talon
Member
Posts: 2,932
Location:
|
Post by talon on Jul 24, 2012 10:19:03 GMT -5
[ I told recently told my husband that my next project was to learn whatever I could about Queen as I was quite mesmerized by their music. I am so thrilled you are doing this. I think you will have several avid students. When I met my husband in 1966, our first date was an opera. We married shortly thereafter, and I just never listened to rock or later pop until my profession required that I get more "with it". I started watched Idol to get a quick education and the rest is history. I got hooked on that voice. However, I can safely say I am also now hooked on Queen. I will be here learning. Excellent!!!! I will try to do at least one a day with the exception of next Tuesday to Sunday as I'm vacationing in Ocean City with the family so I won't be able to  So much fun that the very first track is one we heard. Wonder what prompted Brian to chose it for QAL. Any thoughts? A few possibilities. 1st. When Sonisphere was first announced Brian and Roger asked fans what they wanted to hear. Most of the hardcore fans have been trying to get Bri and Rog to jettison some of the greatest hits to do some more obscure stuff...OR at the very least do some of the 70s stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if this was looked at because of that. 2nd. Last year was Queen's 40th anniversary so I'm not surprised they were looking back to the beginning They never did a dramatic ending like that so it was new and unique. I liked it They try new things and see what happens at times which I like - much like the new rocking ending to Somebody To Love that they first did with Queen Extravaganza and brought over to QAL. What's interesting is that the whole beginning medley is somewhat similar to one they did in 1984. While QAL had Flash (with a few chords from The Hero)/Seven Seas Of Rhye/Keep Yourself Alive/We Will Rock you in 1984-85 they did a medley of Somebody To Love/Killer Queen/Seven Seas Of Rhye/KeepYourself Alive/Liar Not quite the same but the transition between seven seas and KYA obviously are. The big difference is the "glory note" is definitely appropriate to go into WWRY fast while not as appropriate to go into Liar. But while it did surprise me when I first saw it, I dug it |
|
talon
Member
Posts: 2,932
Location:
|
Post by talon on Jul 24, 2012 10:58:07 GMT -5
Today we have... Great King Ratwritten by Freddie Mercury Musicians: Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals Brian May - acoustic & electric guitars, backing vocals John Deacon - bass guitar Roger Taylor - drums, tambourine, backing vocals - This is the first Freddie Mercury penned track to appear on the album and it begins his 2 album long fantasy lyrics binge. Many of his songs tend to explore religion/religious figures or the fantasy world he created called Rhye. - This is a true rocker - great tempo changes, and rocking vocals. - The band played this at their early concerts sporadically up until 1975 but there are not many recordings - and none of them very good quality. They did resurrect it...kind of during an old school medley in 1984...but they only did a minute of it. ALTERNATIVE RELEASED VERSIONS: DE LANE LEA DEMO- ESSENTIAL LISTENING - Released on the 2011 Island remastering of Queen Deluxe Version. - A slightly extended version. Very raw and Freddie's vocals are certainly not as polished. But a great look into one of the first recordings of the band. Again the drum sound is very different and preferable to the album version. BBC SESSION #1- NOT Essential listening. - Released on Queen At The Beeb in 1989 in the UK and Queen At The BBC in 1995 in the US. - Not much difference to be honest - some differences on the drum sound and some more effect on the guitar. Not significantly different. PRLEIMINARY MIX- NOT essential listening. - When Queen (the album) was remastered in both 1991 and 1994 the master used had been slightly damaged so they used a slightly different mix that was intact. I didn't even search on You Tube as it is really unnecessary. But I wanted it placed here for sake of completeness UNRELEASED VERSIONS: TAKE 1EARLY DEMO- NOT essential listening. - Recorded by a fan at a Queen convention. Bad sound quality and it has Greg Brooks, Queen archivst saying "Property of Queen Productions" over it throughout as they try to discourage bootleggers...without much success! It features some very different vocal takes from Freddie as they record for the first album. LIVE VERSIONS: LIVE IN JAPAN - 1975- One of the few complete versions existing. LIVE IN AUSTRIA - 1984- From a medley. PERSONAL NOTES: This is one of 3 songs that rotate through my favs from this album. I love the tempo changes, and I love the tribal rhythmic moments. Very nice stuff. It is strange to see how the band goes from this to stuff like Radio Ga Ga years later...they never sat still that's for sure. And I hope you all stick with me as I get from their creative peaks in the early 70s til we get towards songs you definitely know later on It's all interesting. I put a lot of info and youtube clips in...would it help if I gave advice on what's critical listening of the OTHER VERSION tracks? Or do you just want to listen to whatever you choose? Let me know! Up next...the FIRST in a line of songs that led up to Bohemian Rhapsody...this would be My Fairy King |
|
gabby
Member
Action with Vision is making a positive difference.? Joel Barker
Posts: 2,459
Location:
|
Post by gabby on Jul 24, 2012 12:32:01 GMT -5
LOL! Was the Great King Rat released in the '70's? No backlash I'm sure since at that time people were questioning everything / self-discovery, etc. Now listen all you people
Put out the good and keep the bad
Don't believe all you read in the Bible
You sinners get in line Not really familiar with Queen's early recordings but I love these early works that you are introducing. In DOL Documentary, RT claimed he was not fond of the direction where the Freddie was going with the music since he was hanging out with that guy (forgot his name - Freddie's BF) and BM said that at first RT was not enamored with AOBTD  but played they did and became a hit! Love the BBC Session #1 version again. It could also be the quality of audio coming thru YT but the drum is more intense and I love it! BTW, what is BBC Session performance? Are these TV and/or radio sessions recording? Love the system you have in place right now. Really so grateful and appreciate the time you put into this. Do you have a massive library to archive all of these info? You are so organized and very detail-oriented :D Hope you'll have a wonderful vacation and we'll still be here when you get back. Thank you so much. |
|
talon
Member
Posts: 2,932
Location:
|
Post by talon on Jul 24, 2012 12:54:23 GMT -5
LOL! Was the Great King Rat released in the '70's? No backlash I'm sure since at that time people were questioning everything / self-discovery, etc. Now listen all you people
Put out the good and keep the bad
Don't believe all you read in the Bible
You sinners get in line It was never a single but it was on the 1973 release Yes They often questioned things. Their lyrics always seemed to be searching :D Almost a different band! Wait til we get to the dance album Not his boyfriend, but Paul Prenter who was Freddies assistant. I know that used to be euphemism for lover, but not in this case. Paul was a very bad influence on Freddie for various reasons and screwed Queen over with the press as I noted in an earlier post. And yeah Roger and Brian being the most rock and roll didn't really feel much of the gay club music Freddie was getting into so they had to make quite a concession...again see Hot Space  But that will be a little while in coming but remember these posts in a few months time Very true!!! Roger was often highly opinionated but he was always glad to admit when he was wrong. He hated the drum work on AOBTD and thought it was too far away from rock and roll but he admitted it ended up being so well loved that he must have been wrong. The BBC sessions were sessions done by all the top artists in the day. Bands would go into the famous BBC studios and re-record tracks to be played on the radio. Queen always did four tracks when they went and they had a total of six sessions in the 70s. Many Queen fans are pushing for a full BBC release and it might get there eventually. There was an abbreviated release in the late 80s and early 90s which had 2 of the sessions on it. It was always cool to see some differences :D Then I shall keep on keepin' on at this point Thanks! I should get through most of the first album before I go :D |
|
|
|
Post by theosgma on Jul 24, 2012 20:34:22 GMT -5
They never did a dramatic ending like that so it was new and unique. I liked it They try new things and see what happens at times which I like - much like the new rocking ending to Somebody To Love that they first did with Queen Extravaganza and brought over to QAL. What's interesting is that the whole beginning medley is somewhat similar to one they did in 1984. While QAL had Flash (with a few chords from The Hero)/Seven Seas Of Rhye/Keep Yourself Alive/We Will Rock you in 1984-85 they did a medley of Somebody To Love/Killer Queen/Seven Seas Of Rhye/KeepYourself Alive/Liar Not quite the same but the transition between seven seas and KYA obviously are. The big difference is the "glory note" is definitely appropriate to go into WWRY fast while not as appropriate to go into Liar. But while it did surprise me when I first saw it, I dug it [/quote] I loved listening to that medley. I am very struck by the validity of Brian's statement of how different Adam and Freddie are. Both are totally amazing but the voice, delivery and style is so different and yet so suited to the music. Very fascinating to see this in close proximity to the QAL concerts. Did they go to Brazil more than once? Seems like it might be a great place for a QAL concert.
|
|
|
|
Post by theosgma on Jul 24, 2012 21:01:07 GMT -5
OK. I am mainly caught up .
I can see why you love Great King Rat. It is a fascinating track. So powerful, so compelling, so odd! I too liked the BBC version - more life and power.
Haven't listened to all the takes of the two last tracks but love what I am hearing and love the "history" lesson. Thanks so much for all your efforts. So happy to have such a fabulous way to become more knowledgable!
|
|
NoAngel
Member
Take a bow, Adam Lambert, you fucking legend.
Posts: 2,575
Location:
|
Post by NoAngel on Jul 24, 2012 21:20:30 GMT -5
www.mediafire.com/?finv4axcinn26FLAC files for Day 2 at Hammersmith Gabby - GREAT questions, I will answer these in a bit and might add the next section :D I LOVE that you have a lot of questions per post...as I love talking about the band and related topics :D Talon, I've heard about your contributions to Atop but I only just now discovered this thread and read all of your posts. Holy crap, you are a treasure!!!! I did quite a bit of my own research before going to the London shows, but clearly I only scratched the surface. As a new Queen fan, I'm so fascinated by the history of the band and I'll be spending time on this thread learning more. Thank you!!!!  On a separate note, last night I found the above link (a million thanks again!) and downloaded the songs, which sound fabulous. One weird thing though-- every time I try to download IWTBF, I get a virus warning and my computer rejects it. I had no problem with any of the other songs. Has anyone else had this problem or is it my issue? |
|
|
|
Post by theosgma on Jul 24, 2012 21:49:51 GMT -5
www.mediafire.com/?finv4axcinn26FLAC files for Day 2 at Hammersmith Gabby - GREAT questions, I will answer these in a bit and might add the next section :D I LOVE that you have a lot of questions per post...as I love talking about the band and related topics :D Talon, I've heard about your contributions to Atop but I only just now discovered this thread and read all of your posts. Holy crap, you are a treasure!!!! I did quite a bit of my own research before going to the London shows, but clearly I only scratched the surface. As a new Queen fan, I'm so fascinated by the history of the band and I'll be spending time on this thread learning more. Thank you!!!! On a separate note, last night I found the above link (a million thanks again!) and downloaded the songs, which sound fabulous. One weird thing though-- every time I try to download IWTBF, I get a virus warning and my computer rejects it. I had no problem with any of the other songs. Has anyone else had this problem or is it my issue? Hi NoAngel After FS I am now able to put a face with the avi! So glad you discovered this thread. We are all studying for our PhD in Queen courtesy of Professor Talon!! I didn't have any problem with IWTBF and yes, these files are incredible! |
|
|
|
Post by nica575 on Jul 24, 2012 22:01:08 GMT -5
Talon, you are incredible! I am trying to keep up but failing - I will catch up eventually...very interesting!
|
|
NoAngel
Member
Take a bow, Adam Lambert, you fucking legend.
Posts: 2,575
Location:
|
Post by NoAngel on Jul 24, 2012 22:18:46 GMT -5
Hi NoAngel After FS I am now able to put a face with the avi! So glad you discovered this thread. We are all studying for our PhD in Queen courtesy of Professor Talon!! I didn't have any problem with IWTBF and yes, these files are incredible! Hi!!! *waves madly* Yeah, I see that there's been lots of schoolin' going on here :D Hmmm, if no one else had an issue with that song, I guess it's me :-/ |
|
talon
Member
Posts: 2,932
Location:
|
Post by talon on Jul 25, 2012 8:32:12 GMT -5
I loved listening to that medley. I am very struck by the validity of Brian's statement of how different Adam and Freddie are. Both are totally amazing but the voice, delivery and style is so different and yet so suited to the music. Very fascinating to see this in close proximity to the QAL concerts. Indeed! What some people don't realize is that Roger had as high a voice as Freddie Many times in concert Roger would take the higher harmonies and Freddie would sing lower to thicken the sound with that amazing tone. Nowadays Roger doesn't quite have as big a range and Adam is more than capable so they switch They went in 1981 and again in 1985 and then with QPR in 2008! Brazil was always an AWESOME place for Queen to play. It was down in South America where the crowd singing along to Love Of My Life really took off OK. I am mainly caught up . I can see why you love Great King Rat. It is a fascinating track. So powerful, so compelling, so odd! I too liked the BBC version - more life and power. Queen always liked to do a few odd tracks...and the professionalism they attacked even the oddest track with made them worth at least a listen I don't expect everyone to listen to every vid I put up BUT they are there for comparison. I think from now I will add an ESSENTIAL LISTENING to what alternate versions should be given a listen! Talon, I've heard about your contributions to Atop but I only just now discovered this thread and read all of your posts. Holy crap, you are a treasure!!!! I did quite a bit of my own research before going to the London shows, but clearly I only scratched the surface. As a new Queen fan, I'm so fascinated by the history of the band and I'll be spending time on this thread learning more. Thank you!!!! Awesome to have you join our little "classroom" I'm happy to answer any and all questions! You are welcome! I wish I had an answer about IWTBF :( No idea there. Talon, you are incredible! I am trying to keep up but failing - I will catch up eventually...very interesting! Well you'll have time when I'm on vacation :D And like I said above, I'll put an ESSENTIAL LISTENING next to the alternate vids The first vid in every file will be essential obviously. |
|
talon
Member
Posts: 2,932
Location:
|
Post by talon on Jul 25, 2012 8:57:04 GMT -5
Today's track.... My Fairy Kingwritten by Freddie Mercury Musicians: Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano Brian May - acoustic & electric guitars John Deacon - bass guitar Roger Taylor - drums, screams, backing vocals - This is a seminal track. This is a track which really was the start of a line that led to Bohemian Rhapsody. - The first time Freddie used a piano on a recording. Brian loved how rhythmic Freddie's playing was...as if it were part of the rhythm section. - Also the first time the band wrote a track in the studio as most of the tracks they came in with but since they didn't have a piano in their set yet, this was a first! - The first track which displays Roger's range...All those high "screams" and falsetto notes are actually Roger! - This song is behind the changing of Freddie's name from Freddie Bulsara to Freddie Mercury (Mother Mercury and all...) Freddie decided to be a messenger from the gods :D -Inspired by Robert Browning's The Pied Piper In fact some of the lyrics like "And their dogs outran our fallow deer / And honey-bees had lost their stings / And horses were born with eagles' wings" are all direct quotes from the poem! - Due to there not being a piano on set they never did this song live at the time and by the time they got a piano it was never really considered. There are rumors of this track having been played but nothing substantial. During the 1984-85 medley however, Freddie did play part of the piano in a snippet before moving on to another song. ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS: BBC SESSION #1- ESSENTIAL LISTENING! - Released on Queen At The Beeb in 1989 in the UK and Queen At The BBC in 1995 in the US. - This version is similar to the album version but the vocals are a bit more confident sounding. The backing track is very similar. UNRELEASED AND UNHEARD: - Supposedly there is a Freddie solo piano demo in existence. Not much else is known on it. LIVE VERSIONS: LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA - 1984-The first part is from a future lesson The March Of The Black Queen - Starting at about 0:33 is the My Fairy King snippet. PERSONAL NOTES: Love it. This was the type of song that separated Queen from the hard rock pack in the 70s. Awesome vocals, great piano riffing. A very fun song! Next up: The first real Queen closer concertwise (before We Are The Champions solidified it's place in the late 70s)... Liar |
|
|
|
Post by theosgma on Jul 25, 2012 10:22:29 GMT -5
Today's track.... My Fairy Kingwritten by Freddie Mercury Musicians: Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano Brian May - acoustic & electric guitars John Deacon - bass guitar Roger Taylor - drums, screams, backing vocals - This is a seminal track. This is a track which really was the start of a line that led to Bohemian Rhapsody. - The first time Freddie used a piano on a recording. Brian loved how rhythmic Freddie's playing was...as if it were part of the rhythm section. - Also the first time the band wrote a track in the studio as most of the tracks they came in with but since they didn't have a piano in their set yet, this was a first! - The first track which displays Roger's range...All those high "screams" and falsetto notes are actually Roger! - This song is behind the changing of Freddie's name from Freddie Bulsara to Freddie Mercury (Mother Mercury and all...) Freddie decided to be a messenger from the gods :D -Inspired by Robert Browning's The Pied Piper In fact some of the lyrics like "And their dogs outran our fallow deer / And honey-bees had lost their stings / And horses were born with eagles' wings" are all direct quotes from the poem! - Due to there not being a piano on set they never did this song live at the time and by the time they got a piano it was never really considered. There are rumors of this track having been played but nothing substantial. During the 1984-85 medley however, Freddie did play part of the piano in a snippet before moving on to another song. ALTERNATE VERSIONS: BBC SESSION #1- ESSENTIAL LISTENING! This version is similar to the album version but the vocals are a bit more confident sounding. The backing track is very similar. LIVE SNIPPET-Live in South Africa in 1984. The first part is from a future lesson The March Of The Black Queen - Starting at about 0:33 is the My Fairy King snippet. Personal notes: Love it. This was the type of song that separated Queen from the hard rock pack in the 70s. Awesome vocals, great piano riffing. A very fun song! Next up: The first real Queen closer concertwise (before We Are The Champions solidified it's place in the late 70s)... LiarWow. That was quite an interesting track!! Need to listen quite a few more times to really process it but talk about rock opera!!! I love the insight into Freddie that is and will be coming out listening to all these tracks. I never had the chance to see or here him as I was firmly ensconced in the classical world. Loved the choral part at the end after Mother Mercury. There was a huge difference for me in the energy in the BBC version. I saw online that Freddie did a snippet of a piano part of this track as an intro to Somebody to Love in a concert in Japan Here is a link to the whole Browning poem www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/etext/piper/text.html |
|
|
|
Post by theosgma on Jul 25, 2012 10:23:54 GMT -5
Hi NoAngel After FS I am now able to put a face with the avi! So glad you discovered this thread. We are all studying for our PhD in Queen courtesy of Professor Talon!! I didn't have any problem with IWTBF and yes, these files are incredible! Hi!!! *waves madly* Yeah, I see that there's been lots of schoolin' going on here :D Hmmm, if no one else had an issue with that song, I guess it's me :-/ We are a very small sample here! Would love to hear what you thought. "I know you're holding back - no more hesitation" |
|
gabby
Member
Action with Vision is making a positive difference.? Joel Barker
Posts: 2,459
Location:
|
Post by gabby on Jul 25, 2012 13:20:57 GMT -5
My Fairy KingWow! Love this song...seminal track indeed. Hearing FM here is bittersweet, listening with pleasure mingled with pain  ....so many "I wish" that's not gonna happen anymore... Really impressed with RT's voice...that's probably why he recognized Adam's voice and vocal range as he himself can sanggggg ;D BM...what can I say? That sound he produced in that intro is pure artistry using whatever he can to create a sound fitting to the vibe of the music they're playing and of course creating that layers of guitar sound is genius. I thought he did this in the years later but he did it even then at the start. They were so lucky to find each other, not just the music writing but their voices... blending so well and thus create a fusion of amazing sound. Overall this song (for me) is a true fusion of rock and opera. Pure artistry in all... I am speechless! :2tears:
|
|
but played they did and became a hit!
But that will be a little while in coming but remember these posts in a few months time 
