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Post by scapp70 on Aug 2, 2020 6:40:56 GMT
As a Queen fan from the 1970s, around the time of Hot Space, it was a bit difficult for me to come to terms that Queen has ventured into a new sound far from what they once were all about. The album didn't sell as well, especially here in America. Thank goodness for some recent releases like Flash Gordon, Fun In Space and even Star Fleet because it assured me that the band still rocked hard they way they used to. I remember reading in Circus magazine, an interview about their upcoming album, The Works. They assured me, via this interview, that the band were coming back with an album that sounds like it could have been released around the time of News of The World. I was very excited to hear Queen return to the sound that I loved and held so sacred.
I bought the album, and judging from the front cover it didn't scream rock royalty the way their album covers had done in the previous decade. I got it home, put it on my turntable and heard an electronic drum sound and heavy synths. I felt betrayed. Sure Tear It Up was next up, and while the guitars were loud, Roger's electronic drum sound still permeated my ears. The lyrics were unimaginative, it sounded like a glorified jam session. Man on the Prowl sounded like a cheap attempt in cashing in on some recycled Crazy Little Thing Called Love leftovers. I Want To Break Free sounded a lot like the music that was playing on the radio, and they substituted Brian's solo slot for more synths for goodness sake. The only songs I really gravitated to were It's A Hard Life, Is This the World We Created and Machines.
Not only did Queen not return to their News of the World glory days on this album, but it seems that that Queen was gone forever. In fact, the rest of the eighties kind of journeyed on the trajectory that started with The Game. Queen were a powerful heavy rock band, even when they didn't really rock. Songs like Bring Back That Leroy Brown, My Melancholy Blues or Seaside Rendezvous still sounded like heavy rock to me, despite that they weren't even close. Queen had become a contemporary light pop band with just a few hints sprinkled throughout their albums that they are a band that had hard rock roots. It took me a while to warm up to The Works, in fact I like it a lot these days, although I never really listen to A Kind of Magic or The Miracle much at all.
I'm glad that the 1970s came back in fashion in a retro kind of way in the 1990s. I believe this is why Queen ended up giving us an amazing album like Innuendo. I love Queen's entire catalog for the most part, although I find that their 70s output was one perfect, blemish-less album after another. I wonder how those Queen fans who became a fan in the 1980s feel about their 70s albums. Do they find them inferior to 80s Queen?
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Aug 2, 2020 7:49:55 GMT
When they said it's back to the sound of News Of The World interpret it differently, it's got the diversity of genres that they haven't done for a long time.
I think the thing is they had to make an album like The Works to be successful not just that but to save the band. Hot Space was a commercial failure so it needed to be a hit to justify to the band of the point to stay together. (At that point I don't think rock was as successful for anyone compared to the 70s so doing what was popular in the charts at the time seems the best formula.) Even after the album they all we're getting to breaking point and if hadn't of been for Live Aid, it could've been the end of Queen.
Both Brian and Roger think highly of TW, for several years after they put this album as their favourite Queen one. To this day Roger still has this I think at the top of his list alongside Sheer Heart Attack. Which I think is a coincidence because I refer to The Works as the 80s SHA. I think if Queen had done SHA in the 80s it would've sounded like the TW.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 2, 2020 16:37:36 GMT
As a Queen fan from the 1970s, around the time of Hot Space, it was a bit difficult for me to come to terms that Queen has ventured into a new sound far from what they once were all about. The album didn't sell as well, especially here in America. Thank goodness for some recent releases like Flash Gordon, Fun In Space and even Star Fleet because it assured me that the band still rocked hard they way they used to. I remember reading in Circus magazine, an interview about their upcoming album, The Works. They assured me, via this interview, that the band were coming back with an album that sounds like it could have been released around the time of News of The World. I was very excited to hear Queen return to the sound that I loved and held so sacred. I bought the album, and judging from the front cover it didn't scream rock royalty the way their album covers had done in the previous decade. I got it home, put it on my turntable and heard an electronic drum sound and heavy synths. I felt betrayed. Sure Tear It Up was next up, and while the guitars were loud, Roger's electronic drum sound still permeated my ears. The lyrics were unimaginative, it sounded like a glorified jam session. Man on the Prowl sounded like a cheap attempt in cashing in on some recycled Crazy Little Thing Called Love leftovers. I Want To Break Free sounded a lot like the music that was playing on the radio, and they substituted Brian's solo slot for more synths for goodness sake. The only songs I really gravitated to were It's A Hard Life, Is This the World We Created and Machines. Not only did Queen not return to their News of the World glory days on this album, but it seems that that Queen was gone forever. In fact, the rest of the eighties kind of journeyed on the trajectory that started with The Game. Queen were a powerful heavy rock band, even when they didn't really rock. Songs like Bring Back That Leroy Brown, My Melancholy Blues or Seaside Rendezvous still sounded like heavy rock to me, despite that they weren't even close. Queen had become a contemporary light pop band with just a few hints sprinkled throughout their albums that they are a band that had hard rock roots. It took me a while to warm up to The Works, in fact I like it a lot these days, although I never really listen to A Kind of Magic or The Miracle much at all. I'm glad that the 1970s came back in fashion in a retro kind of way in the 1990s. I believe this is why Queen ended up giving us an amazing album like Innuendo. I love Queen's entire catalog for the most part, although I find that their 70s output was one perfect, blemish-less album after another. I wonder how those Queen fans who became a fan in the 1980s feel about their 70s albums. Do they find them inferior to 80s Queen? To cut a long story short, yes. I prefer 80's queen. I know I am in the minority though. The Works is a great album, but in my opinion, The Miracle is far better.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Aug 2, 2020 18:05:48 GMT
To cut a long story short, yes. I prefer 80's queen. I know I am in the minority though. The Works is a great album, but in my opinion, The Miracle is far better. i completely accept that people for various reasons can/do prefer Queen's 80s output. however, for me, the best analogy i can make is that: actually preferring Queen's 80s music, is like getting on a City Tour Bus when it's on it's way back to the depot.
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Post by saintjiub on Aug 2, 2020 19:52:11 GMT
To cut a long story short, yes. I prefer 80's queen. I know I am in the minority though. The Works is a great album, but in my opinion, The Miracle is far better. i completely accept that people for various reasons can/do prefer Queen's 80s output. however, for me, the best analogy i can make is that: actually preferring Queen's 80s music, is like getting on a City Tour Bus when it's on it's way back to the depot. Despite me believing that most of Queen's 80's output is subpar, I must defend your opinion in self-defense, as I too have dubious unpopular Queen opinions:
- The Miracle is one of my favorite Queen albums (l really love KS, tIM, Breakthru and RMF)
- I think Innuendo is overhyped and ranks in the bottom fifth of their albums (I only really like tAtDoOL)
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Aug 2, 2020 21:02:26 GMT
I think Innuendo is overhyped and ranks in the bottom fifth of their albums (I only really like tAtDoOL) Wow, someone who agrees with me. I rank it very low. I don't know why but it's missing something in terms of sound or content (lack of acoustic?) and the songs I struggle to love. I realy like The Show Must Go On and Don't Try So Hard but I reckon neither of them come in my top 30 favourite Queen songs.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Aug 2, 2020 21:35:15 GMT
I think Innuendo is overhyped and ranks in the bottom fifth of their albums (I only really like tAtDoOL) Wow, someone who agrees with me. I rank it very low. I don't know why but it's missing something in terms of sound or content (lack of acoustic?) and the songs I struggle to love. I realy like The Show Must Go On and Don't Try So Hard but I reckon neither of them come in my top 30 favourite Queen songs. That makes three of us! I like Innuendo (the track), TATTOOL, and TSMGO, but nothing else on it really stands out for me, and the production is flat and unexciting as well.
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Post by saintjiub on Aug 2, 2020 21:49:14 GMT
So many heretics ...
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 2, 2020 21:55:16 GMT
Wow. I'm surprised with the Innuendo comments.
My favourite album by the fellas.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Aug 3, 2020 11:05:52 GMT
Wow. I'm surprised with the Innuendo comments. My favourite album by the fellas. Why do you in particular like it so much? What's your favourite song on it then?
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Aug 3, 2020 11:29:04 GMT
Wow. I'm surprised with the Innuendo comments. My favourite album by the fellas. This is very arguable, by my impression is that a lot of people like either 70s or 80's/90's Queen, but not that many people like both in equal measure. I would guess that the people who came to like the band later on (post Freddie?) would prefer the later stuff, and the people who have been fans from the start, would still prefer the early material. It still amazes me the amount of fans around who have only really heard the Greatest Hits, and have never really dipped their toes in the deeper album cuts from the 70s.
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Post by scapp70 on Aug 4, 2020 14:11:20 GMT
Wow, I'm surprised at the Innuendo comments as well. I thought it was very widely regarded by the Queen fans. I pretty much like the whole album - except for The Hitman and Delilah of course. The title track I would put right up there with The Prophet's Song.
BTW, on a totally separate subject - I'm a big fan of Queen reaction videos on YouTube, but I can't stand that there are those reacting to BoRhap pretending like it's the first time that they heard the song. I think by this point, possibly only the deaf haven't heard BoRhap...possibly.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 4, 2020 17:05:19 GMT
Wow. I'm surprised with the Innuendo comments. My favourite album by the fellas. Why do you in particular like it so much? What's your favourite song on it then? The title track. Its my favourite Queen song in general.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 4, 2020 17:06:17 GMT
Wow, I'm surprised at the Innuendo comments as well. I thought it was very widely regarded by the Queen fans. I pretty much like the whole album - except for The Hitman and Delilah of course. The title track I would put right up there with The Prophet's Song. BTW, on a totally separate subject - I'm a big fan of Queen reaction videos on YouTube, but I can't stand that there are those reacting to BoRhap pretending like it's the first time that they heard the song. I think by this point, possibly only the deaf haven't heard BoRhap...possibly. I love The Hitman!
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Post by scapp70 on Aug 4, 2020 19:04:59 GMT
Wow, I'm surprised at the Innuendo comments as well. I thought it was very widely regarded by the Queen fans. I pretty much like the whole album - except for The Hitman and Delilah of course. The title track I would put right up there with The Prophet's Song. BTW, on a totally separate subject - I'm a big fan of Queen reaction videos on YouTube, but I can't stand that there are those reacting to BoRhap pretending like it's the first time that they heard the song. I think by this point, possibly only the deaf haven't heard BoRhap...possibly. I love The Hitman! For me, the heavy songs from the 1980's such as The Hitman fall into the same category of others like Tear It Up or Gimmie the Prize. Something that sounds like a glorified jam session turned into a song to fill an album. Despite the heaviness of the song, there's no sincerity behind it. As far as the 80s go, a song like Princes of the Universe gets it right. It sounds like it was first dreamed up, then brought to the band, then fleshed out together into the song. Khashoggi's Ship and Party are good ones, imo, despite the drum machine. When I compare these to the heavy songs from the 1970's like Sweet Lady, Now I'm Here, Death on Two Legs, Dead on Time - there is a totally different feel that's both organic and authentic. None of these songs sound like they're trying to sound like anyone else. Brain's finger-tapping a la Eddie Van Halen on Gimme the Prize is so cringe-worthy to my ears.
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Aug 5, 2020 9:35:45 GMT
I'm a '70s Queen-fan, and I *love* Innuendo. I like the 'gentler' production (although it is dated somewhat, but not nearly as much as Hot Space/The Works/A Kind Of Magic/The Miracle) and the fact that they found a balance between the classic Queen-sound and the use of synths and other 'new' sounds. It is a varied album, some great performing feats (the vocals on Don't Try So Hard, the guitar on Bijou) and, to me personally, it sounds more like a whole than any of the '80s albums. The greatest tracks for me personally are Innuendo and Don't Try So Hard, and there are 'only' two I don't like so much - Delilah and I Can't Live With You - but I don't really *hate* them, and all '80s albums (and some '70s albums) had songs I like even less (Sweet Lady...).
As for The Works - it's always seemed to me like it wasn't really an album. I got the idea that they came up with a bunch of radio-friendly singles and just bundled them up because they needed to put out something resembling an album.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Aug 5, 2020 11:26:51 GMT
As for The Works - it's always seemed to me like it wasn't really an album. I got the idea that they came up with a bunch of radio-friendly singles and just bundled them up because they needed to put out something resembling an album. Looking at it now I believe that this was deliberate because after the commercial failure of Hot Space, they needed success again to justify the future of Queen. Having two huge singles meant that the album sold well in a lot of countries so they were very popular again globally. But I can see why people don't like the album as much but it doesn't stop me from ranking it at least in the middle of my list.
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Post by Chopin1995 on Aug 5, 2020 14:11:23 GMT
I'm a '70s Queen-fan, and I *love* Innuendo. I like the 'gentler' production (although it is dated somewhat, but not nearly as much as Hot Space/The Works/A Kind Of Magic/The Miracle) and the fact that they found a balance between the classic Queen-sound and the use of synths and other 'new' sounds. It is a varied album, some great performing feats (the vocals on Don't Try So Hard, the guitar on Bijou) and, to me personally, it sounds more like a whole than any of the '80s albums. The greatest tracks for me personally are Innuendo and Don't Try So Hard, and there are 'only' two I don't like so much - Delilah and I Can't Live With You - but I don't really *hate* them, and all '80s albums (and some '70s albums) had songs I like even less (Sweet Lady...). I agree with everything. Don't Try So Hard is the masterclass of singing, so many details there. One of my favourite Queen songs and vocal takes ever recorded. And this song feels to me like a cousin of The Show Must Go On, which is also stunning. These Are The Days Of Our Lives is probably Roger's magnum opus. The 2nd half of I Can't Live With You is wonderful, with all those ad-libs from Freddie and Brian's guitar work.
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antonio
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Post by antonio on Aug 10, 2020 20:32:03 GMT
As a 90s Queen fan, i prefer the 80s stuff.
I´m not a big 70s fan. They had incredible songs but also a very bad ones too... The list of the songs that i don´t like is bigger in the 70s...The Night Comes Down, Jesus, Some Day One Day, Fairy Feller´s Master Stroke, 75% of Sheer Heart Attack, Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon, Seaside Rendezvous, 70% of Jazz...In the 80s they had bad songs but...A few ones less...
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Aug 10, 2020 21:32:29 GMT
I'm a fan from the late noughties and have always liked the 70s stuff more. Although when I was younger I liked the 80s stuff almost as much including Hot Space on par as Sheer Heart Attack or News Of The World or even higher. Now it's a lot more different. My favourite albums tend to be the technical ones which have had a lot of producing.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Sept 2, 2020 3:56:23 GMT
Hole smokes, I'm surprised to read Innuendo isn't rated highly by some fans. For me, it's a remarkable conclusion to Queen's career -- taking the best elements of the 70s and 80s and creating a perfect album.
Okay, back to The Works...
The major difference is that whereas News of the World was taking risks, The Works was playing it safe. For the most part, The Works shows Queen not evolving, aside from showing further mastery in creating mainstream pop (Radio Gaga). But stuff like Tear It Up and Man On The Prowl show Queen revisiting their past. Beforehand, the band was always looking forward. Not backward.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Sept 2, 2020 7:31:00 GMT
Hole smokes, I'm surprised to read Innuendo isn't rated highly by some fans. For me, it's a remarkable conclusion to Queen's career -- taking the best elements of the 70s and 80s and creating a perfect album. Okay, back to The Works... The major difference is that whereas News of the World was taking risks, The Works was playing it safe. For the most part, The Works shows Queen not evolving, aside from showing further mastery in creating mainstream pop (Radio Gaga). But stuff like Tear It Up and Man On The Prowl show Queen revisiting their past. Beforehand, the band was always looking forward. Not backward. Exactly how you described Innuendo on the elements bases is what I think of The Works. It's my favourite of the albums 1978-1991. Brian and Roger used to say that this was one of their absolute favourite Queen albums. They said it in the old fan club magazines. I just find Innuendo incredibly boring. The sound on the album to me is dull so that probably doesn't help. The drums at the start of the title track should be enough to get me into it but it doesn't.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Sept 2, 2020 11:48:47 GMT
Hole smokes, I'm surprised to read Innuendo isn't rated highly by some fans. For me, it's a remarkable conclusion to Queen's career -- taking the best elements of the 70s and 80s and creating a perfect album. Okay, back to The Works... The major difference is that whereas News of the World was taking risks, The Works was playing it safe. For the most part, The Works shows Queen not evolving, aside from showing further mastery in creating mainstream pop (Radio Gaga). But stuff like Tear It Up and Man On The Prowl show Queen revisiting their past. Beforehand, the band was always looking forward. Not backward. Exactly how you described Innuendo on the elements bases is what I think of The Works. It's my favourite of the albums 1978-1991. Brian and Roger used to say that this was one of their absolute favourite Queen albums. They said it in the old fan club magazines. I just find Innuendo incredibly boring. The sound on the album to me is dull so that probably doesn't help. The drums at the start of the title track should be enough to get me into it but it doesn't. That's interesting. The way I explained Innuendo could definitely be applied to The Works. But the difference is that Innuendo reached further back into the early to mid 70s for inspiration. The title track reminds me of something like The Prophets Song (not so much Bo Rhap which it's often compared to). I'm Going Slightly Mad reminds me of the more cabaret numbers like Seaside Rendezvous. And the overall way the album is layered and complex harks back to those very early albums. I can still listen to that record and hear small things I missed. I don't feel I can say the same for The Works. Again, it sounds like the band were trying to play it safe in 1984. But that's not to say the material isn't excellent. Everything sounds awesome and I give huge kudos for the pop mastery of Radio Gaga, one of my favorite Queen songs. While you find Innuendo's sound dull, I find it introspective, reflective, and unique. The Works, in contrast, sounds like a party album; loud and exciting with songs like Tear It Up and Man On The Prowl. With Innuendo, even a faster tempo song like Ride The Wild Wind sounds like something I could meditate to (fast drums in stark contrast with the melody helped with this effect). Overall, it's just a really chill album that doesn't try to prove anything, but speaks volumes, especially within the context of the band knowing they were recording on borrowed time.
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on Sept 3, 2020 7:46:53 GMT
When they said it's back to the sound of News Of The World interpret it differently, it's got the diversity of genres that they haven't done for a long time. I think the thing is they had to make an album like The Works to be successful not just that but to save the band. Hot Space was a commercial failure so it needed to be a hit to justify to the band of the point to stay together. (At that point I don't think rock was as successful for anyone compared to the 70s so doing what was popular in the charts at the time seems the best formula.) Even after the album they all we're getting to breaking point and if hadn't of been for Live Aid, it could've been the end of Queen. Both Brian and Roger think highly of TW, for several years after they put this album as their favourite Queen one. To this day Roger still has this I think at the top of his list alongside Sheer Heart Attack. Which I think is a coincidence because I refer to The Works as the 80s SHA. I think if Queen had done SHA in the 80s it would've sounded like the TW. I totally agree with you, moreover the connection with ANATO and NOTW is that they used similar music kyes on their songs, Hammer to fall similar with its late, tear it up similar with wwry style, it's a hard life very close to Bohemian rhapsody parts, especially on some guitars, Brian wanted a similar guitar solo with Bohemian in this songs, his solo can be heard on his guitar licks tutorial 1984. I Want to break free has similar acoustic guitar with who needs you demo and radio gaga has both worlds recording techniques of 70s and mid 80s. The works just needed some more songs to become a milestone album for the 80s (I go crazy, Love kills, man on fire or killing time and there must be more to life than this).
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Sept 4, 2020 11:15:56 GMT
I find The Works to be a fun album, it's exciting in that sense due to lots of different tempos and musical styles. I think that is what albums like Innuendo lack. I generally consider The Works to be the best of Queen at that point, they knew from Hot Space what techno sounds worked best (e.g. the rhythms), they continued the fresh backing tracks technique from Mack and The Game but most importantly got back to doing their classic 70s rock sound which I don't think they did properly since News Of The World.
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on Sept 4, 2020 11:27:21 GMT
I find The Works to be a fun album, it's exciting in that sense due to lots of different tempos and musical styles. I think that is what albums like Innuendo lack. I generally consider The Works to be the best of Queen at that point, they knew from Hot Space what techno sounds worked best (e.g. the rhythms), they continued the fresh backing tracks technique from Mack and The Game but most importantly got back to doing their classic 70s rock sound which I don't think they did properly since News Of The World. That is very correct, I love Innuendo for its music Bijou, Innuendo, Ride the wild wind, I can't live with you, Days of our lives etc have great song writing and lyrics. Also instrumental are great tracks too. Along with the 4 new MIH songs show what music orientation Queen would have if Freddie was, still alive for few years. The works is great album also Flash the first side along with 3 songs, from the second is great piece of instrumental music, very pioneer
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Sept 4, 2020 13:20:41 GMT
I find The Works to be a fun album, it's exciting in that sense due to lots of different tempos and musical styles. I think that is what albums like Innuendo lack. I generally consider The Works to be the best of Queen at that point, they knew from Hot Space what techno sounds worked best (e.g. the rhythms), they continued the fresh backing tracks technique from Mack and The Game but most importantly got back to doing their classic 70s rock sound which I don't think they did properly since News Of The World. That is very correct, I love Innuendo for its music Bijou, Innuendo, Ride the wild wind, I can't live with you, Days of our lives etc have great song writing and lyrics. Also instrumental are great tracks too. Along with the 4 new MIH songs show what music orientation Queen would have if Freddie was, still alive for few years. The works is great album also Flash the first side along with 3 songs, from the second is great piece of instrumental music, very pioneer It's great that you enjoy it, but nothing about the music of the Flash Gordon-soundtrack is "very pioneer". Not at all.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Sept 4, 2020 13:40:56 GMT
That is very correct, I love Innuendo for its music Bijou, Innuendo, Ride the wild wind, I can't live with you, Days of our lives etc have great song writing and lyrics. Also instrumental are great tracks too. Along with the 4 new MIH songs show what music orientation Queen would have if Freddie was, still alive for few years. The works is great album also Flash the first side along with 3 songs, from the second is great piece of instrumental music, very pioneer It's great that you enjoy it, but nothing about the music of the Flash Gordon-soundtrack is "very pioneer". Not at all. They were the first rock band to do the soundtrack for a big movie, weren't they? That in itself seems "very pioneer" to me.
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Sept 4, 2020 13:50:19 GMT
But that's not what dim said: "[...] great piece of instrumental music, very pioneer" The remark clearly referred to the music, which was in no way pioneering. As for the "first rock band to do the soundtrack for a big movie", that was more of a marketing line relying on a very narrow definition. There had been plenty of films scored by pop acts when Queen started work on Flash Gordon, so not very pioneering unless you regard a rock group and, say, a funk group as fundamentally different entities. To put it in perspective by only slightly exaggerating, it was a little like saying "this hypothetical soundtrack is the first ever by a five-piece multi-ethnic band with members from both sides of the Irish border that uses an autoharp and a gong".
But even if we disregard that - was Pink Floyd a rock band? If so, Zabriskie Point was a full decade earlier, and it was definitely a big movie.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Sept 4, 2020 15:23:35 GMT
But that's not what dim said: "[...] great piece of instrumental music, very pioneer" The remark clearly referred to the music, which was in no way pioneering. As for the "first rock band to do the soundtrack for a big movie", that was more of a marketing line relying on a very narrow definition. There had been plenty of films scored by pop acts when Queen started work on Flash Gordon, so not very pioneering unless you regard a rock group and, say, a funk group as fundamentally different entities. To put it in perspective by only slightly exaggerating, it was a little like saying "this hypothetical soundtrack is the first ever by a five-piece multi-ethnic band with members from both sides of the Irish border that uses an autoharp and a gong".
But even if we disregard that - was Pink Floyd a rock band? If so, Zabriskie Point was a full decade earlier, and it was definitely a big movie.
I see. I'm not hip to Zabriskie Point, but it looks like a bunch of artists, including The Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead, came together to record that soundtrack, not just Pink Floyd. Whereas Queen took sole charge of composition (with a little help from Howard Blake) for Flash Gordon. Perhaps a better example of an earlier rock soundtrack would be Tommy by The Who. However, that film was actually an adaption of the music, not the other way around. I'm trying to think of another rock band that actually wrote all of the music to fit the narrative and atmosphere of a film prior to Flash Gordon. And I just can't think of any.
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