Singles Box #3 now on pre-order... I'm almost tempted - ALMOST

[QUOTE]GT wrote:

I think most people would agree that this was the most sensible decision and you get Forever on CD single for the first time. [/QUOTE]

Huh?  I've had FOREVER on CD for 23 years now.  Kind Of Magic (US-Capitol) has it.  I see we've been keeping up to the QPL standards of research.

One thing you might wanna keep in mind, GT.   We Queen fans have A LOT of stuff on CD you don't think we have.  Release the good stuff, not this crap!!!

And the reason for the delay in releasing this?   The first two are NOT selling, contrary to what some would have you believe.  I'm shocked they're even bothering with Volume 4.   But those 12 people are going to want to complete their set.

UK CD album release of AKOM has "Forever" on it as well.
To be fair, i suppose they needed to come up with something to add as the second track on the disc, but how nice would it have been if they'd plumped for the film version of AKOM instead - it appears on the GVH2 DVD as one of the menu tracks I believe, so it's not like they didn't have the master lying around.
Typical lack of thought and originality from QPL.

As you know guys, the reasoning behind this box set project was to recreate the 7" singles on CD and not just put any old rare track onto a 'b' side as it just wouldn't of fitted in.

The reason we chose 'Forever' as the 'B' side, even though it is only on the 12" , is because it was agreed that no tracks should be repeated throughout this series. So that was the most obvious choice to use or you would of had 'Killer Queen' again. The same problem was met for the 'Friends' single.....luckily we needed another disc for the 'Princes' single and it worked out well that a double 'A' side was made.

And yes the 'Forever' track was a bonus track on the CD albums, we do realise that....but we meant that this was the first time on a CD single, as that is what this project is about.

And yes 'Singles Collection 4' will still be released.....and will include some more track listings that people will not all agree with.

... and is there any chance to get something like a "12inch boxset " ?
I'd love to get all the extended remixes / instrumentals etc. on CD

GT wrote:

And yes 'Singles Collection 4' will still be released.....and will include some more track listings that people will not all agree with.
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I have a feeling Gary that you've been "let off" quite easily so far with the track listings of the first three boxsets - they pretty much do what it says on the tin and are 98% faithful.
However i think you're potentially in for a lot of stick over set 4 depending on what you "fill it up with".
Of course, i do hope you know that we all realise that you yourself probably have very little say in the final tracklistings - I can't see you sitting there in a heated argument with Brian, Roger & Jim telling them what they SHOULD be putting out, so don't take anything said on QZ personally - unless I'm wrong and it IS all your fault! LOL ;)

While I'm expecting things like the Five Live EP from the tribute concert, I hope it doesn't include all the rubbish "collaborations" like Vanguard's Flash and Wyclef jeans "AOBTD" - that would just be one step too far and a major p*** take.
Of course, I wouldn't expect to see Queen & Robbie Williams as that wasn't a single release (but you can put it on if you like), but I would expect to see Queen & Five, and if there's a FULL version of WWRY with Britney, Beyonce & Pink, then THAT would be fine addition as well.

Of course, QPL could surprise us all and give us the OFFICIAL USA SINGLE releases of Liar and It's Late.....
(I won't hold my breath)

Box Set 4, like all the other boxes will only include QUEEN singles.......now that's a clue.

The reason 'It's Late' and 'Liar' (and some others) weren't in this series is because they were not hit singles!

I have a feeling Gary that you've been "let off" quite easily so far with the track listings of the first three boxsets - they pretty much do what it says on the tin and are 98% faithful.
However i think you're potentially in for a lot of stick over set 4 depending on what you "fill it up with".
Of course, i do hope you know that we all realise that you yourself probably have very little say in the final tracklistings - I can't see you sitting there in a heated argument with Brian, Roger & Jim telling them what they SHOULD be putting out, so don't take anything said on QZ personally - unless I'm wrong and it IS all your fault! LOL ;)
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We can only suggest what makes it onto this project......the big boys actually deal with the final outcome. The track listing will always upset some people and everybody has a different view, but we try and stick to a general rule of thumb that the tracks had to be on the appropriate single when it was first released.

And you are right Box 4 did throw up some problems not least because a few of the singles were not issued on 7" and so we had to include tracks that were on the CD singles etc. We knew this right from the beginning but a good compromise was agreed and everything is covered.

Thanks for your concern over people making comments at me, but I never take anything personally.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I really hope that Box 4 will give "Under Pressure (2000 Club Mix)" a CD release, as it is in my opinion one of the best (if not THE best) Queen-related remixes ever!

I won't ask you to confirm or deny that it will be present (my guess would be no), but just a thought to keep in mind.

V.

Here's a thought... What are the odds that "The Miracle" will have the hologram cover? :)

V.

GT wrote:

The reason we chose 'Forever' as the 'B' side, even though it is only on the 12" , is because it was agreed that no tracks should be repeated throughout this series.

Quite ironic really when the whole series is, in essence, another set of re-releases of tracks that we've had on numerous hits/best of etc..etc.. compilations!!

I suppose this goes to show that even back in 1986, by including Seven Seas.., Killer Queen etc.. as single B Sides, Queen were afraid to release anything 'new' or 'risky' or 'exciting' such as demos, unreleased tracks etc.. but plumping instead for old singles that we're already by then heard a million times! :-)

cmsdrums wrote: GT wrote:

The reason we chose 'Forever' as the 'B' side, even though it is only on the 12" , is because it was agreed that no tracks should be repeated throughout this series.

Quite ironic really when the whole series is, in essence, another set of re-releases of tracks that we've had on numerous hits/best of etc..etc.. compilations!!

I suppose this goes to show that even back in 1986, by including Seven Seas.., Killer Queen etc.. as single B Sides, Queen were afraid to release anything 'new' or 'risky' or 'exciting' such as demos, unreleased tracks etc.. but plumping instead for old singles that we're already by then heard a million times! :-)

For those who are interested in this kind of thing, this is the trade ad for the latest 'Singles Collection 3' box set.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]GT wrote:[/QUOTENAME] Box Set 4, like all the other boxes will only include QUEEN singles.......now that's a clue.

The reason 'It's Late' and 'Liar' (and some others) weren't in this series is because they were not hit singles! [/QUOTE]

So no Under Pressure Rah Mix ?

There are a couple of things which I seriously don't understand about these single boxes.

1) Why 13 singles in one box ? Why not 10 ? Why not 20 ?
2) Why is there no booklet explaining why did you chose the tracks you used and not others ?
3) Why do the discs have the same "uniform" labels and not a re-creation of the original disc labels ? I have the Japanese mini-vinyls and what I love about them is that they're EXACT replicas of the vinyls, including the labels, the paper type used for the covers ...
4) Why did you skip so MANY singles ? These boxes inspired me to create a list of all singles which feature unique versions of songs (or non-album tracks) and you skipped  SO MANY songs :-( It's very sad that we are not "allowed" to own songs, which were released only on 12" singles. Or US-only remixes. Or the 1991 Hollywood Records remixes - well I know they all suck, but still - a collector wants everything.
5) Who is the planned "end customer" ? I mean an "average Joe" can't be interested in a box containing discs which he needs to change every avg. 8 minutes, with songs from a band he heard about on radio. And a "collector" will be angry because these boxes are not really "collectible items".
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the new remasters and I really like the re-created covers, but this "project" seriously screams at you "sorry but I'm incomplete"

I hope you understand what I'm trying to say, I had beer for lunch :-)

pittrek wrote:

4) Why did you skip so MANY singles ? These boxes inspired me to create a list of all singles which feature unique versions of songs (or non-album tracks) and you skipped  SO MANY songs :-( It's very sad that we are not "allowed" to own songs, which were released only on 12" singles. Or US-only remixes. Or the 1991 Hollywood Records remixes - well I know they all suck, but still - a collector wants everything.
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Not ALL the Hollywood Records 1991 remixes were bad. Some were decent and some were quite good. Really, the only one I don't like was the "Bicycle Race" remix. That said, I'd listen to it several times over rather than listen to something like "Time Of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. It's all about keeping some perspective.

In my opinion...

Really good:
"Liar"
"You're My Best Friend"
"I'm In Love With My Car"
"Tie You're Mother Down"
"Fat Bottomed Girls"
"Stone Cold Crazy (TR)"
"Another One Bites The Dust (Long Dusted B-Boy Version)"
"Hammer To Fall (Malouf)
"I Can't Live With You (Malouf)"

Decent enough:
"Ogre Battle"
"Stone Cold Crazy"
"Somebody To Love"
"We Will Rock You" (I know I'll get slammed for it, but I like this remix)
"Body Language"
"Tie Your Mother Down (TR)"

Could take or leave:
"The Seven Seas Of Rhye"
All the other WWRY remixes by Rick Rubin
"Flash's Theme"
"Another One Bites The Dust (Ogilvey Mix)"
"Dragon Attack"

Ugh:
"We Are The Champions"
"Bicycle Race"

I'd also like to remind people, and some of you may not be aware, that when Hollywood Records got the rights to Queen's catalogue, they knew it was gold mine and did a MASSIVE promotion in 1991/1992. They could have just re-issued the albums, but they went many steps further and flooded the market with promos to radio stations, DJs and record stores. They had four different guys remaster all the albums from Queen to The Miracle (and theses are still among the best remasters currently [or ever] available. See the on-going discussions on this in The Best Remasters thread) and loaded the CDs with bonus tracks (Remixes, B-sides, Original 12" Mixes).

Hollywood Records ought to be commended for the sheer effort they put into promoting Queen, whether you like every single remix or not. There were so many promos that we're still trying to track all the edits, remixes and versions they pumped into the market!