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| STATUS QUO-Ice In The Sun/When My Mind Is Not Live US Cadet Concept 7006 1968 |
Status Quo will forever be one hit wonders in the United States on the strength of their March 1968 #12 hit "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" issued on the Chess records "alternative" outlet Cadet Concept. Cadet Concept skipped their second 45 "Black Veils Of Melancholy" (which was curiously issued in 1969 as their 4th of 5 Cadet Concept 45's!) and jumped to their third U.K. 45 "Ice In The Sun" which was released here in August 1968 (issued in the U.K. as Pye 7N.17581 the previous month). Unfortunately it stalled at #70 and was the last time Status Quo ever graced the U.S. Hot 100.
Written by pre-Beatles U.K. teen idol Marty Wilde (father of 80's new wave sensation Kim) and Ronnie Scott (NOT the famous U.K. jazz man), "Ice In The Sun" relies on the similar guitar effects of "Pictures Of.." , it's sort of bubble gum psych pop. Not an awful track per se but not their best either. The real gem in the flip side "When My Mind Is Not Life" penned by the band's lead guitarist Rick Parfitt. Starting with some wah-wah'ed combo organ and bass playing scales with their trademark distorted guitar wailing away it's a perfect hard pop-psych tune. Musically it reminds me of The Bee Gee's if they'd been allowed to get "heavier".
Both tracks were included on their debut US LP "Messages From The Status Quo" and are available on a host of Pye era Status Quo CD compilations.
Hear "Ice In The Sun":
https://youtu.be/Qt-gLcij8_8
Hear "When My Mind Is Not Life":
https://youtu.be/FQH6QQZZccM
Cool Belgian 1968 TV promo for both tracks:
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