Queen I Box Set - Post-Release Discussion

Now here I would have to comment - QAL tours are long and exhausting and I know how noticeably slow the tempos get, believe me I streamed nearly every show from 2019 onwards, but in a controlled environment where he could have as many tries, for something like about 20 seconds or so, I still believe in him 😄. Not perpetuating the retake idea, this is just complete theoretical comparison from my side.

No, I think they've been great too. Once they're all out, I think we should collate them together in one post, as they're all currently buried in this one.

BTW, I edited your post above to embed the video. 🙂

Just a few things about this true gems:

- I can't believe how highly developed 'Jesus' already was as early as 1970

- The band already sounded tight way back then and not really 'loose' as it was referenced by Brian

- Freddie's performance developed A LOT in one year, considering the Ibex 1969 recording

- It amazes me how good it sounds considering the devices that must have been used in 1970 for an amateur band

- I can't understand Roger's "You are not going to release THAT!" sentence to Brian. They should definitely release the full show. Despite the mistakes that they might have commited, it's part of the game, especially when it was one of the first gigs by a band. This recording is a piece of history that probably falls in the same category to Quarrymen's "In Spite Of All The Danger". I can't think of one single fan that wouldn't dream of having this (although a GH re-release would come first if I had to choose).

- As a follow-up to Roger's "You are not going to release THAT!", I would tell him that if they released in the past stuff like the 5ive / Wyclef Jean projects, then he shouldn't be worried of this recording in any way. 

This is the best explanation out there that comes closest to my ability to visualize, thank you so much! I'll look more into these as I play them back. I love the end product still, just fascinating to learn the how.

Continuing my journey with the Collector's Edition, as promised, my thoughts on the Sessions disc (aka the best disc)...

I'm immediately struck by how organized, dialed in and gelled they are. Even the De Lane Lea takes are honed in and powerful. These are early/initial takes, and though they're obviously young (apologizing for mistakes, etc.) and fresh in the studio, the concentration, focus and collaboration showcase an intention, urgency and maturity in the band's approach (despite the teasing and banter).

Oh my word, the banter! I literally laugh out loud at so much of it. We've heard them get on each other before, of course. But the playfulness here in their youth. There's hardly a hint of irritation. Only occasional and brief moments of aggression ("shut up, Brian!", "come on!") that quickly pass (or are completely ignored). The aggression even seems to contribute to the productive motivation. They're impressed with each other. Freddie clearly loves what his bandmates do ("I like that end, Rog", "sounds like thunder"). He's comfortable directing and conducting. In fact, they're all comfortable in their respective rolls; an obvious sign of chemistry, trust and well-rehearsed preparation. They take the work but not themselves too seriously ("did you do any mistakes? <laughs>", "what do you think this group's called?"). And their personalities are on full display. Freddie's focus and playful drama. Brian's reflection and lighthearted approach. Roger's impatient edge and directness. And John's quiet and reliable precision.

They're all brutally honest, which is essential. And all of them are enthusiastic perfectionists, so excited to be recording. They knew what they wanted to do going into the studio, and it's obvious.

The music is impressive, even in its unfinished and early state. "All you pretty people, keep yourself alive." Hearing (sometimes experimentally) sparse backing tracks and arrangements reveals the immaculate composition and complex layers of instrumentation they must have meticulously and carefully crafted later. I actually prefer some of the sounds and performances in these alternate and earlier takes ("See What a Fool I've Been", I like the choral harmonies in "Keep Yourself Alive"). So many inflections beyond rock, including blues, soul, jazz...they're so well-versed. The vision! It's always front and center. Freddie's guitar 'singing' is precious and you can hear him shaping his voice, pushing the limit and creating something ideal. I can only imagine, as they begin completing final cuts, what it was like to hear it all coming to life.

I'm assuming they 'optimized' the session mixes to a certain degree, and I might hear a bit of pitch correction here and there, but it's not obvious or blanketed. Most takes seem to be largely untouched by too much meddling, and I'm glad. This kind of early, unfinished work is the stuff I live for. Incomplete/different lyrics and alternate vocals, but the music is incredibly realized and chord structures are intact. You can tell the boys had full songs in their heads, just bursting to get out. I'm especially impressed with John, who was still quite new within the band during the De Lane Lea recordings. It demonstrates how quickly everything just fell into place.

Such camaraderie between all of them, it's lovely; and Roger's statement about their "innate, gentle arrogance" sums it up. No wonder they stuck it out, saw it through and stayed together. Many bands would have never pushed for so long, after being in and out of other projects and lineups. But you can tell. They were certain they had something special and new; and rare.

My music-minded analysis-obsessed brain is jazzed we have this to enjoy. 

<end gushing>

Thank you so much! Of course what I say it comes from my ears as a drummer/producer, I was not there when they were working to the remixes and They will never claim how the work was done but... I can assure you that at 99% it was as I described to you. We have the proves!

this has already been pointed out, discussed and micro-analysed to within a minim of its audio life. see earlier in this thread.

I guess the point is that he probably could endure a few minutes worth of intense drumming. 

During a tour, he's supposed to play from 2+ hours every couple of nights while sleeping in hotels and flying from country to country. For a studio session he can fully rest at his own home, drive to the studio, spend those same 2+ hours just drumming the same song over and over, maybe re-recording just one specific bit of the song, and he only needs to get it right once. If he fails, he can go back home, rest for another couple of days, then come back and give it another go.

That's precisely how Freddie was able to hit several notes in the studio that he'd never even try on stage.

Of course, that doesn't mean Roger DID re-record anything. Just pointing out it's technically feasible, despite his age.

Well, yeah... in principle...but it\s not just that. His whole style changed so much over the years, became much more simpler as well. Drum parts itself on remixes are still practically the same, only sound changed. It really seems practically impossible that Roger would re-learn his original parts and re-record them in this age... It just doesn't work that way, and Roger is not that kind of drummer that would even bother to do that. I mean, I am drummer myself, an amateur one, but still,  so it's obvious to me that the whole idea is just impossible, once you listen to the remixed version.

Hi, I did. You need to contact them as it doesn't seem to work on the website. I was told the discount is linked to an email address, so send then a message. I got my discount on Queen 1 sorted in a couple of days.


I'm guessing the support people deal with more than just the Queen website so need to be patient.

I really enjoy this release and hope we'll get more of this quality. Though folded up posters always have fold marks on them, so can do without that as they'll stay in the box forever..

Do you guys think if the whole narrative for this remix was different then the overall reception among fans would be better ? I mean, instead of trying to convince the whole world that : "This is how the album was supposed to sound, this is the way we wanted to mix our music back in the 1973" if the band would have decided to say : "We wanted to create a reimagined version of the original album" would the reception among fans be warmer ?