) this was followed by another name change to ‘Traffic,’ (1967) and then ‘Traffic Jam (1967.) Yet another change of name occurred when they became ‘The Status Quo,’ (1967-1969) before finally settling on just ‘Status Quo,’ (1969-present) which is their current ‘existing state of affairs.’

Status Quo (see also best songs 905) were formed in London, England, in 1962, by Francis Rossi, and Alan Lancaster, (1949-2021) while they were still schoolboys. The classic lineup, who also played on this song was completed by Rick Parfitt (1948-2016) who joined the band in 1967, and the bands drummer John Coghlan, who had joined in 1962, and left in 1982. Status Quo remain active, and in total there have been 14 different members come and go, with Francis Rossi being the bands one constant. For the discography of Status Quo see best songs 905.

‘Caroline’ was the only single released from Status Quo’s sixth studio Album ‘Hello,’ from September 1973, and was co-written by Francis Rossi, and Bob Young, with the songs production credited to all of the bands members. Bob Young who was born on May 16th, 1945, in Basingstoke, England, had been working with Status Quo in many capacities since 1968, and although he was never an official member of the band, he was known as ‘the 5th member.’ Along with Francis Rossi, he co-wrote several Status Quo songs, including ‘Paper Plane,’ and the bands only UK Number 1 single ‘Down Down.’

‘Caroline’ had been written as far back as 1971, and in it’s original form it was a slow ‘Blues’ song, it became the song we all know today after Rick Parfitt came up with the guitar riff. Bob Young has recalled how the song came about,’We stayed in a right grotty hotel because it was all we could afford and continued writing the song there in the dining room on a rainy day, when we couldn’t take the kids anywhere and everybody was miserable. The hotel manager wasn’t impressed that there were two members of Status Quo staying at the hotel. He was even less impressed when I leant against the dining room window and fell through it, but I managed to finish the lyrics on a napkin.’

There has been speculation over the years as to whom ‘Caroline’ is about. At the time the songs lyrics were written ‘Sweet Caroline'(see also best songs 13) by Neil Diamond was having it’s first taste of success in the UK, and many thought that ‘Caroline’ was a nod to that, but Francis Rossi has said,’We’d heard that around, and it was quite a nice phrase. Bob (Young) did know a Caroline, which I mustn’t talk about, but I suppose he was thinking that.’

‘Caroline,’ and it’s parent Album ‘Hello’ took Status Quo to the next level, with a ‘heavier’ sound that they had been working on since signing with their new record label ‘Vertigo’ in 1972. The song would go on to be among the bands opening numbers at concerts, and in 1985 when they became the opening act at ‘Live Aid,’ ‘Caroline’ was the second song they played, after opening with ‘Rockin’ All Over the World.’ In 1982 they released a live version of ‘Caroline’ which went on to reach Number 13 in the UK.

‘Come on sweet Caroline, you’re my sweet Caroline. You know I wanna take ya, I really gotta make ya, come on sweet Caroline, take my hand, together we can Rock’n’Roll.’