A Day at the Races vs Innuendo

It must be said that Innuendo and A Day at the Races are my two favorite Queen albums.  I have never been able to choose which I favored more though.  So, I'm quite interested in reading some comments on these two grander than grand albums, and which, if you had to choose, is the more appealing of the two and why. 

As a starter:

A Day at the Races

This album has a very dark, romantic texture which carries on very strongly throughout the entire album.  It is the only Queen album that gave me that feeling of a complete experience.  Also, the music is incredibly emotional (You Take My Breath Away, You And I, Somebody To Love, in particular).  On a final note, each musician shines throughout the album.

Innuendo

It was a shock and awe experience upon first listening to this album.  The strength, creativity, and musicianship is overflowing!  Not much else can be said about this masterpiece.  The perfect way to end the story of one of rock's most successful careers.

Innuendo for me all the way...

But that doesnt leave ADATR with out its merrits... for when I first heard it, Blew my mind...

Both great albums and they both stand up very well in this thing we call time and getting old.

I agree. Both are standouts, for me. Emotionally, of course, Innuendo brings its own merit...but, in some cases, I notice a lack of the rich overdubbing of backing vocals, and, I miss them. They are a signature of the Queen sound, for me. I don't know if they just decided to go a different route, or, if they simply ran out of time to do them. Still a beautiful album, in my opinion.
I didn't buy the album for a long time. I had quit buying music for a time...quit listening, really. Then, Freddie died, and, I feared hearing the album, knowing there could be no more, after. I finally bought it, listened to it...and, was overwhelmed. So beautiful.
ADATR has always been a favorite of mine. A few really different sounds on that album that work really well for me. Superb!

I stay with midle Innuendo and middle A Day at the Races. Hava music i like in Innuendo and have musics i dislike... the same with a day at the races!! But both are exelent... Innuendo have more shock stile and A day at the reces mix rock, romantic and other stile...... But both are great!!!

IMHO, Innuendo was a great rerun to form but had too many shite tracks.  IGSM is a fan favourite, not a personal fave so dismiss that from my criticism as I may be wrong, Delilah and The Hitman are pure filler and ICLWY and Headlong tread the same major chord rocker ground.  I find everything on Races to be fresher with the test of time, but innuendo is a great last album after so long together,  Would have been the perfect ending if they stopped there.

Innuendo is a great album, and is truly a queen masterwork, but ADATR is better IMO.  Races is the perfect mixture of Queen music.   A band only has one prime, and the early to late 70's was queens.

The sound quality on Hitman ruins Innuendo for me; I mean that as a complete listening experience, of course.  If I just listen to the odd track from the album, I usually come away very satisfied.  It was their best work in years.
[/QUOTE]

I wonder if they remastered Innuendo if they could improve the sound a bit, also the first album,  and Jazz. All great albums that could use a remastering Job.

mike hunt wrote:

I wonder if they remastered Innuendo if they could improve the sound a bit, also the first album,  and Jazz. All great albums that could use a remastering Job.

Agree ... specially on Innuendo; I´m still dreaming of a new remaster .... even a new mix !!

Steven wrote:


A Day at the Races

This album has a very dark, romantic texture which carries on very strongly throughout the entire album.  It is the only Queen album that gave me that feeling of a complete experience.  Also, the music is incredibly emotional (You Take My Breath Away, You And I, Somebody To Love, in particular).  On a final note, each musician shines throughout the album.

Dude ... you´ve described ADATR exactly as I´ve always felt it. The same reason why this will always be my fave Queen album.

Innuendo has three weak songs, Hitman, Delilah and Don't try so hard.  All God's people is a little stretched also.  The rest of the songs are great, but makes for an uneven album.  A day at the Races seems more consistent to me, in the quality of the music.

i stay with A Day at the Races,, because of the "Tie your mother down" adn "White man"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HANDS DOWN -- A Day At The Races for me. No question ! No argument.

Every song is listenable and strong. Great melodies and orchestration (no synths - remember!) for everything - in my view THIS album demonstrates the band at their peak. They were on such a high after ANATO that their creative juices flowed ... and flowed ... and flowed.

I still see it as perfectly married to ANATO. They should sell these as a set.

Sheer brilliance !

we must admit fact,that Innuendo will be never happened if Freddie was not hiv-positive...so i think those albums are not comparable.

'Innuendo' is like having a Ferrari after four or five consecutive VW Beetles; 'Races' is having a rocket ship (on its way to Mars!) in a golden era.