| Famous in the Last Century | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Status Quo |
| Cover: | FamousIntheLastCentury_StatusQuo.jpg |
| Released: | 17 April 2000 |
| Recorded: | Astria Studios and ARSIS Studios |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Length: | 43:39 |
| Producer: | Mike Paxman |
| Prev Title: | Under the Influence |
| Prev Year: | 1999 |
| Next Title: | Heavy Traffic |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
Famous in the Last Century is the twenty-fourth studio album by British rock band Status Quo, released in 2000. 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!"[1]
"We didn't wanna do it," Rossi said, "but it sold. I don't think we'll do another one."[2] 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 & VHS of the same name was filmed at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 27 March 2000. It is a mimed performance of the album. The group did a live gig after the filming of the video, and a few tracks from it were released as B-sides.
1. Rossi, F., Parfitt, R., XS All Areas: The Status Quo autobiography (Sidgwick & Jackson, 2004)