Down Down

"Down Down" is a song by English rock band Status Quo. Written by Francis Rossi and Bob Young and produced by Status Quo, "Down Down" was Status Quo's only number one single on the UK Singles Chart. The single spent a week at the top of the chart in January 1975.[1] It was released on 29 November 1974 on the Vertigo label, paired with the B-side song "Nightride". Both songs came from the album On the Level, which had yet to be released. The album version lasts 5 minutes and 24 seconds, whilst the single version is 3 minutes and 49 seconds.

For the Sinceros song, see 2nd Debut. For the hashing tradition, see Down-down.
"Down Down"
Artwork for Dutch vinyl release
Single by Status Quo
from the album On the Level
B-side"Nightride"
Released29 November 1974 (1974-11-29)
GenreHard rock, blues rock
Length3:49 (single version)
5:24 (album version)
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)Francis Rossi
Bob Young
Producer(s)Status Quo
Status Quo singles chronology
"Break the Rules"
(1974)		 "Down Down"
(1974)		 "Roll Over Lay Down"
(1975)

The song was inspired by T. Rex's debut single "Debora".[2] Originally it was titled "Get Down", but this was changed before release, possibly to avoid confusion with the Gilbert O'Sullivan song of the same name.[3]

Towards the end of his life, DJ John Peel was known for playing "Down Down" as part of his eclectic DJ sets.[4]

In 1986 co-writer Bob Young recorded a country style version of "Down Down" to open his solo album In Quo Country.[5]

In July 2012, Status Quo reworked the lyrics to create a three-minute promotional song for the Australian supermarket chain Coles.[6] The chorus chants, "down, down, prices are down". This was released on television and YouTube, the most notable of which depicted a mince rally.[7][8]

The song was reprised, in 2014, for the band's thirty-first studio album Aquostic (Stripped Bare). It was featured in the ninety-minute launch performance of the album at London's Roundhouse on 22 October and recorded and broadcast live by BBC Radio 2 as part of their In Concert series.[9][10]

Charts
Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 15

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 309. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Forbes, Sorrell (2019-05-31). "Status Quo Facts: 8 Essential Things You Need To Know". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  3. "Norfolk's Status Quo top 10 songs". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC Norfolk. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. Mugan, Chris (2002-12-07). "John Peel's comments on playing 'Down Down', in The Guardian". London. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  5. "Back In Quo Country: Expanded Edition – Cherry Red Records". herryred.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  6. Alex Hayes (2012-07-11). "Status Quo rock for Coles commercial | B&T". Bandt.com.au. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  7. "Coles Mince is Staying Down with Status Quo - Coles TV Ad". YouTube. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  8. "Status Quo perform Down, Down for Coles". Australia: Mumbrella.com.au. 2012-07-11.
  9. "Status Quo Concert Setlist at Roundhouse, London on October 22, 2014 - setlist.fm". setlist.fm. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  10. "Status Quo - Acoustic". Radio 2 In Concert. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 427. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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