There are live albums… and then there are live statements of intent.
Live at Hammersmith 79 captures Status Quo on 26 June 1979, right in the thick of the Rockin’ All Over The World era, and let me say this clearly from the outset — this is an absolutely storming performance. If you’ve ever wondered just how ferocious, tight and utterly committed Quo were on stage at their peak, this set answers that question in emphatic fashion.
The Presentation
Demon Records have packaged this as a 2CD deluxe edition in their now-familiar 7-inch style format — similar to what they’ve done with releases from Sparks and Marc Bolan.
Crucially for collectors (and you know I care about this!), it mirrors the dimensions of the Quo Live Super Deluxe Edition, so it sits beautifully on the shelf alongside it. The booklet captures the band at full throttle — denim, sweat, Telecasters, and that unmistakable boogie stance.
Some people aren’t keen on this 7-inch CD format — I love it. It feels tactile, deliberate, and in keeping with Quo’s physical, no-nonsense aesthetic.
The Performance – Wild, Raw, Relentless
This isn’t polite.
This isn’t restrained.
This is Status Quo firing on all six cylinders.
Opening with:
“Caroline”
“Roll Over Lay Down”
“Backwater”
“Rockers Rollin’”
…it’s immediately clear that this is a band locked in and enjoying themselves.
By 1979, Quo had long shaken off any psychedelic pop perceptions from the late ’60s. This is the grease, denim and sweat era — On the Level, Blue for You, Quo Live territory. For some, the cultural spotlight had shifted elsewhere by this point — punk, new wave, the coming NWOBHM explosion (which was starting to pull my own ears in a different direction back then).
But listening now? You realise just how formidable they still were.
Francis Rossi is in cheeky, commanding form. The band sound tight but never sterile. There’s swing. There’s grit. There’s that unmistakable Quo shuffle — the four-to-the-floor boogie drive that later bands like AC/DC would perfect in their own way.
But Quo were already masters of it.
The Centrepiece – “4,500 Times” (25 Minutes of Glory)
I genuinely think this is the best version I’ve ever heard.
Earlier live takes stretch to 15–16 minutes. This one goes further — and never feels indulgent. The band stretch, twist and mutate the boogie framework without losing the pulse. You can almost see the eye contact on stage — the silent cues — “right, we’re going here now.”
It’s improvisational, but never directionless.
This is Quo distilled into one epic performance:
The shuffle
The twin guitar attack
The groove-led momentum
The audience riding every dynamic shift
It rocks. Hard.
And crucially, it never drags.
And Then… They Keep Going
As if a 25-minute “4,500 Times” wasn’t enough, they follow it with:
“Big Fat Mama”
“Don’t Waste My Time”
“Roadhouse Blues”
“Rain”
“Down Down”
Drum Solo
“Bye Bye Johnny”
“Rain” into “Down Down” is just relentless. No let-up. No filler. Just hit after hit.
And yes — I’ll say it — I’ve always preferred Quo’s version of “Roadhouse Blues” to the original. It fits them like a glove. It sounds like it was written for them.
By the time they close with “Bye Bye Johnny,” you feel like you’ve been through something. It’s one of those live albums that instantly transports you — whatever your age — back to being 18, getting ready on a Friday night, record spinning before heading into town.
That’s the magic of this performance.
This is the first official CD release of this complete show, and it reinforces something I see more and more in the Now Spinning Magazine community:
Status Quo are being reappraised.
Where once they were dismissed by some as “just a boogie band,” there’s now a renewed respect for what they achieved — consistency, chemistry, songwriting, and sheer live power.
This set proves that in 1979 they were still a formidable live act — not coasting, not nostalgic — but hungry and dynamic.
⭐ Verdict
10 out of 10.
If you’re a Quo fan, you need this.
If you’re on the fence, this will convert you.
If you think you’ve heard all there is to hear from late ’70s Quo — think again.
This is Status Quo live, raw and unapologetic.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
Could you please tell me where I can purchase this CD. It was one of the 87 Quo concerts I attended over Thirty two years.