Complete Works (Purvis book)

Had a flick through this in HMV today. A shameless cash grab with the movie out (like it was on it's run in 2011 with the 40th anniversary). A truly hopeless work - with totally subjective views on songs and no useful commentary to those wishing to dig deeper. Possibly scribbled down while listening to the records for the first time and with an out of date Wikipedia page open. Unlike, say, Nicolas Pegg's comparable Complete David Bowie (which it's obviously based on) which is well worth the cash.

Anyone got it? Any views?

As with the film: I like it. But unlike the film, it's not a parody, it's a serious work.

I wonder if there's much that's new in the updated version..

I have the updated 2011 edition and it's worth what I paid for it at the time, there is a lot worse out there.

I received the Complete Works (Revised and Updated) yesterday and I found that he added to the Mad the Swine song was performed live in 1971 and 1972, and even played once during the 1974 USA your, giving credit to Gary Taylor information about this. So I'm looking for more new facts.

No, that was Fat Bottomed Girls

Thanks for the review, dysan. Unlike what you claim, it wasn't a cash-grab; in fact, I make so very little money from the book that it's a labor of love. When it first came out in 2007, there was nothing going on in Queen's world. Every other update has been at my instigation, but not for cash. If you could see my bank statement from the royalties I get every six months, you would change your tune pretty quickly.

As for the research, it goes back to when I first became a fan in 1993 -- so that means about 25 years' worth of research went into the book.

And there is a lot of new stuff in the book. It's been seven years since the last update, so that means seven years' worth of information that's come out since then.

[QUOTE] [b]GAP wrote:[/b]

I received the Complete Works (Revised and Updated) yesterday and I found that he added to the Mad the Swine song was performed live in 1971 and 1972, and even played once during the 1974 USA your, giving credit to Gary Taylor information about this. So I'm looking for more new facts. [/QUOTE]

Is it worth getting the new updated edition? I enjoyed the 1st one a few years ago.

Thanks for replying. Glad I could be of assistance for the next reprint :)

I seem to be in the minority regarding the quality of the book so that's something for you to take away from this. And lets face it, it's still better than anything official out there :D

I loved the book - I have the 2007 edition and still flick through it more often than I'd care to admit.

It's a good piece of work. I hope to get the updated version soon.

It's too objective to be 'good'

It needs a neutral tone to be a useful document..

I assume Sebastick was involved in it's creation?

No, it's all me. And the objectiveness has been toned down for the third edition; I realized no one, not even me, cared about what I thought about the songs, what's good and what's bad. It's more neutral. Maybe instead of lambasting it while flicking through it, you could read it on your own time and come up with a more thorough review.

Not sure why you're getting a bee in your bonnet over this.

Yeah I agree with that. I think I've got a bee in my bonnet about everything Queen related at the moment. Will spend longer next time.