"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976

fabiogminero
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"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976 Nov 25, 2022 17:47:58 GMT leo82br, akirafish, and 1 more like this

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Post by fabiogminero on Nov 25, 2022 17:47:58 GMT

Hello everybody.

Today I share an interesting article taken from the English music magazine Sounds of January 3rd, 1976; entitled Queen's Christmas message and written by John Ingham, it is a review (not exactly positive) of the legendary Christmas concert that Queen held at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on December 24th, 1975. Some criticism is leveled at the BBC telecast, but also against of the band's performance.

Enjoy your reading.

Last Edit: Nov 25, 2022 17:48:07 GMT by fabiogminero

borrISO
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"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976 Nov 25, 2022 19:28:38 GMT leo82br likes this

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Post by borrISO on Nov 25, 2022 19:28:38 GMT

Thank you very much!

Now it seems very strange, to say the least, but the press coverage of the Odeon' Christmas gig mostly was not positive.
At the same time, the authors of the reviews mainly compared this concert with the Queen' shows that took place at Hammersmith Odeon in late November - early December 1975 - IMHO, not taking into account either the forcedly shortened track list, nor other circumstances.

For example - scans of the review of this concert in the NME (January 3, 1976; many thanks to queenlive.ca).

It seems to me, now we perceive this concert in a completely different way.

Last Edit: Nov 25, 2022 22:55:27 GMT by borrISO

Boris Arkhangelsky

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"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976 Nov 25, 2022 19:46:13 GMT leo82br, akirafish, and 1 more like this

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Post by borrISO on Nov 25, 2022 19:46:13 GMT

And continuing the theme - a review of the Christmas concert from Melody Maker (January 03, 1976).
I have not posted this scan anywhere before. It seemed to me, Melody Maker treated well to Queen during 1975-76, but this one review seems too much unfair to me.

P.S. Perhaps the review of the Record Mirror would be different from the others. Unfortunately I don't have it.
It seems to me, the negative press coverage of one particular gig didn't mean much to the band's fans during these times

Last Edit: Nov 25, 2022 19:50:29 GMT by borrISO

Boris Arkhangelsky

fabiogminero
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"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976 Nov 25, 2022 19:57:57 GMT ted and borrISO like this

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Post by fabiogminero on Nov 25, 2022 19:57:57 GMT

The negative reviews of the Christmas concert were most likely due to the BBC broadcast (as Ingham suggests); I believe that the television sets of the time did not do justice to the sound of the band and, since the concert was broadcast live on television and radio, that was the general idea. I think the opinion of those people present at Hammersmith that night is quite different.

Despite the reduced set compared to the concerts of that period, I think the performance is certainly one of the best of the Queen's early years (despite Freddie and Brian being ill).

Lord Fickle Global Moderator Posts: 21,345 Likes: 7,764	"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976 Nov 25, 2022 20:08:08 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lord Fickle on Nov 25, 2022 20:08:08 GMT I wonder how many times it will be repeated on TV this Christmas?
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fabiogminero
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"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976 Nov 25, 2022 22:43:52 GMT borrISO likes this

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Post by fabiogminero on Nov 25, 2022 22:43:52 GMT

Nov 25, 2022 20:08:08 GMT Lord Fickle said:

I wonder how many times it will be repeated on TV this Christmas?

After the official release in 2015, here in Italy they began to broadcast it on Sky Arte (the Italian equivalent of Sky Arts) at least 3 or 4 times during the Christmas period...this year will certainly be no different

"Queen's Christmas message" - Hammersmith 1975 review from 'Sounds', 3 January 1976

Post by fabiogminero on Nov 25, 2022 17:47:58 GMT

Post by borrISO on Nov 25, 2022 19:28:38 GMT

Post by borrISO on Nov 25, 2022 19:46:13 GMT

Post by fabiogminero on Nov 25, 2022 19:57:57 GMT

Post by Lord Fickle on Nov 25, 2022 20:08:08 GMT

Post by fabiogminero on Nov 25, 2022 22:43:52 GMT