talon
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Post by talon on Nov 7, 2013 8:11:02 GMT -5
MC Spy-D + Friends - The Amazing Spider-Man - Brian was asked to provide music for a Spider-Man radio show that his wife Anita was doing some vocal work. This was compiled and released on a single as MC Spy-D & Friends. It's all similar stuff with some burst of Red Special and some dialogue. It's not something that you will select to listen to very often but it's worth at least one listen! MASTERMIX- Issued as a single and hit #35. SAD BIT- The most unique track - a short and bittersweet guitar solo. WHITE TROUSER MIX- An alternate mix but not too different from the initial. SOLUTION MIX- An alternate mix BROWN TROUSER MIXB&J WHITE TROUSER MIX- NO YT VID - Alternate mixes in the vein of the White Trouser Mix SOLUTION CHILLED MIX- NO YT VID - Alternate mix in the vein of the Solution Mix MCSPY-D's FAVORITE STINGS- NO YT VID - A quick bit of special effects and bursts PERSONAL NOTES: Again, not a constant listen, but an interesting aside! NEXT? Queen's final album... Made In Heaven
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talon
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Post by talon on Nov 8, 2013 8:28:58 GMT -5
Made In Heaven A little backgroundAfter the long Innuendo sessions, Freddie adamantly declared he wanted to continue studio sessions. As he could no longer perform live, this was the only way for him to get his music out. The initial plan was to create some B-Sides for Innuendo. However as it went on the band thought the material might just be too good to be used as a B-Side so they decided to shoot for another album. The sessions were very stop and start with the band maybe getting 2-3 days a week depending on how Freddie felt as he was deteriorating at this point. It is unclear exactly when Freddie's last days in the studio were. Some say May of 1991 - others claim he worked until about 4 weeks prior to his death so around the end of September. But either way his last sessions were powerful. What was amazing to the rest of the band is how upbeat the sessions were. Freddie never gave in to doom and gloom and pestered the boys to write more and more. Ultimately Freddie was adamant that these sessions be released. One tell tale sign according to David Richards is that Freddie chose to do a "final" vocal take over tracks as soon as possible even without the music having been completed. This was the opposite of how Freddie usually had worked. After Freddie's death, the band concentrated on other things for awhile. Roger had been working with The Cross, Brian had been working on Back To The Light and the band worked on the Tribute Concert. Afterwards Brian felt a keen urge to get out of Queen for awhile. It led to a little tift with the band as Roger (and John) were ready to start trying to assemble the last album before Brian was. And Roger and John went on to perform once as Queen threatening that they were ready to continue with or without Brian. At this point Roger and John began working on the final album while Brian was touring. This was enough motivation to kick Brian in the backside and when he returned, he called the work "catastrophic" and tore it all back down to basics so they could work together on it. There was definite question on how to proceed. Freddie didn't leave enough for a full album and archiving was not nearly complete. They knew though they had some bits that could be worked on and they decided to fill the gaps with Queen versions of solo tracks - as long as they fit the theme. The theme of the album is obvious. Love and hope in the face of tragedy. The album received high marks for being so upbeat despite Freddie's death. It was released and hit #1 across Europe and climbed to #58 in the US. The album sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide and was a smash hit. Track Listing1. It's A Beautiful Day (Mercury/Deacon) 2. Made In Heaven (Mercury) 3. Let Me Live (Mercury/May/Taylor/Deacon) 4. Mother Love (Mercury/May) 5. My Life Has Been Saved (Deacon) 6. I Was Born To Love You (Mercury) 7. Heaven For Everyone (Taylor) 8. Too Much Love Will Kill You (May/Musker/Lamers) 9. You Don't Fool Me (Mercury/May/Taylor/Deacon) 10. A Winter's Tale (Mercury) 11. It's A Beautiful Day (Reprise) (Mercury/Deacon) 12. Yeah (Mercury) (HIDDEN TRACK - REALLY ONLY FREDDIE SAYING "YEAH") 13. Track 13 (HIDDEN TRACK - NEVER TITLED) (Mercury/May/Taylor/Deacon/Richards) First track? It's A Beautiful Day
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talon
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Post by talon on Nov 9, 2013 8:33:02 GMT -5
It's A Beautiful Day
Written by Freddie Mercury/John Deacon
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead vocals, piano
Brian May - guitars
John Deacon - bass guitar, keyboards
Roger Taylor - cymbals
- The oldest "song" on the album. The vocals and piano are taken from a bit from The Game sessions. It was expanded out by the band and the classical motif/keyboard sequence came from John.
ALTERNATIVE:
ORIGINAL SPONTANEOUS IDEA
- Released on the 2011 remaster of The Game this was the original vocal/piano snippet the band took to create the track with/
SINGLE VERSION
- A combination of the album track and the reprise track from the end without the Queen samples.
2005 TECHNO REMIX
- Remixed by Ross Robertson and DJ Korma. This was an unsanctioned mix that was basically a fan mix. Somehow the band heard it and dug it so much they used it as the "opening" track of their 2005 tour with Paul Rodgers. It was "released" on the band's website as a download.
PERSONAL NOTES: It's a great sentiment to start the album (and kind of end as well). It works well and I remember the first time I heard it I held such a bittersweet hope. It was beautiful, sad, and yet hopeful. Great snippet.
Next? Queen (mostly Roger) rearranges Freddie's classic Made In Heaven into what Brian has said is Queen's finest moment.
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talon
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Post by talon on Nov 10, 2013 3:52:31 GMT -5
Made In HeavenWritten by: Freddie Mercury Musicians: Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, keyboards Brian May - guitars John Deacon - bass guitar Roger Taylor - drums, percussion - Apparently, this is an arrangement spearheaded by Roger. It adds thundering drums and some great guitar work from Brian. - It was never attempted live nor will it be is my guess. QUOTE “…which I think is possibly the best-sounding Queen song ever.” – Brian May - 2004 FREDDIE SOLO VERSION DISCUSSED HEREPERSONAL NOTES: As Freddie tired of his Mr. Bad Guy albums, we were left with songs that had great potential but never seemed quite finished. Brian and Roger add such life to this track which was already a great track. It is just made even greater. Brilliant, brilliant track. One of my favorite Brian solos. NEXT? What might be MY favorite track on the album, the gospel-tinged trio, Let Me Live
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Post by talon on Nov 11, 2013 8:03:15 GMT -5
Let Me Live
Written by: Freddie Mercury/Brian May/Roger Taylor/John Deacon
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead vocals, piano
Brian May - lead vocals (3rd verse), guitars, backing vocals, organ (?)
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - lead vocals (2nd verse and bridge), drums, percussion, backing vocals
Rebecca Leigh-White - backing vocals
Gary Martin - backing vocals
Catherine Porter - backing vocals
Miriam Stockley - backing vocals
- A gospel song featuring extra backing vocalists. Freddie sings the first verse and choruses. Roger takes the second verse and bridge while Brian sings the third verse and they all trade lines at the end.
- Issued as a single and hit #9 in the UK
- Initially began life as a demo with Rod Stewart during The Works sessions (Some rumors say as far back as A Day At The Races but that seems faulty).
- There was a version released on a promo of the album which is now called the "banned version". There were even more backing vocals and extra lyrics that reportedly came too close to Janis Joplin's Piece Of My Heart so they were changed.
ALTERNATIVES
ROD STEWART DEMO SNIPPET
- A snippet only from the Great Pretender documentary
BANNED VERSION
- ESSENTIAL
- My favorite version with even more harmonies!
PERSONAL NOTES: AWESOME TRACK! Fun piece to singalong to and by now you probably know that I love it when they trade off on vocals. I would like to see this tried live at some point.
NEXT? Freddie's final vocal take...ever. The sad and haunting, Mother Love
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Post by talon on Nov 13, 2013 8:36:39 GMT -5
Just a quick pop in on one of my days off to say YAY! Roger's new album and box set are out. I got the album and the box set is coming! Unfortunately in the US you'll have to import it...reportedly Hollywood is going to be releasing it at some point in the US but there is nothing firm in place. SO if you order from amazon.co.uk you can get it for relatively cheap still (at least the album - the box set has seen some delays here and there). I'm listening as I type and so far...it's awesome! I won't detail until I get there  but it seems to be quite a mature, reflective, laid back album with an occasional rocker. (The first track aside on maturity - One Night Stand) I am just so excited/happy everything you can think of to be hearing NEW music from a member of the Queen camp! (the Kerry Ellis stuff is not quite the same) The Box Set is a complete collection of all his solo work. All 5 of his solo albums, all 3 of his albums with the Cross, 4 bonus discs of single edits, non album tracks, live pieces, and even a few demos! AND a DVD of all his promo videos, some live pieces, etc. If only we could get a Queen set now... |
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Post by talon on Nov 14, 2013 9:43:55 GMT -5
Mother Love
Written by: Freddie Mercury/Brian May
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead vocals, keyboards (?), drum machine
Brian May - guitars, lead vocals (final verse), keyboards
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums
I don't want to sleep with you
I don't need the passion too
I don't want a stormy affair
To make me feel my life is heading somewhere
All I want is the comfort and care
Just to know that my woman gives me sweet -
Mother love ah ha
I've walked too long in this lonely lane
I've had enough of this same old game
I'm a man of the world and they say that I'm strong
But my heart is heavy, and my hope is gone
Out in the city, in the cold world outside
I don't want pity, just a safe place to hide
Mama please, let me back inside
I don't want to make no waves
But you can give me all the love that I crave
I can't take it if you see me cry
I long for peace before I die
All I want is to know that you're there
You're gonna give me all your sweet -
Mother love ah ha (mother love)
My body's aching, but I can't sleep
My dreams are all the company I keep
Got such a feeling as the sun goes down
I'm coming home to my sweet -
Mother love
(Mother love mother love love love love love)
God works in mysterious ways
Eeeeh dop, de dop, dep dop
I think I'm goin' back to the things I learnt so well in my youth
- This is it, the last song that Freddie Mercury recorded vocals on. He sang the first two verses, chorus, and bridge and then at that point told Brian he couldn't do it anymore today and would finish it next session...of course there was no next session :( That is why Brian sings the last verse.
- Rumors are there is a demo version with Roger on vocals. This may have been part of the aborted Brian-less sessions and may be one of the reasons Brian was not pleased. He did make comments that he felt it a really personal song with Freddie and that's why we probably didn't get Roger on vocals.
- The ending of the song features a fast forward medley that reportedly is a bit from every Queen song ever recorded.
- The final line is taken from "Goin' Back" which was the first single Freddie was on (as Larry Lurex)
QUOTES:
“It was never finished.. He never came back to do the final verse, but to the end, even when he couldn’t even stand, without propping himself up, he was just giving it his all. You can hear the incredible strength of his voice in that track, and the passion that he’s putting into it. And we’re making it up as we go along, you know. I’m scribbling words on pieces of paper and he’s grabbing them, and saying ‘Roll the tape. I’ll do this one.’ He knew that it might be the last time he was ever able to sing and, in that case, it was.” – Brian May – 1999
“In the last few weeks of his life, Freddie would say ‘Get me doing stuff. Write me more words, more words, more words. Give me stuff to sing, because when I’ve gone you guys can finish it off.’ Well this song was almost finished. He said, ‘Look, that’s about as much as I can do.’ He’d had a couple of vodkas. He’d gone totally for the middle eight, which you’ll hear on this, which is phenomenal, and then he said, ‘Look. It’s okay. I’ll come back in a few days and finish it off.’ Well that was the last time he was ever there, and so in the end I sang the last verse, because I didn’t want to mess with the format of it at all. I just wanted it to be as it was. And this was something which I sort of carried in my pocket for a couple of years – actually probably more than that – until the time when we were able to make the Made In Heaven album. And it’s a long story. I mean there’s more than two years of my life certainly in trying to assemble that material around the vocals that he’d left, and we all worked very hard on it. But what I wanted was to preserve that moment the best way I could and tell the story, and that’s what you hear. There’s a piece in the middle which to me represents you know, looking back on your life and stuff like that. But there was no morbidity in singing it. It was a kind of joyful thing – that’s all I can say. It’s a fairly serious song but it was – there was great joy in Fred finding these notes, finding this performance. I think it’s superb.” – Brian May – Virgin Radio - 2004
PERSONAL NOTES:
- It's hard to judge this song outside the circumstances. It's a haunting ballad and a fitting swan song of sorts for Freddie who never gave in.
NEXT? My Life Has Been Saved
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Post by nica575 on Nov 14, 2013 11:15:15 GMT -5
Talon, just want to say again - YOU ARE AMAZING! AS WELL AS YOUR KNOWLEDGE of all things Queen! THANK YOU for all you do here for us!
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Post by talon on Nov 15, 2013 8:08:48 GMT -5
:D Thanks Nica. I'm glad you all still can appreciate my ramblings |
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Post by talon on Nov 15, 2013 8:17:08 GMT -5
My Life Has Been SavedWritten by: John Deacon Musicians: Freddie Mercury - lead vocals Brian May - guitars John Deacon - bass guitar Roger Taylor - drums David Richards - keyboard programming - Originally a B-Side from The Miracle sessions in 1989, this track was also reworked for inclusion on the final Queen album - intuitively because of the theme of life affirmation that runs through the album. - The rework loses Brian's slide guitar and some vocals and puts more emphasis on Freddie's piano. ALTERNATE VERSION: 1989 B-SIDE - ALREADY DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY HEREPERSONAL NOTES: Meh. I like the B-Side version better. It may fit this album better this way, but it's not as good musically. NEXT? Queen reworks a second Freddie solo track, this one becomes the rocker needed on the album - I Was Born To Love You
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but it seems to be quite a mature, reflective, laid back album with an occasional rocker. (The first track aside on maturity - One Night Stand) I am just so excited/happy everything you can think of to be hearing NEW music from a member of the Queen camp! (the Kerry Ellis stuff is not quite the same)
