Jazz appreciation thread

I listened to this album today for the first time in a while, and I totally enjoyed it. While it receives some criticism for not being as stylistically diverse as its predecessors, it still has some fantastic music on it.

Also, I found it much more enjoyable when I shifted the track listing around a bit. I always found some of the song transitions to be a bit choppy, so here's my optimal Jazz running order:

Let Me Entertain You
Fat Bottomed Girls
Bicycle Race
Mustapha
In Only Seven Days
Dead On Time
-----
Jealousy
Don't Stop Me Now
Dreamers Ball
Fun It
If You Can't Beat Them
Leaving Home Ain't Easy
More Of That Jazz

Let Me Entertain You is a total opener, and you can't separate FBG and Bicycle. Dead On Time seems right to close side 1 with the thunder fading out. Jealousy didn't seem to seem right after FBG, or anything else for that matter, so why not start side 2 with it? And finally, I always found there to be too many non-singles in a row on side 2, and so Don't Stop Me Now came a bit too late. So I thought it'd make sense to throw in a rocker after DSMN and Fun It.

Comments?

1. Jealousy's too soft to open a side
2. I disagree with the principle. The album runs fine.

In my opinion, the only problem with the Jazz album, is the sound. I don't know what it is about it, technically, but to me it has always been the worst sounding Queen album. I think it's mainly the drum and bass sound which is the problem.

The production is, indeed, a bit of a problem. Roger's drums sound tinny and crappy.

If I had my way, I'd've made Roger rewrite 'Fun It' and 'More Of That Jazz' into something more acceptable, and booted off 'Mustapha' (I just don't like it). Here's my tracklisting:

Side One:
1. Let Me Entertain You
2. Fat Bottomed Girls
3. Bicycle Race
4. If You Can't Beat Them
5. Fun It
6. Dead On Time

Side Two
7. Dreamers Ball
8. In Only Seven Days
9. Jealousy
10. Leaving Home Ain't Easy
11. Don't Stop Me Now
12. More Of That Jazz (without that terrible montage at the end)

Of their entire 1970s output, I find Jazz to be the least likeable of the bunch, although it has some excellent songs on it. In fact, the weakest are 'Mustapha' and Roger's two, but what drives me away is not only the programming (agreed that it's terrible; you can't split 'FBG' and 'Bicycle Race', no matter how stupid 'Bicycle Race' is) but the aforementioned production. Queen would've been better off with Mike Stone again, or just producing themselves; as Roy Thomas Baker had just worked with The Cars, this sounds very much like Queen copying that band. If you listen to their first album, you may note a lot of the same production values.

Also, the singles from Jazz were way off. Here's what I would've done:

'Fat Bottomed Girls' / 'If You Can't Beat Them' (double A-side)
'Let Me Entertain You' / 'Dead On Time' (double A-side)
'Don't Stop Me Now' / 'Mustapha' (non-album B-side)

Thanks for the input, all.

Agreed, Jealousy wasn't the best choice for a single... but I still like it as a side opener. Side B's first song doesn't always have to be a rocker. If not, then with my track listing, there would be 3 weaker tracks in a row.

Opinions make the world go round. That's why I like this place.

great thread idea GH

the thing that boggles the mind is the choice of Mustapha as the 1st track.although a great song,would have been better suited as a tail ender ala Teo Torriate.That being said i love this record and Dead on time is the undisputed champion of overlooked songs.Can anyone tell me why that is?surely someone at electra or emi could have figured that out right?

Songs I love from this album

Fat Bottomed Girls
Bicycle Race
Mustapha
Dead On Time
Don't Stop Me Now
Leaving Home Ain't Easy
More Of That Jazz

This is definitely one of my favorite Queen albums and I don't know why it is so underrated. FBG and BR go together better than other other double sided single in existance. Mustapha is a fun upbeat track just below DSMN in terms of that style. DOT is a great hard rock track, MOTJ and a cool sounding little track with Roger giving one of his best vocal preformances and LHAE always make me sad and really shows how good of a vocalist is and how somehow his voice is definitely better suited for certain songs (like TMLWKY).

Yup, Jazz is one my big favourites. But the drums sound tinny?? No way. A bit flat and kinda thumpy. But certainly not tinny.

And I like the tracklisting as it is.

Peace,
Adam.

Jazz is one of the worst (I say worst but it's still good) Queen albums. Mustapha is stupid!! Bicycle Race and Fat Bottomed Girls are good. Jealousy is tied for the best song on the album with Don't Stop Me Now and Let Me Entertain You. Rest is not very good. Jazz isn't underrated, it's very overrated!!

I simply adore Jazz and, perhaps even more so, the accompanying tour. But how can Let Me Entertain You not open the album? Dead on Time and In Only Seven Days are personal favorites. Great pic inside the album of them laying around in the studio. (yes there were other pics besides the naked hotties!)

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Lord Fickle wrote: [/QUOTENAME]In my opinion, the only problem with the Jazz album, is the sound. I don't know what it is about it, technically, but to me it has always been the worst sounding Queen album. I think it's mainly the drum and bass sound which is the problem.[/QUOTE]

It does sound a bit "raw", if you want to call it that. It does lack a little but none the less a good record. I believe they shoudl have put Let Me Entertain you as the openin track, its sooo perfect

It's really an interesting topic.
I love Jazz and it's my third favorite album. I think "Fun It" and "More Of That Jazz" are weak, though. Btw, I'm not dissatisfied with the original running order. "Mustapha" is suitable for the opening all the more for its weirdness and "Jealousy" is pretty good between "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race". But "Let Me Entertain You" might be suitable for the second position. In Jazz, I've enjoyed the difference between two songs next to each other about some pairs. And Jazz is the one in which we could appreciate their honed skills, especially Freddie's various vocal skills.

"Let Me Entertain You" sounded bad on the album, very choppy and strained. Actually irritating. But it was brilliant live. I think this is an "album vs. live contrast" as great as the Hot Space songs. (Though I like the Hot Space songs.)

--Egret

I think Roger's drums sound very powerfull on the album. Also a very nice clear bassguitar of John, just listen to Jealousy or Let Me Entertain You.

Vocally, it's one of the best Queen albums, maybe THE best. Many underrated songs, I love the album.

What the album needs is a bloody good remix! I did one of DSMN some time ago, which I think sounds good, even without the extended before and after parts.

http://rapidshare.de/files/3103716/Don_t_Stop_Me_Now__Fickle_Mix_.mp3.html

I think the running order is OK, but I would definitely move Jealousy to allow the pairing of Fat Bottoms and Bicycle Race. I think a straight swap between Jealousy and Bicycle would do. The two RT tracks are definitely the weakest links. I found a review of Jazz, which may be of interest, as it echoes many of the comments here:-

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=que-jazz