Down Down Explained

"Down Down" is a song by English rock band Status Quo, released by Vertigo Records on 29 November 1974.^[3] 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.^[4] Both "Down Down" and its B-side "Nightride" were taken from the album On the Level (1975), 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.

Song information

"Down Down" was inspired by T. Rex's debut single "Debora".^[5] 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.^[6]

Towards the end of his life, DJ John Peel was known for playing "Down Down" as part of his eclectic DJ sets.^[7]

In 1986 co-writer Bob Young recorded a country style version of the song to open his solo album In Quo Country.^[8]

In July 2012, Status Quo reworked the lyrics to create a three-minute promotional song for the Australian supermarket chain Coles.^[9] The chorus chants, "down down, prices are down". This was released on television and YouTube, the most notable of which depicted a mince rally.^{[10] [11]}

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.^{[12] [13]}

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. Web site: Status Quo's 10 greatest songs, ranked. Goldradiouk.com.
2. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Some Kind of Monster: Metal. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 568.
3. News . . 51 . 16 November 1974.
4. Book: Roberts, David . 2006 . . 19th . Guinness World Records Limited . London . 1-904994-10-5 . 309.
5. Web site: Status Quo Facts: 8 Essential Things You Need To Know. Forbes. Sorrell. 31 May 2019. uDiscover Music. en-US. 29 August 2019.
6. Web site: 28 August 2007 . Norfolk's Status Quo top 10 songs . 29 May 2019 . BBC Norfolk.
7. News: Mugan . Chris . 2002-12-07 . John Peel's comments on playing 'Down Down' . The Guardian . London . 1 May 2010.
8. Web site: Back In Quo Country: Expanded Edition . 22 January 2017 . Cherry Red Records.
9. Web site: Alex Hayes . 11 July 2012 . Status Quo rock for Coles commercial . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407201028/http://www.bandt.com.au/news/advertising/status-quo-rock-for-coles-commercial . 7 April 2014 . 27 March 2014 . B&T.
10. Web site: Coles Mince is Staying Down with Status Quo - Coles TV Ad . https://web.archive.org/web/20130724105528/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pniH2-r6dZU&gl=US&hl=en . 2013-07-24 . dead. . 23 July 2013 . 22 July 2016.
11. News: Hicks . Robin . 11 July 2012 . Brit rockers Status Quo perform 'Down, deeper and down' for Coles . . Australia .
12. Web site: October 22, 2014 . Status Quo Concert Setlist at Roundhouse, London . 25 February 2015 . setlist.fm.
13. Web site: Status Quo - Acoustic . 25 February 2015 . Radio 2 In Concert . BBC Online.
14. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
15. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 427.
16. Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1975. . 79 . . 29 December 1975 . 15 January 2022 .
17. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1975. Ultratop. 14 August 2021.
18. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1975. Dutch Top 40. 14 August 2021.
19. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1975. dutchcharts.nl. 14 August 2021.
20. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts . 14 August 2021 . . Offizielle Deutsche Charts . German.
21. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1975. hitparade.ch. 14 August 2021.