THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
905-Status Quo-Forty Five Hundred Times.
1973-It has never been released as a single in the UK.
Best Bit-At 4.42. ‘You say tomato, I say tomahto.’
Status Quo (see also best songs 108) were formed in London, England, in 1962, by Francis Rossi, (guitar, and vocals) and Alan Lancaster, (1949-2021) (bass) while they were still at school, the classic line up was completed by John Coghlan, (drums) who joined later in 1962, and Rick Parfitt (1948-2016) (guitar, and vocals) who joined in 1967. In total there have been 14 different members come and go, with Francis Rossi being the bands one constant.
With sales in excess of 115 million records sold, Status Quo are one of the best selling acts of all time. Their extensive discography includes 33 studio Albums released between 1968-2019, and 98 singles, issued between 1966-2022, there are also 26 official compilation Albums, 12 live Albums, and 18 box sets available. In the UK, Status Quo have achieved 60 top 40 singles, which is more than any other ‘Rock’ group. Four of their studio Albums have reached the Number 1 spot, and one of their singles ‘Down Down,’ from 1974, has also made Number 1. In America, Status Quo have never captured the public’s imagination, as none of their Albums has ever charted on any Billboard chart, and it is also very slim pickings on the ‘Hot 100’ singles chart, where only ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men,’ (1968-Number 12 ) and ‘Ice in the Sun,’ (1968-Number 70) have ever charted.
Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE, was born on May 29th, 1949, in Forest Hill, London, England, in 2010, Rossi along with his fellow band mate Rick Parfitt were both appointed ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ (OBE.) In 1984, both Rossi and Parfitt appeared on the ‘Band Aid’ charity single, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? (see also best songs 455) It is said that Bob Geldof (see also best songs 632) wanted them on the track, in order to represent the previous musical generation, and felt that having them on the song would generate many more sales, as Status Quo fans would want to buy a copy. A year later in 1985 Status Quo opened ‘Live Aid’ at ‘Wembley Stadium’ with ‘Rocking All Over the World.’ As well as appearing on all 33 Status Quo studio Albums, Rossi has also released three solo Albums in 1996, 2010, and 2019.
‘Forty Five Hundred Times’ is the final track on ‘Hello!’ the sixth studio Album by Status Quo from September 1973. ‘Forty Five Hundred Times’ was co-written by Francis Rossi, and Rick Parfitt, with all four members of Status Quo credited with the songs production. The Album version lasts for just short of 10 minutes, but there is a 17 minutes extended version on 1977’s ‘Live!’ Album, recorded at the ‘Glasgow Apollo.’ There is also a 20 minute recording performed at the ‘NEC Arena’ in 1982, at a charity concert for ‘The Prince’s Trust, which can be found on the 2017 release ‘Live at the N.E.C. ‘ The song has been voted the Number 1 Status Quo song of all time by the bands fans, and when played live in concert, it has been known for the group to stretch it out for around 30 minutes.
Status Quo had been touring America, and had picked up a few local colloquialisms. In the States they say ’45 hundred times,’ but in the UK they say, ‘four thousand, five hundred times,’ The reason why that particular number was chosen according to Francis Rossi, was because ‘It fit the song musically.”Forty Five Hundred Times’ is about pleading to a girl to stay in a relationship. Rossi has also said that it is one of his favourite ‘Quo’ songs, as did Rick Parfitt, who recalled,’The amps were all around the room, and we just sat in a circle and vibed with each other. Nobody knew where anybody was gonna go, and in those days, you didn’t give a f..k about over-spill, so the amps were cranked. It was magical.’
‘There’s nobody on the end of my line, I’m in time but somebody’s missing. Maybe I can find a hand for my hand, if I find a well for my wishing. Be my friend, be my friend.’