Hello folks! I am curious as to which Queen concerts were taped for eventual release, and if, and when, all of them were overdubbed post production. I do have the George Purvis book, but I couldn't find mention of the overdubbing process. It seems as if, early on in the days of Youtube, there were quite a few one off videos released that were not *fixed* in post, however, it has been some time, and my memory is likely failing me. Thank you so much!
Mrmarioanonym · Member since
Rainbow 1974:
both the March and November shows were overdubbed way back in 1974 and/or 1975 (vocals, some piano and guitar IIRC).
The 2014 release removes most of the overdubs and is much more complete, but now instead uses digital pitch correction on the vocals and has a weird, artificially bombastic mix too.
Hammersmith 1975:
no overdubs recorded, but the 2015 release pitch-corrects the vocals and fixes some stuff by flying in bits and pieces from other shows (like the legendary goof in Liar or Fred's voice crack in Bo Rhap) and editing the individual tracks. It also has a strange mix.
Hyde Park 1976:
professionally videotaped and multitracked, but only excerpts were ever released. The more recent excerpts have pitch correction. The video master is alledgedly damaged.
London 1977:
both nights professionally videotaped and multitracked, but never released. The multitrack recording malfunctioned on the first night, leaving some tracks blank IIRC (Fred's piano mic and another one?). Some bits and pieces were since scattered on multiple releases as bonus tracks (with probable pitch correction).
Houston 1977:
in-house video plus mono soundboard audio, some tracks released.
Live Killers (European Jazz Tour 1979):
Heavy editing and overdubbing.
London 1979:
professionally videotaped and multitracked in its entirety. Sadly, the multitrack master is purported to be lost.
A handful of tracks released here and there.
Montreal 1981:
professionally filmed and multitracked. Some subsequent vocal overdubs (parts of Play The Game, Another One Bites The Dust, Now I'm Here, Under Pressure, Jailhouse Rock, Bo Rhap rock section, Tie Your Mother Down, Sheer Heart Attack at least) as well as editing together of parts from both nights.
Milton Keynes 1982:
professionally videotaped and multitracked. No overdubs recorded, but for the official release a voice crack on Fat Bottomed Girls was fixed by editing in the vocal from another show.
Tokyo 1982:
professionally videotaped and multitracked. Excerpts included on out-of-print VHS tape and some on the Milton Keynes DVD as a bonus.
Rio 1985:
professionally videotaped and multitracked. Excerpts from both nights on Rock In Rio video.
Some more stuff as b-sides and bonus tracks.
Tokyo 1985:
professionally videotaped and multitracked. Most of the show is available on We Are The Champions: Final Live In Japan.
Wembley 1986:
both nights professionally videotaped and multitracked.
Official release of 2nd night features heavy overdubbing (mostly Freddie's vocals, but some Brian vocals and guitar too).
Official release of 1st night features some mild pitch correction and editing.
Mrmarioanonym · Member since
Sorry for the double post, here's a detailed description of what was redone and edited for Live Killers:
professionally videotaped and multitracked, but only excerpts were ever released. The more recent excerpts have pitch correction. The video master is alledgedly damaged.
London 1977:
both nights professionally videotaped and multitracked, but never released. The multitrack recording malfunctioned on the first night, leaving some tracks blank IIRC (Fred's piano mic and another one?). Some bits and pieces were since scattered on multiple releases as bonus tracks (with probable pitch correction).
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I genuinely believe that Brian just doesn't like the performances. Earls Court - 2 nights to work with. I don't believe the claim about the multi's missing certain tracks - that to me sounds like a claim from someone pretending to be in the know, but actually just based on the bootleg video with a rough mono mix that is unlikely to be mixed from the multitrack. Remember that there were 2 nights professionally recorded - they didn't set up the mobile recording gear and leave it. There would have been a professional sound engineer overseeing it through both gigs, and would have soundchecked it all both nights. We're not talking about a DI'd bass that could be overlooked, but that they apparently failed to record Freddie's piano vocal mic both nights? Nah.
Toozeup · Member since
Bare in mind that everything that was intended for a home video/theatrical release has been released. Some releases like Hammy 75, Rio 85, and Japan 85 were filmed for television and not initially with a release in mind and the quality is sub-par camera and lighting-wise in some cases.
We're lucky we have what we have. Earls Court might be the best contender for a future DVD as they have the live feed for the big screens from both nights to work with (largely close-ups though). Brian has gone on record stating that he hated the acoustics at Earls Court, felt that it affected the band's performance and vowed never to play there again so if he's suppressing anything it's probably EC.
I can't see Houston being released anytime soon due to the sub-par sound and as for Hyde Park, speed issues with the video tape and audio recording have been mentioned plus rumors of instruments missing on the multi-tracks.
Hammy 79 is probably the best untapped video footage in the vault from a technical and performance perspective and supposedly Brian's favorite contender for what was supposed to be the next vault release after Milton Keynes. Only the missing multi-tracks are preventing it's release.
pittrek · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Toozeup wrote:[/b]
Bare in mind that everything that was intended for a home video/theatrical release has been released.
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Well that's depressing.
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Some releases like Hammy 75, Rio 85, and Japan 85 were filmed for television and not initially with a release in mind and the quality is sub-par camera and lighting-wise in some cases.
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Sub-par camera? Have we seen the same recordings?
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I can't see Houston being released anytime soon due to the sub-par sound
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Sub-par sound? Houston? Sub-par???
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and as for Hyde Park, speed issues with the video tape
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What speed issues with video tape? The speed issues which can be fixed by a random person using his PC using free software? Those speed issues?
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and audio recording
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That's a bit worse but not something which should be a problem for a professional audio engineer with professional equipment.
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have been mentioned plus rumors of instruments missing on the multi-tracks.
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That's sad, but maybe somebody could explain to Brian that 90% of the fans are perfectly OK with a raw stereo mix
[QUOTE]
Hammy 79 is probably the best untapped video footage in the vault from a technical and performance perspective and supposedly Brian's favorite contender for what was supposed to be the next vault release after Milton Keynes. Only the missing multi-tracks are preventing it's release.[/QUOTE]
Releasing Hammy 79 would be awesome, it's one of my (or maybe THE) favorite Queen concerts. Again, somebody should explain to Brian that multitracks are not necessary.
cmsdrums · Member since
No mention of Budapest in the listing above?
. · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]pittrek wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE] [b]Toozeup wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE]
and as for Hyde Park, speed issues with the video tape
[/QUOTE]
What speed issues with video tape? The speed issues which can be fixed by a random person using his PC using free software? Those speed issues?
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. · Member since
There is a better transfer of the Hyde Park source that was used for the QTV broadcast (without the logo of course).
It's in limited circulation at present, but it's just a matter of time before it leaks on here.
Holly2003 · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]The Kurgan wrote:[/b]
... it's just a matter of time before it leaks on here.
[/QUOTE]
43 years and counting.
. · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Holly2003 wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE] [b]The Kurgan wrote:[/b]
... it's just a matter of time before it leaks on here.
[/QUOTE]
43 years and counting.[/QUOTE]
. · Member since
The first "scheduled" full broadcast of Hyde Park was the time coded version on QTV in 1989.
It may have been broadcast before that date, but does not appear in any schedules before then.
Subsequent broadcasts got progressively worse, but some decent recordings exist and clips can be found on YouTube.
Fairly recently what is probably one such transfer circulated privately, and is probably the best it's going to get bar an offical release.
Negative Creep · Member since
Just look at all the archives live videos the Stones have released in recent years. They obviously take a hands off approach to them, and allow a team of professionals to work the stuff up and fans love them. They're not even iconic gigs they're releasing.
QPL are sitting on multiple pro shot iconic gigs and are reluctant to release any archive stuff, and when they do they employ their inhouse (un)professionals who badly remix the audio. What a shame!! Hand over all the tapes to Universal, and there'd be a steady stream of amazing releases. Not just video obviously.
Penetration_Guru · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Toozeup wrote:[/b]
[b]Bare in mind that everything that was intended for a home video/theatrical release has been released.[/b] Some releases like Hammy 75, Rio 85, and Japan 85 were filmed for television and not initially with a release in mind and the quality is sub-par camera and lighting-wise in some cases.
[/QUOTE]
Source for this, please.
Also, what was the purpose of filming Earl's Court, Houston, Hammersmith 79, given none of them made it to any release? Are you claiming that because they weren't released theatrically, there was no such intention?
