talon
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Post by talon on Mar 20, 2013 8:24:22 GMT -5
1987 LIVE!
Not much here to be honest. No one from the band went on any tour. Basically Brian played a few shows as a guest and Roger's side band The Cross started playing some promotional gigs from their soon to be released (in 1988) debut album, Shove It. I will talk all about the formation of The Cross during dicussion of that album. But here you can hear some of the songs done live BEFORE the album! Very nice!
UNKNOWN DATE IN 1987 - The Cross
WWF Club - Germany TV Show
Setlist:
Cowboys and Indians
08/29/87 - Brian May
Richfield Avenue - Reading, UK (w/Bad News)
Setlist:
Life With Brian
09/09/87 - Brian May
Hammersmith Odeon - London, UK (w/Def Leppard)
Setlist (w/Brian):
Now I'm Here
- Note Brian guests with his good friends from Def Leppard!
10/06/87 - The Cross
The Roxy, Channel 4 - UK TV SHOW
Setlist:
Cowboys and Indians
10/17/87 - The Cross
No. 73 - UK TV SHOW
Setlist:
Cowboys and Indians/Stand Up For Love
11/05/87 - Brian May
Hammersmith Odeon - London, UK (w/BAD NEWS)
Setlist (w/Brian):
Brighton Rock/Twist and Shout Reprise/Hey Hey Bad News/Mama Weer All Crazee Now
11/06/87 - The Cross
Meltdown - UK TV SHOW
Setlist:
Shove It/Cowboys and Indians/Love On A Tightrope/Stand Up For Love/Feel The Force/I'm In Love With My Car (CUT)
That's it! Next up...1988 Studio which includes The Cross' debut album Shove It, Brian May's work with Anita Dobson on Talking Of Love, and Freddie's opus Barcelona
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 21, 2013 6:45:50 GMT -5
Anita Dobson - Talking Of Love A little backgroundBrian met Anita sometime during 1986 and he invited her to see Queen at Wembley Stadium. At this point Brian's marriage was falling apart and Brian found new life in Anita who was a famous soap opera actress in the UK. The scandals flew in the papers and Brian was mighty pissed about it (writing a song or two). BUT during this time they were simply friends and Brian agreed to help Anita work on her first pop album. To be honest most of the songs are not great - they are simple pop fluff and while Anita is passable, she simply is not good enough to make mediocre songs any better. The most notable part of the album is that it contains two songs that were initially submitted and demoed by Queen although those demos have yet to surface. Brian plays on most of the tracks as well as produces the album. This album did not have much in the way of chart success. Tracks on the album1. Talking Of Love (May) 2. The Last Time I Made Love (Mann/Weill/Barry) 3. You Can't Stay The Night (Musker/Bugatti) 4. I Dream Of Christmas (May) 5. Funny Old Life Ain't It (May/Dobson) 6. Let Me In (Your Heart Again) (May) 7. To Know Him Is To Love Him (Spector) 8. Don't Fall In Love With Anybody Else (Thompson/Dudley) 9. Anyone Can Fall In Love (Simon May/Philips/Black) - NO BRIAN INVOLVEMENT WHATSOEVER BONUS 10. Sweet Talkin' (May) (B-Side) 11. Silly Christmas (May) (B-Side) First up will be a 3-FER...the first three tracks...
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 21, 2013 7:06:21 GMT -5
Talkin' Of LoveWritten by: Brian May Musicians {known}: Anita Dobson - vocals Brian May - guitar, backing vocals - Issued as a single in the UK and hit #43 on the charts. ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS: EXTENDED VERSION- NOT ESSENTIAL - Adds some more instrumental parts. PERSONAL NOTES: One of the better tracks. This song has some potential but it needs a lot more oomph behind it than Anita can muster. The Last Time I Made LoveWritten by: Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil/Jeff Barry Musicians (known): Anita Dobson - vocals Brian May - guitars, backing vocals - Brian plays guitar on a track that he didn't write. PERSONAL NOTES: Eh. An okay song. The whole project is mediocre so I don't have much to say about it to be honest. If I wasn't such a completist I'd skip it  I don't put this album on much - just two tracks really and they are yet to come... You Can't Stay The NightWritten by: Frank Musker/Dominic Bugatti Musicians (known): Anita Dobson - vocals Brian May - backing vocals - Brian only sings backing vocals here but they are nice. - This marks the first time Brian works with songwriter Frank Musker who has a hand in one of Brian's most successful songs in a few years, Too Much Love Will Kill You. PERSONAL NOTES: - I like this track somewhat. When I do listen to the album (during one of my completist runs), I usually remember that this song is not bad. Next up? I'll do a two-fer. One of the big tracks...the previously mentioned Queen demo I Dream Of Christmas & the WORST song on the project (that's saying a lot) and quite possibly my LEAST favorite Queen related track. Funny Old Life
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 22, 2013 7:09:13 GMT -5
I Dream Of Christmas
Written by: Brian May
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - guitar, vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
- It is unclear if John Deacon's bass guitar is from a previous Queen demo or if he recorded a new bassline for the track.
- A Queen version does exist in the vault somewhere.
- Issued as a single but I do not know it's chart position.
ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS
SINGLE EDIT
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Cuts down on some of the instrumental intro.
PERSONAL NOTES: I believe this would have made a far superior choice than Thank God It's Christmas and would love to hear a Queen version of the track. As it is it is a great melody and has fine guitar work.
Funny Old Life Ain't It
Written by: Brian May/Anita Dobson
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - backing vocals
- An attempt at a humorous take and in some ways I guess it could be.
PERSONAL NOTES: BLECH. Why bother? If this had been a B-Side, I could get it..or at least understand...but as a track on a debut album. Quite possibly the worst thing Brian May has been involved with. Moving on...quickly.
Next up? Another 3-fer to end the album proper! The BEST and most notable song on the project Let Me In (Your Heart Again). Also To Know Him Is to Love Him and Don't Fall In Love With Anybody Else
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 23, 2013 6:53:22 GMT -5
A three-fer!
First up...Let Me In (Your Heart Again)
Written by: Brian May
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - guitar, vocals
- This is by far the most notable track on the album.
- This was a Queen demo from The Works era that for whatever reason never saw the light of day. According to Greg Brooks there is a completed version of the track that is in the vaults and could give the band another #1 single if they released it
- Anita reportedly used Freddie's vocals as a guide vocal to show her how to sing it.
PERSONAL NOTES - If you couldn't tell, this is my favorite track from the album and I would go back to it quite a bit. Beautiful track, great guitar work...just needs Freddie.
To Know Him Is To Love Him
Written by: Phil Spector
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - guitar, backing vocals
- A cover of the classic Teddy Bears' track.
PERSONAL NOTES: It is a very competent version of a great song. It's not going to knock out the original but it is nothing I'd skip!
Don't Fall In Love With Anybody Else
Written by: Chris Thompson/Anne Dudley
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Thompson, the co-writer has a solid history with Queen and its band members. Formerly of Manfred Mann (best known for Blinded By The Light, Thompson also co-wrote You're The Voice. He would also later sing backing vocals at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, sing backing vocals on the first leg of Brian's solo tour to South America and even helped Queen out at the 2003 46664 concert.
PERSONAL NOTES: - It's pure 80s so it is what it is. That's not a bad thing and it's not something I'd skip but I probably wouldn't search it out myself if I wasn't such a fanatic!
Next up? I will detail the two bonus tracks...B-Sides that probably could have gone under Alternative Versions of tracks but...I didn't. Sweet Talkin' and Silly Christmas
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 24, 2013 6:49:23 GMT -5
Sweet Talkin'
Written by: Brian May/Anita Dobson
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - guitar, vocals
- Basically much the same song as the extended version of Talking of Love but it features different lyrics and vocals at times by Anita.
PERSONAL NOTES:
- Fine use of a B-Side I guess, but seems a bit of a waste of time unless this was an earlier version that they were highlighting.
Silly Christmas
Written by: Brian May/Anita Dobson
Musicians (known):
Anita Dobson - vocals
Brian May - guitar, vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
- Basically I Dream Of Christmas but Anita sings it as if she were a child. There are also some additional lyrics and party noises.
PERSONAL NOTES:
- If this were on the album I'd be annoyed. As a B-Side though it's something I would expect. Much like Two Sharp Pencils by Rog or whatever a B-Side is a good place for something like this. I'd be less harsh on Funny Old Life Ain't It if it had been a B-Side!
Next up? We delve into Roger's other band...the debut of The Cross with Shove It and the first track...the title track!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2013 13:31:52 GMT -5
Yuk, I could only get through the first line of 'Silly Christmas'. These are nice enough songs but I agree with you, there is nothing special about Anita's voice.
Still, they make a nice couple, particularly with the matching hair! Sorry Seoulmate.
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 25, 2013 6:22:22 GMT -5
They absolutely do and if Brian is happy then more power to him! I'm glad I'm through that album - Damn my obsessive completeness Still as I said before I do like Let Me In (Your Heart Again) |
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 25, 2013 6:53:15 GMT -5
The Cross - Shove It A little background:- After the Magic Tour the band went on hiatus again and they all went in their separate directions. John went home and to his family while Brian worked with Anita and made some small work on is eventual solo album while Freddie went off to record Barcelona. Roger though out of all of them felt the need to play live and I think he could sense that Queen might never do so again. At the same time he was working on a third solo album with a backlog of songs after Strange Frontier. It was during these sessions that he was recording (with help from Spike Edney) when he knew that he wanted to tour this album so he set up trying to find a backing band. Now he could have used his considerable clout and name to get some of his friends or some well known studio/touring musicians to have a top notch outfit but he decided against going that route. Instead he decided to form a traditional band from unknowns and put out an ad looking to recruit band members without mentioning who he was at all. There was little response. He tried again with a bit more pizazz saying "call this number if you want to be a star!!" It was a much better response though he again didn't use his or Queen's name. He decided early on that Spike would be the keyboardist and that he himself wanted to front the band rather than be behind the kit so he became lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. He would fill out the band with guitarist Clayton Moore, bassist Peter Noone, and drummer Joshua J. Macrae. Clayton and Peter would both disappear from the Queen map after the Cross disbanded in 1993 minus a few Spike's All Star appearances. Joshua would join the Queen production team and help on all Roger related projects from there on in. - This particular album however really is more of a Roger solo album as Roger later explained it as such: So in reality the album was all recorded by Roger and Spike before the band was even put together. And yet on a personal note - surprisingly I feel it's the worst of the three Cross albums and as the other members got more involved in songwriting the Cross albums got better with each album. - Released in the UK and hit #58. Tracks on the album1. Shove It (Taylor) 2. Cowboys and Indians (Taylor) 3. Contact (Taylor) 4. Heaven For Everyone (Taylor) 5. Stand Up For Love (Taylor) 6. Love on a Tightrope (Like an Animal) (Taylor) 7. Love Lies Bleeding (She was a Wicked Wily Waitress) (Taylor) 8. Rough Justice (Taylor) 9. Shove It (The 2nd Shelf Mix) (Taylor) Additional Released Track1. Feel The Force (Taylor) (US Version of Shove It Only) 2. Manipulator (Taylor/Edney/Strange) (Non-Album Single) Unreleased Track1. Celebration (Taylor/and or/Edney) (Demo) First up? Shove It
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talon
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Post by talon on Mar 25, 2013 7:37:46 GMT -5
Shove it
Written by: Roger Taylor
Musicians:
Roger Taylor - vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards
Spike Edney - keyboards, vocals
**Also includes samples of Queen songs and outtakes so you are hearing Brian on guitar, John on bass, and Freddie vocals as well**
- Issued as a single in the UK where it hit #84 and in the US where it did not chart.
- Contains samples of many Queen songs including ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, and ‘We Will Rock You’.
- Performed live throughout the 1988 tour and then brought back on occasion afterwards.
ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS
OFFICIAL VIDEO VERSION
- NOT ESSENTIAL BUT the official video of the band so interesting
- Adds club noise in the beginning.
EXTENDED VERSION
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A few additional vocals and instrumental sections.
METROPOLIX MIX
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A few extra echoes on the percussion and mixes some vocals from the album and extended version.
SWEDISH MIX
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A remix by Dag Volle that just recently re-surfaced.
2nd SHELF MIX
- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Not sure why you close the album with an extended version of the first track but they did. Much like the extended version but a slightly different mix.
UNRELEASED LIVE VERSION:
MELTDOWN - LONDON 1987
- A nice performance for TV.
PERSONAL NOTES:
- Honestly, I'm not a fan. The whole album was Roger's attempt to fuse rock and dance and it was moderately successful but it doesn't work well for me. And outside of the few unreleased Freddie vocals, the samples fall flat for me. If you take so much time to separate this from Queen, why use Queen samples? It did work better in concert though I will give it that.
Next up? Cowboys and Indians
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I don't put this album on much - just two tracks really and they are yet to come...