Roy Thomas Baker

Why did Queen and Roy part?

the question is why did they hire him back in 78. he shaped their sound well enough by 75 that they didn't need him going forward. ANATO and NOTW were fantastic sounding albums. hiring him back didn't help their sound in 78. i really hate the drum sound on Jazz.

i'm going to speculate a little... The Cars debut was released June 1978. They may have liked the sound.

Jazz recording sessions started July 1978.

He left Britain and moved to America. By 1978, things were so tense that they could use a ref.

I would like to add that after the success of their previous albums, along with the music scene was changing so they needed to show that their new album (jazz) would have new sounds with something from their past. Roy was the bite in terms of marketing the album, Jazz the forthcoming album produced by Roy since Anato.

RTB had moved to the USA by1978

That year, he produced The Cars debut album

I think it went gold in the USA and was a huge critical success as well as three hit singles

Maybe Q wanted a bit of that

It's debatable if Jazz benefited from RTBs production which was more 'The Cars' than Queen

The vocals were superb tho imho

If you adjust the EQ, increase little the bass , sub, and the mids, decrease 6k to minus and increase little bit 16khz all other flat, then sounds improve very much. Also It works great for QII, The Miracle and Innuendo.

If you adjust the EQ, increase little the bass , sub, and the mids, decrease 6k little and increase more 16khz, leave all other flat, then the sounds improve very much. Also It works great for QII, The Miracle and Innuendo.

I think Sebastian's post is a likely reason, but why RTB and not someone who would bring something new. Way back in the 80's I was discussing this subject with a some who told me the reason was contractual. They apparently signed a deal with Baker to produce either three or two albums in 74 or 75, I don't remember the exact years or numbers. I think it may have been in 75 as I believe John Read was involved.

By ADATR they felt they didn't need him so went ahead without him, but by Jazz for the reasons stated by Sebastian and the legal obligation of the deal RTB was back.

With or without RTB A day at the races and News of the world were great albums and boasted some amazing singles, "We are the champions" " Spread your wings" " Somebody to love"
"Tie your mother down" i have no complaints there!

Brilliant question. Shocked that the answer hasn't been explained by the band in countless interviews or not even asked here before a million times.

I've now read that he was part owner of Trident. That explains alot.

He did the first four 'Cars' albums. And he worked wonders on Journey's 'Infinity' and 'Evolutions' albums at the time

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Thomas_Baker

Didn't know of the 'strife' regarding Queen. Not to be nosy, but I'd like to know more.....as well as WTW were they thinking with the drum mix.....

I don't mind the so-called problems with the sound of the record. It is what it is. I imagine it was more down to using a new studio? A claim many artists use on perceived sonic dodginess.

Perhaps a Jazz 2018 mix might happen like the recent Bowie Lodger 2017 remix by Visconti?

But he did give Queen a nice touch when he was on board I must say.