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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 20, 2022 0:22:16 GMT
Saginaw 1/20/77.
Old concert reviews often need to be taken with a pinch of salt, but here it is in black and white.
Thoughts ?
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Jan 20, 2022 0:37:45 GMT
My guess is it was You Take My Breath Away. Given the reviewer didn't seem to know Sweet Lady from Ogre Battle, and referred to TYMD as "All Your Love Tonight", I would take his song title accuracy with a pinch of salt. Setlist FM seems to confirm the set: www.setlist.fm/setlist/queen/1977/saginaw-civic-center-saginaw-mi-33df3849.htmlThe reviewer is a knob anyway, referring to the Thin Lizzy set as the "Thin Lizzy Torture Hour". 🙄 |
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 20, 2022 0:55:00 GMT
That site is far from gospel. Someone may well have just pasted in a setlist from another night.
But indeed, there were all kinds of warning signs in the writing that we can't take this at face value.
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Sammy B. Willickers
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Post by Sammy B. Willickers on Jan 20, 2022 4:02:25 GMT
I know this is about the possibility of Long Away having been performed, but what the hell is a "Heavy Metal Cum Pop Tune"?
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georg
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Post by georg on Jan 20, 2022 4:38:01 GMT
Well, “cum” in this situation does not mean what it has come to mean in the past few decades…! In this context it’s more of a combination of heavy metal mashed up with pop sensibility that somehow, against all logic, just… works.
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Post by Ryan Newton on Jan 20, 2022 20:52:26 GMT
It has been said on on multiple occasions that they were rehearsing this song for the tour and played it during various soundchecks, so it wouldn't be surprising if they did pull it out at one show. Considering that the review explicitly says it was the first time on stage, perhaps the band had said something to that effect just before its performance.
I had even heard that they were rehearsing it for later in the year during the News of the World Tour. Someone who had went to the New Haven show said they heard them playing it during the soundcheck, but it ultimately didn't make the set.
Or perhaps it's just an error in a 45 year old paper. Wouldn't be the first time!
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Post by sheeerheartattack on Jan 21, 2022 0:17:44 GMT
Considering my “skills” in finding tapes, maybe I can pull out a tape for this show? (I’ve already found photos from Saginaw 76 just right now, will post in a bit if I have time to post them here).
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Post by Ryan Newton on Jan 21, 2022 4:07:32 GMT
My guess is it was You Take My Breath Away. Given the reviewer didn't seem to know Sweet Lady from Ogre Battle, and referred to TYMD as "All Your Love Tonight", I would take his song title accuracy with a pinch of salt. Setlist FM seems to confirm the set: www.setlist.fm/setlist/queen/1977/saginaw-civic-center-saginaw-mi-33df3849.htmlThe reviewer is a knob anyway, referring to the Thin Lizzy set as the "Thin Lizzy Torture Hour". 🙄 Addressing your first point, some of the early shows on the tour apparently had Sweet Lady early in the set like they did on the Opera Tour, but they ultimately decided it would work better later. Perhaps this was one of them. |
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Post by Ryan Newton on Jan 21, 2022 7:43:36 GMT
Considering that the review explicitly says it was the first time on stage, perhaps the band had said something to that effect just before its performance. Also bouncing off of this, note how the review says "Queen" played Long Away. If this were the usual song for this spot in the set, "You Take my Breath Away," usually reviews would mention it being a Fred solo piece. Also worth noting that bands often brought out material they were unsure of during earlier dates on their tour so they would know what worked and what didn't by the time they got to the big arenas like Madison Square Garden and The Forum. Zeppelin did this in 1975, where they tested out When the Levee Breaks and The Wanton Song on the earlier mid-west gigs, only to drop them both after only a week on tour in America. There have been some sets from the early Races tour that have been passed around, I think mostly sourced from Gary Taylor. While I haven't seen Long Away in any of the sets he's shared, I have seen Sweet Lady early in the set as it was on the Opera Tour on some shows. |
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georg
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Post by georg on Jan 21, 2022 15:04:10 GMT
Yeah, I checked my edition of Gary's book and there wasn't anything there, but that doesn't necessarily mean it didn't happen.
I remember when Q+PR did Time to Shine on exactly one date in 2008, I think a week into the tour, before dropping it because of a fairly minor timing miscue before the first chorus. Hell, Queen played Sleeping On the Sidewalk a few times before dropping it.
Apparently Nevermore was also rehearsed for the '75 US tour, but that didn't happen. A shame, because it kind of fits that moment that You Take My Breath Away and Love of My Life would take up in later set lists.
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Post by funinspace81 on Jan 21, 2022 15:15:05 GMT
As far as I recall, Gary mentions in his book that 'Long Away' was reharsed at the Beacon Theater and that a fan taped it but lost the recording. I only speak from memory for what I did read when the book came out. I might be completely wrong.
IMHO what most thrilled me from my reading, was the 'Mad The Swine' performance(s).
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Setzer
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Post by Setzer on Jan 21, 2022 20:35:54 GMT
Considering the other grammatical errors, it could be they meant "gum pop" (bubblegum pop)?
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Post by ActionThisDay on Jan 21, 2022 21:25:58 GMT
If it was performed then presumably Freddie sang it? Brian didn't sing lead vocals onstage, even the songs that he sang in the studio ('39, Sleeping On The Sidewalk).
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Post by stevedorius on Jan 21, 2022 23:20:34 GMT
If it was performed then presumably Freddie sang it? Brian didn't sing lead vocals onstage, even the songs that he sang in the studio ('39, Sleeping On The Sidewalk). That's exactly what I was thinking - I really want to hear this now, whether it happened or not  |
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Post by stevedorius on Jan 21, 2022 23:38:36 GMT
Considering the other grammatical errors, it could be they meant "gum pop" (bubblegum pop)? Possible, but I doubt it. "Cum" (pronounced "Coom") is a Latin word meaning "With" or "Together with", normally used to join two nouns - indicating that something serves two purposes. It's rarely used in english these days, and would even have been regarded as old-fashioned "back when I were a lad" |
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Post by ActionThisDay on Jan 22, 2022 21:45:22 GMT
The review mentions it was performed after '39, perhaps it was part of the acoustic set and Brian played it on the 12 string rather than the Red Special? Although Roger would've probably used the full kit for this song rather than the '39 kick drum/tambourine combo - this was before he had the 'mini-kit' for the acoustic section.
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 22, 2022 21:48:28 GMT
Considering the other grammatical errors, it could be they meant "gum pop" (bubblegum pop)? Possible, but I doubt it. "Cum" (pronounced "Coom") is a Latin word meaning "With" or "Together with", normally used to join two nouns - indicating that something serves two purposes. It's rarely used in english these days, and would even have been regarded as old-fashioned "back when I were a lad"  Whatever you do, don't try it in the bible belt of America. www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44217118 |
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 22, 2022 21:49:41 GMT
Considering that the review explicitly says it was the first time on stage, perhaps the band had said something to that effect just before its performance. Also bouncing off of this, note how the review says "Queen" played Long Away. If this were the usual song for this spot in the set, "You Take my Breath Away," usually reviews would mention it being a Fred solo piece. Also worth noting that bands often brought out material they were unsure of during earlier dates on their tour so they would know what worked and what didn't by the time they got to the big arenas like Madison Square Garden and The Forum. Zeppelin did this in 1975, where they tested out When the Levee Breaks and The Wanton Song on the earlier mid-west gigs, only to drop them both after only a week on tour in America. Excellent observations.
Someone needs to hit up the record shops and music venues of Saginaw, MI and find the tapers in that town. |
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Post by masterstroke on Jan 23, 2022 21:22:24 GMT
Also bouncing off of this, note how the review says "Queen" played Long Away. If this were the usual song for this spot in the set, "You Take my Breath Away," usually reviews would mention it being a Fred solo piece. Also worth noting that bands often brought out material they were unsure of during earlier dates on their tour so they would know what worked and what didn't by the time they got to the big arenas like Madison Square Garden and The Forum. Zeppelin did this in 1975, where they tested out When the Levee Breaks and The Wanton Song on the earlier mid-west gigs, only to drop them both after only a week on tour in America. Excellent observations.
Someone needs to hit up the record shops and music venues of Saginaw, MI and find the tapers in that town. The Queen shows were classic as they used Saginaw as their rehearsal venue prior to the "Night at the Opera" and "Day at the Races" tours. People hadn't seen anything like them and the shows were an amazing mix of musicianship, dazzling lights and Freddie Mercury at his prime Dahling! Saginaw hadn't seen anything the likes of Queen! All people could say was "WOW"!! www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginaw/2011/03/post_34.html |
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Post by masterstroke on Jan 24, 2022 12:33:42 GMT
The Queen shows were classic as they used Saginaw as their rehearsal venue prior to the "Night at the Opera" and "Day at the Races" tours. People hadn't seen anything like them and the shows were an amazing mix of musicianship, dazzling lights and Freddie Mercury at his prime Dahling! Saginaw hadn't seen anything the likes of Queen! All people could say was "WOW"!! www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginaw/2011/03/post_34.htmlI thought I'd try to contact the author of the report, Sue White. To see if she might know of anyone who had material from those concerts in Saginaw. Unfortunately I have seen that he passed away in 2019. |
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 24, 2022 16:30:11 GMT
The Queen shows were classic as they used Saginaw as their rehearsal venue prior to the "Night at the Opera" and "Day at the Races" tours. People hadn't seen anything like them and the shows were an amazing mix of musicianship, dazzling lights and Freddie Mercury at his prime Dahling! Saginaw hadn't seen anything the likes of Queen! All people could say was "WOW"!! www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginaw/2011/03/post_34.htmlI thought I'd try to contact the author of the report, Sue White. To see if she might know of anyone who had material from those concerts in Saginaw. Unfortunately I have seen that he passed away in 2019. "Sue" is definitely a she. But thanks for trying - that's some good sleuthing. |
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fireplace
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Post by fireplace on Jan 24, 2022 17:01:03 GMT
I thought I'd try to contact the author of the report, Sue White. To see if she might know of anyone who had material from those concerts in Saginaw. Unfortunately I have seen that he passed away in 2019. "Sue" is definitely a she. But thanks for trying - that's some good sleuthing. |
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 24, 2022 17:32:14 GMT
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Post by stevedorius on Jan 24, 2022 18:39:54 GMT
Possible, but I doubt it. "Cum" (pronounced "Coom") is a Latin word meaning "With" or "Together with", normally used to join two nouns - indicating that something serves two purposes. It's rarely used in english these days, and would even have been regarded as old-fashioned "back when I were a lad" Whatever you do, don't try it in the bible belt of America. www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44217118Hey, at least she got a refund plus a gift card - proper order ! |
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fireplace
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Post by fireplace on Jan 25, 2022 0:20:50 GMT
Sorry, couldn't resist. You had to pick the ONE girlname-cum-boyname that actually has an entire song named after it  . |
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fireplace
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Post by fireplace on Jan 25, 2022 0:27:01 GMT
Back on topic, why do I have this very vague memory of reading something in one of the fanclub magazines about Long Away being played live back in the day? Must have been around the time of the concert mentioned, late '77 - early '78. Not sure if the QFC-magazine's word could be taken as gospel though.
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Post by dragonkiller on Jan 25, 2022 12:25:09 GMT
I can also remember Brian saying something about playing Long Away live,but can I find it...nope. I`m not sure if it was a vocal interview or written down. Memory can be a pain in the a... sometimes.
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Post by tilomagnet on Jan 25, 2022 12:35:09 GMT
My guess is it was You Take My Breath Away. Given the reviewer didn't seem to know Sweet Lady from Ogre Battle, and referred to TYMD as "All Your Love Tonight", I would take his song title accuracy with a pinch of salt. Setlist FM seems to confirm the set: www.setlist.fm/setlist/queen/1977/saginaw-civic-center-saginaw-mi-33df3849.htmlThe reviewer is a knob anyway, referring to the Thin Lizzy set as the "Thin Lizzy Torture Hour". 🙄 Addressing your first point, some of the early shows on the tour apparently had Sweet Lady early in the set like they did on the Opera Tour, but they ultimately decided it would work better later. Perhaps this was one of them. Well the Madison show just dropped and this confirms the early Sweet Lady setlist placement; So the reviewer actually seems to have the set quite right and gives further credence that the report of Long Away is accurate, no? |
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ted
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Post by ted on Jan 25, 2022 15:38:35 GMT
I hope that not only is it proven that Long Away was performed at that show but a decent recording of the song somehow is found. To me that would match the importance of existing live recordings of songs such as Great King Rat, The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke, See What a Fool I've Been and Sleeping on the Sidewalk.
Ted
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georg
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Post by georg on Jan 25, 2022 16:06:34 GMT
I hope that not only is it proven that Long Away was performed at that show but a decent recording of the song somehow is found. To me that would match the importance of existing live recordings of songs such as Great King Rat, The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke, See What a Fool I've Been and Sleeping on the Sidewalk. Ted Dont forget the holy grail of Hangman. But agreed, Long Away has long been a favorite of mine, and I was excited when Brian pulled it out of mothballs for a few brief half-performances on the 2005 QPR tour, but then he gave preference to ‘39 so that was that. Then I think Brian played it with Taylor Hawkins’ band sometime in 2010? As far as I know, that’s the only full live performance of the song with Brian out there. |
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