The Best Live Versions of Somebody to Love

Here's my opinion:

1. Stockholm 78
2. Montreal 81 (the one on the DVD)
3. Rock In Rio 85 First Night
4. Hammersmith 1979
5. Buenos Aires 3/8/81
6. Newcastle 12/3/79
7. Stockholm 77
8. Stafford 78
9. Tokyo 5/8/85
10. Leeds 82

Thoughts?

The Live at the bowl version is the best one for me

1) Newcastle 3/12/1979
2) Hammersmith Odeon London: 26/12/1979

Monterrey and Puebla 81 are excellent too..

I guess it depends on what your preferences are, and what you are looking for in the song:

Here's a breakdown of some versions I've taken a liking to, and they are grouped into "recommended" categories based on credentials (not in any real order):

RAW POWER:

1. Rio (1st Night) * Also on other category
2. Stuttgart 1984
3. Berlin 1984
4. Frankfurt 1984
5. Either Tokyo 1985 gig

"HIGH NOTE" VERSIONS/STUDIO NOTE REPLICAS:

1. Newcastle 1979 (1st)
2. Newcastle 1979 (2nd)
3. Hammersmith 1979
4. Inglewood 1980
5. Oakland 1980
6. Sao Paulo 1981 (1st)
7. Edinburgh 1982 (1st)

CREATIVE VOCAL IMPROVS/SOLOS:

1. Stockholm 1978
2. Copenhagen 1978
3. Philly 1977
4. Stafford 1978
5. Either Puebla 1981 gig
6. Monterrey 1981
7. New York 1977 (2nd)
8. Rio (1st night)

SOULFUL/EMOTIONAL VERSIONS (usually either on the note phrasing, or the vocal improvs/solos)

1. Montreal 1981 (either night)
2. Milton Keynes 1982
3. Kassel 1982

OTHER VERSIONS THAT I LIKE (with explanations):

1. Buenos Aires (2nd gig): Has some raw power, awesome phrasing, and nails the bridge notes
2. Buenos Aires (3rd gig): Same as above + higher notes in the outro
3. Either Vienna 1982 version: Awesome phrasing + creative note interpretations
4. Munich 1982: Sounds like a mixture of the Crazy Tour versions (notes), 1981 versions (the improvs), and has Milton Keynes phrasing.
5. Leeds 1982: Very daring outro, it's pretty much like a more higher note/more daring version of the Milton Keynes performance.
6. New York 1978 (2nd night): Freddie is very creative with his note interpretations!

Best version without a doubt is 9/7/1984! Freddie hits them notes in a wonderful style :D

Haha Adam I swear you and 9/7/84 are gonna get married one day :D - But don't worry, I'll send you guys a gift ;)

Gregsynth: Yes, all those a great but I think Rock In Rio First Night is by far the most underrated. I never understood why people never pay attention to that version. To me, it is a much stronger and more emotional version than Milton Keynes

As for the Milton Keynes vs Rio version: I'd tie them. Here's my breakdown:

We're only going from the vocal intro to the 2nd chorus (since Rio's is shorter):

Power: Rio
Variety: Rio
Phrasing: Milton Keynes
Use of range: Tie (He shows off more range in the intro at Rio, but on the rest of the song, it's Milton Keynes)
Sustain: Milton Keynes
Emotions: Tie (Rio has more "heroic" emotion, while Milton Keynes has more "heart in it" emotion)

I'll take MK in '82. I'd use that as the best representation of Freddie & Queen as a whole!

why hasnt anyone mentioned Copenhagen 1977?

For Sheer emotion i would go with Live at the bowl

Haha. I swear, the Milton Keynes version always gets mentioned!

@marvin

do u have a link to the copenhagen show?

Here's Copenhagen 1977!