Barcelona re-release - What the @#8! did they do????

[QUOTE] [b]Zebonka12 wrote:[/b]
Making music as a bereaved person is an act that's rather steeped in catharsis and really do think there's every possibility that the album is more about Brian and Roger (and John) putting out their feelings, using what was available, as opposed to them trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.
[/QUOTE]

Made in Heaven was one of the first Queen albums I bought (after greatest hits and AKOM). At the time I got it, I had no idea that it was Queen's last album or that it was made after Freddie died. I bought it because none of the tracks on it were duplicated on greatest hits or AKOM (so, a good value haha). So basically, I had no foreknowledge of anything to do with MIH when I first listened to it.

The main impression I got from the album as a whole is a wistfulness for days gone by, appreciation for the present, and hopefulness about the future. Despite "heaven" in the title, I didn't connect it to death at all. I didn't interpret "heaven" as "died and gone to" but as "good things come from" and took it as Queen just being cheeky about the quality of the album.

MIH is a good album, but there's nothing of this album really made in heaven, maybe the track 13, but the album counteins 11 tracks, with the last track in three parts...

there are many things interesting in MIH, like example, IWBTLY, a great version, but there are many desapointed things, MLHBS of the album is very weak compairing with the 1989 version, my favorite track of the album is you don't fool me

I never really minded Made In Heaven at all, because the songs on it were, mostly, completely transformed from the Freddie originals into something new. With the Barcelona-thing, I get the impression of something gone wrong halfway between something new and the original freshened up by replaced synth parts.

It could easily have been done like the original (only with a full orchestra in place of synths) but it would have taken a great deal more time and thus money.

DLCVinnuendo wrote:
"MLHBS of the album is very weak compairing with the 1989 version,..."

That's funny! I got the MIH album version first years ago, and its only now that I've finally got the Singles Collection that I've heard the original b-side, and its that one that I think is a bit lame.....lol.

So it could be that it depends on what you're used to.

[QUOTE] [b]thomasquinn 32989 wrote:[/b]
I never really minded Made In Heaven at all, because the songs on it were, mostly, completely transformed from the Freddie originals into something new. With the Barcelona-thing, I get the impression of something gone wrong halfway between something new and the original freshened up by replaced synth parts.
It could easily have been done like the original (only with a full orchestra in place of synths) but it would have taken a great deal more time and thus money.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree. More time, money and maybe a little more musical feeling for the original recordings. Also I agree about MIH - a light year away from the Barcelona project.

Not to derail the MIH discussion, but simply because I have to respond to the original topic:

I just received my Barcelona special edition set. Now, i haven't listened to every minute of the discs, but I'll say this - I too felt the mix was imbalanced (vocals too loud in places, then buried in others) and the orchestra weak when i heard samples online. But that was on computer speakers, not a proper stereo system.

After reviewing Barcelona and Overture Piccante on my high-end stereo... it's stunning. The dynamic range is extreme, so it's more like listening to a MFSL version than it is listening to any radio singles released in the last several years. And of course there are subtleties that we're all used to on the original that sound strange at first, but so far, i'm EXTREMELY pleased with it.

It will never replace the original, but it's a lovely alternative re-imagining of it.

p.s. i'm the obsessive Queen fan in the house, but my wife WEPT within the first minute of Overture Piccante. Do give it a chance...

there should be no comparisons between this "thing" and "Made in Heaven" - OMG!!!
moving on...records should be made with regard to the listener - there's a great picture of Elvis listening to his latest 45 on a cheap plastic portable player; when asked he always replied that he wanted to listen to a single the way his fans do..so let's just suppose most fans have no high-end stereos,ok? this project sucks in oh so many ways - going back and messing with the original piece of work, even if it's no masterpiece, has never been my idea of genius (even if it's removing Spector's production on "Let it Be"!!!) - some small alterations? well even that bugs me (no "long lost guitars" for me, thank you very much!)...the only thing I'm glad about is that this project is being released for the third time! The 1992 reissue, from what I gather, outsold the original - can this one do the same? I doubt it...

Hmmm, sounds like there is enough controversy for me to buy one for sure. Especially since I quite liked the album when it came out.

Reimagining Freddie's work is all we have left now he is gone. Although I can understand why some people wouldn't want to do this.

I listened and found it excellent.

Yep, plenty of people like it and plenty of people hate it. So I just gotta get my own I think.

Additionally I'm just watching the DVD for the first time and notice that they've overdubbed the original audio from the La Nit performances of How Can I Go On and The Golden Boy with the new versions - how totally unnecessary.

I picked this up in HMV yesterday and had a look. I put it back and walked off shaking my head.

"they've overdubbed the original audio from the La Nit performances of How Can I Go On and The Golden Boy with the new versions - how totally unnecessary"

I'd change that to 'utterly insignificant'. It wouldn't be hard to just put the originals on top again. It was mimed anyway, it's not like anything important got replaced. Celebrate - you've got the videos on DVD now!

I will hear and check these Remastered version now !