News Of The World 40th Anniversary Box Set - ITS OFFICIAL!

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b].

But in the case of Queen, there isn't a single unreleased version of a song that's better than the final version (and I've hoards of them) - with the exception of the BBC version of Spread Your Wings.
[/QUOTE]

Well, taste and colours... :D

To me, GDML from the raw sessions is so much better with this jam than with the strange noises part that they released.

Another example that comes to my mind is White Queen from the BBC sessions that is closer to the live version and that works to me better than the released version on Queen II. And yes, Spread Your Wings from the BBC sessions, I do agree.

I'd say I prefer 'Keep Yourself Alive' from both 1971 and 1975 to the 1973 version, even though all of them are really good.

'Football Fight' and 'The Kiss' were way better as the Munich demos in my opinion. Piano trumps cheesy synths anytime.

The horn-less 'Staying Power' demo, with guitar harmonies and all.

The raw (and in that case the term is accurate) 'Jesus' demo from 1971, with a much better drum sound.

Highlander version of 'A Kind of Magic'.

Regarding 'All Dead, All Dead,' it's always been one of my big favourites, and right now I do prefer Frederick's vocal on it. Could it be the opposite case? I mean, perhaps I'd gotten so used to the Brian version that once I heard a different take on it (and with the intro vocals included), it was new and fresh and exciting and that may be why I prefer it (even though I love them both). Time will tell...

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

My favourite track is Get Down Make Love because it's the furthest of all the songs from the final version (...)
[/QUOTE]

^^exactly this. Period. Spread Your Wings is a close contender ... but to me, it´s Get Down Make Love the most fascinating stuff to listen to. I love every second of it.

It's a shame they thought of the stupid bit in the middle of GDML at all, as that also ruined the BBC version of It's Late.

[QUOTE] [b]Lord Fickle wrote:[/b]

It's a shame they thought of the stupid bit in the middle of GDML at all, as that also ruined the BBC version of It's Late.[/QUOTE]

It worked very well on stage, in my opinion. It was opportunity for Brian to make some funny, cosmic noises with his guitar and for Freddie to demonstrate his unlimited voice and have a little fun with the vocal delay and make some nice harmonies. His highest notes ever sung comes from GDML middle bit.

[QUOTE] [b]user1 wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] It's this insight into the songwriting process that is the most fascinating part of the disc. [/QUOTE]
This is exactly what we do not get. There are no annotiations in the book regarding the recording process and we have no idea of how many different sources and takes the so called "raw" versions are cobbled together.
What we get is a faked insight, crafted 40 years later. That's basically trying to rewrite history and counterfeit recordings that never existed back in the days. It's really a shame what QP delivers and the term "raw sessions" is just a big lie.

I'd prefer having no "alternative" versions and waiting 40 more years for original historic recordings to this scam.[/QUOTE]

Then the door is right over there.

If you don't experience any joy from these raw takes of Get Down Make Love and Who Needs You, then maybe you should stop posting on a Queen forum since nothing will please you.

And it's all so easy to hide behind such a generic name, isn't it?

[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]

I'd say I prefer 'Keep Yourself Alive' from both 1971 and 1975 to the 1973 version, even though all of them are really good.

'Football Fight' and 'The Kiss' were way better as the Munich demos in my opinion. Piano trumps cheesy synths anytime.

The horn-less 'Staying Power' demo, with guitar harmonies and all.

The raw (and in that case the term is accurate) 'Jesus' demo from 1971, with a much better drum sound.

Highlander version of 'A Kind of Magic'.[/QUOTE]

All good points.

I like the KYA from 1975 because they are that much more refined in the studio, but the 1973 version really does have all the charm and trademarks of the early Queen sound.

[QUOTE] [b]user1 wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] It's this insight into the songwriting process that is the most fascinating part of the disc. [/QUOTE]
This is exactly what we do not get. There are no annotiations in the book regarding the recording process and we have no idea of how many different sources and takes the so called "raw" versions are cobbled together.
[/QUOTE]


I too would have preferred the crappy 60 page book to have had some information (detailed preferably) on the recording process etc.
Perhaps I (we) have been spoilt with this sort information on the Beatles back catalogue. The 130 page Sgt pepper book was a benchmark that Queen (as ever) failed to even remotely live up to.

Like Brian, I prefer the 1971 version of KYA. The bass octave riff really helps the verse, I feel. Kinda nice drum sound as well.

My replacement newspaper for the box set arrived in Canada today, precisely one week after I made the claim for it via the web site. Excellent service, fast and well packaged to stop damage. Can't complain, they righted a wrong at little effort and no cost to me. I wonder just how many were affected?

For anyone interested, some info on song versions from the "Bonus Tracks" CD

1. Feelings Feelings (Take 10, July 1977) – 2011 NOTW Deluxe Edition 2 CD
2. We Will Rock You (BBC Session 6) – On Air, On Air Deluxe Edition
3. We Will Rock You (Fast) (BBC Session 6 w/DJ Chatter) – On Air Deluxe Edition
4. Spread Your Wings (BBC Session 6 w/DJ Chatter) – On Air Deluxe Edition
5. It’s Late (BBC Session 6 w/DJ Chatter) – Exclusive to NOTW 40th , chatter not included on any edition of On Air
6. My Melancholy Blues (BBC Session 6) – On Air, On Air Deluxe Edition
7. We Will Rock You (Backing Track) – same mix used on Greatest Karaoke Hits
8. We Are The Champions (Backing Track) – same mix used on Greatest Karaoke Hits (minus click track)
9. Spread Your Wings (Instrumental) – same mix used on Greatest Karaoke Hits
10. Fight From The Inside (Instrumental) – same mix used on The eYe
11. Get Down, Make Love (Instrumental) – same mix used on The eYe
12. It’s Late (USA Radio Edit 1978) – looks to be the original edit or an extremely accurate reproduction
13. Sheer Heart Attack (Live in Paris, 1979) - 2011 NOTW Deluxe Edition 2 CD
14. We Will Rock You (Live in Tokyo, 1982) - 2011 NOTW Deluxe Edition 2 CD
15. My Melancholy Blues (Live in Houston, 1977) – Edited differently than the B-side version from 1989. Features full banter from Freddie at the beginning
16. Get Down, Make Love (Live in Montreal, 1981) – edit unique to this box. Fading crowd noise at the beginning and ending
17. Spread Your Wings (Live in Europe, 1979) – edit unique to this box. Edit is different than the 1979 B-sides from Japan and the US.
18. We Will Rock You (Live at the MK Bowl, 1982) – edit unique to this box (crowd fade in)
19. We Are The Champions (Live at the MK Bowl, 1982) – edit unique to this box (crowd fade out)

^ So ultimately a confirmation of disc wastage, as nothing really new to speak of unless you like unique crowd fade ins and outs and DJ's of course.

Some of the DJ comments are in BETTER quality on the NOTW boxed set, quite bizarrely!

[QUOTE] [b]Barry Durex wrote:[/b]

^ So ultimately a confirmation of disc wastage, as nothing really new to speak of unless you like unique crowd fade ins and outs and DJ's of course.[/QUOTE]

Three out of five disks are wastage (CD album, vinyl album, and this disk). no wonder QPL did not separately release, a la carte, the alternative NOTW disk and American Dream DVD. Who, beyond completionists, would have bought this over priced box set if a la carte items were available.

Given that only two disks are worthwhile, this box set is really only worth buying if it is less than $50 ... anything higher was/is highway robbery. The $145 price tag at QOL is ludicrous.

In comparison, the Rainbow box set (Queen's only excellent box set) has three worthwhile disks and cost me less than $55 when I pre-ordered it in mid-2014.


... ^

64 euro for the box set = $70

Still at least $20 too expensive than the maximum $50 that I might be willing to pay.

... and of course that exludes any tariffs Trump might have imposed to make America great again.

Not trying to split hairs but the DVD was a wasted disc also, it should have at least been on on a par with the HD BBC broadcast, ie. a blu ray disc!