This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Piledriver is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released in 1972. It was the first to be produced by the group themselves, and their first on the Vertigo label. It peaked at number five in the UK and included several favourites that would be featured frequently in live concerts. The album was the first one the group recorded after they had switched labels from Pye to Vertigo Records. When recording for Pye, the studio staff had complained about the volume as it would overload the input levels on the recording desk and distort, but for Piledriver, they could bring their touring gear into IBC Studios and record live at stage levels, giving them a much stronger sound. The front cover showed a live shot of the band in their classic "heads down, no-nonsense boogie" mode. It was the first album to credit Francis Rossi under his real name; when signed to Pye he had been called "Mike".
70's British hard rock at its very best
Some lesser known songs from Status Quo. The first song had me thinking it would sound all alike. But to my surprise, this album was more diverse than expected
This was nearly impossible for me to find (YouTube Music or Apple Music). Was able to piece together YouTube videos in a makeshift playlist to be able to listen to the songs, and even 1 or 2 was only able to find live versions. In any event, it was fine. Typical blues rock of the early '70s. I would have rated this much higher in my youth when I "discovered" my dad's Led Zeppelin LPs and went down that rabbit hole. But for now, it's no longer my favorite genre, but was still decent. 3.5/5, but rounding down for the difficulty and time spend finding the songs (for me).
Milquetoast hard-rock.
As a proud holder of sometimes-anonymizing long hair, I am entitled to mock the cover a bit. Because it's truly all anonymous longhair. The band foolishly saves their liveliest performance for last. Nothing about Piledriver is bad, but it is entirely paint-by-numbers British blues (oh, how I wish for an alternate spelling there) and recorded middling to boot.
Garbage can classic rock. Ai generated classic rock.
Status "If you are good at one thing, and enjoy doing it, why the hell not keep doing it" Quo. Again, I'm reminded of how well suited this bands' name is. Instantly recognizable riffs and sound, be it very poished and sanding off any potential sharp edge. They nearly surprised me with track 4 - 'Unspoken Words'. An almost late-Beatlesque bluesy mid-tempo song which I find a lot more interesting than the rest of the tracks on this album. Throw in an obligatory Doors cover, and we're done here.
Something for everyone, so to speak
This is what my dad's garage sounds like while he's drinking tequila and folding laundry.
All of the Youtube comments for the tracks on this LP seem to be Boomers talking about drinking wine and rocking out to this album, and that about sums it up – dated, guitar-noodling blues rock for old people.
A bit of everything in British 70s rock. There's some glam, Beatlesesque, power pop, heavy metal, and jam. I appreciate the diversity in styles and how hard they go. Most of their songs do sound like they're trying to imitate more popular bands as closely as possible without understanding the charm that those bands have, coming off as a bit ingenuine. No standout tracks, but I found myself liking something out of almost every track.
Absolutely delightful! A fantastic surprise and a marvelous switchup from all the later aughts shit indie people have been putting in. This is the definition of hidden gem! I love it. A Year is the stunning and revelatory crown jewel of all the tracks. It is haunting and powerful. I listened to it several times, until it fully seeped into the marrow of my bones. Thank you person who submitted this! You're cool as a hell.
The Quo! First band I ever saw live and dear to my heart. This is old school, heads down rocking, and I enjoyed it a lot
A good almost instrumental classic rock album?!?! 4
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Oh baby, Big fat mama
Hard rock. Me gusta. Un 4.
Seemed like pretty straight-ahead blues-adjacent rock of its era. Is it the real foundational stuff better known acts are actually derivative of? Somebody knows, not me. Some interesting musical detours among the standard blues with extra drums and distortion. Lyrics nothing to merit much attention.
It's good straightforward rock and roll. Nothing wrong with that, in fact I enjoy it. At the same time, it's pretty simplistic and not much about it is unique or groundbreaking. 3 stars.
Pretty good rock, but what does it bring that wasn't already brought?
Fun enough band. 3/5.
Entertaining
Not all Quo rockers, some nice slow blues and a hint of their 60s psychedelic past. Enjoyable and fun in the same vein as the Slade album from the book.
This was a fun listen. Riffy and bluesy with occasional moments of loveliness. The unexpected diversions into other musical styles are what make this album work. Fave Songs: All the Reasons, Unspoken Words, Paper Plane, Big Fat Mama, A Year
If I grew up in the 70s I could see how I’d really enjoy this deeper cut band of diverse rock. Over time it seems they’ve become more unknown and would definitely be considered underrated. They don’t do anything that’s too crazy or different but this album has a few different styles of rock that show the bands talent. Overall it was pretty good and unfortunate this band isn’t more popular. 6.7/10
This was fairly generic 70s hard rock. It was well made but nothing really stood out to me.
Status Quo are less shit than I thought. Still though, they peaked with 'come on you reds'
fun rock, too many guitar solos for me though 2.8
Fascinating. I have no idea how i've never heard of this band... popular in England and an active band for over 50 years (60 years if you allow the precursor bands). The surprise of that is more interesting than the album... which is some fine bluesy boogie rock. I like the slower tempo A Year and All the Reasons best. Their cover of Roadhouse Blues is a bit of a travesty, but the rest of the album is fine, though ordinary genre music.
I feel a lot of these 60s and 70s albums were long because they decided... we'll have a section where you can play the drums. Wait, that means you need 30 seconds for a guitar solo... Very formulaic. I'm trying to figure out what this album may represent... not sure, yet.
Some of this no-nonsense good old fashioned 70s rock hits the spot, and some of it less so. The muddiness of the recording bothered me occasionally.
70s arena rock for you.
I hardly even know her
Nothing special
Generic pub rock. Don't people want more from their music?
As a child, there was a family of massive Status Quo fans that lived around the corner from us. Being mean school kids in the 1990s the Quo loving brother and sister were teased for having musical tastes outside of the boy band, and girl band norm. Really the joke was on us, as they experienced rock'n'roll shows at a young age, which must have been really exciting. Rating: 2 Playlist track: Don't Waste My Time Date listened: 03/09/24
Silly schlock rock. Lots of notes that don't quite fit, minor pentatonic guitar noodling. Just average forgettable 70's rock.
Pretty middle of the road bag of all sorts
They have one song and they do it a lot. Thankfully they have the charm to carry it off, within limits.
Bar band blues rock.
If I can’t stream it on Apple Music it’s a one them the rules
Second rate rock and roll one star