Down Down
{{for multi|the Sinceros song|2nd Debut|the hashing tradition|Down-down}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Down Down
| cover = DownDownNL.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Artwork for Dutch vinyl release
| type = single
| artist = Status Quo
| album = On the Level
| B-side = Nightride
| released = {{start date|1974|11|29|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = * Rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldradiouk.com/features/song-lists/status-quo-songs-best-ranked/|title=Status Quo's 10 greatest songs, ranked|website=Goldradiouk.com}}
- hard rock{{cite book|first=Bob |last=Stanley|title=Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop|chapter= Some Kind of Monster: Metal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7|date=13 September 2013|publisher=Faber & Faber|isbn=978-0-571-28198-5|page=568}}
- boogie rock
| length = 3:49 (single version)
5:24 (album version)
| label = Vertigo
| writer = Francis Rossi
Bob Young
| producer = Status Quo
| prev_title = Break the Rules
| prev_year = 1974
| next_title = Roll Over Lay Down
| next_year = 1975
| misc = {{External music video|header=Video|{{YouTube|BIEw1vhtXCQ|"Down Down" on TopPop}}}}
}}
"Down Down" is a song by English rock band Status Quo, released by Vertigo Records on 29 November 1974.{{cite magazine |title=News |magazine=Melody Maker |page=51 |date=16 November 1974}} 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.{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 309}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/status-quo-facts-8-essential-things-you-need-to-know/|title=Status Quo Facts: 8 Essential Things You Need To Know|last=Forbes|first=Sorrell|date=31 May 2019|website=uDiscover Music|language=en-US|access-date=29 August 2019}} 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.{{Cite web |date=28 August 2007 |title=Norfolk's Status Quo top 10 songs |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2007/08/28/local_radio_status_quo_list_20070828_feature.shtml |access-date=29 May 2019 |website= |publisher=BBC Norfolk}}
Towards the end of his life, DJ John Peel was known for playing "Down Down" as part of his eclectic DJ sets.{{cite news |last=Mugan |first=Chris |date=2002-12-07 |title=John Peel's comments on playing 'Down Down' |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,855214,00.html |access-date=1 May 2010}}
In 1986 co-writer Bob Young recorded a country style version of the song to open his solo album In Quo Country.{{cite web |title=Back In Quo Country: Expanded Edition |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/back-in-quo-country-expanded-edition/ |access-date=22 January 2017 |publisher=Cherry Red Records}}
In July 2012, Status Quo reworked the lyrics to create a three-minute promotional song for the Australian supermarket chain Coles.{{cite web |author=Alex Hayes |date=11 July 2012 |title=Status Quo rock for Coles commercial |url=http://www.bandt.com.au/news/advertising/status-quo-rock-for-coles-commercial |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407201028/http://www.bandt.com.au/news/advertising/status-quo-rock-for-coles-commercial |archive-date=7 April 2014 |access-date=27 March 2014 |publisher=B&T}} The chorus chants, "down down, prices are down". This was released on television and YouTube, the most notable of which depicted a mince rally.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pniH2-r6dZU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724105528/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pniH2-r6dZU&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2013-07-24 |url-status=dead|title=Coles Mince is Staying Down with Status Quo - Coles TV Ad |publisher=YouTube |date=23 July 2013 |access-date=22 July 2016}}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Robin |date=11 July 2012 |title=Brit rockers Status Quo perform 'Down, deeper and down' for Coles |publisher=Mumbrella |location=Australia |url=http://mumbrella.com.au/brit-rockers-status-quo-perform-prices-are-down-for-coles-102552}}
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.{{cite web |date=October 22, 2014 |title=Status Quo Concert Setlist at Roundhouse, London |url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/status-quo/2014/roundhouse-london-england-bccc99e.html |access-date=25 February 2015 |work=setlist.fm}}{{cite web |title=Status Quo - Acoustic |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/t5RRN4k2Y2dDhcxdtkfjfN/status-quo-acoustic |access-date=25 February 2015 |work=Radio 2 In Concert |publisher=BBC Online}}
Charts
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (1975)
! Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
| 4 |
| {{single chart|Austria|14|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|9|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|2|year=1975|week=11|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|8|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
| {{single chart|UK|1|date=19750112|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|West Germany|7|songid=340|artist=Status Quo|song=Down, Down|rowheader=true|access-date=14 August 2021}} |
=Year-end charts=
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry | type = single| region = United Kingdom | artist = Status Quo| title = Down Down| award = Silver| certyear = 1975 | relyear = 1974 | access-date = 28 October 2016 | refname = UK certification|id=1926-1538-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{youtube|IA3WBxzjbfI|Down Down (Live At Wembley) - The Frantic Four}}
{{Status Quo}}
{{authority control}}
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:Status Quo (band) songs
Category:Songs written by Francis Rossi
Category:Songs written by Bob Young (musician)