Was Freddie's solo career ever meant to rival Queen ?

We will never know if Freddie really planned to leave Queen if the album had been a no1 success but apparently he was disillusioned very soon. Mack tells the story how Freddie underestimated the work load and how he did not enjoy the recording in Munich, so maybe it's true that Freddie only started the project because Roger and Brian already had solo projects and he felt he had to have one, as well. At least he said that in all interviews he did on Mr. Bad Guy.

I always thought that the production of the album was very substandard and I always liked the Queen versions of Made In Heaven and Born To Love You better than the Bad Guy version. The songs are not bad, just the lack of good production shows and we know from Eddie Howell and Peter Straker that Freddie was able to deliver a good production, so maybe his heart was not in it. The mid 1980s were not the most creative time in his life, anyway as Sebastian already pointed out.

Barcelona proved in the end that Freddie was able to create something unique and outstanding outside Queen. He had the motivation and a great co-writer and producer in Mike Moran.

[QUOTE] [b]YourValentine wrote:[/b]

We will never know if Freddie really planned to leave Queen if the album had been a no1 success but apparently he was disillusioned very soon. Mack tells the story how Freddie underestimated the work load and how he did not enjoy the recording in Munich, so maybe it's true that Freddie only started the project because Roger and Brian already had solo projects and he felt he had to have one, as well. At least he said that in all interviews he did on Mr. Bad Guy.

I always thought that the production of the album was very substandard and I always liked the Queen versions of Made In Heaven and Born To Love You better than the Bad Guy version. The songs are not bad, just the lack of good production shows and we know from Eddie Howell and Peter Straker that Freddie was able to deliver a good production, so maybe his heart was not in it. The mid 1980s were not the most creative time in his life, anyway as Sebastian already pointed out.

Barcelona proved in the end that Freddie was able to create something unique and outstanding outside Queen. He had the motivation and a great co-writer and producer in Mike Moran. [/QUOTE] Yea, Freddie had more than one project outside of Queen...MR. Bad Guy was a weak album, no debating that...But did some nice cover songs, The Great pretender is one of my favorites along with My Defense. Both had nice production and Excellent Vocals. Barcelona was in my opinion better than any 80's Queen album, aside from The Game... Of course that's a matter of opinion. He was back being the old creative Freddie.. The Miracle doesn't compare with Barcelona, that was a step back for Mercury....

It's possible he was LEARNING how to be a solo artist with Mr Bad Guy. Something he'd mastered for TGP and Barcelona.

[QUOTE] [b]Martin Packer wrote:[/b]

It's possible he was LEARNING how to be a solo artist with Mr Bad Guy. Something he'd mastered for TGP and Barcelona.[/QUOTE] could be, but I personally think those projects turned out better for the simple fact he had more time to work on them. For Barcelona he was on down time from Queen, no tours, not working on a Queen album. He had talented writers working with him. Mike Moran kept pushing him. And not to be overlooked was the fact that Freddie wasn't partying every night anymore, it was all about his work again, like the opera and Races days.

I agree, Mike Hunt. 1985 was perhaps the worst time to work on a solo album. Freddie seemed to be little motivated and his creativity was on an all time low. He had not written a hit for Hot Space and The Works and there was nothing new and unique in his writing. I don't want to speculate on personal and private stuff but overall it seemed not to be the happiest time with Queen being on the verge of splitting up.

Everything was different with Barcelona: he was highly motivated by the chance to work with MC, there was a creative challenge, Mike Moran was a much bigger help than Mack who was not a composer and Queen was on leave but had recovered as a band after Live Aid and Magic tour.