New takes on well-known tracks - A BIG LIE

TRS-Romania wrote:

I was tempted to buy the 3 new tracks individually from iTunes, but they are album-only songs (apart from Love Kills) and I was not willing to shelf out any money on the other songs that I already have on other albums (regardless if they are remastered, which in most situations just means a louder mix, clipped and more compressed)

So I downloaded the 3 new songs from a well known torrent site.

In the Netherlands only TMBMTLTT is an album only track, so here at least 2 out of 3 are available separately. So I'm currently enjoying these two legal versions.

Most cynical release?
Guys, you are forgetting ''Stone Cold Classics''.

Saying that, this release has only one thing in what i am interested, Let me in, so is the only thing i will get.

While this is obviously a disappointing release for the dyed on fans. I think it's a pretty crafty one from the marketing perspective. The MJ song is presumably to try and get his fans on board.the Queen bandwagon. TMBMTLTT is a clever choice too I think because it's a beautiful ballad written by Freddie. Once they've listened to that, some might well be hooked! They also get to listen to all the other great tracks that so many will have never heard before.

The three "new tracks" are probably the absolute minimum for the established fans to buy the product, and then they are only songs that have been heard before in one shape or another. That might well be to leave more shots in the locker of what is clearly a limited resource.

Then the array of some of Queen's greatest songs may also be designed to get the new fans on board, who may well have been brought in by the latest tour with AL.

So they you have folks a group that once was classy with its releases to a now failing band that could not give a toss
what it puts out for the fans who have loyally loved and supported this group for many many years.
My money stays now stays in the bank until the people involved in this release get there fingers out and give us
a product that is actually worth money and not chocolate buttons.

tomchristie22 wrote:

Generally, I think 'anthology' here is supposed to refer to a release in the same vein as The Beatles' - a collection of demos, alternate takes, live versions and such. QZ users have often referred to such a hypothetical release.

Thank you, yes, this is what I meant. Of course I know all the demos that have leaked but it would be nice to have all of that in an official release with improved sound quality where possible. And the things in the archive that we haven't heard yet.

I suppose such a release would be most logical if all other Queen projects are in the past so it will happen - like they've said for years - it might take another ten or twenty years...

Doga wrote: Most cynical release?
Guys, you are forgetting ''Stone Cold Classics''.

Except that release and it's nearly identical re-release "Icon" were US/Canada only releases. "Queen Forever" is worldwide. So yes, I still stand by my comment on that basis.

The Queen fan club asked the question years ago as to "what do the fans want in a delux box set"
but this was over 19 years ago and it still has not happened and never will.
We do get treated appallingly as fans.

gerry wrote:

at least if freddie was around he would be very grand and careful with attention to detail and tracks.

Live Killers and Live Magic, anyone?

For some reason, Queen have a reputation for being perfectionists. They're not - far from it.

Both of these live albums should be "remade" into box-sets with full gigs.

winterspelt wrote:

joerijoerijoeri wrote:

Here's to hoping a proper anthology will be released. (...) I'd so much rather have unfinished demos in good quality (or any quality) than bullshit remixes or simply re-releases of the same tracks.

Well, there are 3 greatest hits, 1 platinum collection and another one with Hits 1&2, 1 greatest hits off the hits ("absolute best") 1 Rocks, lots of Deep Cuts and now Forever, I think we dont need any "proper" anthology, there's plenty of them.

As for the demos, you can find here lots and lots of demos in different quality.

But neIther one of those releases has delved into the depths of unreleased material. What you're talking about happens to be the sum of greatest hits 1,2 & 3 ....


Where's your argument? .

There was nothing NEW except the PROPER RELEASE OF thank god it's Christmas on CD. (THE USA got it in a
Rare QUEEN COLLECTION boxed set from HOLLYWOOD RECORDS ; the green one)


I had bought the CROWN JEWELS from them around 2001 and in spite of all its claims to have UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS *( the bare MINIMUM to be considered for BUYING A COLLECTION THAT COST OVER $100... It had and HAS none of the such.


It was an embarrassing lie. The selection was cool. The hinges broke the third time I opened it. And they were all in White paper sleeves.


So much for a collector's item. IT OFFERED NOTHING .... repeat. .. NOTHING NEW.


I was fucked over just like any other well meaning fan.

And WHEN The FM solo collection came. .. There was no edition costing less than nearly $300 including shipping and handling.

This whole thing has been marketed by business owners who can't conceive of the gratitude and RESPECT that would be accorded a proper catalogue release containing rarities.


Don't stand by them. I don't expect shit from them. It's SHOCKING that the RAINBOW concert has gotten a release. It's upsetting but then again in reality it's been that way since the old Anthology was being thrown around in conversation.


I'm saving that for Christmas in a bad year to look forward to something (opening it on Christmas day, yes). But interestingly. Nobody holds the reigns on their material but themselves.


I won't be buying stuff from QPL for a long long long time.


It's inconceivable.

Tired of lamenting. Let's just get fired up and get down to talking shit.


That would MUCH more enjoyable.


If the net is for geeks who think and care too much. Let's be a butt sore on their ass

any proper ANTHOLOGY would focus on the efforts of the band and sketches, demos as well as the final tracks. It would be consummately engaging and tell the story of the band with rare excerpts.

At least that's what I think.

Maybe it's asking too much being a fan that BUYS THEIR ALBUMS (until the last 8 years)

nickESB ; You may turn your nose up at "Live Killers" or "Live Magic" but it was a million times better
than the awful shit(Queen Forever) that May & Taylor are putting out now.
The good old regal Queen days when a new Queen album was an occasion to buy in the record shop!
Memories are bliss!

I still guess/hope/dream they put the minimum of "new songs" on this collection and held back some other tracks for a full album. I know these hopes are around for ages in us, but "hope is the last thing that dies...." (S04)

btw: Orbit Mix of "Let Me In Your Heart Again" grows and grows. The more I listen to it the less I feel it to be butchered......

I think if we were going to get an album full of new goodies then it would have been included on Queen Forever.
It seems to me that Brian & Roger included all the other album tracks just to get the 3 new tracks on to the album.
In my opinion it would have made sense to to make an e.p cd disc instead, if that is what they done this for.

except that releasing compilation albums with one or two "new" tracks on is nothing new. big bands tended to do it to get fans to re-buy a collection in order to have the new tracks

No, Gerry, this Album was planed a long time ago as a sampler of love songs, it was never intended to be a regular studio album (although Brians and Rogers interviews over the last year sounded that way....). I think this release was forced by Universal and it needed this minimum of "new tracks" for reaching some sales.