{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Aquostic II – That's a Fact! | type = studio | artist = Status Quo | cover = Aquostic_II.jpg|border=yes | alt = | released = {{Start date|df=y|2016|10|21}} | recorded = 2016 | studio = | genre = Acoustic rock | length = 63:28 | label = Fourth Chord, earMusic, Edel Records | producer = Mike Paxman | prev_title = Accept No Substitute! The Definitive Hits | prev_year = 2015 | next_title = The Last Night of the Electrics | next_year = 2017 }}
'''''Aquostic II – That's a Fact!''''' is the thirty-second studio album by British rock band Status Quo, released on 21 October 2016. It is the last album to feature guitarist and vocalist Rick Parfitt, who died on 24 December 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/24/status-quo-guitarist-rick-parfitt-dies-aged-68|title=Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt dies aged 68|first=Nadia|last=Khomami|date=24 December 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref> Hannah Rickard, with whom Francis Rossi collaborated on their 2019 duet album ''We Talk Too Much'', can be heard as violinist and background singer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=we talk too much {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/we-talk-too-much/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}</ref>
Upon its initial announcement, ''Aquostic II'' was promoted with the subtitle "One More for the Road", taken from the title of the band's ongoing acoustic tour and one of the album's original compositions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wiegershausen |first1=René |title=Aquostic II-One More For The Road |url=https://time-for-metal.eu/status-quo-aquostic-ii-one-more-for-the-road/ |website=time-for-metal.eu |publisher=Time For Metal e.V. |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=de |date=27 June 2016 |quote=„Aquostic II – One More For The Road” erscheint am 21. Oktober bei earMUSIC.}}</ref> The subtitle was changed shortly before release to the more recognisable "That's a Fact", using the name of a re-recorded track from the 1976 chart-topping album ''Blue For You'', and reflecting the song's status as one of ''Aquostic II'''s lead songs and promotional singles. The album is the band's second - and second consecutive - acoustic record and is a direct sequel to 2014's commercially and critically successful ''Aquostic – Stripped Bare''. Like its predecessor, the album once again features a range of older and often particularly popular Status Quo songs played acoustically, making use of special rearrangements for the enhanced acoustic instrumentation, which again includes a female backing ensemble and several classical instruments.
The album also features three entirely new compositions: "One for the Road" and "One of Everything" on the standard edition (and all CD and digital releases of the album), and "Is Somebody Rocking Your Heart", exclusive to the deluxe edition. A rearranged version of the latter song, written by Rossi and Bob Young, reappeared as a duet between Bonnie Tyler and Rossi on the former's 2019 album ''Between The Earth And The Stars'' under the title "Someone's Rockin' Your Heart".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Ian |title=Bonnie Tyler Interview: Star Power - Classic Pop Magazine |url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/09/bonnie-tyler-interview-star-power/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |date=27 September 2019 |website=www.classicpopmag.com}}</ref>
The two released singles from ''Aquostic II'', "Hold You Back" and "That's a Fact", each consist of only the title track. Both releases were solely for promotional distribution (e.g. to radio stations).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hold You Back |url=https://www.discogs.com/de/release/9736728-Status-Quo-Hold-You-Back |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=discogs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=That's A Fact! single |url=https://www.discogs.com/de/release/9094657-Status-Quo-Thats-A-Fact |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=discogs}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = ''The Arts Desk'' | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Arts Desk" /> | rev2 = ''Classic Rock'' | rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Classic Rock" /> | rev3 = ''Get Ready to Rock'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="GetReadyToRock" /> }}
Barney Harsent of ''The Arts Desk'' called the album "a fun addition" to the band's catalogue, highlighting "That's a Fact", "Roll Over Lay Down", "In the Army Now" and "Ice in the Sun" as songs that benefitted from the new arrangements, and said it was a reminder that "Status Quo are gifted masters of their craft. Simple songs they may be, but never simplistic".<ref name="Arts Desk">{{cite web |last=Harsent |first=Barney |title=CD: Status Quo – ''Aquostic II – That's a Fact'' |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-status-quo-%E2%80%93-aquostic-ii-thats-fact |website=The Arts Desk |date=16 October 2016 |access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>
Writing for ''Classic Rock'', David Quantick stated that "the results are just as effective" as on the previous ''Aquostic'' album, and that they are "never less than delightful to the ear".<ref name="Classic Rock">{{cite magazine |last=Quantick |first=David |author-link=David Quantick |title=Status Quo – ''Aquostic II: That’s A Fact!'' album review |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/status-quo-aquostic-ii-that-s-a-fact-album-review |magazine=Classic Rock |date=6 October 2016 |access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>
For ''Get Ready to Rock'', David Wilson observed that "a myth has grown up around Quo that all songs sound the same and that their songs amount to the ABC of rock" but asserted that those who take the time to listen to their discography in depth will realise that "the band and music are a lot more complex than most people give them credit for". He concluded that the original ''Aquostic'' album "ably demonstrated there is a lot more to Status Quo than meets the ear" and that ''Aquostic II'' emphasises the same point.<ref name="GetReadyToRock">{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=David |title=Album review: STATUS QUO – Aquostic II – That’s A Fact! |url=https://getreadytorock.me.uk/blog/2016/09/album-review-status-quo-aquostic-ii-thats-a-fact/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Get Ready to ROCK! |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | extra_column = Original album | title1 = That's a Fact | writer1 = {{hlist|Francis Rossi|Bob Young}} | extra1 = ''Blue for You'' (1976) | length1 = 3:34 | title2 = Roll Over Lay Down | writer2 = {{hlist|Rossi|Rick Parfitt|Alan Lancaster|John Coghlan|Young}} | extra2 = ''Hello!'' (1973) | length2 = 4:28 | title3 = Dear John | writer3 = {{hlist|John Gustafson|Jackie McAuley}} | extra3 = ''1+9+8+2'' (1982) | length3 = 3:28 | title4 = In the Army Now | writer4 = {{hlist|Rob Bolland|Ferdi Bolland}} | extra4 = ''In the Army Now'' (1986) | length4 = 4:02 | title5 = Hold You Back | writer5 = {{hlist|Rossi|Parfitt|Young}} | extra5 = ''Rockin' All Over the World'' (1977) | length5 = 4:09 | title6 = One for the Road | writer6 = Andy Bown | extra6 = New composition (N/A) | length6 = 3:32 | title7 = Backwater | writer7 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Lancaster}} | extra7 = ''Quo'' (1974) | length7 = 4:52 | title8 = One of Everything | writer8 = Bown | extra8 = New (N/A) | length8 = 3:32 | title9 = Belavista Man | writer9 = John David | extra9 = ''The Party Ain't Over Yet'' (2005) | length9 = 3:51 | title10 = Lover of the Human Race | writer10 = {{hlist|Rossi|Bown}} | extra10 = ''Thirsty Work'' (1994) | length10 = 3:43 | title11 = Ice in the Sun | writer11 = {{hlist|Marty Wilde|Ronnie Scott}} | extra11 = ''Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo'' (1968) | length11 = 2:20 | title12 = A Mess of Blues | writer12 = {{hlist|Doc Pomus|Mort Shuman}} | extra12 = ''Back to Back'' (1983) | length12 = 2:32 | title13 = Jam Side Down | writer13 = {{hlist|Terry Britten|Charlie Dore}} | extra13 = ''Heavy Traffic'' (2002) | length13 = 3:12 | title14 = Resurrection | writer14 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Bown}} | extra14 = ''1+9+8+2'' (1982) | length14 = 3:10 }} {{Track listing | headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks | extra_column = Original album | title15 = Lies | writer15 = {{hlist|Rossi|Bernie Frost}} | extra15 = ''Just Supposin''' (1980) | length15 = 2:50 | title16 = Little Dreamer | writer16 = {{hlist|Rossi|Frost}} | extra16 = ''Perfect Remedy'' (1989) | length16 = 3:06 | title17 = Living on an Island | writer17 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Young}} | extra17 = ''Whatever You Want'' (1979) | length17 = 3:08 | title18 = Is Someone Rocking Your Heart? | writer18 = {{hlist|Rossi|Young}} | extra18 = New (N/A) | length18 = 3:38 | title19 = Rockers Rollin' | writer19 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Jackie Lynton}} | extra19 = ''Rockin' All Over the World'' (1977) | length19 = 3:36 }} {{Track listing | headline = Vinyl 2-LP edition bonus track | extra_column = Original album | title20 = For You | writer20 = Parfitt | extra20 = ''Rockin' All Over the World'' (1977) | length20 = 3:19 }} {{Track listing | headline = German 2-CD deluxe edition bonus tracks | extra_column = Original album | title1 = Lies | writer1 = {{hlist|Rossi|Frost}} | extra1 = ''Just Supposin{{'}}'' (1980) | length1 = 2:50 | title2 = Little Dreamer | writer2 = {{hlist|Rossi|Frost}} | extra2 = ''Perfect Remedy'' (1989) | length2 = 3:06 | title3 = Living on an Island | writer3 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Young}} | extra3 = ''Whatever You Want'' (1979) | length3 = 3:08 | title4 = Is Someone Rocking Your Heart? | writer4 = {{hlist|Rossi|Young}} | extra4 = new song | length4 = 3:38 | title5 = Rockers Rollin' | writer5 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Lynton}} | extra5 = ''Rockin' All Over the World'' (1977) | length5 = 3:36 | title6 = And It's Better Now | note6 = live at SWR1 | writer6 = {{hlist|Rossi|Young}} | extra6 = | length6 = 3:50 | title7 = Pictures of Matchstick Men | note7 = live at SWR1 | writer7 = Rossi | extra7 = | length7 = 3:44 | title8 = Don't Drive My Car | note8 = live at SWR1 | writer8 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Bown}} | extra8 = | length8 = 3:19 | title9 = Claudie | note9 = live at SWR1 | writer9 = {{hlist|Rossi|Young}} | extra9 = | length9 = 4:02 | title10 = Whatever You Want | note10 = live at SWR1 | writer10 = {{hlist|Parfitt|Bown}} | extra10 = | length10 = 3:38 | title11 = Rockin' All Over the World | note11 = live at SWR1 | writer11 = John Fogerty | extra11 = | length11 = 3:39 }}
==Personnel== {{div col}} '''Status Quo''' *Francis Rossi – guitars, vocals *Rick Parfitt – guitars, vocals *John "Rhino" Edwards – bass, guitar, vocals *Andy Bown – guitar, mandolin, harmonica, piano, vocals *Leon Cave – drums, guitar, vocals
'''Additional musicians''' *Geraint Watkins – accordion, melodica *Martin Ditcham – percussion *{{hlist|Amy Smith|Hannah Rickard – vocals}} * Richard Benbow – string arrangements *{{hlist|Lucy Wilkins|Howard Gott|Nicky Sweeney|Alison Dods|Rick Koster|Hannah Rickard – violin}} *Sophie Sirota – viola *Sarah Willson – cello
'''Production''' *Mike Paxman – producer, photography *Gregg Jackman – recording engineer, mixing *Martin Haskell – mastering engineer *Tanja Buck – assistant producer {{div col end}}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !scope=col | Chart (2016) !scope=col | Peak<br />position |- {{Album chart|Austria|37|artist=Status Quo|album=Aquostic II - That's a Fact!|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|92|artist=Status Quo|album=Aquostic II - That's a Fact!|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|110|artist=Status Quo|album=Aquostic II - That's a Fact!|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{Album chart|Netherlands|50|artist=Status Quo|album=Aquostic II - That's a Fact!|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{Album chart|Germany|26|id=315885|artist=Status Quo|album=Aquostic II|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{Album chart|Scotland|6|artist=Status Quo|date=20161028|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{Album chart|Switzerland|13|artist=Status Quo|album=Aquostic II - That's a Fact!|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |- {{Album chart|UK2|7|artist=Status Quo|date=20161028|rowheader=true|access-date=26 September 2022}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Status Quo}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Aquostic II - That's a Fact!}} Category:2016 albums Category:Acoustic albums Category:Albums produced by Mike Paxman Category:Status Quo (band) albums