‘Back to Back’ is the sixteenth studio album by English rock band Status Quo which was released in November 1983. For the first time in the group's history, it featured four singles namely the hugely popular Ol Rag Blues, which reached the highest position No. 9 followed by A Mess of Blues originally a hit for King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley which docked at No. 15 on the charts, Marguerita Time which skyrocketed to No 3, and Going Down Town Tonight which reached No. 20 in a different, re-recorded version to the album version. The album entered the UK chart at its highest position of No. 9.

This album was the last recorded before the group temporarily disbanded in 1985 and therefore the last to feature original founder band member and bass guitarist Alan Lancaster and drummer Pete Kircher. Lancaster co-wrote the first single, Ol' Rag Blues, with Keith Lamb, lead singer of British bands like The Kase, Sleepy Talk and Mr. Toad, and founder and lead singer of Australia's successful glam rock band Hush.

The album is housed in a glossy picture sleeve with lyric inner case. The album had only the mentioned toppers as the favorites to anyone who has followed the band closely. For those who may not know, the band also did a cover of You're in the Army Now a song by the South African-born Dutch duo Bolland and Bolland released in 1982. Status Quo recorded the song as In the Army Nowon their 1986 album of the same name.

Status Quo originated in London and was founded in 1962 by founder Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster while they were still schoolboys. After a number of name and lineup changes, which included the introduction of John Coghlan in 1963 and Rick Parfitt in 1967, the band became The Status Quo in 1967 and Status Quo in 1969.

Year of Release – November 1983

Record Label – Vertigo

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira