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In the Army Now

by Status Quo

Released: August 29, 1986

Boogie rock, hard rock, pop rock

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Lineup Change.

The Album

Frontman Francis Rossi recalled that there was significant pressure from the label to continue with the core members Parfitt and Rossi, rather than the original lineup featuring bassist Alan Lancaster. Rossi was initially resistant to working with Lancaster again, but Lancaster threatened legal action if the band proceeded without him, which led to a contentious situation. "In the Army Now" is the seventeenth studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released on August 29, 1986, by Vertigo Records.

Inside the Recording

The album was recorded at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in Oxfordshire and Jacobs Studios in Surrey and is notable for being the first album with the new lineup following Live Aid, featuring bassist Rhino Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich, who joined the band in March 1986. The album includes covers of "In the Army Now," originally recorded in 1982 by Dutch duo Rob and Ferdi Bolland, and "Speechless," from Ian Hunter’s 1983 album All of the Good Ones Are Taken.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

Rossi mentioned that the label was uninterested in…

Rossi mentioned that the label was uninterested in a Quo featuring Lancaster and Parfitt, and there were financial consequences if the band did not work together.

While the title track "In the Army Now"…

While the title track "In the Army Now" was well-received, Rick Parfitt noted that the album contained too many fillers, detracting from its overall impact.

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Status Quo - In the Army Now

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The Complete Album Story

"In the Army Now" is the seventeenth studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released on August 29, 1986, by Vertigo Records. The album was recorded at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in Oxfordshire and Jacobs Studios in Surrey and is notable for being the first album with the new lineup following Live Aid, featuring bassist Rhino Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich, who joined the band in March 1986.

Frontman Francis Rossi recalled that there was significant pressure from the label to continue with the core members Parfitt and Rossi, rather than the original lineup featuring bassist Alan Lancaster. Rossi mentioned that the label was uninterested in a Quo featuring Lancaster and Parfitt, and there were financial consequences if the band did not work together. Rossi was initially resistant to working with Lancaster again, but Lancaster threatened legal action if the band proceeded without him, which led to a contentious situation.

The album includes covers of "In the Army Now," originally recorded in 1982 by Dutch duo Rob and Ferdi Bolland, and "Speechless," from Ian Hunter’s 1983 album All of the Good Ones Are Taken. While the title track "In the Army Now" was well-received, Rick Parfitt noted that the album contained too many fillers, detracting from its overall impact.