Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 28, 2021 9:02:33 GMT
Friday, October 28, 1977. It should have been the day that marked the end of Queen’s reign. The future of their sixth studio album, News Of The World, released that day, looked bleak at best. A year before, their previous album, A Day At The Races, had received such a critical battering that Freddie Mercury’s days of bringing opera to the masses, darling, now seemed decidedly numbered. The follow-up to A Night At The Opera – their Bo Rap-containing 1975 breakthrough international hit – was considered flaccid by comparison. The moment where the group’s desire to push the musical envelope crumbled into self-indulgent parody. The worst accusation of all: that Queen in the studio had begun to tread water; that having found the magic formula for success they now simply joined the dots and offered up the same again – only not different. At a time when punk rock was considered the new critical yardstick, Queen suddenly epitomised everything about the old rock aristocracy that was now held in contempt: massive production, back-arching guitars and the once glorious, now oddly out of step image of Freddie Mercury preening in front of the audience, wishing them all “champagne for breakfast”. Read more... www.loudersound.com/features/how-queen-made-news-of-the-world
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ted
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Post by ted on Oct 28, 2021 11:49:08 GMT
I'm just starting to read the article now. I've always considered 'Races' to be superior to 'Opera'. I consider the image of Freddie Mercury preening in front of the audience at Earl's Court in June 1977, wishing them all “champagne for breakfast”, to be a classic moment in Queen's history. Imagine what it might have been like if Queen had called their '77 studio album Duck Soup.
Ted
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 28, 2021 11:57:34 GMT
Indeed. I think the article is written retrospectively with how Races was perceived on its release. At the time, I would have agreed that it wasn't as strong as ANATO, but it grew on me very quickly and it and NOTW are now my top two Queen albums.
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Cornele
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Post by Cornele on Oct 28, 2021 13:47:23 GMT
Indeed. I think the article is written retrospectively with how Races was perceived on its release. At the time, I would have agreed that it wasn't as strong as ANATO, but it grew on me very quickly and it and NOTW are now my top two Queen albums. Can't disagree with ADATR and NOTW as the best Queen albums. I find ADATR more polished, and it´s their only album of which I like all songs. At ANATO, for example, over time I tend to skip IILWMC, The Prophet´s Song and Good Company. ADATR is like a hill, it gradually builds up to the summit (STL) and gradually descends. After the rock opener you get slow and mild songs, building up to STL, which has the most passion and meaning in it, in my opinion. White Man resembles the counterpassion to love, i.e. war or hate, and after the mild songs GOFLB and Drowse the singalong encore comes in. ANATO to me feels disorderly, and could have been ordered more logically and gradually. In my opinion it would have done more honor to the fabulous songs it features. |
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donovan
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Post by donovan on Nov 2, 2021 13:40:45 GMT
A Night At The Opera is great, but it's probably the album I listen to least. A Day At The Races is a better full album.
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mike71
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Post by mike71 on Nov 3, 2021 21:26:03 GMT
Sheer Heart Attack must be In the discussion for best Queen album, that album is stacked with great songs. I could understand fans and critics thinking News Of The World was stronger than Races back In 1977, It was more hard Rock, sounds like an album that young people would like. A Day At The Races you appreciate as you get older, I like both albums, but I probably would give Races the slight edge. I like the Opera/Races era.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Nov 3, 2021 22:19:23 GMT
Sheer Heart Attack must be In the discussion for best Queen album, that album is stacked with great songs. I could understand fans and critics thinking News Of The World was stronger than Races back In 1977, It was more hard Rock, sounds like an album that young people would like. A Day At The Races you appreciate as you get older, I like both albums, but I probably would give Races the slight edge. I like the Opera/Races era. agreed - Races is the mature LP from Queen's first half decade. everything about it is grown up, a band at the peak of their powers, no filler. the thing that always let SHA slip by for me was the three fillers: Dear Friends, Misfire and She Makes Me. utterly, forgettable/tiresome tunes, that let an otherwise great LP down. a couple of damp squibs and a Funeral March. awful. |
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ted
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Post by ted on Nov 3, 2021 23:54:51 GMT
Sheer Heart Attack must be In the discussion for best Queen album, that album is stacked with great songs. I could understand fans and critics thinking News Of The World was stronger than Races back In 1977, It was more hard Rock, sounds like an album that young people would like. A Day At The Races you appreciate as you get older, I like both albums, but I probably would give Races the slight edge. I like the Opera/Races era. agreed - Races is the mature LP from Queen's first half decade. everything about it is grown up, a band at the peak of their powers, no filler. the thing that always let SHA slip by for me was the three fillers: Dear Friends, Misfire and She Makes Me. utterly, forgettable/tiresome tunes, that let an otherwise great LP down. a couple of damp squibs and a Funeral March. awful. Almost from my 1st listen I've considered SHA to be my favourite Queen album. I actually consider Misfire to be my favourite JD Queen song, and Tenement Funster likewise is my favourite Queen song from RT. I also quite like Dear Friends but if I had to pick my least favourite song from the album it would likely be SMM.
Ted
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mike71
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Post by mike71 on Nov 4, 2021 1:19:53 GMT
agreed - Races is the mature LP from Queen's first half decade. everything about it is grown up, a band at the peak of their powers, no filler. the thing that always let SHA slip by for me was the three fillers: Dear Friends, Misfire and She Makes Me. utterly, forgettable/tiresome tunes, that let an otherwise great LP down. a couple of damp squibs and a Funeral March. awful. Almost from my 1st listen I've considered SHA to be my favourite Queen album. I actually consider Misfire to be my favourite JD Queen song, and Tenement Funster likewise is my favourite Queen song from RT. I also quite like Dear Friends but if I had to pick my least favourite song from the album it would likely be SMM.
Ted
Yea, She Makes Me is my least favorite, but I like Dear Friends and Misfire is nice catchy song. Not my favorite from John, but still a cool tune. |
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Post by The Fairy King on Nov 4, 2021 11:51:58 GMT
I'm just starting to read the article now. I've always considered 'Races' to be superior to 'Opera'. I consider the image of Freddie Mercury preening in front of the audience at Earl's Court in June 1977, wishing them all “champagne for breakfast”, to be a classic moment in Queen's history. Imagine what it might have been like if Queen had called their '77 studio album Duck Soup. Ted The "Let them eat cake" moment of the 20th century. xD |
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