talon
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Post by talon on Dec 16, 2012 8:24:02 GMT -5
Staying Power
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, drum machine, synth
bass
Brian May - rhythm guitar
John Deacon - rhythm guitar
Roger Taylor - electronic drums
Arif Marden - horn section
- Right off the bat you know it's not your typical Queen album.
- The band handed off the track to Arif Marden, a famed producer at the time, so he could add the horn section. Reportedly Freddie and Mack were not satisfied with the results so they tinkered with it to make it work.
- Issued as a single in the US and Japan but it did not chart.
- Played live through 1982 and a few dates on The Works tour in 1984 but then like most Hot Space material disappeared.
ALTERNATIVE OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
12" VERSION
- NOT ESSENTIAL LISTENING
- This album began the advent of the 12" vinyl single remix. These remixes extend the song a few minutes usually. Sometimes they are wonderful, sometimes they just add a few repeated refrains to make it longer.
- In this case there are a few vocal parts added but it is not very different.
UNRELEASED VERSIONS:
DEMO
- ESSENTIAL LISTENING
- A high quality demo that is similar to the final version but Brian gets to add a guitar solo and it makes it a bit more rocking.
OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSIONS:
ON FIRE AT THE BOWL VERSION
-ESSENTIAL LISTENING
- Brian and Roger add a ton to it.
- Amusing to note that Queen is feeling the backlash from the album as Freddie announces the song.
UNRELEASED LIVE VERSION:
LIVE IN MILAN - 1984
- NOT ESSENTIAL LISTENING
- The final performance of the song - one of the very few times a Hot Space Track (other than Under Pressure) was played after 1982 and it is a shortened version.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I actually dig the song. It's funky, it's dancey. I just like it better when Brian is involved.
Next up: Brian's stab at funk, Dancer
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 17, 2012 11:00:23 GMT -5
Today is my b-day so I may not get to update! I will be back tmrw (probably hung over  ) |
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 17, 2012 13:11:15 GMT -5
It turns out I was wrong, I was able to sneak a few moments in...so here we go!
I AM sorry to report that Queen Productions performed an assault on YouTube so many of the alternate version/demos/etc. were wiped clean. For ones I find REALLY interesting I'll upload them to my mediafire account for you to download --- but since I usually get to do my updates from work, I may have to edit it in later on.
Dancer
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals, drum machine, synth bass
Roger Taylor - drums, tambourine, backing vocals
- Brian's attempt to go along with the theme although there are definitely more rock elements in the track unsurprisingly.
- This song was never attempted live.
QUOTES:
- Interviewer: Did you use a slide for 'Dancer' on Hot Space?
"No, that's guitar in parallel harmonies. Those aren't my favourite harmonies, really. I much prefer guitar harmonies which aren't parallel. There are very few people who have done them. The real interest in guitar harmonies comes from when they're crossing over, diverging, and converging. Somehow on 'Dancer' it seemed right to do those parallels." - Brian May - On the Record - 1982
- "Brian played synth bass on 'Dancer'. So I'm redundant in a sense." - John Deacon - 1982
ALTERNATE MIX
NO YT VIDEO
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- From a convention, there are some slight differences.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Definitely a mix between rock and dancy funk but with some nice guitar work.
Next up: John Deacon's R&B groove, Back Chat
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Post by talon on Dec 18, 2012 9:16:48 GMT -5
Back Chat
Written by: John Deacon
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
John Deacon - bass & rhythm guitars, drum machine, synthesizer
Brian May - rhythm guitar, guitar solo
Roger Taylor - electronic drums
- Issued as a single in the UK where it hit #40. It did not chart when released in the US, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, and Spain
- Played live through 1982 then dropped.
- Reportedly this is the song that sparked the move towards what ended up being Hot Space's direction.
- Originally titled "Wooly Hat"
QUOTE:
- "We would experiment with the rhythm and the bass and drum track and get that sounding right, and then very cautiously piece the rest around it which was an experimental way for us to do it. In [that song], there wasn't going to be a guitar solo, because John, who wrote the song, has gone perhaps more violently black
than the rest of us. We had lots of arguments about it, and what he was heading for in his tracks was a totally non-compromise situation, doing stuff as R&B artists would do it with no concessions to our methods at all, and I was trying to edge him back toward the central path and get a bit of heaviness into it, and a bit of the anger of rock music. So one night I said I wanted to see what I could add to it – I felt that the song, as it stood, wasn't aggressive enough: it's [called] 'Back Chat', and it's supposed to be about people arguing and it should have some kind of guts to it. He agreed, and I went in and tried a few things." - Brian May – 1982
ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSION:
SINGLE REMIX
- NOT essential BUT very nice.
- A punchier remix that cuts some instrumental bits making it more concise.
12" EXTENDED REMiX
- ESSENTIAL
- The first 12" Extended remix the band did
- Features extra drums and extra guitar bits.
- This YT Video shows the video which shows Brian playing a different guitar! (He really used the Red Special on the album though)
UNRELEASED VERSIONS;
DEMO
-ESSENTIAL
- More Brian is always a good thing. Also more bass and some different lyrics and vocal takes from Freddie
ALTERNATE MIX
NO YT VIDEO BUT NOT WORTH UPLOADING
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A convention recording featuring some different guitar bits.
OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSION
ON FIRE AT THE BOWL
NO YT VID
- Much different live as Brian really takes over a bit and Roger's drumming is more organic.
UNRELEASED LIVE VERSION
LIVE AT LEEDS - 1982
PERSONAL NOTES:
- Like most Hot Space material, it grew on me, I love the live versions better as they are far more up my avenue. I don't understand Roger's obsession with electronic drums during this period
Next up? I know I'm supposed to be using these teasers to bring excitement...but I just can't. The next song is my LEAST favorite Queen song of all time. Even the best of us have complete duds. Body Language
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 10:20:29 GMT -5
Talon  Just wanted to say how much I appreciate this thread. I don't get here everyday but when I have time go through the videos and find so many great songs. My Queen catalog is growing. Hope you had a great day yesterday. |
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 18, 2012 20:12:50 GMT -5
Aww thanks! It was a good day  |
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Post by talon on Dec 19, 2012 9:26:34 GMT -5
Body Language
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, drum machine, synth bass
Brian May - sporadic guitar
Roger Taylor - electronic drums
- Issued as a single in the US where it hit #11 and in the UK where it hit #25. Around the world it hit #28 in Australia and # 6 in The Netherlands. It did not chart in Japan. It is unclear where it charted for Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and Mexico although it was released there.
- Some point this out to be the start of the end of the band in America at the time. This was the lead single and it did hit #11 but a new single from a rock band would start to climb quickly. It is notable that no other single from the album did very well and the album sank as well.
- Played live sporadically in 1982 then dropped.
QUOTES:
- "Some of the tracks on the album, like 'Body Language', were Freddie on keyboard bass." - John Deacon - 1982
- "There are some things on the album which I felt came out too light, that's all. Like 'Body Language'. There's a lot of things where I felt that we became so obsessed with the rhythm side that we were afraid to turn up the guitars. Afraid to use the guitar as a force." - Brian May - 1982
- "I can remember having a go at Freddie because some of the stuff he was writing was very definitely on the gay side. I remember saying, 'It would be nice if this stuff could be universally applicable, because we have friends out there of every persuasion.' It's nice to involve people. What it's not nice to do is rope people out. And I felt kind of roped out by something that was very overtly a gay anthem, like 'Body Language'. I thought it was very hard to take that in the other way. It's hard to talk about this. But there you go." - Brian May - 1998
- "This is very much a Freddie thing. He was immersed in the gay world. I think it's very well constructed, it's deliberately away from the Queen concept." - Brian May - 2003
- "Not really us but not a bad record." - Roger Taylor - 2003
ALTERNATIVE RELEASED VERSION:
1991 HOLLYWOOD REMIX
- As ESSENTIAL as this song can be.
- Adds more background piano which actually makes the track more palatable in my opinion
UNRELEASED LIVE VERSION:
LIVE IN NEW JERSEY 1982
- Like most of the Hot Space material it is better live with more Brian and more organic bass/drums.
PERSONAL NOTES:
- I can't say I hate ANY Queen song. But this is one I never choose to listen to. It does have a few things going for it. They lyrics are humorous, the video is a riot. Overall though? Meh.
Next up? Roger's attempt as it is with Action This Day
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 20, 2012 7:37:57 GMT -5
Action This DayWritten by: Roger Taylor Musicians: Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano Roger Taylor - lead and backing vocals, drums, synthesizer, guitar Brian May - guitars Mack - synthesizer **NOTE - Either Freddie, Roger, or Mack played synth bass*** - Hot Space started a new trend. No more would Brian and Roger get to sing lead on a track on each album. They would basically be relegated to singing lead only on B-sides. However, they did share a few. This one Roger shares with Freddie. - Played live through 1982 and then dropped (Have we heard this before about Hot Spacematerial? ) - The title was taken from a favorite expression of Winston Churchill. UNRELEASED VERSION: DEMO- NOT ESSENTIAL but nice - A few different vocal takes and guitar bits. Also Roger's vocals are more to the forefront. OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSIONS: ON FIRE AT THE BOWL VERSIONLIVE IN JAPAN - 1982-ESSENTIAL - The Japanese one was an audio bonus track on the 2011 Island Remaster. - Again as with much of the Hot Space material, it is much better live. In this case, the Japan one is also much better than the On Fire version. Roger's vocals are far more pronounced in Japan. PERSONAL NOTES: - This is a song that grew on me...Much more when I heard it live. This ended side 1 of the vinyl which was the dancey side. Side 2 was a bit more traditional Queen - sort of. But for most it was too late and I wonder how many Queen fans never got to side 2 Next up: Brian wants to rock again. Put Out The Fire
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Post by talon on Dec 20, 2012 10:15:34 GMT -5
Went back to the Hot Space post to edit in 3 unreleased and unheard tracks
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Post by talon on Dec 21, 2012 8:13:33 GMT -5
Put Out The Fire
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
**NOTE - Either Freddie or Roger played maracas**
- Brian May's anti gun song which is relevant even today, inspired by the assassination of John Lennon.
- Played live in part during medleys with Now I'm Here and Dragon Attack sporadically in 1982 and then dropped.
QUOTES:
- Interviewer: Was the solo in 'Put Out The Fire' difficult for you?
"Actually, it was. I don't really know why. That wasn't a first take. I had done a lot of solos for that - hated every one of them. And then we came back from a club where we used to go to have some drinks. I think I was well on the way - you know, we were all plucked out and slightly inebriated - and we had ridiculous echo effect with Mack was putting back through the cans. I said, "That sounds unbelievable! I want to pu
t it on every track". He said, "Okay, try 'Put Out The Fire'." So we put it on the machine, and I just played though it. That was what we used. It was inspiring, like these huge stereo echo sounds coming from all over the place. I could hardly hear what I was doing, but it was sounding so good and I was so drunk. To be honest, I don't think it's that good a solo. It's got a sort of plodding thing going behind it; I never felt totally happy with it." - Brian May - On the Record - 1982
UNRELEASED VERSIONS:
ALTERNATE MIX
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Convention source so not the greatest but interesting. Some extra percussion.
UNRELEASED LIVE VERSIONS:
LIVE IN JAPAN - 1982
- Shortened and part of a medley but still made for a decent live song.
PERSONAL NOTES:
- I just loved that they finally added some rock back into the mix. It was not perfect, but it was necessary!
Next up? Freddie's Lennon tribute, Life Is Real
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