Queen - On Air (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Virgin EMI

Track listing:

DISC 1: 1. "My Fairy King" (Session 1: 5th February 1973)
2. "Keep Yourself Alive" (Session 1: 5th February 1973)
3. "Doing All Right" (Session 1: 5th February 1973)
4. "Liar" (Session 1: 5th February 1973)
5. "See What a Fool I've Been" (Session 2: 25th July 1973)
6. "Keep Yourself Alive" (Session 2: 25th July 1973)
7. "Liar" (Session 2: 25th July 1973)
8. "Son and Daughter" (Session 2: 25th July 1973)
9. "Ogre Battle" (Session 3: 3rd December 1973)
10. "Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll" (Session 3: 3rd December 1973)
11. "Great King Rat" (Session 3: 3rd December 1973)
12. "Son and Daughter" (Session 3: 3rd December 1973)

DISC 2:
1. "Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll" (Session 4: 3rd April 1974)
2. "Nevermore" (Session 4: 3rd April 1974)
3. "White Queen (As It Began)" (Session 4: 3rd April 1974)
4. "Now I'm Here" (Session 5: 16th October 1974)
5. "Stone Cold Crazy" (Session 5: 16th October 1974)
6. "Flick of the Wrist" (Session 5: 16th October 1974)
7. "Tenement Funster" (Session 5: 16th October 1974)
8. "We Will Rock You" (Session 6: 28th October 1977)
9. "We Will Rock You (fast)" (Session 6: 28th October 1977)
10. "Spread Your Wings" (Session 6: 28th October 1977)
11. "It's Late" (Session 6: 28th October 1977)
12. "My Melancholy Blues" (Session 6: 28th October 1977)

On Air is the latest release from British Rock legends Queen, featuring for the first time ever officially (almost) every track that Queen recorded in session for broadcast by the BBC in the early 1970's. I say almost every track as one track from Session 4, 3rd April 1974 appears to be missing, that being March Of The Black Queen, but this is due to the fact that the band have always maintained that it was the album version of this song that was broadcast, therefore a BBC session track is not available to release, although this fact had been contested at times by various knowledgeable fans.
Queen’s meteoric ascendancy during the 1970s has been well documented. From their gloriously ambitious self-titled debut album of 1973 through to the album that put them in the superstar bracket, 1975’s A Night At The Opera, and beyond, this unique group carved out a singular path as the most visionary, inventive and charismatic band of that epic decade.
But there is another side to Queen’s rise that has been largely overlooked. Between February 1973 and October 1977, the band recorded six radio sessions exclusively for the BBC. The twenty four recordings these landmark sessions produced include alternate versions of the debut single, unique takes of classic album tracks and even a radically reworked reimagining of one of their best known anthems that has never previously appeared on any Queen studio release.

Now, for the very first time, all six Queen BBC sessions - meticulously restored by Queen engineer Kris Fredriksson and mastered by Grammy Award winner Adam Ayan - have been brought together on Queen On Air, released by Virgin EMI. North America through Hollywood Records. Available as a 2-CD set and a 3-LP vinyl edition, plus a Deluxe 6-disc edition featuring a CD of live broadcasts and 3 CDs of radio interviews, Queen On Air is an essential addition for connoisseurs of the band.

Back in 1989 the band did release a single disc album, Queen At The Beeb which featured the eight tracks from Sessions one and three, but this is the first time that all six BBC session have been made available for official commercial release. And before I go any further I have to say that Kris Fredriksson and Adam Ayan have done a fantastic job here, as the sound quality throughout every song on this two disc set is fantastic!
Queen’s very first session for the BBC, which opens Queen On Air, dates from February 1973, five months before the release of the band’s debut album and single. Imagine that you are listening to the radio in early 1973; no-one in the world has heard any Queen recordings EVER! John Peel plays My Fairy King, the very first Queen song to be broadcast on radio anywhere, and the story begins. He follows with Keep Yourself Alive (the song which later became their first single), the laidback Doing All Right and the epic rock operetta Liar (one of my all time favourite Queen songs!)– all of which serve notice of the arrival of a major new musical force.
The band returned to the BBC for their second session in July 1973, the same month their debut album was released. Revisiting Keep Yourself Alive and Liar, this time they also covered the heavy-as-lead Son And Daughter and the bluesy See What A Fool I’ve Been. The latter, which has never appeared on any Queen studio album, would later be re-recorded and become the B-side of their breakthrough hit single Seven Seas Of Rhye in 1974. In fact See What A Fool I’ve Been is one of the most interesting tracks here as it is performed in a straight serious manner and not with the overtly camp lead vocal that Freddie chose to use for the only other official release of this rare Queen song!
By the time Queen recorded their third BBC session in December 1973, they had already begun work on their second album, Queen II (eventually released in March 1974). The band premiered a new song which would feature on that album, Ogre Battle, which bares a stunning similarity to the live version of the song, alongside three classics from its predecessor, the galloping Great King Rat, the Roger Taylor-sung Modern Times Rock’n’Roll which seems to be performed at a faster tempo than any other available version out there, and a new version of Son And Daughter. Two more Queen II songs were recorded during a subsequent session in April 1974 – the epic White Queen (As It Began) and the delicate ballad Nevermore, which is another of the most interesting tracks on this release with its addition percussion that never made the album version of the song,  alongside a re-recorded Modern Times Rock’n’Roll.
Queen’s penultimate session for the BBC took place in October 1974, a month before the release of their classic third album, Sheer Heart Attack. The session saw the debut of four songs from that record: the dazzling Now I’m Here, the proto-heavy metal thrash attack of Stone Cold Crazy, which would covered by non other than thrash titans Metallica in years to come, the caustic Flick Of The Wrist and Tenement Funster, their celebration of the rock’n’roll lifestyle.
It would be another three years before Queen returned to the BBC for their sixth and final session, by which time the success of Bohemian Rhapsody had turned them into a global phenomenon.
On October 28th 1977, they recorded some radically different versions of four songs from the brand new News Of The World album, on the same day as it was given its UK release: the epic power ballad Spread Your Wings, the steel-plated rocker It’s Late,with this versions mid section morphing into elements of Get Down Make Love,  the dusky jazz number My Melancholy Blues and two significantly contrasting renditions of the global hit We Will Rock You – the ‘regular’ version and the ‘fast’ version, a full-tilt guitar-heavy take on the song. The accelerated version on Queen On Air is the only known studio recording of this live favourite.  “’We Will Rock You’

These two discs alone are must haves for any Queen fan, as they showcase the bands early development, along with their true hard rocking classic rock roots!

To complete the full picture, the 6-CD Deluxe Edition includes Queen Live On Air – a single disc featuring highlights of three live concert broadcasts: Queen live at the Golders Green Hippodrome, from September 1973, their first concert to be transmitted on radio anywhere in the world. Also, Queen performing in Brazil at Sao Paulo’s gigantic Morumbi stadium to a record-setting audience of 131,000 originally relayed live on radio and TV in March 1981 on the Badeirantes network during the band’s infamous South America Bites The Dust tour. Finally, Queen’s penultimate live concert radio broadcast. Aired less than four weeks before their last show with Freddie, this was a live emission from the show in Mannheim Germany, in June 1986 during the mighty Magic Tour.

This really is a great release, long over due!

Rating: 10/10

Queen - Forever (Deluxe Edition) (2014)

Genre - Rock / Hard Rock / Pop

Label - Virgin EMI

Track listing:

01. Let Me In Your Heart Again

02. Love Kills - the ballad

03. There Must Be More To Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)

04. Play The Game

05. Dear Friends

06. You're My Best Friend

07. Love Of My Life

08. Drowse

09. You Take My Breath Away

10. Spread Your Wings

11. Long Away

12. Lily Of The Valley

13. Don't Try So Hard

14. Bijou

15. These Are The Days Of Our Lives

16. Nevermore

17. Las Palabras De Amor

18. Who Wants To Live Forever

19. I Was Born To Love You

20. Somebody To Love

21. Crazy Little Thing Called Love

22. Friends Will Be Friends

23. Jealousy

24. One Year Of Love

25. A Winter's Tale

26. '39

27. Mother Love

28. It's A Hard Life

29. Save Me

30. Made In Heaven

31. Too Much Love Will Kill You

32. Sail Away Sweet Sister

33. The Miracle

34. Is This The World We Created

35. In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited

36. Forever

"Queen present Forever, an exciting album featuring three brand new Queen tracks, including the long-anticipated track by Queen and Michael Jackson, "There Must Be More To Life Than This". The rest of the package brings together Queen hits, classic tracks, and new takes on well-known songs. The tracks are all linked to represent a definitive collection of Queen’s timeless love songs, and celebrate the extraordinary musical path of one of the world’s greatest rock bands. This special deluxe edition contains 36 tracks over 2 CDs in a deluxe package with a 24-page booklet."

Well its a pretty nice track list I have to say that, and for once not one based purely upon the hit singles. It really is nice to see songs like Nevermore, In The Lap Of The Gods (Revisited), Dear Friends, Lily Of Then Valley, Bijou, Mother Love and Don't Try So Hard represented, as they, in my humble opinion showcase some of Queen's finest (if softer) moments.
As for the three new tracks, well they aren't really new songs are they?
Let Me In Your Heart Again is a reworking of a song that was abandoned during the Works recording sessions (circa 1983) that was eventually recorded by Brian Mays future wife Anita Dobson. Now don't get me wrong, its a great song, and the guys have a done a great job rebuilding Freddie's lead vocal here, you would never know that it has been pieced together from various takes.
Its not the strongest Queen song that I have ever heard but it is great to hear a previously unheard Freddie vocal so this track is a winner for me.
Love Kills - the ballad, now this has proved to be a little bit controversial amongst Queen fans. The disco arrangement of the original has been completely thrown away, and the song turned into a pretty bloody amazing ballad in my opinion. I really like what the guys have done with this song, giving it a completely new lease of life, another winner in my opinion.
There Must Be More To Life Than This, featuring one Michael Jackson, (William Orbit Mix). Well I have been lucky enough to hear the original demo of this song recorded by Freddie and Michael back in 1982/1983, and although the recording was only a rough demo it was in many ways superior to this William Orbit mix. to be completely honest I have heard some pretty awesome fan mixes of this track over the years that are way superior to this mix! Michael's vocals only really feature in bits and drabs, probably due to the low quality of the original recorded material, I would have much preferred to hear a Queen mix of State Of Shock that Freddie and Michael recorded together during the same sessions, this song is fair but really doesn't cut it for me.
As for the rest of the track listing, well what can I say, its a really nice cross section of the bands entire career, focusing up on their softer side, but featuring some of their best songs and some of my personal favourites.

Recommended for die hard fans and anyone who doesn't already own the bands entire back catalogue!


Rating - 10/10

Note this is a different mix to the one featured on the album! (Thankfully!)

Roger Taylor - Fun On Earth (2013)

Genre - Rock / Pop
Label - Virgin / Universal

Track listing:

01 - One Night Stand
02 - Fight Club
03 - Be With You
04 - Quality Street
05 - I Don't Care
06 - Sunny Day
07 - Be My Gal (My Brightest Spark)
08 - I Am A Drummer (In A Rock n Roll Band)
09 - Small
10 - Say Its Not True (feat Jeff Beck)
11 - The Unblinking Eye (Abridged Version)
12 - Up
13 - Smile

Legendary Queen drummer, Roger Taylor returns with his first solo album since 1998's Electric Fire in the form of Fun On Earth, deliver up 13 brand new tracks for fans to get the stuck into. But this is my only problem with Despite Roger taking five years to record Fun On Earth, five of the thirteen new tracks have already seen the light of day in one form or another, even if in some cases, quite obscurely. One Night Stand was a download bonus 'mix track from 1998's Electric Fire sessions, Sunny Day was released a couple of years back with Roger's son un the moniker of Felix And Arty with the title, Woman You're So Beautiful (although this song has been heavily reworked here!, Versions of Small and Say Its Not True were releasedon the Queen plus Paul Rogers album, The Cosmos Rocks, and a longer verion of The Unblinking Eye was released last year as a single! that being said, this album is a solid album and a grower at that! The album opens with a riff busting One Night Stand, quite catchy and up tempo. Fight Club and Be With You are excellent tracks, with their sheer simplicity being the greatest part of their magic, plus Fight Club has some great sax ta boot! Quality Street is a good track with some nice lead vocals and I Dont Care is a fun little ditty. The reworked Sunny Day is much better than the original Felix and Arty Version, and Be My Gal is another sweet and great track. I am a Drummer in a Rock n Roll band demonstrates that Roger and Queen never really take themselves too seriously, that ability to write a song that gets the critics hook line & sinker, has always been there and this is another... a bit of light hearted self deprecation as opposed to some serious statement. The Unblinking Eye suffers from being an Abridged version, and I truly urge you to check out the original single version! The final two tracks, Up & Smile are also some of the better work, the former reminding me somewhat of Machines from Queen's The Works whilst Smile has a very Beatle-esque sound to it.
In Roger Taylors own words, Fun On Earth is an ecletic mix of songs, and as such is a good album a real grower, but considering he alledgedly was originally going to allow fans to choose the albums track listing from between seventeen and twenty tracks thats had been recorded, it is a little disappoining having five reworked songs. Would have loved to have heard Midnight Lightning and When We Were Younf, but what the hey. Fun On Earth is still a great little album.

Rating 9/10

Queen - Made In Heaven (2011 deluxe remaster)

Genre - Rock / Pop

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – It’s A Beautiful Day
02 – Made In Heaven
03 – Let Me Live
04 – Mother Love
05 – My Life Has Been Saved
06 – I Was Born To Love You
07 – Heaven For Everyone
08 – Too Much Love Will Kill You
09 – You Don’t Fool Me
10 – A Winter’s Tale
11 – It’s A Beautiful Day (reprise)
12 – (Yeah)
13 – (Dead)

Bonus CD2:
01 – Heaven For Everyone (Single Version)
02 – It’s A Beautiful Day (B-Side Version)
03 – My Life Has Been Saved (1989 B-Side Version)
04 – I Was Born To Love You (Vocal & Piano Version)
05 – Rock In Rio Blues (Live B-Side)
06 – A Winter’s Tale (Cosy Fireside Mix)

this album was put together by the surviving band members after Freddies death and released in 1995. It features a collection of songs that Freddie finished before he died, Mother Love, A Winters Tale, You Dont Fool Me, re-worked solo tracks, Made In Heaven, I Was Born To Love You, Heaven For Everyone, Too Much Love Will Kill You, and re-worked tracks that had never been released, Its A Beautiful day, Let Me Live, and a re-worked B-side in My life Has Been Saved.

It was a strange album to listen too for the first time know that Freddie was no longer with us. this album had a slightly heavier sound than the past few Queen releases which was probably down to freddie not being involoved in its production.

Again the remastering here is spot on, and you cant really expect too much from the bonus disc as its an album made from leftovers in the first place, but I would have liked to have seen the origianal version of Let Me Live included with its why dont you take another little piece of my heart refrain.

still a great release.

rating - 10/10

Queen - Innuendo (2011 deluxe remaster)

Genre - Rock / Pop

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Innuendo

02 – I’m Going Slightly Mad
03 – Headlong
04 – I Can’t Live With You
05 – Don’t Try So Hard
06 – Ride The Willd Wind
07 – All God’s People
08 – These Are The Days Of Our Lives
09 – Delilah
10 – The Hitman
11 – Bijou
12 – The Show Must Go On

Bonus CD2:
01 – I Can’t Live With You (1997 Rocks Retake)
02 – Lost Opportunity (B-Side)
03 – Ride The Wild Wind (Early Version with Guide Vocal)
04 – I’m Going Slightly Mad (Mad Mix)
05 – Headlong (Embryo with Guide Vocal)

1991, This album suprised the hell out of the nation. Lead single and title track went straight in tio the UK charts at number 1, the album followed a week later, and by god what an album! Spawning another 5 hit singles, Innuendo, Im Going Slightly Mad, Headlong, These Are The days Of Our Lives (which was to be the last promo video Freddie would ever record, where he seems to say goodby to his fans!) and The Show Must Go On.

This was the best album Queen had made in years, pure majesty, Innuendo, epic, Dont try So Hard with freddies vocals so crystal clear and sharp, The Hitman, a pure rocking work out, if Freddie knew he only had months to live he intended to go out on a high, and that he did!

Again the remastering is spot on, and the bonus disc throws up a few nice suprises, such as Ride The Wild Wind (Early version) and the embryonic Headlong with Brian adding guide vocals.
I would have loved to have seen Face It Alone, Assassin, My Secret Fantasy, Self Made Man and Robbery make this release, but onve again I can but hope that the promoised Anthology set eventually gets released.

rating 10/10 

Queen - The Miracle (2011 deluxe remaster)

Genre - Rock / Pop

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Party
02 – Khashoggi’s Ship
03 – The Miracle
04 – I Want It All
05 – The Invisible Man
06 – Breakthru
07 – Rain Must Fall
08 – Scandal
09 – My Baby Does Me
10 – Was It All Worth It

Bonus CD2:
01 – I Want It All (Single Version)
02 – The Invisible Man (Early Version with Guide Vocal, August 1988)
03 – Hang On in There (B-Side)
04 – Hijack My Heart (B-Side)
05 – Stealin’ (B-Side)
06 – Chinese Tortoure (Instrumental)
07 – The Invisible Man (12” Version)

1989, the decade was coming to a close everyone was looking back over the past 10 years and voting in polls about who were the best band, best single, best live act etc, Queen released The Miracle spawing 5 hit singles and pretty much made  clean sweep of all the polls!
5 hit singles, I Want It All, The Miracle, Breakthru, The Invisible Man and Scandal, not bad going for a 10 track album!
now this album was one of the first albums to be recorded digitally, and that left the sound feeling a lil over produced (Queen over produced, no never!) and flat. This remaster injects a lot of life into the over all sound, making the tracks sound a little closer to their demo's (which are ace by the way!) so splendid job there.
the bonus disc, hmmm well mixed feeling here, yes I am happy at what they've put out, but there is so much more from these sessions that couls have been put on this disc! They've included the 12" version of The Invisible Man but NOT the extended 12" versions of Breakthru or Scandal hmmm. They have also included the unrealeased demo of The Invisible Man, which is interested and great appreciated, but why not include the other demo's know to exist from these sessions (theses sessions were so productive at one stage they considered putting out another album or EP entitled The Alternative Miracle!)
I would have loved to have seen, A New Life Is Born, I Guess We're Falling Out, Stealin' (12 min Jam version), Affairs, the original version of Too Much Love Will Kill You with Freddie on vocals (which was recorded during these sessions!)or Grand Dame get an officail realease. Also where is My Life Has Been Saved (Original 1989 B-side)?

great release, appreciated remaster but seriously left wanting more!

Rating 9/10 (for what we get)

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (2011 deluxe remaster)

Genre - Rock / Pop

Track listing -

CD1
01 – One Vision

02 – A Kind Of Magic
03 – One Year Of Love
04 – Pain Is So Close To Pleasure
05 – Friends Will Be Friends
06 – Who Wants To Live Forever
07 – Gimme The Prize
08 – Don’t Lose Your Head
09 – Princes Of The Universe

Bonus CD2:
01 – A Kind Of Magic (Highlander Version)
02 – One Vision (Single Version)
03 – Pain Is So Close To Pleasure (Single Remix)
04 – Forever (Piano Version)
05 – A Kind Of Vision (Demo, August 1985)
06 – One Vision (Live at Wembley Stadium, July 11th 1986)
07 – Friends Will Be Friends Will Be Friends…


Hot on the heels of a blistering performance at 1985's Live Aid (a gig that pretty much saved the band from splitting up!) Queen entered the studio to record the soundtrack to one of my favourite films of all time, The Highlander. For some reason, although the music was used in the movie, the soundtrack album was scrapped and the songs re worked into what would be come A Kind Of Magic.
This was to prove to be one of Queens biggest selling albums and tours of all tiume, in fact the last tour to feature the late Freddie, those were magic years!
Featuring 4 huge singles in, One Vision, A Kind Of Magic, Who Wants To Live Forever and Friends Will Be Friends, this album was awesome. Again the remastering is perfect, ensuring the tracks now sound even better!
The bonus material on here is a mixed bag, its great to see the Highlander version of A Kind Of Magic getting an official release, but why not the awesome Highlander version of Princes Of THe Universe?
The demo of A Kind Of Magic is a welcome addition, but would have liked to see more material like this made available, such as the Queen demo of You Are The Only One, ohh well maybe we will get the Queen Anthology released one day (as promised back in 2000!)

A Great album well worth reaquainting yourself with!

Rating - 10/10

Queen - The Works (2011 deluxe remaster)

Genre - Rock / Pop

Track listing -

CD1:

01 – Radio Ga Ga
02 – Tear It Up
03 – It’s A Hard Life
04 – Man On The Prowl
05 – Machines (Back To Humans)
06 – I Want To Break Free
07 – Keep Passing The Open Windows
08 – Hammer To Fall
09 – Is This The World We Created …

CD2:
01 – I Go Crazy (B-Side)
02 – I Want To Break Free (Single Remix)
03 – Hammer To Fall (Headbanger’s Mix)
04 – Is This The World We Created… (Live in Rio, January 1985)
05 – Its A Hard Life (Live in Rio, January 1985)
06 – Thank God It’s Christmas (Non-Album Single)

Queen studio albums continue to get the remastering treatment, this time its 1984's release The Works. this album need no introductions, it features some of Queens biggest know singles (and most controversial!), in Radio GaGa and I Want To Break Free, plus a couple of Queens later day rockng classics such as Tear It Up and Hammer To Fall. Again the remastering brings out the best from each song, giving them all a brand new lease of life, leaving the listener to discover things that they had never noticed in the past.

the bonus tracks on CD2 are a little dissapointing, I know for a fact that there are demo's that could have been included in place of the live tracks, such as the Michael Jackson tracks, or Back To Storm or even the demo version of Keep Passing The Open Windows that has been doing the rounds in trading circles.

Still a mighty fine release non the less!

Rating - 9/10

Queen - Deep Cuts Volume 2 (1977 - 1982)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

01 – Mustapha
02 – Sheer Heart Attack
03 – Spread Your Wings
04 – Sleeping On The Sidewalk
05 – It’s Late
06 – Rock It (Prime Jive)
07 – Dead On Time
08 – Sail Away Sweet Sister
09 – Dragon Attack
10 – Action This Day
11 – Put Out The Fire
12 – Staying Power
13 – Jealousy
14 – Battle Theme

The second volume in the Deep Cuts series, in effect a sampler of the latest batch of remastered albums released by the band. A great a fair tracklisting, and a good intriduction to this era of the bands music.

Highly reconmended

Website - www.Queen-online.com
Rating - 9/10

Queen - Hot Space (2011 Deluxe Edition Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Pop / Disco
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Staying Power
02 – Dancer
03 – Back Chat
04 – Body Language
05 – Action This Day
06 – Put Out The Fire
07 – Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)
08 – Calling All Girls
09 – Las Palabras De Amor (The Words of Love)
10 – Cool Cat
11 – Under Pressure

CD2:
01 – Staying Power (Live at Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)
02 – Soul Brother (B-Side)
03 – Back Chat (Single Remix)
04 – Action This Day (Live in Tokyo, November 1982)
05 – Calling All Girls (Live in Tokyo, November 1982)

Hot Space, originally released back in 1982 and arguably Queens least popular album, and with understanble reasons. Hot Space saw Queen in effect turn their back on their hard rock roots and completly embrace the disco pop sound that was popular at the time. saying that there are a few gems on here still, like Under Pressure, which features the mighty David Bowie on co-lead vocals. Again the remastering is excellent, but this time the bonus tracks are a tad disappointing in my opinion. We get a few live tracks, an excellent B-side, and a single remix, yet there is so much more the band could have put on here. To start with the entire album exists in demo form, with notable differences, mainly being the tracks having a harder rocky sound, plus there is the demo of Cool Cat which also featured vocals again from David Bowie, and then there is the demo of Under Pressure, without David Bowie, all noticable by there abscence.
An un popular album with a dissappointing selection of bonus material.
Sorry, again for completists only.

Website - www.Queen-online.com
Rating - 6/10

Queen - Flash Gordon Soundtrack (2011 Deluxe Edition Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Pop / Soundtrack
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Flash’s Theme
02 – In The Space Capsule (The Love Theme)
03 – Ming’s Theme (In The Court Of Ming The Merciless)
04 – The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction Of Dale)
05 – Football Fight
06 – In The Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise)
07 – Execution Of Flash
08 – The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash)
09 – Arboria (Planet Of The Tree Men)
10 – Escape From The Swamp
11 – Flash To The Rescue
12 – Vultan’s Theme (Attack Of The Hawk Men)
13 – Battle Theme
14 – The Wedding March
15 – Marriage Of Dale And Ming (And Flash Approaching)
16 – Crash Dive On Mingo City
17 – Flash’s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)
18 – The Hero

CD2:
01 – Flash (Single Version)
02 – The Hero (October 1980… Revisited)
03 – The Kiss (Early Version, March 1980)
04 – Football Fight (Early Version, No Synths! – February 1980)
05 – Flash (Live in Montreal, November 1981)
06 – The Hero (Live in Montreal, November 1981)

Hmmmm, this album was recorded as a soundtrack to a guilty pleasure of mine, The 1980 flim Flash Gordon, which I love. It features some interesting soundscapes and musical ideas but only a couple of full blown songs, mainly beiong the theme track, Flash and closing track The Hero, both classics in their own right. The bonus tracks are intesting, a couple of demos, a single mix, a couple of live tracks and an alternate take on The Hero.
Again the remastering is excellent, but this album is album really is only for completists.

Website - www.Queen-online.com
Rating - 8/10 (for the bonus tracks)

Queen - The Game (2011 Deluxe Edition Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Play The Game
02 – Dragon Attack
03 – Another One Bites The Dust
04 – Need Your Loving Tonight
05 – Crazy Little Thing Called Love
06 – Rock It (Prime Jive)
07 – Don’t Try Suicide
08 – Sail Away Sweet Sister
09 – Coming Soon
10 – Save Me

CD2:
01 – Save Me (Live in Montreal, November 1981)
02 – A Human Body (B-Side)
03 – Sail Away Sweet Sister (Take 1 With Guide Vocal)
04 – It’s A Beautiful Day (Original Spontaneous Idea, April 1980)
05 – Dragon Attack (Live at Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)

This album has always been one of my favourite Queen albums, originally released in 1980, and featuring some wonderful songs from the title track, Play the Game, the world wide chart buster's, Another One Bites The Dust and Crazy Little Thing Called Love, to the quirky Dont Try Suicide and Sail Away Sweet Sister and power ballad Save Me. A Great album. A great thing about this release is that includes the original spontaneous idea that became Its A Beautiful Day, and an early take of Sail Away Sweet Sister, plus the Roger Taylor sung B-side A Human Body and a couple of live tracks.
Production once again is top notch with this remaster, a truley great album very highly reconmended.

website - www.Queen-online.comrating - 10/10

Queen - Jazz (2011 Rematered Deluxe Edition)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Mustapha
02 – Fat Bottomed Girls
03 – Jealousy
04 – Bicycle Race
05 – If You Can’t Beat Them
06 – Let Me Entertain You
07 – Dead On Time
08 – In Only Seven Days
09 – Dreamer’s Ball
10 – Fun It
11 – Leaving Home Ain’t Easy
12 – Don’t Stop Me Now
13 – More of That Jazz

CD2:
01 – Fat Bottomed Girls (Single Version)
02 – Bicycle Race (Instrumental)
03 – Don’t Stop Me Now (With Long-Lost Guitars)
04 – Let Me Entertain You (Live)
05 – Dreamer’s Ball (Early Acoustic Demo)

Originally released in 1978, Jazz continued to give Queen hits and anthems in the form of Bicycle Race, Dont Stop Me Now and Fat Bottomed Girls as well as continueing to show case the bands experimental side with tracks like Let Me Entertain You and Mustapha.
A Great album and once again the remastering really brings every sound to life. Bonus tracks are pretty interesting too, An acoustic demo of Dreamers Ball, I different mix of Dont Stop Me Now, an Instrumental, a Live and single mix.
Well reconmended, especially as an introduction to some of the bands lesser known classics such as Jealousy,Dead On Time, Leaving Home Aint Easy and Dreamers Ball.

Website - www.Queen-online.comRating - 9/10

Queen - News Of The World (2011 Deluxe Remaster)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – We Will Rock You
02 – We Are The Champions
03 – Sheer Heart Attack
04 – All Dead, All Dead
05 – Spread Your Wings
06 – Fight From The Inside
07 – Get Down, Make Love
08 – Sleeping On The Sidewalk
09 – Who Needs You
10 – It’s Late
11 – My Melancholy Blues

CD2:
01 – Feelings Feelings (Take 10, July 1977)
02 – Spread Your Wings (BBC Session, October 1977)
03 – My Melancholy Blues (BBC Session, October 1977)
04 – Sheer Heart Attack (Live in Paris, February 1979)
05 – We Will Rock You (Fast) (Live in Tokyo, November 1982)


Originall released back in 1997 hot on the heels of A Day at the Races, News of The World was probably the last all out 'Rock' album produced by Queen. Featuring future anthems such as We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions along side true classic such as Sheer Heart Attack, Its Late and My Melancholy Blues. News Of the Worldd truley is a great album, and this 2011 remaster just makes it sound even better! A great sound that seems to breathe life into every song, allowing every single sound to make itself heard. The bonus tracks here are interesting, demo version of Feelings Feelings, a song probably rather familar to hard core collectors, a great little rock track, and great to hear such a great sounding version at last, we also get two of the era's BBC session tracks and two previously unreleased live tracks. Again I'd rather have had a few more demo's from the archive but on the whole this is a great re-release.

Website - www.queen-online.com
Rating - 9/10

Queen - Deep Cuts Volume 1 [1973-1976]

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island records

Tracklist:
01 – Ogre Battle
02 – Stone Cold Crazy
03 – My Fairy King
04 – I’m In Love With My Car
05 – Keep Yourself Alive
06 – Long Away
07 – The Millionaire Waltz
08 – ’39
09 – Tenement Funster
10 – Flick Of The Wrist
11 – Lily Of The Valley
12 – Good Company
13 – The March Of The Black Queen
14 – In The Lap Of The Gods…Revisited

"Queen release the album'Deep Cuts Volume One 1973-1976'on March 14th 2011, a bespoke collection of hidden gems from the band's first five albums, specially chosen by Roger Taylor and Brian May in consultation with life-long fan, Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters.

'Deep Cuts Volume One' is designed as a companion piece to the first five Queen albums which are being re-issued by Island Records on March 14th as part of the bands 40th anniversary celebrations.

Designed to dig a little deeper than their multi-million selling 'Greatest Hits' compilations ('Greatest Hits', by the way, is officially the biggest selling British album of all time with sales of an incredible 5.7 million copies so far in the UK alone), 'Deep Cuts Volume One 1973-1976' showcases a less well-known side of the early Queen story and reveals some brilliant tracks to listeners looking to delve into the band's founding years' work for the first time.The first five Queen albums – Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races - are a testament not only to the band's skills as songwriters and musicians, but also to their determination to push the creative and technological envelopes to their absolute limits.

Challenging the traditional practises of the studios of the time, pioneering new methods of recording and refusing to use synthesisers, the band's unique sound was born out of their incredible individual talents and ingenuity. Breaking the mould with multiple vocal harmonies, multi-layered guitar harmonies, cross rhythms and multiple repeats, Queen would layer so many tracks onto recording tape as to render it literally translucent, their 15 hour studio sessions now the stuff of legend within the studio community.

For Queen, the studio was a place of boundless possibilities. From the raw energy and heavy rock of Queen I to the polished splendour of A Day At The Races, they continued to challenge and innovate. Listening to 'Deep Cuts' in the 21st century, you can hear how Queen revolutionised both rock music itself and the way rock music was made.

The booklet notes for 'Deeper Cuts' were especially commissioned by Roger Taylor and Brian May from comedy actor and writer Rhys Thomas, an unlikely but unquestionable Queen fan and expert. Thomas publicly showed his vast knowledge of the band appearing on the New Year special edition of Celebrity Mastermind where, answering questions of the subject of his favourite band, Queen, he achieved the distinction of scoring the highest number of correct answers in the history of the television series."

The track listing is amazing, and this album is a great way for a fan to see if they want to invest in the rereleases of the bands first five albums, but to me its stands as a great compilation of the bands formative years!

website - Queen
Rating - 10/10

Queen - A Day At The Races (2011 Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop

Label - Island Records
Tracklist:
01 – Tie Your Mother Down
02 – You Take My Breath Away
03 – Long Away
04 – The Millionaire Waltz
05 – You And I
06 – Somebody To Love
07 – White Man
08 – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
09 – Drowse
10 – Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)

Bonus CD:
01 – Tie Your Mother Down (Backing Track Mix 2011)
02 – Somebody To Love (Live At Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)
03 – You Take My Breath Away (Live In Hyde Park, September 1976)
04 – Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy (Top Of The Pops, July 1977) (Mono)
05 – Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) (HD Mix)

A Day At The Races was originally intended to be released together with A Night At The Opera as a double album, but the band decided to release them as two separate albums, and in my opinion A Day At The Races is often overlooked by many rock fans despite containing some real gems like Tie Your Mother Down, Somebody To Love, the sublime You Take My Breath Away, which see’s Freddie Mercury in absolutely great form vocally, Long Away and Teo Torriatte, some of Queens finest songs.
Again the re-mastering is excellent.
The bonus disc offers up some interesting tracks but I would have loved to have seen some demos included here.

A great album

Website - Queen
Rating - 9/10

Queen - A Night at The Opera (2011 Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Pop / Glam
Label - Island Records

Tracklist:
01 – Death On Two Legs
02 – Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon
03 – I’m In Love With My Car
04 – You’re My Best Friend
05 – ’39
06 – Sweet Lady
07 – Seaside Rendezvous
08 – The Prophet’s Song
09 – Love Of My Life
10 – Good Company
11 – Bohemian Rhapsody
12 – God Save The Queen

Bonus CD:
01 – Keep Yourself Alive (Long-Lost Retake, June 75)
02 – Bohemian Rhapsody (Operatic Section A cappella Mix 2011)
03 – You’re My Best Friend (Backing Track Mix 2011)
04 – I’m In Love With My car (Guitar & Vocal Mix 2011)
05 – ’39 (Live at Earls Court, June 77)
06 – Love Of My Life (South American Live Single June 79)

A Night At The Opera, Queens Tour d’ Force, featuring the venomous Death On Two Legs, Rocking I’m In Love With My Car, the pop classic You’re My Best Friend, the epic Prophets Song, The mighty operatic Bohemian Rhapsody to name but a few. What an album, a true masterpiece!
Again the re-mastering adds new life and dimensions to these classic tracks making hearing them again a purely pleasurable experience.
The bonus tracks are different, but not amazing, but still add a little to the sheer might of this awesome album!
Every self respecting rock and pop fan should own this album, it’s the album that made Queen household names around the globe with Bohemian Rhapsody breaking chart records everywhere!
You need to own this album, simplez!

Website - Queen
Rating - 10/10

Queen - Sheer Heart Attack (2011 Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Tracklist:
01 – Brighton Rock
02 – Killer Queen
03 – Tenement Funster
04 – Flick of the Wrist
05 – Lily of the Valley
06 – Now I’m Here
07 – In the Lap of the Gods
08 – Stone Cold Crazy
09 – Dear Friends
10 – Misfire
11 – Bring Back That Leroy Brown
12 – She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettos)
13 – In the Lap of the Gods… Revisited

Bonus CD:
01 – Now I’m Here (Live At Hammersmith Odeon, December 1975)
02 – Flick of the Wrist (BBC Session, October 1974)
03 – Tenement Funster (BBC Session, October 1974)
04 – Bring Back That Leroy Brown (A Cappella Mix 2011)
05 – In the Lap of the Gods… Revisited (Live At Wembley Stadium, July 1986)

Sheer Heart Attack gave Queen their first commercial chart success in the form of a brilliant little song about a high class hooker in Killer Queen. Sheer Heart Attack really does contain some gems, from the rocking likes of Brighton Rock, Now I’m Here and Stone Cold Crazy, to the pop genius of Killer Queen and Misfire, to the quirky but brilliant Tenement Funster, Flick Of The Wrist, Lap Of The Gods and Bring Back that Leroy Brown, in fact a great all round album!
Again the re-mastering really adds a new lease of life to these classics, enabling even hardened life loving Queen Fans like myself to hear things that they had never heard before within the tracks!
The bonus disc contains a few BBC session tracks from the era, could have possibly have included the stand alone versions of Flick Of The Wrist, Lily Of The Valley and Tenement Funster, and a few demos that are known to exist, but maybe they’ll be on the Anthology.
A great album

Website – Queen
Rating - 9/10

Queen - Queen II (2011 Remaster)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Pop / Glam
Label - Island Records

Tracklist:
01 – Procession
02 – Father to Son
03 – White Queen (As it Began)
04 – Some Day One Day
05 – The Loser in The End
06 – Ogre Battle
07 – The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke
08 – Nevermore
09 – The March of The Black Queen
10 – Funny How Love Is
11 – Seven Seas of Rhye

Bonus CD:
01 – See What a Fool I’ve Been (BBC Session, July 1973 – Remix 2011)
02 – White Queen (Live At Hammersmith Odeon, December 1975)
03 – Seven Seas of Rhye (Instrumental Mix 2011)
04 – Nevermore (BBC Session, April 1974)
05 – See What a Fool I’ve Been (B-Side Version, February 1974)

Queen II is quite possibly Queen's best ever album, simple!
Here it sounds even better with the likes of Ogre Battle, Fairy Feller's Master Stroke, Nevermore, March Of The Black Queen, White Queen and Father To Son really coming to life under the excellent 2011 re-mastering treatment that they have received.

The bonus disc here features a few real gems, Nevermore (BBC Session), See What A Fool I've Been, (BBC Session and its camper B-side version), but If I’m honest I'm sure they could have included a little more, at the very least the rest of the BBC session or some of the unfinished demos that they have in their archives. Oh well here’s to waiting for the anthology.

A great album and if you're unfamiliar with the Queen of this era, then this album is a great way to introduce yourself.

Website - Queen
Rating - 9/10

Queen - Queen 2011 Remaster

Genre - Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Classic Rock
Label - Island Records

Tracklist:
01 – Keep Yourself Alive
02 – Doing Alright
03 – Great King Rat
04 – My Fairy King
05 – Liar
06 – The Night Comes Down
07 – Modern Times Rock’n'Roll
08 – Son and Daughter
09 – Jesus
10 – Seven Seas of Rhye…

Bonus CD:
01 – Keep Yourself Alive (De Lane Lea Demo, December 1971)
02 – The Night Comes Down (De Lane Lea Demo, December 1971)
03 – Great King Rat (De Lane Lea Demo, December 1971)
04 – Jesus (De Lane Lea Demo, December 1971)
05 – Liar (De Lane Lea Demo, December 1971)
06 – Mad The Swine (June 1972)

Queens mighty debut album gets the 2011 re-mastering treatment and yet another rerelease here, but to be honest I think they've done a great job. The new re-mastering leaves every note crystal clear, and really shows the original albums tracks in all their glory. Queen features some of my favorite Queen tracks, Liar, Great King Rat, Jesus, Son & Daughter to name but a few, and they sound even better now. For the uninitiated, Queens sound at this time had more in common with the power and pomp of the likes of Led Zepplin than the pop majesties that they later became known for, and the amazing thing is that despite the many sounds you here on this album they famously never used synphs!
The bonus disc is a little disappointing to be honest, yes it does include the often bootlegged but never officially released famous De Lane Lea Demo's, taken directly from Brian Mays own Acetate copy, and Mad The Swine, an outtake that first saw the light of day back in 1991 on the Hollywood records rerelease of this album, but I was hoping that a few other famous gems would get to see an official release like Silver Salmon, Polar Bear (Queens 1972 reworking of the Smile track), and the infamous Hangman, which also exists on acetate. They could have also included the relevant tracks recorded for BBC sessions.
On a whole though it’s still a great release and brings warm fond memories flooding back, and as for the missing demos. Well maybe we'll see them when they release the Anthology set they promised back in 2000 when they released the Freddie Mercury Box Set!

website - Queen
Rating - 9/10