Lyr ADD: Down the Dustpipe (Groszmann/Status Quo)

Subject: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 07:40 AM

At last night's sesh, a guy did his version of 'Down the Dustpipe', a hit for Status Quo in the 70's.

What's a dustpipe?

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 07:42 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUOAtDU5yFY

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 09:01 AM

It was written by an Aussie so maybe one of our antipodean psoters may know?

DeG

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 12:04 PM

It's an unpaved road in Louisiana, runs to Texas.

Bru

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:21 PM

Mr Happy, I listened for a bit but couldn't understand a word.

I too am in the dark about dustpipes.

Bertie Wooster, when threatened with dire reproof from one aunt* or another, would sometimes escape the stately home by means of a drainpipe. Do you suppose they are the same thing?
=======
*especially Aunt Agatha, who "eats broken bottles."

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 03:32 AM

I think GUEST Bru nailed it - if you google the lyrics, the writer's talking about heading away from New Orleans by way of an unmade road. I wondered vaguely if he was saying he'd encountered anti-semitism in NO (no room for a kosher cowboy).

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN THE DUSTPIPE (Groszmann/Status Quo)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 06:21 AM

Bru,

Thanks for your elucidation.

I really liked this song, not having heard it before my pal sang it t'other night it rocks!

Here's the words for others to share:


DOWN THE DUSTPIPE
Words and music by Carl Arnold Groszmann
As recorded by Status Quo as a single and on the album “Down the Dustpipe,” 1970.

1. Heading down the back turnpike; signposts are pointing west.
Fell into the lonely dustpipe; hope my pick-up can stand the test,
But I'm doing all right now,
Rolling down the dustpipe, na-na-na-na nana-na-nana-na.

2. Rolling down the dustpipe now; got a ten-dollar bill in my jeans,
Because there ain't no room for a kosher cowboy in a town like New Orleans,
But I'm doing all right now.
Rolling down the dustpipe, na-na-na-na nana-na-nana-na.

3. Guess I didn't make it in the city, but that's just the way that it goes,
'Cause there's a lotta lunatics, crazy ghostmen, baby, don't like the shape of my nose,
But I'm doing all right now,
Rolling down the dustpipe, na-na-na-na nana-na-nana-na.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK, REPEAT VERSE 2 TWICE

© BMG Rights Management

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 06:24 AM

Belter of a song indeed - and was very sucessful for the Quo - Staying in the charts for longer than any of there other songs!

But is it folk? Oh, hang on... That's another thread init? Better not go there:-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 08:15 AM

But is it folk?

A matter of opinion but there being so much diversity in FC's & seshes these days, plus it was written in the 1970's, much as many of today's 'trad folk' was, I'd say its well qualified!

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Bru
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 02:21 PM

I hadn't realised you'd not heard that one before Mr H. I'll get along as soon as possible and give my version of it. It could become a Carlton Standard, so to speak.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: GUEST,Strummin Steve
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 06:23 PM

It launched the Quo's boogie 12 bar career. I bought it as a single at the time.It was summer & it sounded great.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 10:09 PM

Its a Hell of a song and I love the little jig in the middle.
I Thinks? if my Quo memory serves me right it is a Rossie /frost Alan Lancaster song. from the Quo Album.
They used it a lot in there later year melodies but the first time i heard it Live in full was The rocking all-over the world gig in Munic Germany back n 76/77 .I remember they were set to play In My Chair but fucked it like big time so Down the dust pipe was incorporated. with crowd participation.
I was drunk and stoned but still remember it very well.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 06:06 AM

Used to do that one with the Timekeepers years ago. It and Warren Zevon's 'Poor Poor Pitiful Me' cheered everyone up at the end of a set full of miserable folk songs.

Pierre, I fear your drinking and stoning may have affected your memory in other ways! Quo's version of Dustpipe goes back to the 'Dog of Two Head' album in 1970. It wasn't written by them; El Gnomo thinks an Aussie, I have a suspicion it was a Kiwi called Grossman or something similar.

The 'dustpipe' is certainly an unmade road, nothing to do with outside plumbing.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 06:06 AM

Bru,

It'd be great hear your rendition, but I was gonna add it my repertoire!

However, now we've established that this song & others of its ilk are true songs of the people, perhaps initiate the first heavy metal folk sessh anywhere!!

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 06:10 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Groszman

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Bru
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 12:05 PM

Being a fan of heavy metal, Mr H - I'll try anything. Skyclad have probably already done it, though.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 05:24 PM

Hi Richard in Manchester,
I did say I Quote. If my Quo memory serves me right.?

I never knew it was on Dog of two heads Album? One of the Quo Albums I have not got. BY the way I stopped buying Quo Albums After 1982.
Drink and drugs has never affected my memory if so I would not be able to earn a living.
Memory loss with Quo comes with age.
Regards Pierre.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 05:57 AM

Not off Dog Of Two Head but a single from at least 21 months earlier.

I found this info online:

7 inch vinyl single - PYE 7N 17907
Released: 6 March 1970
STATUS QUO
A side DOWN THE DUSTPIPE (C Groszmann) (2.03)
B side FACE WITHOUT A SOUL (Rossi/Parfitt) (3.07)
Producer: John Schroeder


"Down The Dustpipe was written by a song writer from New Zealand called Carl Groszmann, who was signed to Ronnie Scott's publishing company Valley Music. This track was the first release to underline the change of musical direction that Quo had undertaken with their live performances during the past few months.
With Bob Young once again featured on harmonica 'Down The Dustpipe' returned Quo to the charts in May 1970, when the single spent seventeen weeks in the charts. The track 'Face Without A Soul' had previously been released on the album 'Spare Parts'."

I used to see Status Quo live quite a lot in 1971 - 72 'cos my girlfriend at the time worked for their nanagement. I even attended a private filming at The Marquee for German TV. My favourite album was Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon. This was when they performed a more diverse set, before they hit on the continuous 12 bar monotony that was to bring them riches!

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 05:58 AM

Richard in Manchester,

Was The Timekeepers a band you were in?

Tell us more

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 02:33 PM

Right you are, Guest Woodsie, thanks for the correction. (Pierre, clearly I'm the one with the failing memory).

Mr H. - yes, just a little folkie pub band back in the 1990s, playing mainly around South Manchester. We had a residency at the Baker's Vaults on Stockport market place, which had always been a rock/blues pub. I'm not quite sure whether our inclusion of Down the Dustpipe was an expression of our fearless post-ironic eclecticism or a sop to audiences who came down on a Wednesday night expecting to hear some overdrive.

Bru, by coincidence I recently overheard someone talking about a place called the Carlton in Whalley Range, Manchester, where apparently there is a folk session of some sort. Is that the place to which you refer? Its website suggests a music club but looks more like a contemporary band venue and/or dance-house.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: GUEST,Peter Trout
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 02:42 PM

Down the dustpipe was indeed written by Carl. He dropped out of the music scene for a while and spent some time i the village of Reeth in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. He was a catalyst for the local music scene there and inspired and encouraged many youngsters, including myself in the early 70's. Friday night music sessions at the Bridge Inn (pub) in Grinton are surely remembered by many?

Peter.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Bru
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 11:25 AM

Richard In Manchester.

No - The Carlton I'm referring to is the one Mr Happy runs in Cheshire; a friendly social venue, where every one enjoys themselves. Excellent entertainment, not neccessarily meaning the music. See Mr H for further details.

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 11:38 AM

Ah, the commercial break!!


Mr Happy's Come All Ye

Every Wednesday 830pm

The Carlton Tavern
Hartington Street
Handbridge
Chester

Free Butties & Mystery Guest every week!!

Subject: RE: Down the Dustpipe?
From: GUEST,Det van Rijn
Date: 04 Feb 23 - 05:45 PM

Hi,folks out there. Recently I read, that dustpipe could also be a rubbish chute, maybe also figuratively.
So, concerning the Status Quo song, it coulb be both:
a) the unpaved dusty road and
b) the way he drove to the several location where he was rejected everywhere!

I will pick up this in one of my radio shows on ABC Germany
every 1st sunday of the month at 11.00 UTC Det van Rijn with the Classic Rock & more show

Okie Dokie