TALON'S TAKE:
I Want To Break FreeWritten by: John Deacon
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, synthesizer
Brian May - electric guitar
John Deacon - bass guitar, acoustic rhythm guitar, drum machine (?), synthesizer
Roger Taylor - drums (?)
Fred Mandel - synthesizer solo
- Issued as a single in the US where it hit #45 and in the UK where it hit #3. Also issued as a single in Australia where it hit #9, France, Germany, the Netherlands (where it hit #1), Japan and Mexico.
- Played live through 1986 and also revived for both QPR 2005-2008 and QAL 2012. Roger also brought it out for his both solo tours and many appearances.
- In a weird and unfortunately not uncommon occurrence Fred Mandel played a synth solo in the middle that sounded like a guitar. He thought it was to be a placeholder til Brian went in...but it stayed on the song. A little lazy of the band to be honest.
QUOTE:
- "One of our biggest hits. John didn't write many songs, but most of them sure counted." - Brian May 2003
ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS
SINGLE MIX/VIDEO- ESSENTIAL
- In a rare case, the single version is longer than the album version!
- This video is probably their most famous. The band decided to do a spoof of a British Soap Opera (Coronation Street) and the band all dressed in drag...Freddie though didn't shave off the 'tache!
While Roger made straight boys question themselves for a moment as a way too convincing schoolgirl! Unfortunately America didn't quite get the joke. The machismo rock crowd only saw the band dressing as girls and shunned the video and it was one more nail in the coffin for the band in America.
US SINGLE EDIT- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Slightly different than the real single version, just cuts out some of the intro and fades out sooner.
12" EXTENDED VESRION- NOT ESSENTIAL but nice.
- Like
More Of That Jazz the band does a medley of the album it came from.
GREATEST HITS II EDIT- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Fades out sooner than the single mix.
EMI REMASTERING ERROR- NO YT VID
- Remastered at the wrong speed so it runs a bit longer.
ULTRATRAXX MIX- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Longer dancier mix.
OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSIONS
LIVE MAGIC- AUDIO only.
- Edited down which is annoying but it is from Knebworth - the final Queen gig.
LIVE AT WEMBLEY- From the first night of the legendary concert.
HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY- AUDIO only but a good performance.
QUEEN + LISA STANSFIELD - 1992 - FREDDIE TRIBUTE- An alright version. Nothing to write home about.
ROGER TAYLOR - LIVE IN SHEPHERD'S BUSH 1994- AUDIO only but released live as a B-Side. Great version!
QUEEN + TANDY -2003 - 46664- As part of the big medley here. CRAP version as Tandy butchers it.
QPR - RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS VERSIONQPR - LIVE IN UKRAINE VERSION- Paul Rodgers actually does a really great version of these songs. I didn't expect this to be a song he would have done well with but it is a cousin to 12 bar blues so it did make sense.
UNOFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
ROGER TAYLOR - LIVE 1998ROGER TAYLOR - 2005 BAND DU LAC- Charity gig and a great performance.
QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT - 2012 - HAMMERSMITH- Wonderful version, I love Brian's introduction that was new during these performances!
PERSONAL NOTES:
- Another one of those most enduring of Queen tracks. Not one of my favorites but still a very fun track! A very poppy, very John Deacon track. Roger especially fell for it as can be told by the times he played it on his solo tours! I love Roger's version quite a lot - perhaps as much as Freddie! But it is a version that almost all have done well...Freddie, Roger, Paul, and Adam!
CHANCES:
I Want To Break Free......50% -- Okay I know I said if they did it with QAL before it was at least 85% likely...but this one I think is more 50/50. It was not a big hit in America even if it is more known now and it was dropped the last time they came to America...and if they are going a bit early album they may have to drop a few tracks - this might be one!
SUPPLEMENTAL:
MisfireWritten by: John Deacon
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - electric guitar
John Deacon - bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitars
Roger Taylor - drums
- First John Deacon track to be released!
- John really is in control of this track, playing almost all of the guitars and the bass on the track, leaving Brian to play some layers.
- The working title of the song was
Banana Blues!
- This was never performed live.
- There are no alternative or live versions of this song.
COVER VERSIONS:
NEKO CASE- From 1997's
The Virginian, it's a fun cover...again not something I'd highlight usually but wanted to have something for an alternative
PERSONAL NOTES:
- John has a hit (with the fans) with his first song. Very unlike anything the band had done thus far and adding a new dimension to the band! Very playful and poppy. Loved it.
CHANCES:
Misfire......0% -- Nada!
While Roger made straight boys question themselves for a moment as a way too convincing schoolgirl! Unfortunately America didn't quite get the joke. The machismo rock crowd only saw the band dressing as girls and shunned the video and it was one more nail in the coffin for the band in America.
