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Pictures of Matchstick Men
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Pictures of Matchstick Men
| cover = Pictures of Matchstick Men by Status Quo UK vinyl.jpg
| alt =
| caption = A-side label of the UK vinyl release
| type = single
| artist = The Status Quo
| album = Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo
| B-side = Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Caf
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Pye (UK)
Cadet Concept (United States)
| writer = Francis Rossi
| producer = John Schroeder
| prev_title = Almost but Not Quite There
| prev_year = 1967
| next_title = Black Veils of Melancholy
| next_year = 1968
| misc =
}}
"'Pictures of Matchstick Men'" is the first hit single by Status Quo, released on 5 January 1968.
Status Quo version
The song reached number 7 in the British charts, number 8 in Canada, and number 12 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, becoming their only Top 40 single in the United States. Francis Rossi confirmed on DVD2 of the Pictures set that it was originally intended to be a B-side to "Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Cafe", but it was decided to swap the B-side and the A-side of the single.
There are two versions, one in stereo and another in mono, with significant differences: the original single was in mono and has the trademark wah-wah guitar in the breaks between lyrics, but this is omitted in stereo.
The song opens with a single guitar repeatedly playing a simple four-note riff before the bass, rhythm guitar, organ, drums and vocals begin. "Pictures of Matchstick Men" is one of a number of songs from the late 1960s which feature the flanging audio effect. The band's next single release, "Black Veils of Melancholy", was similar but flopped, which caused a change of musical direction.
Rossi (living in a prefab in Camberwell at the time) later said of the song:
The "matchstick men" reference is to the paintings of Salford artist L. S. Lowry.
"Pictures of Matchstick Men" is featured in 'Men in Black 3', in a scene set in 1969 at Andy Warhol's Factory. It is also featured in the computer game Mafia III, set in 1968, where it can be heard on the radio. The Sky Documentary 'The United Way', the song featured in the clips of triumphs of the Busby Babes and Manchester United.
Releases
* 1968: Pictures of Matchstick Men / Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Cafe [Promo] 45 rpm Vinyl 7"; Pye / 7N 17449
* 1969: Retrato de hombre con bastn / El caf del caballero Joe 33 rpm, Mono Vinyl 7"; Music Hall / MH 31.101 Argentina
* 1973: Pictures of Matchstick Man / Ice in the Sun 45 rpm Vinyl 7"; Pye / 12 746 AT
Other versions
*In 1983, the Slickee Boys released the first cover of the song on their album 'Cybernetic Dreams of Pi'.
*In 1989, Camper Van Beethoven scored a number 1 hit on the 'Billboard' Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States with their version from the album 'Key Lime Pie'. One of the instruments played in this rendering is a violin. It is played at the end of the 'Ray Donovan' episode, "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" (2017; season 5, episode 7).
*In 1996, Arjen Anthony Lucassen recorded a cover of this song for his cover album Strange Hobby.
*In 1997, a take by the American gothic metal band Type O Negative was recorded, featuring vocals by Ozzy Osbourne, and released on the 'Private Parts: The Album' soundtrack.
* In 2007, Kasabian covered the song.
*In 2018, Florida-based gothic metal band October Noir released it as a non-album single.[https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/fr/album/Pictures_of_Matchstick_Men_(RIPeter)/357932 October Noir Pictures of Matchstick Men (RIPeter) (Single) - Spirit of Metal Webzine (fr)]
Charts
See also
*List of Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number ones of the 1980s
References
Buy Pictures of Matchstick Men now from Amazon
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