Famous in the Last Century


Famous in the Last Century is the twenty-fourth studio album by British rock band Status Quo, released in 2000 to largely negative reviews. According to the band's autobiography, the idea to record it came from manager David Walker, who said they should celebrate the millennium with an album containing twenty of their favourite hits from the past century. "Another bloody covers album!" grumbled Francis Rossi. "We went along with it, as usual, but inside I felt like a fraud... for me it was the worst Quo album there had ever been - or ever will be!"
"We didn't wanna do it," Rossi said, "but it sold. I don't think we'll do another one." However, 2003's Riffs was another covers collection.
Famous in the Last Century reached No.19 on the UK Albums Chart, a better position than the previous Quo album of mainly original material, Under the Influence. Two singles from it – "Mony Mony" and "Old Time Rock and Roll" – were minor hits.
Jeff Rich left the band after recording this album and was replaced by Matt Letley.
A DVD of the same name and featuring the same songs was filmed at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 27 March 2000. This performance is mimed but they did a live gig after the album tracks were mimed but no video footage has ever been released. A few live tracks were b sides taken from this performance.

Track listing

  1. "Famous in the Last Century" 1:04
  2. "Old Time Rock and Roll" 2:57
  3. "Way Down" 2:51
  4. "Rave On!" 2:51
  5. "Roll Over Beethoven" 3:07
  6. "When I'm Dead and Gone" 3:11
  7. "Memphis, Tennessee" 2:31
  8. "Sweet Home Chicago" 2:44
  9. "Crawling from the Wreckage" 2:42
  10. "Good Golly Miss Molly" 2:05
  11. "Claudette" 2:01
  12. "Rock'n Me" 2:46
  13. "Hound Dog" 2:19
  14. "Runaround Sue" 2:29
  15. "Once Bitten Twice Shy" 3:40
  16. "Mony Mony" 2:58
  17. "Famous in the Last Century" 1:15

    Australia bonus tracks

  18. "Pictures of Matchstick Men" 3:23
  19. "Raining in My Heart" 3:31
  20. "Fun Fun Fun² 3:59
  21. "Whatever You Want² 4:16

    2006 reissue bonus tracks

  22. Gerdundula
  23. 4500 Times
  24. Rain

    Personnel