Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 30, 2020 20:28:06 GMT
So, we've kind of had a NOTW homage, so I thought I'd start one for my favourite Queen album, A Day At The Races.
I have to say, it wasn't my favourite album at the time it was released, but ANATO was always going to be a hard album to follow. Over the years, though, ADATR has grown on me more and more, and to my mind, it's one of their most consistent and complete works.
I love the intro, then the frenetic blast of TYMD. "Sheer bloody poetry", as I believe was written in The Times, and one of the band's best album and concert openers, only surpassed much later by One Vision.
At the time I thought it was rather odd to follow such a 'rocky' track with something as delicate and beautiful as YTMBA, but when you think about it, where else on the album could it have gone? If you try to place any other track in it's position on Side 1, it simply doesn't work. Anyway, I love the track in it's simplicity, with a breathtaking vocal from Freddie.
Long Away is probably my favourite Brian sung track from all the albums. It's sad, yet also uplifting, and Brian's vocal fits it perfectly, although, I do wonder what it would have sounded like with Fred singing the lead, and whether such a version exists.
The Millionaire Waltz is one of my favourite ever Queen tracks. Full of intricately woven harmonies and melodies, and some lovely guitar work from May. I'd love to be able to get hold of the multitracks for this, just to pick it apart. The heavy part is wonderful, and I remember being totally surprised by that when I first heard it.
You & I is a great little Deaky ditty, and would have made a great single. It took me a while to fully appreciate this track, but it's the perfect way to end Side 1.
First up on Side 2 is Somebody To Love. How can anyone not love this track? I remember hearing it first on the car radio with my Dad, before the album came out, and thought it was brilliant from start to finish. A certain jewel in the Queen crown, and also a great live track.
White Man follows, and wow, probably Queen's heaviest track. Just love it! That crunching guitar, the thunderous drums, and an angry vocal by Freddie make this one their best ever tracks, in my opinion. The only way to play this is LOUD!
GOFLB is another one of those lovely little Freddie tracks that fits into the same envelope as Seaside Rendezvous and LOASA. Loved the TOTP version with a little more guitar.
Drowse is the one track I usually skip. I often found Roger's tracks were the ones I skipped on the early albums, the exception being IILWMC.
Two Torriatte is a great way to finish the album. A Thank You to the Japanese fans, and a perfect album closer. Strangely, I didn't find the Japanese lyric any more difficult to learn than the English ones!
So there we have it. Comments welcome! 😄
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Oct 30, 2020 21:03:21 GMT
My favourite album, I agree with many of the points stated. Although Drowse for me ranks highly because compared to Roger's other contributions prior you wouldn't believe it to be him.
When I first played this album and until a couple of years ago, the one song I struggled to like was White Man but now I appreciate it's brilliance. It really was a testing song to get the amount of noise the band wanted.
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georg
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Post by georg on Oct 30, 2020 21:27:40 GMT
News of the World was my first, but A Day at the Races is one of my two favorites (the other is Queen II). I’ll dive deeper later, once I can find the time, but there isn’t a note out of place on Races, absolutely nothing I would change. Perfection.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Oct 30, 2020 23:15:34 GMT
the first Queen LP i owned. My aunt used to work at EMI's warehouse (i think it used to be in Hayes, Middlesex back then). She used to bring me and my sister "freebies" from time to time.
ADATR was in the first bunch...i'll always remember it. it stunned me on first play...and (suspect) it's why i usually prefer it to ANATO. Album has a couple of my favourite queen tracks: STL and Drowse...there's so much to love about this album. I know it's considered Opera pt2, but i love it as a standalone.
oh, and of all of Queen's LPs - it's the only one where, there's not a single fault in the production/mixing/sound throughout.
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ted
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Post by ted on Oct 31, 2020 0:35:50 GMT
It's my 3rd favourite Queen album, after SHA and Queen II. With a stellar opening track, an over-the-top epic odyssey - The Millionaire Waltz - a solid contribution from John in You and I, a couple other outstanding tracks from Brian (White Man and Teo Torriatte) and Good Old-Fashioned Lover-Boy, a great shorter song by Freddie, I consider the album a definite stand out in Queen's catalogue.
Ted
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Post by macduff77 on Oct 31, 2020 1:20:23 GMT
One of my favorite albums and agree with everything said. My only (very slight) critique is the placement of You Take My Breath Away. I would have placed it at the end of side 1, pushing the rest of the tracks forward. But that’s just my humble opinion. I love Queen for who they were and what they did, so not looking to change the past. :-)
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Oct 31, 2020 11:30:13 GMT
A Day at the Races is my favorite 70s Queen album, and second only to Innuendo. It's the culmination of everything that came before it and it's consistent from start to finish. There's not a single song that I would consider fluff, even Roger's Drowse, which I absolutely adore and count among Roger's best. How anyone could not like it, baffles me.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Oct 31, 2020 12:05:44 GMT
only thing that might improve it, for me:
a deluxe reissue including: Woe (if it exists) Let Me Live (early) and Somebody To Love (as many takes as are avail)
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 31, 2020 12:07:22 GMT
A Day at the Races is my favorite 70s Queen album, and second only to Innuendo. It's the culmination of everything that came before it and it's consistent from start to finish. There's not a single song that I would consider fluff, even Roger's Drowse, which I absolutely adore and count among Roger's best. How anyone could not like it, baffles me. Got to admit, it's probably over 30 years since I've played Drowse. Might give it another chance. 🙂
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vh
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Post by vh on Oct 31, 2020 13:42:51 GMT
I've never had a favourite Queen album, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, Races and Innuendo all sit at the top of the pile for me in no particular order. A Day At The Races is great for all the reasons mentioned in this thread. It's certainly one of the best produced and for me doesn't suffer the harsh top end of A Night At The Opera.
The other thing about A Day At The Races is that all of the material from the album that they chose to play live worked really well.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 31, 2020 14:30:43 GMT
The other thing about A Day At The Races is that all of the material from the album that they chose to play live worked really well. Curious thought on the side, I don't think there's an album where all the tracks have been played live, is there?
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Oct 31, 2020 14:51:18 GMT
The other thing about A Day At The Races is that all of the material from the album that they chose to play live worked really well. Curious thought on the side, I don't think there's an album where all the tracks have been played live, is there? no. i think Queen, Queen II, SHA and Works must rank highest. 8 SHA: BR ♦ KW ♦ Flick ♦ NIH ♦ ITLOTG ♦ SCC ♦ Leroy ♦ ITLOTG (Rev) 7 Works: Gaga ♦ TIU ♦ Hard Life ♦ Machines ♦ IWTBF ♦ Hammer ♦ ITTWWC <<< that's a lot for a 9-track album6 Queen: KYA ♦ DA ♦ GKR ♦ Liar ♦ MTRnR ♦ Son & Daughter Queen II: F2S ♦ WQ ♦ Ogre ♦ FFMS ♦ MoTBQ ♦ SSoR
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Post by macduff77 on Oct 31, 2020 16:42:43 GMT
Another reason why I like this album a lot is that many tracks are piano driven, which I’ve always loved about Queen. Lots of piano on this album!
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ted
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Post by ted on Oct 31, 2020 17:01:54 GMT
only thing that might improve it, for me: a deluxe reissue including: Woe (if it exists) Let Me Live (early) and Somebody To Love (as many takes as are avail) I'm not familiar with the 2 songs above which weren't on the ADATR album but if they're outtakes from the album sessions, by all means I support their inclusion. I also support including alternate takes of songs on the album (not just STL).
Ted
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Post by magicheaven on Oct 31, 2020 17:15:11 GMT
A great follow up to ANATO listen to this album regularly The Millonares Waltz is one of the greatest songs of their career also You And I should have been a single instead of Tie Your Mother Down
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Oct 31, 2020 17:15:30 GMT
only thing that might improve it, for me: a deluxe reissue including: Woe (if it exists) Let Me Live (early) and Somebody To Love (as many takes as are avail) I'm not familiar with the 2 songs above which weren't on the ADATR album but if they're outtakes from the album sessions, by all means I support their inclusion. I also support including alternate takes of songs on the album (not just STL). Ted
agreed. I included STL - because hearing that song "being built" would be incredible
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Oct 31, 2020 17:58:06 GMT
A great follow up to ANATO listen to this album regularly The Millonares Waltz is one of the greatest songs of their career also You And I should have been a single instead of Tie Your Mother Down I have to agree with you. You And I would have made an awesome A side single! Perhaps they felt it was too similar to You're My Best Friend?
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 31, 2020 18:14:02 GMT
Curious thought on the side, I don't think there's an album where all the tracks have been played live, is there? no. i think Queen, Queen II, SHA and Works must rank highest. 8 SHA: BR ♦ KW ♦ Flick ♦ NIH ♦ ITLOTG ♦ SCC ♦ Leroy ♦ ITLOTG (Rev) 7 Works: Gaga ♦ TIU ♦ Hard Life ♦ Machines ♦ IWTBF ♦ Hammer ♦ ITTWWC <<< that's a lot for a 9-track album6 Queen: KYA ♦ DA ♦ GKR ♦ Liar ♦ MTRnR ♦ Son & Daughter Queen II: F2S ♦ WQ ♦ Ogre ♦ FFMS ♦ MoTBQ ♦ SSoR Actually, ANATO rates the highest: Death On Two Legs Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon I'm In Love With My Car You're My Best Friend '39 Sweet Lady Prophet's Song Love Of My Life Bohemian Rhapsody God Save The Queen (ish) So that's 10 out of 12.
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Post by saintjiub on Oct 31, 2020 18:52:05 GMT
Hot Space, unfortunately, had a fairly high number (8 of 11) as well:
Staying Power Back Chat Body Language Action This Day Put Out the Fire Life Is Real Calling All Girls Under Pressure
Also, The Game (6 of 10), Jazz (7 of 13), NotW (8 of 11) and aDatR (7 of 10) had over half of the songs played live.
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Post by saintjiub on Oct 31, 2020 19:04:50 GMT
ADatR is also my favorite Queen album. Drowse has grown on me over the years. Drowse was my least favorite on aDatR when I was a freshman in high school. By the end of senior year, it grew on me, as a friend and I made a parody song about our english teacher.
"It's the unending drowse of the afternoon Wiesshaus, that bores you to rages of tears The unending pleas to waste all your good times on thoughts of your college age years ..."
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ted
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Post by ted on Oct 31, 2020 23:28:00 GMT
I don't think I was previously aware that Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon and Sweet Lady were ever performed live by Queen.
Ted
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jeroeng
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Post by jeroeng on Oct 31, 2020 23:55:01 GMT
6 Queen: KYA ♦ DA ♦ GKR ♦ Liar ♦ MTRnR ♦ Son & Daughter Actually, Jesus was played live in the early days, but no recording exist, right? Also The Night Comes Down was said to being played live in the early days as well. Only My Fairy King was never played live AFAIK, and I do not consider the QI version of SSOR really a seperate song, so technically SSOR wás played live. So that would make '8 out of 9-ish' (which is very normal for a band's debut album who usually records tracks that have been played live for some years already BTW)
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jeroeng
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Post by jeroeng on Nov 1, 2020 0:09:07 GMT
Played live (not counting B-sides): QI: 8 live, 1 non-live, 1 fragment song QII: 6 live, 4 non-live, 1 on tape SHA: 8 live, 5 non-live (although TF was played by Roger solo) ANATO: 9 live, 2 non-live, 1 tape ADATR: 7 live, 3 non-live NOTW: 8 live, 3 non-live Jz: 7 live, 6 non-live TG: 7 live, 3 non-live (although SASS was played by Brian solo) FG: 4 live, 14 non-live HS: 8 live, 3 non-live (although LPDA was played at the tribute) TW: 6 live, 2 non-live, 1 tape (although Machines was played live with AL) AKOM: 4 live, 5 non-live TM+Inn+MIH: 0 live obviously, although some tracks have been played by members solo or with PR/AL)
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Nov 1, 2020 1:20:40 GMT
6 Queen: KYA ♦ DA ♦ GKR ♦ Liar ♦ MTRnR ♦ Son & Daughter Actually, Jesus was played live in the early days, but no recording exist, right? Also The Night Comes Down was said to being played live in the early days as well. Only My Fairy King was never played live AFAIK, and I do not consider the QI version of SSOR really a seperate song, so technically SSOR wás played live. So that would make '8 out of 9-ish' (which is very normal for a band's debut album who usually records tracks that have been played live for some years already BTW) I would stand corrected but I don't think there's any evidence Jesus was played live, is there? And (don't start this again!) TNCD live is still open to conjecture as far as I am aware, the only indication being that it was written on a set list.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Nov 1, 2020 1:31:14 GMT
Actually, Jesus was played live in the early days, but no recording exist, right? Also The Night Comes Down was said to being played live in the early days as well. Only My Fairy King was never played live AFAIK, and I do not consider the QI version of SSOR really a seperate song, so technically SSOR wás played live. So that would make '8 out of 9-ish' (which is very normal for a band's debut album who usually records tracks that have been played live for some years already BTW) I would stand corrected but I don't think there's any evidence Jesus was played live, is there? And (don't start this again!) TNCD live is still open to conjecture as far as I am aware, the only indication being that it was written on a set list. According to the new book "All the Songs," Jesus was performed live in 1972. I went to queenlive.ca just to confirm and found that the first known live performance was March 10, 1972 and the last known performance was December 20, 1972.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Nov 1, 2020 1:33:56 GMT
I would stand corrected but I don't think there's any evidence Jesus was played live, is there? And (don't start this again!) TNCD live is still open to conjecture as far as I am aware, the only indication being that it was written on a set list. According to the new book "All the Songs," Jesus was performed live in 1972. I went to queenlive.ca just to confirm and found that the first known live performance was March 10, 1972 and the last known performance was December 20, 1972. Very well, I stand corrected. 🙂
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antonio
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Post by antonio on Nov 1, 2020 11:17:50 GMT
Should i say after...22 years...that the unic copy that i have got today of this album is the one that i changed the ticket price on the shop?
I took a cheaper CD, took its tag price and put it instead the expensive one of A Day At The Races. I was (then) a poor student with many resources
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dysan
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Post by dysan on Nov 1, 2020 12:07:41 GMT
Nice thread. ADATR is one of those albums I rarely listen to all the way through. It was one of the last albums I owned once my first flushes of Queendom was waning in the late 80s. Maybe a mix of overfamiliarity with the hits and what I think is an odd track order. I was a bit underwhelmed by TYMD after enjoying the live versions and YTMBA stops the fun in it's tracks too early.
That said, individual tracks are splendid. Another vote for Drowse here, that melancholy of growing up that Roger is so good at. Long Away, TT, White Man and the intro (listed as a separate track on some discs!) are glorious. And yes, STL and GOFLB are pure gold.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Nov 1, 2020 13:48:29 GMT
Should i say after...22 years...that the unic copy that i have got today of this album is the one that i changed the ticket price on the shop? I took a cheaper CD, took its tag price and put it instead the expensive one of A Day At The Races. I was (then) a poor student with many resources LOL! I did that with QII but this was back in the 70s. The UK had a store called Woolworths and they used to display LPs in racks with a plastic cover over the actual sleeve. You took the empty sleeve to the counter and they put the record in it, but not before, given the opportunity, you'd changed the outer plastic sleeve for one with a lower price on it! ☺
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fras444
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Post by fras444 on Nov 1, 2020 17:46:58 GMT
6 Queen: KYA ♦ DA ♦ GKR ♦ Liar ♦ MTRnR ♦ Son & Daughter Actually, Jesus was played live in the early days, but no recording exist, right? Also The Night Comes Down was said to being played live in the early days as well. Only My Fairy King was never played live AFAIK, and I do not consider the QI version of SSOR really a seperate song, so technically SSOR wás played live. So that would make '8 out of 9-ish' (which is very normal for a band's debut album who usually records tracks that have been played live for some years already BTW) Let's nor forget that My Fairy King was played as an instrumental during 'The Works' tour..... So.... Queen I would have to win..... 10/10 for QI having every song written for that album were played/referenced live on stage not to mention..... QI atrually over exceeds it's self... 12/10 if you include songs played during that period... the alleged 'Hangman' and the rumoured rock and roll medley some say they recorded during that QI-QII era or.... 12/13 or 10/11 if you include 'Mad Swine...'
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