Status Quo‘s bass player, John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, will release the album ‘Just Sayin’‘, on 1 March 2024 through Molano Music, again produced by long term collaborator Mike Paxman.
Francis Rossi plays the guitar solo on the forthcoming single ‘Never Too Old’ and contributes backing vocals, he also co-wrote ‘Can’t Count Me Out’ and ‘Tried & Tested’. Andrew Bown from Quo co-wrote ‘Never Too Old’ and features on several of the album’s tracks. John’s Quo colleagues are not the only guests to feature, Chris Wolstenholme of Muse takes on the bass duties on ‘My Side Of The Road’.
Some of the new material received an airing on recent UK and European dates, with the band featuring Status Quo rhythm section colleague Leon Cave on drums, and Craig Joiner of Romeo’s Daughter.
The whole album offers some searing musicianship – and a side order of sizzled sacred cows for good measure – as he takes cheerful aim at some of this modern world’s stranger preoccupations. Rhino is never afraid to ruffle feathers and some of the songs on ‘Just Sayin’‘ take on subjects in areas into which others fear to stray.
You are free to disagree but he’ll want you to listen to the songs before you do. Despite tracks like ‘The PC World’, the album is by no means a polemic, he’s happy to segue from the topic of people being afraid to speak their mind, to the joys of life in a tin can on ‘Caravan Man’! “It’s a fun ride, from caravans to Evening Primrose, via a few rants, and of course songs about drinking – I am ‘Rhino The Wino’ after all. Plus amazing musicians – what’s not to like?”
Having been a member of acts including The Climax Blues Band, Space and Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Rhino was invited to join Quo in 1986 and has been there ever since.
This, his third album, represents a great chance for fans to connect with one of British Rock’s great talents. As a child he trained on the classical violin which, as he jokes, “Came in ‘kin handy when it came to joining Quo!” These days, Rhino is an engaging and enthusiastic performer who is not quite content to let the music do all the talking. He’s got plenty of opinions of his own, y’see – ‘Just Sayin’‘…
TRACKLISTING
01 Can’t Count Me Out (3.34)
02 Limbo (3.58)
03 Taking Care Of Mary (4.43)
04 Never Too Old To Rock And Roll (3.32)
05 Wizzie Lizzie LA (3.17)
06 Good Evening Primrose (3.03)
07 Caravan Man (3.09)
08 My Side Of The Road (3.10)
09 The PC World (4.21)
10 One Way To Roll (3.22)
11 Hard Drinking Woman (3.36)
12 Tried and Tested (4.16)
13 Spooning (2.25)
14 Happy Ending (2.57)
Photo credit: Tina Korhonen
