Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
09-19-14, 11:31 PM
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Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Three previously unreleased Queen tracks featuring late singer Freddie Mercury spearhead an exciting new Queen album, Queen Forever, due November 11th 2014 on Hollywood Records.
The tracks include a long anticipated song from Queen and Michael Jackson, "There Must Be More to Life Than This," a previously unfinished Mercury-Queen track "Let Me In Your Heart Again" originating from the band's The Works album recording sessions, and a new stripped-down ballad version of Mercury's first solo hit, his Giorgio Moroder collaboration, "Love Kills."
The rest of the package brings together Queen hits, classic tracks, and new takes on well-known songs, matched with band recordings Brian May describes as "things that we have collected together that are representative of our growth rather than the big hits" in a collection immaculately assembled by May and Roger Taylor themselves. The tracks are all linked to represent a definitive collection of Queen's timeless love songs.
Queen Forever is available as a 20-track single CD and as an extended 36-track, two-CD set, and celebrates the extraordinary musical path of one of the world's greatest rock bands.
Anticipation for these new Mercury tracks has been high since May and Taylor first hinted earlier this year that new songs featuring Mercury were being explored.
Speaking at the press conference to launch their North American concert tour with singer Adam Lambert earlier in the year, May said, "There was a little bit more in the can that we had overlooked for a long time, so we have a few songs which we're working on right now. Freddie sounds as fresh as yesterday."
On the subject, Taylor said, "We've got some great new tracks that haven't been heard and there's an interesting selection of older stuff."
The Queen and Michael Jackson duet, "There Must Be More to Life Than This," began as a song written by Mercury during sessions for Queen's 1981 album, Hot Space. The band recorded a backing track, but the song was never completed. Mercury visited Michael Jackson at his home studio in Los Angeles where he recorded Jackson singing the song for an unfinished version. Queen revived the track during sessions for 1984's The Works, but again it was not finished. A year later, Freddie's own version of the song surfaced on his debut solo album, 1985's Mr. Bad Guy. This new production of the powerful ballad fuses Queen's original backing track and Mercury and Jackson's distinctive vocals, and has been produced and remixed by celebrated Madonna/Robbie Williams producer William Orbit.
Talking of his involvement, Orbit says, "I had known Roger for many years, now he was on the phone asking if I would get involved in this musical adventure.
"When I first played it in my studio I opened a trove of delights provided by the greatest of musicians. Hearing Michael Jackson's vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool, and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie's vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level.
"The musicianship of all four members of Queen is phenomenal. Roger, an extraordinarily multi-talented man I've always admired; John Deacon's original bass part with its lyrical fluidity that made it easy for me to know where to put the odd reinforcement. Freddie's original piano carried most of the song's musical DNA. Brian, one take for the solo, a blur of fingers, and the spirits of MJ and FM fully present, in the moment, sending shivers down the spine."
Perhaps the biggest revelation on Queen Forever is Brian May's composition, "Let Me In Your Heart Again." The song was first recorded by Queen for The Works album, but not completed at the time and has remained overlooked since then. An authentic, live-in-the-studio track from the same golden age as "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want To Break Free," this never-before-heard Queen track shows off Freddie's timeless vocals and features newly recorded guitar parts and new backing vocals from Brian and Roger. This thrilling track finally reaches us nearly 30 years after Freddie first laid down his original vocal.
The third new track, "Love Kills," was composed by Freddie Mercury and famed German producer/songwriter Giorgio Moroder for the soundtrack to Moroder's newly restored and tinted version of Fritz Lang's 1927 classic silent movie Metropolis in 1984 to which he added a pop soundtrack featuring various music artists. Mercury recorded a high-energy dance version of the song that became his debut solo hit in 1985. However, it is less well known that all four members of Queen played on the original track. Prior to Queen embarking on their recent tour with lead singer Adam Lambert, Brian May proposed performing an acoustic ballad version of "Love Kills," which became one of the most memorable moments of the current Queen & Adam Lambert shows. This new Queen-Freddie studio version is shaped in the same ballad style and revives the Queen original with some newly recorded guitars and drums by May and Taylor, becoming a glorious showcase for one of Freddie's most adrenaline-charged vocal performances.
Alongside this new material, both the one and two-CD versions of Queen Forever feature songs that spotlight the band's songwriting prowess, studio experimentation and remarkable development. It's a timely reminder that, almost uniquely in the world of rock and pop, all four members of Queen were accomplished songwriters and superlatively gifted musicians.
Queen Forever reaches back as far as 1974 with fan favorite "Nevermore," a Freddie Mercury song originally included on Queen II, the album that first saw Queen use the recording studio as an instrument in its own right. From the same year comes the dramatic power ballad "In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited," once the grand finale of any Queen show, and since revived by Queen & lead singer Adam Lambert on their 2014 tour. Meanwhile, the upbeat single, "You're My Best Friend," written by bass guitarist John Deacon, showcased Queen's poppier side and was released as the follow-up to 1975's "Bohemian Rhapsody," becoming a Top 10 UK and Top 20 US hit in the same year and giving John Deacon his first Queen hit single.
Elsewhere, 1977's "Long Away" remains the only Queen single to feature Brian May on lead vocals; and the same year's B-side "Drowse" includes a rare Queen performance from Roger Taylor on guitar. Queen saw out the decade with a run of hits that included the gospel-flavored "Somebody To Love," memorably performed by Queen and George Michael at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, and finished on a high with 1979's US #1 hit, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," an exuberant rockabilly pop song composed by Freddie Mercury in the bath in Munich.
By touching on prog rock, gospel, acoustic balladry, Elvis-style rock'n'roll and more, these songs alone encapsulate Queen's diversity in the 1970s. However, the band threw out the rulebook completely in the decades that followed, embracing funk, hard rock, soul and pure pop, yet always sounding unmistakably Queen. The band used synthesizers for the first time on 1980's "Play The Game" single; Freddie sang some of his vocals in Spanish on the 1982 hit "Las Palabras De Amor," and 1986's "One Year Of Love" featuring unusually a saxophone. The album is completed by latter-day Queen hits, including 1991's #1 hit "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" and 1995's "Too Much Love Will Kill You," together with the poignant "A Winter's Tale," recorded during Freddie Mercury's final Queen recording sessions in Montreux in 1991.
Queen Forever is both a showcase for these exclusive new recordings, but also an enduring tribute to the extraordinary musical achievements of John Deacon, Brian May, Roger Taylor and the late, great Freddie Mercury whose singular talent we can again marvel at with the arrival of these previously unheard tracks.
Queen Forever. Forever? Who can tell? But for now we can be certain that this highly rewarding collection of Queen new, rare, and at their most accomplished, more than serves to uphold the band's indisputable place in music history and is certain to earn a prized place in music collections for a long time to come.
Queen certainly rates in the top among the world's favorite bands. The UK's Official Charts Company earlier this year confirmed Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits album as Britain's best-selling album of all time all after surpassing the 6 million in sales.
Queen Forever – Track Listings
Single CD:
Let Me In Your Heart Again
Love Kills – The Ballad
There Must Be More To Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
It's A Hard Life
You're My Best Friend
Love Of My Life
Drowse
Long Away
Lily Of The Valley
Don't Try So Hard
Bijou
These Are The Days Of Our Lives
Las Palabras De Amor
Who Wants To Live Forever
A Winter's Tale
Play The Game
Save Me
Somebody To Love
Too Much Love Will Kill You
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
2-CD SET
CD1
Let Me In Your Heart Again
Love Kills – The Ballad
There Must Be More To Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
Play The Game
Dear Friends
You're My Best Friend
Love Of My Life
Drowse
You Take My Breath Away
Spread Your Wings
Long Away
Lily Of The Valley
Don't Try So Hard
Bijou
These Are The Days Of Our Lives
Nevermore
Las Palabras De Amor
Who Wants To Live Forever
CD2
I Was Born To Love You
Somebody To Love
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Friends Will Be Friends
Jealousy
One Year of Love
A Winters Tale
'39
Mother Love
It's A Hard Life
Save Me
Made in Heaven
Too Much Love Will Kill You
Sail Away Sweet Sister
The Miracle
Is This The World We Created
In The Lap Of The Gods…Revisited
Forever
----------------
The three new songs debuted on UK radio Friday, they're up on youtube at the moment if you wish to hear.
"Let Me In Your Heart Again" is decent but seems to lake any kind of chorus. "Love Kills" will sound familiar to anyone who saw (in person or on youtube) the Queen+ Adam Lambert tour this year as they used the same arrangement, I quite like it. "There Must Be More to Life Than This" is decidedly lackluster which is surprising considering the talent involved. Queen AND Michael Jackson? It should be noted that on the UK radio show where Brian May and Roger Taylor made the announcement, they made several mentions that this version was NOT their mix (it was remixed by William Orbit) and they didn't sound terribly happy with that decision and there's now a lot of talk that perhaps this was a forced compromise. Taylor had been saying for months that the release was being held up by Jackson's estate and it appears (appears mind you) that Jackson's estate demanded a different mix rather than the one Queen created or else they would not give the green light for release. Frankly I found Orbit's mix a shabby, unprofessional affair. More like a better than average sounding demo not quite ready for commercial release. Keep in mind that Queen also finished work on another Freddie/Michael demo, "State of Shock," which is nowhere to be found (presumably being held back for a future Jackson only album.)
No other details were given about the mention of "new takes on well known songs" and what that entails exactly.
Finally they did say Queen would tour again (UK/Europe) and though they didn't specifically say so, one would be safe in assuming that they would rejoin with Adam Lambert after their extremely successful tour of North America, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.
BTW, Queen's "Live at the Rainbow" is now available on CD, DVD and Blu-Ray in the US. I bought the 2 CD set and the BD. The sound is incredible. The drums, especially on the BD, are thunderous.
The tracks include a long anticipated song from Queen and Michael Jackson, "There Must Be More to Life Than This," a previously unfinished Mercury-Queen track "Let Me In Your Heart Again" originating from the band's The Works album recording sessions, and a new stripped-down ballad version of Mercury's first solo hit, his Giorgio Moroder collaboration, "Love Kills."
The rest of the package brings together Queen hits, classic tracks, and new takes on well-known songs, matched with band recordings Brian May describes as "things that we have collected together that are representative of our growth rather than the big hits" in a collection immaculately assembled by May and Roger Taylor themselves. The tracks are all linked to represent a definitive collection of Queen's timeless love songs.
Queen Forever is available as a 20-track single CD and as an extended 36-track, two-CD set, and celebrates the extraordinary musical path of one of the world's greatest rock bands.
Anticipation for these new Mercury tracks has been high since May and Taylor first hinted earlier this year that new songs featuring Mercury were being explored.
Speaking at the press conference to launch their North American concert tour with singer Adam Lambert earlier in the year, May said, "There was a little bit more in the can that we had overlooked for a long time, so we have a few songs which we're working on right now. Freddie sounds as fresh as yesterday."
On the subject, Taylor said, "We've got some great new tracks that haven't been heard and there's an interesting selection of older stuff."
The Queen and Michael Jackson duet, "There Must Be More to Life Than This," began as a song written by Mercury during sessions for Queen's 1981 album, Hot Space. The band recorded a backing track, but the song was never completed. Mercury visited Michael Jackson at his home studio in Los Angeles where he recorded Jackson singing the song for an unfinished version. Queen revived the track during sessions for 1984's The Works, but again it was not finished. A year later, Freddie's own version of the song surfaced on his debut solo album, 1985's Mr. Bad Guy. This new production of the powerful ballad fuses Queen's original backing track and Mercury and Jackson's distinctive vocals, and has been produced and remixed by celebrated Madonna/Robbie Williams producer William Orbit.
Talking of his involvement, Orbit says, "I had known Roger for many years, now he was on the phone asking if I would get involved in this musical adventure.
"When I first played it in my studio I opened a trove of delights provided by the greatest of musicians. Hearing Michael Jackson's vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool, and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie's vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level.
"The musicianship of all four members of Queen is phenomenal. Roger, an extraordinarily multi-talented man I've always admired; John Deacon's original bass part with its lyrical fluidity that made it easy for me to know where to put the odd reinforcement. Freddie's original piano carried most of the song's musical DNA. Brian, one take for the solo, a blur of fingers, and the spirits of MJ and FM fully present, in the moment, sending shivers down the spine."
Perhaps the biggest revelation on Queen Forever is Brian May's composition, "Let Me In Your Heart Again." The song was first recorded by Queen for The Works album, but not completed at the time and has remained overlooked since then. An authentic, live-in-the-studio track from the same golden age as "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want To Break Free," this never-before-heard Queen track shows off Freddie's timeless vocals and features newly recorded guitar parts and new backing vocals from Brian and Roger. This thrilling track finally reaches us nearly 30 years after Freddie first laid down his original vocal.
The third new track, "Love Kills," was composed by Freddie Mercury and famed German producer/songwriter Giorgio Moroder for the soundtrack to Moroder's newly restored and tinted version of Fritz Lang's 1927 classic silent movie Metropolis in 1984 to which he added a pop soundtrack featuring various music artists. Mercury recorded a high-energy dance version of the song that became his debut solo hit in 1985. However, it is less well known that all four members of Queen played on the original track. Prior to Queen embarking on their recent tour with lead singer Adam Lambert, Brian May proposed performing an acoustic ballad version of "Love Kills," which became one of the most memorable moments of the current Queen & Adam Lambert shows. This new Queen-Freddie studio version is shaped in the same ballad style and revives the Queen original with some newly recorded guitars and drums by May and Taylor, becoming a glorious showcase for one of Freddie's most adrenaline-charged vocal performances.
Alongside this new material, both the one and two-CD versions of Queen Forever feature songs that spotlight the band's songwriting prowess, studio experimentation and remarkable development. It's a timely reminder that, almost uniquely in the world of rock and pop, all four members of Queen were accomplished songwriters and superlatively gifted musicians.
Queen Forever reaches back as far as 1974 with fan favorite "Nevermore," a Freddie Mercury song originally included on Queen II, the album that first saw Queen use the recording studio as an instrument in its own right. From the same year comes the dramatic power ballad "In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited," once the grand finale of any Queen show, and since revived by Queen & lead singer Adam Lambert on their 2014 tour. Meanwhile, the upbeat single, "You're My Best Friend," written by bass guitarist John Deacon, showcased Queen's poppier side and was released as the follow-up to 1975's "Bohemian Rhapsody," becoming a Top 10 UK and Top 20 US hit in the same year and giving John Deacon his first Queen hit single.
Elsewhere, 1977's "Long Away" remains the only Queen single to feature Brian May on lead vocals; and the same year's B-side "Drowse" includes a rare Queen performance from Roger Taylor on guitar. Queen saw out the decade with a run of hits that included the gospel-flavored "Somebody To Love," memorably performed by Queen and George Michael at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, and finished on a high with 1979's US #1 hit, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," an exuberant rockabilly pop song composed by Freddie Mercury in the bath in Munich.
By touching on prog rock, gospel, acoustic balladry, Elvis-style rock'n'roll and more, these songs alone encapsulate Queen's diversity in the 1970s. However, the band threw out the rulebook completely in the decades that followed, embracing funk, hard rock, soul and pure pop, yet always sounding unmistakably Queen. The band used synthesizers for the first time on 1980's "Play The Game" single; Freddie sang some of his vocals in Spanish on the 1982 hit "Las Palabras De Amor," and 1986's "One Year Of Love" featuring unusually a saxophone. The album is completed by latter-day Queen hits, including 1991's #1 hit "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" and 1995's "Too Much Love Will Kill You," together with the poignant "A Winter's Tale," recorded during Freddie Mercury's final Queen recording sessions in Montreux in 1991.
Queen Forever is both a showcase for these exclusive new recordings, but also an enduring tribute to the extraordinary musical achievements of John Deacon, Brian May, Roger Taylor and the late, great Freddie Mercury whose singular talent we can again marvel at with the arrival of these previously unheard tracks.
Queen Forever. Forever? Who can tell? But for now we can be certain that this highly rewarding collection of Queen new, rare, and at their most accomplished, more than serves to uphold the band's indisputable place in music history and is certain to earn a prized place in music collections for a long time to come.
Queen certainly rates in the top among the world's favorite bands. The UK's Official Charts Company earlier this year confirmed Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits album as Britain's best-selling album of all time all after surpassing the 6 million in sales.
Queen Forever – Track Listings
Single CD:
Let Me In Your Heart Again
Love Kills – The Ballad
There Must Be More To Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
It's A Hard Life
You're My Best Friend
Love Of My Life
Drowse
Long Away
Lily Of The Valley
Don't Try So Hard
Bijou
These Are The Days Of Our Lives
Las Palabras De Amor
Who Wants To Live Forever
A Winter's Tale
Play The Game
Save Me
Somebody To Love
Too Much Love Will Kill You
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
2-CD SET
CD1
Let Me In Your Heart Again
Love Kills – The Ballad
There Must Be More To Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
Play The Game
Dear Friends
You're My Best Friend
Love Of My Life
Drowse
You Take My Breath Away
Spread Your Wings
Long Away
Lily Of The Valley
Don't Try So Hard
Bijou
These Are The Days Of Our Lives
Nevermore
Las Palabras De Amor
Who Wants To Live Forever
CD2
I Was Born To Love You
Somebody To Love
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Friends Will Be Friends
Jealousy
One Year of Love
A Winters Tale
'39
Mother Love
It's A Hard Life
Save Me
Made in Heaven
Too Much Love Will Kill You
Sail Away Sweet Sister
The Miracle
Is This The World We Created
In The Lap Of The Gods…Revisited
Forever
----------------
The three new songs debuted on UK radio Friday, they're up on youtube at the moment if you wish to hear.
"Let Me In Your Heart Again" is decent but seems to lake any kind of chorus. "Love Kills" will sound familiar to anyone who saw (in person or on youtube) the Queen+ Adam Lambert tour this year as they used the same arrangement, I quite like it. "There Must Be More to Life Than This" is decidedly lackluster which is surprising considering the talent involved. Queen AND Michael Jackson? It should be noted that on the UK radio show where Brian May and Roger Taylor made the announcement, they made several mentions that this version was NOT their mix (it was remixed by William Orbit) and they didn't sound terribly happy with that decision and there's now a lot of talk that perhaps this was a forced compromise. Taylor had been saying for months that the release was being held up by Jackson's estate and it appears (appears mind you) that Jackson's estate demanded a different mix rather than the one Queen created or else they would not give the green light for release. Frankly I found Orbit's mix a shabby, unprofessional affair. More like a better than average sounding demo not quite ready for commercial release. Keep in mind that Queen also finished work on another Freddie/Michael demo, "State of Shock," which is nowhere to be found (presumably being held back for a future Jackson only album.)
No other details were given about the mention of "new takes on well known songs" and what that entails exactly.
Finally they did say Queen would tour again (UK/Europe) and though they didn't specifically say so, one would be safe in assuming that they would rejoin with Adam Lambert after their extremely successful tour of North America, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.
BTW, Queen's "Live at the Rainbow" is now available on CD, DVD and Blu-Ray in the US. I bought the 2 CD set and the BD. The sound is incredible. The drums, especially on the BD, are thunderous.
Last edited by Michael Allred; 09-19-14 at 11:45 PM.
09-22-14, 10:52 AM
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
Ugh. The track listing for that compilation album is just awful. And this is coming from a HUGE Queen fan. I mean, those songs are fine on the albums they're on, keeping them varied and breaking things up and making the album interesting and eclectic just as Queen always has been. But putting them all together with zero rock songs makes it seem like Queen is some cheeseball '70s AM ballad band like Air Supply.
09-22-14, 11:32 AM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
Jeez, how many greatest hits releases can one group have? Queen has gotten ridiculous with this. And enough with the "add one or two rare songs" to sell once again another greatest hits album. The shit is getting old.
Release a single CD with all the rare stuff on it so fans don't have to keep rebuying the same shit over and over again. Queen was my favorite group from elementary school thru college but Brian and Roger's handling of Queen since Mercury died has made me despise them.
I must admit that I want to check out the "Live At The Rainbow" release. It looks excellent but I just don't hurry to buy Queen stuff like I used to. At this point, fuck Brian and Roger. I really don't want to give them any more of my money.
Release a single CD with all the rare stuff on it so fans don't have to keep rebuying the same shit over and over again. Queen was my favorite group from elementary school thru college but Brian and Roger's handling of Queen since Mercury died has made me despise them.
I must admit that I want to check out the "Live At The Rainbow" release. It looks excellent but I just don't hurry to buy Queen stuff like I used to. At this point, fuck Brian and Roger. I really don't want to give them any more of my money.
09-22-14, 02:50 PM
#5
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
Live at the Rainbow is a great release but the deluxe packaging to jack up the price is ridiculous. Brian and Roger definitely have money in mind. I guess they will hopefully release Hammersmith Odeon 1975 and Hyde Park 1976 next.
09-22-14, 03:07 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
It's just about to cross that fine line from keeping Freddie's memory alive to dragging it down the same beaten path in the name of profits. I mean, the poor guy has been dead longer than the group was together making records.
Yeah, I'll definitely check out the Rainbow show in the name of celebrating Freddie's time with them and with us, but I'm not going to re-buy things I already own in another form, and I'm certainly not going to give a moment's attention to anything new, especially with other vocalists.
Yeah, I'll definitely check out the Rainbow show in the name of celebrating Freddie's time with them and with us, but I'm not going to re-buy things I already own in another form, and I'm certainly not going to give a moment's attention to anything new, especially with other vocalists.
09-22-14, 04:18 PM
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Brand NEW Queen songs +duet with M. Jackson, due November
How about some "Killer Queen" vodka in honor of Freddie?
“Freddie loved vodka and used to carry a dry ice cooler full of vodka with him on tour,” lead guitarist Brian May said in a statement. “Killer Queen Vodka is the perfect tribute to Freddie and using Killer Queen as the brand name was the perfect choice for us, and we know Freddie would have approved.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz3E58GNhKq
yep it's out of control!
“Freddie loved vodka and used to carry a dry ice cooler full of vodka with him on tour,” lead guitarist Brian May said in a statement. “Killer Queen Vodka is the perfect tribute to Freddie and using Killer Queen as the brand name was the perfect choice for us, and we know Freddie would have approved.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz3E58GNhKq
yep it's out of control!
