An Extended Version Collection

I don't think they could do much with the Queen Rock Montreal DVD, in terms of things like re-instating "Flash" and "The Hero" and putting "Jailhouse Rock" back as the encore. The footage QP had to work with was basically all Mobile Vision left them to work with. Brian said there was no other footage available, it was all long gone.

The best thing they could under the circumstances was leave it more or less alone (though they tried to repair the intro to "Now I'm Here"). The audio synchs up better than the We Will Rock You version. 

It's not perfect, but I think given what they had to work with, it's pretty good.

Just my opinion, though.

Indeed, plenty to keep us ammused. I can understand people wanting rarities, I do to; but there is about 140 unreleased tracks that freely circulate, and with a little effort alot more you can get hold of. Add in the hundreds of song versions that are around and all is well, mostly.

From a fan purchasing 'Box of Tricks',  on through all the bonus tracks added to CD singles and HR CDs and 12" releases, just to get the extended versions.  Upon one listen to 95% of what you listed, my opinion still is:   remastered sh*t still equals sh*t.  Or, put more diplomatically, garbage in=garbage out. 

That line stays with The Freddie Mercury Insult and TGP and GH3 releases as well.  Pity that I see the latter two in the used section bins of my record store (along with the 'Lover of Life' release).

I am so glad that other artist releases, such as  Sinatra, Hendrix, Doors,John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Beatles, Zeppelin, Van Halen, Dream Theater, Metallica, et al...............didn't resort to this rubbish.

Rhyeking, re:

>I don't think they could do much with the Queen Rock Montreal DVD, in
terms of things like re-instating "Flash" and "The Hero" and putting
"Jailhouse Rock" back as the encore.

Ha ha - that's EXACTLY what was wrong with the release and, IMHO, unforgiveable.

*goodco*, re:

>95% of what you listed, my opinion still is:   remastered sh*t still
equals sh*t.  Or, put more diplomatically, garbage in=garbage out. 

I think that is true for many of the extended versions that have been issued over time.  It's another case of Queen jumping on the dance bandwagon and trying to remain contemporary when, all the time, what we REALLY want the band to be is a ballsy, guitar, drums, bass & vocals rock band.

In my view, the only extended version with any merit is the Hammer To Fall (Headbangers Mix)

>That line
stays with The Freddie Mercury Insult and TGP and GH3 releases as
well.  Pity that I see the latter two in the used section bins of my
record store (along with the 'Lover of Life' release).

My point exactly - a polished turd is still a turd.

I like most of the extended versions, they're fun.

To each his own, I guess.

I love the extended versions. They're great... mostly.

There's a semi-official extended version called "Peace In the Middle East Mix", which was released only in Israel to celebrate the latest round of peace talks. I don't know who remixed it and if Queen had anything to do with the release and the mix, but it sounds really good. I'd love to upload it here, but I might get slapped on the wrist if I do. Maybe I'll try YouTube...

V.

Yes, I have that version. I don't have my notes in front of me to check where it came from, but I'm pretty sure it was unofficial.

According to QueenPictureHall: 

"A semi-official 12" single was released in 1993 with a mix of Thank God It's Christmas and a special picture sleeve. Only 250 numbered copies should exist plus a white label test pressing."

Interesting. Any more info would be appreciated!

V.

Here's the video I made for the mix - all photos are taken from the Gaza Strip. V.

rhyeking wrote: Okay, as I watch the ball game, I decided to put together what I feel would be a Queen release which would appeal to seasoned fans and casual buyers as well.

I sort of divided up the tracks between the poppier numbers and the heavier tracks. I think the flow works well and other than some third-party remixes, all the Extended/12" Versions are accounted for.

Disc 1
A Kind Of Magic (Extended Version)
Radio Ga Ga (Extended Version)
Under Pressure (Club 2000 Mix)
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure (Extended Mix)
The Invisible Man (12" Version)
Scandal (12" Mix)
Back Chat (Extended Version)
Staying Power (Extended Version)
I Want To Break Free (Extended Mix)
You Don't Fool Me (Late Mix)

Disc 2:
One Vision (Extended Vision)
Hammer To Fall (Headbanger's Mix)
Breakthru (Extended Version)
It's A Hard Life (Extended Version)
Friends Will Be Friends (Extended Version)
Machines (Instrumental)*
Keep Passing The Open Windows (Extended Version)
A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling (Extended Version)
Man On The Prowl (Extended Version)
One Year Of Love (Extended Version)
Innuendo (Explosive Version)

* I included this even though it's not extended, per se, and was available on the US 7" singles as well as the 12" singles, but I think it fits well, deserves a proper remaster and since Queen included it on the Box Of Trix 12" Collection, I don't feel bad including it myself here.

If there weren't enough hits or recognizable Queen tracks, QP could commission a new Extended Version "Another One Bites The Dust," though there are plenty of existing mixes to pick from (just please no Miami Project mixes).

I'd also suggest any or all of the following versions, as there is room on each disc:

"Headlong (Video Version)"
"I Want It All (Rocks Version)"
"Radio Ga Ga (Instrumental)"

There's even room for "Bohemian Rhapsody" (finish Disc 2 with it, it works best there)...

_-----------------------------------------------------_-_--------------------------

WHAT!!! and no BLURRED VISION????

THAT'S THE GREATEST SONG EEEVER!!!

*Unless there's more source material... why on earth would someone want to ruin ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST??

Oh and just so ya know... this sort of album would NOT appeal to seasoned fans and casual listeners... as the former already have it (but they'd buy it if it came in a 12" sleeve...collector's status of course) ....and Casual listeners would be dismayed that "WTF???... Where are the hits??!!"

So this sort of collection would likely be served well as a promo collector's edition (1 mailed to me for coming up with the marketing idea....the other mailed to rhyeking) to market that QUEEN COMPLETE COLLECTION everybody's been waiting on.

(of course it should be released in a formal box set--if that is ever forthcoming)

Benn wrote: Rhyeking, re:

>I don't think they could do much with the Queen Rock Montreal DVD, in
terms of things like re-instating "Flash" and "The Hero" and putting
"Jailhouse Rock" back as the encore.

Ha ha - that's EXACTLY what was wrong with the release and, IMHO, unforgiveable.
The "Flash" and "The Hero" footage is long gone, and JR was edited into the concert proper, rather than it's rightful place in the encore. That's Mobile Vision and Saul Swimmer's fault.

The Queen Rock Montreal release, in my opinion, is yards better than the original We Will Rock You release, even if QRM isn't perfect.

Looking at it the other way, if Queen got the rights after Swimmer died and released nothing, deciding that with so little original footage left there was no point, would that have been better (academic question, not trying to start anything)? All we'd be left with is the now-out-of-print WWRY editions, which a lot of people weren't happy with.

I do agree that another full, proper concert release would be great in the near future, preferably something few of us have seen. The recent Wembley and Montreal concerts weren't particularly new (more like updates), where as I'd never seen the Milton Keynes concert before (except a few clips).

Well, Milton Keynes had never been released in its entirety prior to the release of QOF. VH1 used to run an edited for TV one-hour version, but I had never seen it (except for STL on Rare Live) before QOF was released.

V.

matt z said:

****Oh and just so ya know... this sort of album would NOT appeal to seasoned fans and casual listeners... as the former already have it (but they'd buy it if it came in a 12" sleeve...collector's status of course) ....and Casual listeners would be dismayed that "WTF???... Where are the hits??!!"***
+++++++
I agree that some, but not all, seasoned fans would not be turned on by this release. I have all these tracks too, from various sources, in various degrees of mastering quality (from pretty good to great). The appeal for me is getting them remastered and on one nice, clean (**cough** and inexpensive **cough**) set.

As for casual fans, each disc is about an hour, so as I noted, there's room for additional padding in the form of hits. Though there are a good number of hits present, just none from the '70s. So, include BoRhap, the original AOBTD, WWRY, WATC and a few others.

Sadly, there is no room for "Blurred Vision," however much I like it. 

:-(

as to TGIC:   thank you, bigV...........we've had the vinyl for over 15 years, and tonight was the first time we've ever listened to the ext version (we didn't know, purchased only for its uniqueness).  Nice pix, btw.

Probably the only time we'll ever listen to it.