Tie Your Mother Down (Best/Worst/Favorite Versions)

I love wasting bandwidth, so here's another thread:

What's your take on this song live? There are many excellent versions played live, and it's different from tour to tour!

Here's a list of my favorite versions:

London (10/6/1977)
New York (12/2/1977)
Copenhagen (4/13/1978)
Hammersmith (12/26/1979)
Hamburg (5/16/1982)
Kassel (5/18/1982)
Leiden (6/11/1986)
Leiden (6/12/1986)
Paris (6/14/1986)
Berlin (6/26/1986)
Manchester (7/16/1986)
Cologne (7/19/1986)
Frejus (7/30/1986)

I don't know the best version, but I do know that the worst versions are from Japan 1979 (for obvious reasons).

Please don't shoot me, but I have a soft spot for Wembley 86, especially when accompanied with the video. It comes across as very vibrant, and reminds me of the first time I saw it even with Freddie's vocal struggles in places.  The Live Killers era versions are played way too fast for me, and 86 has a far better tempo.

ps - I don't have the full Budapest 86 gig on bootleg - can anyone advise why they cut a huge chunk out of the middle of this track on the VHS release? (and Crazy Little Thing...too??)

Cheers

^ probably due to the limitations in the VHS, they do the same with Rainbow, Montreal, Rio, Japan, Wembley...

If they release Budapest in Bluray/DVD complete versions of TYMD, AOBTD, Guitar Solo, CLTCL will emerge, along with the acoustic set.
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Problably my favourite version of TYMD is Milton Kaynes or Montreal, i don't know what. And Budapest if i could see the full version.

(All the songs of Montreal are fantastic, in my point of view, the ''dry mix'' of Swimmer ruined the gig, Rock Montreal is a must, very underrated in my opinion. Budapest is great too, maybe their best recorded gig, hope for a complete release)

This one ;) V.

I like personally Mannheim '86 version with it's great power! )

Budapest and Knebworth versions were happening! Alot of fire in those performances...

Most 1986 performances are fantastic! I like the 1977 versions of the songs also but some of the worst versions come from Jazz and Works!

Not my favourite (live) song. I do prefer the 70s versions though, mainly because of the tight harmonies.

I've never liked the song, but the first place I ever heard it (Live Magic) remains the best IMO. Works great as the second song on the album. And much shorter too!

12/2/1977 (New York), is an excellent version: Great harmonies (as Rick said), and an overall great atmosphere.

cmsdrums wrote:

"Please don't shoot me, but I have a soft spot for Wembley 86, especially when accompanied with the video. It comes across as very vibrant, and reminds me of the first time I saw it even with Freddie's vocal struggles in places.  The Live Killers era versions are played way too fast for me, and 86 has a far better tempo."

Completely agree.  My favourite versions are Wembley and Budapest.  And San Francisco 77 - it's pretty incredible to see it on that 8mm film.  That explosion might be the single best of Queen video footage in existence.

"can anyone advise why they cut a huge chunk out of the middle of this track on the VHS release? (and Crazy Little Thing...too??)"

Probably just to shorten the length of the video (Love Of My Life too).  Performance-wise there was nothing wrong with what they cut.

My personal favourite is the Knebworth performance. Not sure why, maybe it has something to do with the fact that it was the first live version I ever heard (on Live Magic), or because you can feel that Freddie knows he sings it for the last time ...

I know it's not (strictly) Queen, but my favourite version is the Freddie Tribute Concert. Nice to see Brian sing the first verse, even if he wasn't meant to (though of course, the spontaneity is probably what I like) and slash's solo is fantastic.
Roger's fill at the end is a nice touch too. :)

I can't be the only one who think this song was done great on the QPR tours. If we try to ignore Paul (who by no means does a bad version of it) we have very tight harmonies and fanstastic instrumentals.

While I can't say a specific version since I no longer have a larger collection of either tours I'll just mention the RotC version.

I would also say that TYMD grew when played after Freddie's death. The extra length given to the song by not ending it straight away on the third "all your love tonight" makes it a better song.

j0ck3 wrote: I can't be the only one who think this song was done great on the QPR tours. If we try to ignore Paul (who by no means does a bad version of it) we have very tight harmonies and fanstastic instrumentals.

While I can't say a specific version since I no longer have a larger collection of either tours I'll just mention the RotC version.

I would also say that TYMD grew when played after Freddie's death. The extra length given to the song by not ending it straight away on the third "all your love tonight" makes it a better song.  
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Yeah, the QPR versions were pretty much spot on, but a bit slow in my opinion.