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Post by agkelly on Jan 10, 2024 15:24:37 GMT
My friend went to see the exhibition and took photos of the bookshelves and records on site. She made a list of books and records against the photos (cross-referenced with the lists at Sotheby's website, which were incomplete). Now I'd like to post this relatively complete list of Freddie’s books and records for reference. His personal record collection, circa 275 records mainly 12 inch, some 7 inch, some shrink-wrapped, some loose lacking sleeves
Titles include:
2. Brian May, Back To The Light 107. Roger Taylor, The Outsider Tour Live Surely there must be some errors in this list. Freddie Mercury's record collection included Brian's 'Back To The Light' (which came out nearly a full year after Freddie died ... although I concede that an early pressing could have been given to Freddie, afterall, Freddie told Brian to release the album), but there's no way Freddie could possibly have had a copy of Roger's 'Outsider Tour Live'. That only came out just over a year ago, recorded not long before that. Most of the tracks on there weren't even written for years after Freddie departed this world. There may have been a few other odd timeline errors amongst all the others, but these two stood out to me as I perused those lists. Thankyou for typing them all, by the way. From someone on the other side of the planet (Perth, Australia), there was no way I was going to be able to be there to see anything with my own eyes. Closest I'll get is if I happen to cross paths with that nurse who bought the Russian doll and got slugged with those hefty import taxes!
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Post by fmarton on Jan 10, 2024 15:28:12 GMT
Yes, I bought the early setlists (plus some Freddie's clothing and shoes). Now That I'm Here is indeed Feelings Feelings. Please Don't Tease is a Cliff Richard cover. Morning Sun and Reason we have absolutely no idea (and they're not on the existing live tapes from that era that are in Queen archives). (Morning Sun could be Morning Dew as every band was playing that at that time but I somehow doubt that). She Makes Me was one of the first songs they had ever played and was often in live setlists. Almost made it to the first album (together with Hangman they were the first songs not to make it), almost made it to the second album (again with Hangman) and finally made it to the third album (unlike Hangman). On the other side of Brian's lyrics for She Makes Me is Freddie's suggestion for a live setlist that IMO comes also from 1971 (very similar to mine, just written with pencil). I saw the lyrics to Lover and they were totally different to Liar, I couldn't see any similarity. On the other hand it was Freddie himself who said to Jim Jenkins that it was the early version of Liar so we can assume Liar did develop from Lover despite the obvious big differences. I did browse all the early notebooks and papers and lyrics and everything but I couldn't take notes, I couldn't take photos and my memory is really bad in general so I'm thankful I had all these things in my hands but I don't remember anything at all. I focused my attention to Hangman as there was Hangman, Hangman Blues and Waiting For The Hangman and the lyrics were so different that they could be two different songs. The 1970 version of Hangman was NOT in any way similar to the 1973 version of this song. It is fascinating stuff. Its seems you have knowledge about the early live tapes. Can you\are you allowed to share more info about theme?
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Post by akirafish on Jan 10, 2024 15:42:41 GMT
Surely there must be some errors in this list. Freddie Mercury's record collection included Brian's 'Back To The Light' (which came out nearly a full year after Freddie died ... although I concede that an early pressing could have been given to Freddie, afterall, Freddie told Brian to release the album), but there's no way Freddie could possibly have had a copy of Roger's 'Outsider Tour Live'. That only came out just over a year ago, recorded not long before that. Most of the tracks on there weren't even written for years after Freddie departed this world. There may have been a few other odd timeline errors amongst all the others, but these two stood out to me as I perused those lists. Thankyou for typing them all, by the way. From someone on the other side of the planet (Perth, Australia), there was no way I was going to be able to be there to see anything with my own eyes. Closest I'll get is if I happen to cross paths with that nurse who bought the Russian doll and got slugged with those hefty import taxes! They must be sent to Mary, and Mary put them in one lot with other vinyls. There were also a few copies of Queen in 3D and Mick Rock's photo albums being auctioned, each reaching an insanely high hammer price.
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Post by mrscully on Jan 10, 2024 17:27:46 GMT
I don't have unfortunately any information about the early tapes besides a few bits I had heard over the years. I just know early live tapes do exist and the recordings are in the Queen archives. It's up to BM and RT whether we will ever get to hear them but it's very unlikely. (1.) Profit is their #1 goal and (2.) they would never release anything "raw" for fans. Maybe Greg will play some bits at the Convention in the future, we can only hope.
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Post by mrscully on Jan 10, 2024 17:30:31 GMT
There were also a few copies of Queen in 3D and Mick Rock's photo albums being auctioned, each reaching an insanely high hammer price. Yes, with all due respect to the buyers, spending £5000 on Brian's 3D book was... well not very smart. It's worth about £100 and the fact that it spent two years in the Garden Lodge storage room in 2020s does not add anything to its value.
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Jan 10, 2024 18:29:21 GMT
There may have been a few other odd timeline errors amongst all the others, but these two stood out to me as I perused those lists. There were many - 3 Freddie statues, an Oasis album, Artemis Fowl books, Gold discs from the FM album, off the top of my head. Effectively, stuff was sent to Mary / GL automatically, plus (presumably) her family bought stuff too.
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jan 10, 2024 19:20:23 GMT
Yes, I bought the early setlists (plus some Freddie's clothing and shoes). Now That I'm Here is indeed Feelings Feelings. Please Don't Tease is a Cliff Richard cover. Morning Sun and Reason we have absolutely no idea (and they're not on the existing live tapes from that era that are in Queen archives). (Morning Sun could be Morning Dew as every band was playing that at that time but I somehow doubt that). She Makes Me was one of the first songs they had ever played and was often in live setlists. Almost made it to the first album (together with Hangman they were the first songs not to make it), almost made it to the second album (again with Hangman) and finally made it to the third album (unlike Hangman). On the other side of Brian's lyrics for She Makes Me is Freddie's suggestion for a live setlist that IMO comes also from 1971 (very similar to mine, just written with pencil). I saw the lyrics to Lover and they were totally different to Liar, I couldn't see any similarity. On the other hand it was Freddie himself who said to Jim Jenkins that it was the early version of Liar so we can assume Liar did develop from Lover despite the obvious big differences. I did browse all the early notebooks and papers and lyrics and everything but I couldn't take notes, I couldn't take photos and my memory is really bad in general so I'm thankful I had all these things in my hands but I don't remember anything at all. I focused my attention to Hangman as there was Hangman, Hangman Blues and Waiting For The Hangman and the lyrics were so different that they could be two different songs. The 1970 version of Hangman was NOT in any way similar to the 1973 version of this song. This one post is unquestionably the most interesting thing written about Queen anywhere in a decade. Any toil you may have gone through in the process was worth it for this result right here. Thanks for doing all this for the greater good.
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oreno
Ploughman
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Post by oreno on Jan 10, 2024 20:00:15 GMT
Spot of Googling suggests "Morning Sun" could very well be the Taste (Rory Gallagher) song. Bit more googling and, whaddaya know.. a Brian May quote from January 1 2018 on Rory's facebook page.. 'Morning Sun' from the Taste album 'On The Boards' which was released on this day in 1970. Brian May "“Morning Sun” is great. And “Morning Sun”, of course, has that syncopation which is fairly rare in sort-of great rock hits. Is very, it’s much more blues than rock, and much more blues than pop of course...Yeah and that’s one of my favourites. Always will be. And we still play it at sound checks, you know. It will always be inside me." www.facebook.com/RoryGallagher/videos/10156256224391807/
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Post by mrscully on Jan 10, 2024 21:10:44 GMT
Excellent find, I have overlooked that! That must be it. So that leaves Reason as the only unrecognized song. The name sounds a bit like a Wreckage/Sour Milk Sea composition but it's more likely a cover.
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Post by farfelbaby on Apr 7, 2024 4:53:57 GMT
The World's most famous works of art are located at the Louvre museum in Paris, France. Most people will never get there. The treasures of Tutankhamun are located at the National museum in Cairo, Egypt. Most people will never get there. There is a museum in Montreaux Switzerland called "Queen the Studio Experience". Most people will never get there. When people condemn Mary Austin for her decision to put Freddie Mercury's estate up for bid at Sotheby's claiming "those things belong in a museum!" I must ask: Where in the World should it be located? Garden Lodge cannot be turned into a museum as per zoning codes in London, Freddie wanted Garden Lodge to always be alive with life and the laughter of a family. Freddie could have given or bequeathed HIS original lyrics, HIS stage costumes, HIS instruments, HIS awards to the other members of Queen. He didn't and they all have lyrics, costumes, instruments and awards of THEIR OWN. Freddie loved beautiful things: statues, paintings, crystal, furniture, etc., and he loved acquiring them I guarantee Freddy and Mary had many discussions about what would eventually happen to his home and estate, he told her where he wanted his ashes for crying out loud. Like Freddie, Mary Austin cannot take it with her. I applaud Mary's decision to not burden her sons with the job of overseeing their mother's dead ex-lover's stuff. Not only was the bulk of Freddie's estate not museum worthy i.e. table linens, cutlery, suitcases, books, glasses, dishes, ashtrays, albums, clothing, shoes, old stereo equipment, etc. It wouldn't matter where a Freddie Mercury Museum would be located because most people would never get there. Some people were fortunate enough to place successful bids on items for sale at Sotheby's Freddie Mercury A World of His Own Auction. Most of the buyers are fans who will adore and treasure what items they were able to purchase. Some buyers bought "lots" featuring multiple items planning to sell some items in the hope of defraying the expense, or to resell for profit. There is no wrong or right involved. I wish I had been able to go to London to view the Sotheby's Gallery display of Freddie's Estate but like most people I was not able to get there. I was able to be high bidder on lot #1545: A small spinach-green jade cup, 20th century. It's beautiful, so graceful, so unique and so special. I wish I had been able to buy a Japanese Woodblock print, or one if his Tansu, or a Lalique vase but I couldn't afford them. I'm happy for those who were able to buy them. I understand there is a gentleman who is trying to organize and create an "immersive" museum gallery experience online and I hope he is successful because that would be a way for everyone to see Freddie's beautiful estate.
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Post by mrscully on Apr 21, 2024 20:24:46 GMT
Not "online", there will be a proper FM exhibition/museum with lots of Sothebys items. Everything will be announced when the right time comes.
(That is why we have been searching for as many buyers of Sothebys items as possible - and also for collectors owning Freddie's personal memorabilia).
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Ri
Politician
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Post by Ri on Apr 22, 2024 9:10:04 GMT
Not "online", there will be a proper FM exhibition/museum with lots of Sothebys items. Everything will be announced when the right time comes. (That is why we have been searching for as many buyers of Sothebys items as possible - and also for collectors owning Freddie's personal memorabilia). Will they be documented online as well? Would be great for those who can't visit!
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fordy
Tatterdemalion
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Post by fordy on Apr 22, 2024 21:38:03 GMT
Not "online", there will be a proper FM exhibition/museum with lots of Sothebys items. Everything will be announced when the right time comes. (That is why we have been searching for as many buyers of Sothebys items as possible - and also for collectors owning Freddie's personal memorabilia). Will they be documented online as well? Would be great for those who can't visit! Not sure if of interest but I bought Freddie’s Lalique glass eagle in the Sothebys auction… www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/freddie-mercury-a-world-of-his-own-at-home/a-lalique-tete-daigle-mascot-20th-centuryPeter Freestone confirmed it was given to Freddie as a present and they were all unsure if he would like it or not! Thankfully he did and had it placed in an upstairs cabinet.
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Post by missdelilah on Apr 30, 2024 11:44:47 GMT
Hello! Can you tell us a little more about this collector’s item exhibition project? If this were to happen, where would it take place? The only place where there are permanent exhibitions is the studio experience in Montreux, but could this be done in these places? In any case, it's a great idea and I hope that many fan collectors will respond to the call!
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Lord Fickle
Global Moderator
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Post by Lord Fickle on Apr 30, 2024 11:54:13 GMT
Hello! Can you tell us a little more about this collector’s item exhibition project? If this were to happen, where would it take place? The only place where there are permanent exhibitions is the studio experience in Montreux, but could this be done in these places? In any case, it's a great idea and I hope that many fan collectors will respond to the call! As has been said, "Everything will be announced when the right time comes." 🙂
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Post by missdelilah on Apr 30, 2024 12:28:03 GMT
Yes of course ! It's a nice idea anyway... I can't wait to find out more😊
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Post by deathtoming on May 11, 2024 16:08:21 GMT
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Post by farfelbaby on May 14, 2024 19:35:25 GMT
Not "online", there will be a proper FM exhibition/museum with lots of Sothebys items. Everything will be announced when the right time comes. (That is why we have been searching for as many buyers of Sothebys items as possible - and also for collectors owning Freddie's personal memorabilia).
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Post by farfelbaby on May 14, 2024 19:47:05 GMT
I was asked if I was interested in displaying the piece I bought. I'm not sure what they had in mind but I declined as I enjoy admiring my purchase every day. If I understand some people are trying to put together a "Freddie Mercury Museum", not sure where it will be located. The only thing I would possibly be interested in participating in would be if there was a 1 or 2 year "Traveling Exhibition" of items from Freddie's estate. I am sure however that organizing, insuring, finding locations, transporting the collection etc. would be an expensive, difficult and time consuming endeavor.
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Post by mrscully on May 28, 2024 15:24:39 GMT
It's a pity that a minority of people have declined to lend their items for a temporary period of time but it's naturally necessary to respect people who have decided to keep the item for themselves instead of share the joy with other fans of Freddie and Queen.
I'm myself "donating" probably 15-20 items for the purpose of the exhibition. I didn't see any reason to decline and I'll be proudly part of what will become a far more interesting project than those official photocopies and replicas in the Montreux casino. (And of course only interesting items will be on display - not things such as the above mentioned moustache comb that has never ever been used by Freddie in his entire life).
As far as I know everything will announced in the summer when all the contracts are signed and the list of items for the exhibition becomes complete.
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on May 28, 2024 15:48:47 GMT
Let's celebrate the positive of those that were happy to be involved...
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jun 7, 2024 1:15:30 GMT
It's a pity that a minority of people have declined to lend their items for a temporary period of time but it's naturally necessary to respect people who have decided to keep the item for themselves instead of share the joy with other fans of Freddie and Queen. I'm myself "donating" probably 15-20 items for the purpose of the exhibition. I didn't see any reason to decline and I'll be proudly part of what will become a far more interesting project than those official photocopies and replicas in the Montreux casino. (And of course only interesting items will be on display - not things such as the above mentioned moustache comb that has never ever been used by Freddie in his entire life). As far as I know everything will announced in the summer when all the contracts are signed and the list of items for the exhibition becomes complete. I'm sure most museum situations result in a similar yield - some people like to help, and others don't, both for a whole score of reasons. Thanks for being one of the good ones.
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lumi
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Post by lumi on Jun 27, 2024 7:50:58 GMT
I stumbled upon this interesting post on Reddit. A user noted that according to the most recent accounts for QPL (up to September 2023) the tangible assets went from £8k in 2022 to £220k. Do you believe he's right in speculating this might be related to the Sotheby's auction? Also, why on Earth were they so low in the first place? It's hard to believe QPL's archives are/were worth less than £10k!
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Post by mercurialfreddie on Jun 27, 2024 13:34:38 GMT
I was asked if I was interested in displaying the piece I bought. I'm not sure what they had in mind but I declined as I enjoy admiring my purchase every day. If I understand some people are trying to put together a "Freddie Mercury Museum", not sure where it will be located. The only thing I would possibly be interested in participating in would be if there was a 1 or 2 year "Traveling Exhibition" of items from Freddie's estate. I am sure however that organizing, insuring, finding locations, transporting the collection etc. would be an expensive, difficult and time consuming endeavor. There was such a project few years ago. Quite successful actually and the title of the exhibition was if I recall correctly Stormtroopers in Stilettos.
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Jun 27, 2024 13:36:31 GMT
I stumbled upon this interesting post on Reddit. A user noted that according to the most recent accounts for QPL (up to September 2023) the tangible assets went from £8k in 2022 to £220k. Do you believe he's right in speculating this might be related to the Sotheby's auction? Also, why on Earth were they so low in the first place? It's hard to believe QPL's archives are/were worth less than £10k!. I suspect the archive is owned by some subsidiary, and that most of the value of it is intangible - the recordings on them (which have been digitised and backup up to at least two clouds by this point). What the increase in tangible assets represents is a mild curiosity, nothing more. It *could* be something from the sale, but it could also be one of a million other things, including something that was previously held in some other part of the group.
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lumi
Dragonfly Trumpeter
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Post by lumi on Jun 27, 2024 15:02:53 GMT
I suspect the archive is owned by some subsidiary, and that most of the value of it is intangible - the recordings on them (which have been digitised and backup up to at least two clouds by this point). Point taken that the archives might not be classified as tangible assets (my knowledge in accounting is pretty limited), but the accounts that have been filed take into account not only QPL, but also its subsidiaries (Queen Touring Limited, Raincloud Productions, WWRY Limited, etc.), and the increase in tangible assets is £8k to £220k for QPL alone, and £9k to £221k for the whole group. So this £212k asset that has been acquired – whatever it is – is in QPL's hands.
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Jun 27, 2024 22:17:21 GMT
Maybe Jim Beach wanted a new company Ferrari
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Post by The Real Wizard on Jul 2, 2024 16:45:00 GMT
I suspect the archive is owned by some subsidiary, and that most of the value of it is intangible - the recordings on them (which have been digitised and backup up to at least two clouds by this point). Point taken that the archives might not be classified as tangible assets (my knowledge in accounting is pretty limited), but the accounts that have been filed take into account not only QPL, but also its subsidiaries (Queen Touring Limited, Raincloud Productions, WWRY Limited, etc.), and the increase in tangible assets is £8k to £220k for QPL alone, and £9k to £221k for the whole group. So this £212k asset that has been acquired – whatever it is – is in QPL's hands. It could be some kind of acquisition related to the Sony deal. But we'll probably never know - it's their business and not ours.
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lumi
Dragonfly Trumpeter
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Post by lumi on Jul 2, 2024 21:17:24 GMT
Point taken that the archives might not be classified as tangible assets (my knowledge in accounting is pretty limited), but the accounts that have been filed take into account not only QPL, but also its subsidiaries (Queen Touring Limited, Raincloud Productions, WWRY Limited, etc.), and the increase in tangible assets is £8k to £220k for QPL alone, and £9k to £221k for the whole group. So this £212k asset that has been acquired – whatever it is – is in QPL's hands. It could be some kind of acquisition related to the Sony deal. But we'll probably never know - it's their business and not ours. It's admittedly not impossible and I have to say I have also contemplated it as an option, but as of BM's update from a couple of weeks ago the Sony deal wasn't done yet, while this acquisition was completed sometime before the end of September 2023.
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Jul 2, 2024 21:37:22 GMT
Tangible assets have to be, you know, tangible.
While Sony are providing wheelbarrows full of cash, I don't think QPL get to keep the wheelbarrows....
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