BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jun 20, 2020 7:08:40 GMT
There's a thread on the other forum that's infrequently diverted into this subject area. I'm wondering if we can have a proper discussion about Queen in the 80s over here. See what people think/feel, whether the younger (teenagers of the time) have a particular attachment to the 80-86 period?
There's no right or wrong here, just opinions. let's hear some views.
Here's mine. (I've thrown in quite a bit, in a bid to create some discussion) - Most is a cut/paste of my QZ comments.
I'm speaking as a fan who had bought every and any recordings - even remotely Queen related. In 1992 - when it became clear there'd be no new recordings to collect, I sold the lot: Lurex 7" collabs with other artists like Howell, Hunter, Squier etc, rare demo 7" , rare Pic sleeves, pic vinyl, and even some ultra rare col vinyls.
I'd been a fan since '74. with each new release (after Jazz) I felt a little more jaded. I could see the rock edge being "filed down" and being replaced - not just with funk etc, but with pop and (worse) downright pap.
"Hot Space" was anathema to me. Don't get me wrong, I love soul music. But HS sounded thin - like it had been recorded in a biscuit tin using Tandy 99p Mics - a lot of 70s rock bands' 80s output sounded equally poor for the same technical reasons. Other rock bands ventured out of their comfort zones - with much better results.
AKOM was as bad - the production was worse still, but redeemed a little by one or two better tunes.
The Miracle and Innuendo brought me back "home". It was nice that Freddie signed off with two LPs more akin to the traditional Queen sound.
And it's nothing to do with emotional attachment - it's about what "sound" i actually like. The return to the Queen sound of Miracle and Innuendo and a band that could actually be bothered (again). Okay, with hindsight we all know why (Freddie's illness) - strange how some things (like mortality) can focus the human mind. So yes, them being "bothered" is a good way to describe why they achieved something much better; bothered with writing decent songs, playing well, working like a band again and actually taking the time to construct and arrange their songs with care and love.
Most of The Game - through to AKOM, was Queen doing everything that wasn't Queen:
lazy song-writing, piss-poor production, paint-by-numbers song arrangements and a lack of love of their job. this is evidenced by Roger and John effectively becoming the "hit writers", and Freddie and Brian taking a lesser role - Freddie's hedonistic/self-destructive lifestyle.
Less Freddie piano, less vocal arrangements, less Red Special = less Queen sound. this period completely abandoned the very soul of Queen. there may be more pop hits, but more is definitely not better.
if queen from 80-86 never existed (maybe compiling one LP from the best tracks) to bridge the 70s to the Miracle, the band would have a blemish-free catalog.
FWIW - my 1986 return from 8-yr hiatus ("It Started Off So Well") LP would be:
Play The Game
Strange Frontier
Let Me Live
Dragon Attack
Save Me
Princes Of The Universe
One Vision
It's A Hard Life
Hammer To Fall
It's A Beautiful Day
My Country I & II
...that's a really good - up to Queen standards LP!
If (in decades to come) the Queen catalog only included:
Queen ■ Queen II ■ Sheer Heart Attack ■ A Night At The Opera ■ A Day At The Races ■ News Of The World ■ Jazz ■ It Started Off So Well ■ The Miracle ■ Innuendo
you have 10 high quality LPs.
That's a canon to compare to Zep and Beatles. In fact, with the 80s LPs removed, I'd say superior to both. the fact that the 80s material exists is why (for me) their body of work puts them behind Zep and Beatles - not as favourite band, just as "best overall".
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Jun 20, 2020 8:33:40 GMT
Where's Who Wants To Live Forever? When you said how there are strong tracks on there I thought it was like you couldn't be bothered to right the song title but then I saw there was One Vision and Princes Of The Universe!
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jun 20, 2020 8:59:10 GMT
Where's Who Wants To Live Forever? When you said how there are strong tracks on there I thought it was like you couldn't be bothered to right the song title but then I saw there was One Vision and Princes Of The Universe! it's an opinion piece. for discussion. i just don't particularly like WWTLF. i think over that 6-year period there were better ballads - but that's just me. That i called the fictitious LP Its Started Off So Well, tells most which ballad from that period I prefer, closely followed by IAHL. my point being that; if there was one "Queen" album covering the 80-86 period, then the above would be my tracklisting. others have their own views. i'm sure many will compile their own tracklisting, other may discount the whole concept as rubbish, because they love that period of Queen. |
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Jun 20, 2020 9:00:07 GMT
I'm probably one of the rare Queen fans who prefer their 80's output. Hot space is my 3rd favourite album behind The Miracle and Innuendo.
Whilst I obviously love their 70's output, I am a huge fan of the 80's stuff.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Jun 20, 2020 9:13:24 GMT
I agree about the production of some of the 80s stuff, and could certainly have done without Flash and Hot Space. I think there is some good stuff on The Works, and at least Brian is more evident on that album. A Kind Of Magic started off with one of their best ever tracks (and one of the best ever album openings, imo), but then it went a bit shit. WWTLF is a good song which could have been better (horrible drum sound), and much of the album is very sub standard, FWBF being the depths of pop pap.
To be honest, I think the production 'issues' continued with The Miracle and Innuendo. Brian's guitar sound is too thin on many tracks, and they relied too heavily on electronic drums. They even managed to make real drums on IWIA sound weird!
To my mind, Brian's Back To The Light was the first album that had a return to the 'Queen sound', and Made In Heaven sounds 100 times better than The Miracle and Innuendo.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Jun 20, 2020 9:52:13 GMT
I'm speaking as a fan who had bought every and any recordings - even remotely Queen related. In 1992 - when it became clear there'd be no new recordings to collect, I sold the lot: Lurex 7" collabs with other artists like Howell, Hunter, Squier etc, rare demo 7" , rare Pic sleeves, pic vinyl, and even some ultra rare col vinyls. I'm curious as to why you would sell everything you'd previously collected, just because there would be nothing further to collect? Isn't that a bit like selling a Mona Lisa because Leonardo da Vinci is dead and won't be able to paint any more? To my mind a collection becomes more valuable over time, particularly if the creators are no longer with us to create any more. |
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jun 20, 2020 9:55:18 GMT
even Queen's (arguably) best work "II" is flawed with some bad production, the drums being an example. fast forward to Jazz - another album I like, but suffering from a poor drum sound also. listen to those first four albums by The Cars (Cars, Candy-O, Panorama and Shake It Up), Foreigner: Head Games, Journey (Infinity and Evolution) and Alice Cooper: Flush The Fashion have such a fresh crisp drum sound. Unlike Jazz - the drums sound muddy and buried. Strange really, because RTB produced all of the above over the same 3-year period.
even if we leave aside production quality - the writing, arranging and playing from 80-86 was pretty poor. Freddie's diversions were well-documented. Roger was flexing his muscles as a writer, but due to the perceived writing pecking order many of his best compositions ended up on his solo LPs. John also had (after AOBTD) gained a song-writing confidence, but his and Freddie's diversion into dance music erased a huge swathe of the Queen sound. Brian's output over this period was (Hammer To Fall, aside) pretty much retreading old ground.
IMO, even Zep and The Beatles' (generally accepted) worst: In Through The Out Door and Let It Be (their own particular issues included), are much better than any of Queen's 80-86 LPs.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Jun 20, 2020 12:01:54 GMT
Where's Who Wants To Live Forever? When you said how there are strong tracks on there I thought it was like you couldn't be bothered to right the song title but then I saw there was One Vision and Princes Of The Universe! it's an opinion piece. for discussion. i just don't particularly like WWTLF. i think over that 6-year period there were better ballads - but that's just me. That i called the fictitious LP Its Started Off So Well, tells most which ballad from that period I prefer, closely followed by IAHL. my point being that; if there was one "Queen" album covering the 80-86 period, then the above would be my tracklisting. others have their own views. i'm sure many will compile their own tracklisting, other may discount the whole concept as rubbish, because they love that period of Queen. I'm not criticising you. I'm just surprised you chose those two especially One Vision. |
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Jun 20, 2020 12:08:25 GMT
I rank Flash Gordon above Hot Space and perhaps more surprising, Innuendo. Innuendo is the one Queen album that I've never liked. I've had stints where I couldn't stop listening to Hot Space but that was a few years ago!
The Miracle, A Kind Of Magic and The Game as albums I don't rank high either but they have some of my all-time favourite Queen songs. The only sort of exception for me is The Works as it sort of has a mix of the stuff they did in the on their first few albums and the genre or formula that they were doing on the last couple of albums (The Game and Hot Space). It's almost like the best bits of Queen at that time. But having said that it's probably only ranked in the middle of my favourite Queen albums list.
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Ri
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Post by Ri on Jun 20, 2020 12:19:44 GMT
I'm a massive fan of 80s Queen. I always say my top 3 albums are The Game, NOTW, and SHA (all of which have no skips but are interchangeable depending on my mood), but in the past year I've consistently ranked The Game as my favorite album. Every single song there is a bop, every single one. I hope they give us something significant for its 40th anniversary that's Coming Soon (hehe).
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jun 20, 2020 12:42:44 GMT
I'm not criticising you. I'm just surprised you chose those two especially One Vision. didn't think you were. all healthy debate here. I like One Vision, it's an excellent album and concert opener. Princes has a nice blend of old/new Queen about it. |
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Post by macduff77 on Jun 20, 2020 20:21:08 GMT
I became a Queen fan in late 1989, early 1990, unbeknownst to me that Freddie was only a couple of years away from passing away. I had grown up in a Queen-ish household - my mum owned Live Killers - so that was the album that got me into Queen. Around the time I got into them, I had recently moved from Scotland to Canada and Hollywood Records had just started releasing the back catalogue. I had found original LPs of The Game and Greatest Hits at the flea market and borrowed A Night At The Opera from a local library. Those 3 albums, along with Live Killers, institutionalized me to the band. Shortly after, Innuendo came out. The Show Must Go On and These Are The Days Of Our Lives were played quite a bit on Much Music.
When I came to picking up the Hollywood Record releases, I could only buy what I found in the local shops, so I did not buy them in chronological order. By coincidence, I got my hands on the 80's stuff first with The Works and A Kind Of Magic. The thing for me, is that I had recognized a lot of the songs growing up in Scotland. Songs like Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, A Kind Of Magic, Who Wants To Live Forever, One Vision all rang a bell from my youth and with the addition of I Want It All - I was like "really, this is the same band?!?!"
The point was, their 80's stuff was very accessible to me and my friends, when I played them. So much recognition in the tracks I played them - you really did get a sense of how much Queen was around people's lives. It wasn't until I completed my Hollywood Records collection, that I had matured as a listener that I fell in love with their earlier stuff. I had a better idea of who they were and what they did, a greater appreciation of them as artists and creative forces and quickly fell in love with their albums "as a whole" during their 70's period, than some of their later hits from the 80's.
In reflection, I feel there are chapters in the band's career. Their album-spanning 70's years and their rock/pop hits from the 80's (coming full circle with Innuendo, as I agree that it feels more like a classic Queen sound). When I'm in the mood to sit and listen to one of my records or with my headsets, I'll pop on a 70's album. When I want to re-live my youth or have some fun songs - I'll pop on their 80's stuff.
I think it's okay to love both decades, warts 'n all. Also - for the record, I bought Hot Space in the middle of discovering their back catalogue and I still love it to this day. It was so sonically different to what I was discovering from them, that it stood out and still does.
My Top 5 fave Albums:
1. The Game
2. Sheer Heart Attack
3. A Night At The Opera
4. Innuendo
5. A Day At The Races
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Jun 20, 2020 22:19:04 GMT
I became a Queen fan in late 1989, early 1990, unbeknownst to me that Freddie was only a couple of years away from passing away. I had grown up in a Queen-ish household - my mum owned Live Killers - so that was the album that got me into Queen. Around the time I got into them, I had recently moved from Scotland to Canada and Hollywood Records had just started releasing the back catalogue. I had found original LPs of The Game and Greatest Hits at the flea market and borrowed A Night At The Opera from a local library. Those 3 albums, along with Live Killers, institutionalized me to the band. Shortly after, Innuendo came out. The Show Must Go On and These Are The Days Of Our Lives were played quite a bit on Much Music. When I came to picking up the Hollywood Record releases, I could only buy what I found in the local shops, so I did not buy them in chronological order. By coincidence, I got my hands on the 80's stuff first with The Works and A Kind Of Magic. The thing for me, is that I had recognized a lot of the songs growing up in Scotland. Songs like Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, A Kind Of Magic, Who Wants To Live Forever, One Vision all rang a bell from my youth and with the addition of I Want It All - I was like "really, this is the same band?!?!" The point was, their 80's stuff was very accessible to me and my friends, when I played them. So much recognition in the tracks I played them - you really did get a sense of how much Queen was around people's lives. It wasn't until I completed my Hollywood Records collection, that I had matured as a listener that I fell in love with their earlier stuff. I had a better idea of who they were and what they did, a greater appreciation of them as artists and creative forces and quickly fell in love with their albums "as a whole" during their 70's period, than some of their later hits from the 80's. In reflection, I feel there are chapters in the band's career. Their album-spanning 70's years and their rock/pop hits from the 80's (coming full circle with Innuendo, as I agree that it feels more like a classic Queen sound). When I'm in the mood to sit and listen to one of my records or with my headsets, I'll pop on a 70's album. When I want to re-live my youth or have some fun songs - I'll pop on their 80's stuff. I think it's okay to love both decades, warts 'n all. Also - for the record, I bought Hot Space in the middle of discovering their back catalogue and I still love it to this day. It was so sonically different to what I was discovering from them, that it stood out and still does. My Top 5 fave Albums: 1. The Game 2. Sheer Heart Attack 3. A Night At The Opera 4. Innuendo 5. A Day At The Races Great to see some love for Hot Space. Such a great album. |
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Post by Ryan Newton on Jun 20, 2020 23:34:25 GMT
IMO the Miracle also suffers from some of the many issues that the rest of the 80s had, particularly the horrid songwriting on a couple of those songs. While The Miracle did have a few stellar tracks, songs like Rain Must Fall and Party are at the bottom of the barrel. I will say though that I don't think Brian ever put down finer work on record than on The Miracle. While My Baby Does Me is a bit cheesy, Brian saves it from being a total disaster and I actually enjoy it for that.
The "classic" Queen sound lasted through the first five albums, but by then they had exhausted that kind of sound. News of the World had a massive influence on where the band could go and how they could carry out their next projects. It was a massive divergence from the Queen sound, but it was a total success. It was their Achtung Baby. They managed to strip back all the layers and present a rocking album that went on to become one of their most successful (2nd best selling studio album, behind Made In Heaven). Unfortunately, I think gaining the confidence to change their sound led to excursions like The Game and Hot Space where they essentially became the quintessential pop band of the 80s. Overconfidence led them down a dark path. I feel like News of the World was their last truly great album until Innuendo. Over these past months, it has quickly become my favourite album by the band. Crisp production and not a dud to be found. Perhaps not as experimental and eclectic as their past albums but equally as powerful and impactful, not to mention it spawned not one, but two of the most iconic songs of all time. I don't think there is any doubt that Queen peaked during the News of the World era.
With that being said, since others are ranking them, here's my album ranking:
1. News of the World
2. Queen II
3. A Night at the Opera
4. Sheer Heart Attack
5. Innuendo
6. A Day at the Races
7. Queen
8. The Works
9. The Game
10. The Miracle
11. Made In Heaven
12. Jazz
13. A Kind of Magic
14. Hot Space
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on Jun 28, 2020 14:23:14 GMT
The Game is a great album, simple, clever and with good flow and vibe. There are all Queen trademarks here and there hidden or in the light. Also there is pioneer production of AOBTD, CLTCL and Save me. It was nominated for best production album.
FLASH GORDON OST this is the last masterpiece, it has instrumental music which often is overlooked by the majority of fans.
Great orchestrations, perfect balance of synths, pioneer instrumental compositions. The best is that is has a flow of music motion with dialogues which takes the listener in to the movie scene. Just brilliant genius!
The hero and flash the only songs are both great.
Muse have influenced by this album.
Vangelis has said that he likes this album
Also this album was nominated for best soundtrack.
Under pressure this is a milestone song. During its time it was overlooked but time was generous.
Hot space has some great production techniques ahead of its time but poor songwriting...
The works should have 2-4 more songs like There must be more to life than this, I go crazy, Love kills and killing time. That would have make it classic. I really love this album.
A Kind of magic should have been realesed as soundtrack with one vision, pisctp and Fwbf as extra.
The miracle is their worst album I can't choose between this and hot space.
Innuendo classic it is at the top 5 albums.
In the early 80s Queen was the only who had options what music road to choose. From power ballads, to dance, and from pop to progressive and hard rock.
I stand by their choices since they are artists, it is business and they did what they thought right.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2020 14:54:30 GMT
I'm not at all into rock music but I also find their 80's output to be vastly inferior in average. I miss the craftsmanship and the risks they were taking. Sure enough, 'Hot Space' apologists often claim it was heroic because they dared being different, but they'd been being different from day one, only that in the past they were way better at it. A single song on 'Queen II' takes far more risks than all of 'Hot Space' combined and, additionally, it takes them while keeping to a far, far higher standard.
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Makka
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Post by Makka on Jun 29, 2020 8:09:58 GMT
As I'm old and grew up with their music from the mid 70's I way prefer the 70's output than the 80's. Sure they had 80's hits but the songs didn't resonate with me as much as the 70's stuff.
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mike71
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Post by mike71 on Jul 6, 2020 16:27:02 GMT
Pretty simple for me, the 70's were peak years...especially the first 6 albums, though I still like Jazz. The Game started the 80's on a strong note. Some fans from the early days weren't crazy about the change In direction, but listening to it now I feel It's a fine record. The rest of the 80's had great moments, but uneven albums. I could find things I like In every era of the band. The Works Is probably the best of the rest In the 80's. I don't feel the need too hate the 80's stuff Just because I love Queen 2 and Sheer Heart Attack. A lot of fans do that.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jul 6, 2020 16:44:49 GMT
I'm speaking as a fan who had bought every and any recordings - even remotely Queen related. In 1992 - when it became clear there'd be no new recordings to collect, I sold the lot: Lurex 7" collabs with other artists like Howell, Hunter, Squier etc, rare demo 7" , rare Pic sleeves, pic vinyl, and even some ultra rare col vinyls. I'm curious as to why you would sell everything you'd previously collected, just because there would be nothing further to collect? Isn't that a bit like selling a Mona Lisa because Leonardo da Vinci is dead and won't be able to paint any more? To my mind a collection becomes more valuable over time, particularly if the creators are no longer with us to create any more. well it wasn't for huge profits or a cash-in of any kind. i think the band i had grown up with had (with Freddie's death) reached a watershed (for me). I had a 3 yr-old son at that time and this seemed the perfect time to be "done away with childish things". I don't regret it - the whole thing got massively out of hand... for the completest it became ridiculous: 7" 12" tape, cd, pic sleeve, multi-pic sleeve options, pic disc, shaped discs. Some releases were available in 6 or 7 flavours. then there were solo stuff, collabs etc. I didn't make a fortune. i looked at prices in RC and listed mine collection there too. it all went. |
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Jul 6, 2020 20:41:23 GMT
I'm curious as to why you would sell everything you'd previously collected, just because there would be nothing further to collect? Isn't that a bit like selling a Mona Lisa because Leonardo da Vinci is dead and won't be able to paint any more? To my mind a collection becomes more valuable over time, particularly if the creators are no longer with us to create any more. well it wasn't for huge profits or a cash-in of any kind. i think the band i had grown up with had (with Freddie's death) reached a watershed (for me). I had a 3 yr-old son at that time and this seemed the perfect time to be "done away with childish things". I don't regret it - the whole thing got massively out of hand... for the completest it became ridiculous: 7" 12" tape, cd, pic sleeve, multi-pic sleeve options, pic disc, shaped discs. Some releases were available in 6 or 7 flavours. then there were solo stuff, collabs etc. I didn't make a fortune. i looked at prices in RC and listed mine collection there too. it all went. I must admit, I keep looking at the amount of space my huge CD / DVD / BD collection takes up (not just of Queen), and thinking I should be doing something with it. There are CDs I've not played for decades, and some I've probably forgotten I've got, and I rarely watch movie DVDs / BDs more than once, other than the odd exception. The problem is, there would be some potentially valuable rarities lurking in the collection, so I wouldn't just get shot of it all in one job lot. That means a mammoth task of going through it all would need to be undertaken, which would take many days. One would think I'd have time, especially during this period of lockdown, but I've actually found myself with less spare time over the last 16 or so weeks, than I would usually have. |
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jul 17, 2020 5:57:01 GMT
I've just replied to a post (at the other place), but while posting, it occurred to me that the reasons i cite are very relevant to my preference for the Miracle and Innuendo. I've therefore, added most of those comments/reasons here.
Putting aside, (what I feel) are lazy writing, lazy playing (synths with everything), arrangement and production deficiencies of The Game, Hot Space, The Works & AKOM - and my previous comments regarding The Miracle/Innuendo sounding more like classic Queen. 80-86 vs 89-91 is like chalk and cheese.
It's been said that The Works and The Game are more light/fun than the perceived doom and gloom of the themes contained within Innuendo and The Miracle.
"Delilah", "Party" and "Khashoggi's Ship" - are the very definition of "fun". Added to that, "Invisible Man" "Breakthru" "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "The Miracle" and "Rain Must Fall" - all very upbeat/positive songs - especially considering the themes within. The Miracle reflects the changing times - the themes running through tracks like "I Want It All", "The Miracle" and even "Was It All Worth It" convey a message of hope for the future. Paint that album against Freddie's illness and the world stage in 1989: Berlin, (Gorbachev's) Russia, (Perestroika and glasnost), and an end to the Cold War - and this LP is heralding a new era.
Conversely, "The Works" and "The Game" are littered with misery and maudlin: "It's A Hard Life", "I Want To Break Free", "Keep Passing The Open Windows", "Is This The World We Created?", "Don't Try Suicide", "Sail Away Sweet Sister" and "Save Me".
The message of lament and negativity running through "Radio Ga Ga", "IWTBF", "Machines (or back to humans)" and "Hammer To Fall" - and there's simply not much joy to be had on The Works.
"The Works" - released (appropriately) in 1984, is very Orwellian in theme. Even the "Ga Ga" video's Metropolis stylings portray images straight out of Orwell's 1984 and the early days of The Cold War.
The Works is symptomatic of and running through with typical Cold War era themes - an abject misery-fest.
Give me The Miracle and Innuendo any day!
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on Jul 20, 2020 8:33:24 GMT
Since like most of Queen fans for decades I believed that their 80s material wasn't that good
Now I am thinking that during the 80s their output wasn't subpar and I can explain why.
Since Jazz they tried to sound fresh and new, because in late 70s the music was changing very fast and even the record industry was changing along with the radio stations.
Queen went with the wave producing clever and sometimes genius songs.
Jazz was and still suffering from bad production, so during the Game everything went way better.
In terms of writing, I think that some songs have the trademark of old Queen especially from SHA period (SASS has killer Queen solo and orchestrations, Rock It similar guitar intro with Tementent Funster, PTG big chord guitars and vocals same goes for Save me) even Soul brother has resemble chords with ITLOTG revisited.
Also Flash Gordon album has great compotions most of them are instrumental, but they are all in the classic Queen quality
Now for the weaker compositions like Don't try suicide or most of Hot space, I was wondering that, if those songs were given to any other pop artist, with different orchestrations, the potential to be good songs and even hits is very high.
The same I think for The Works which I think it needed more songs to be a classic album, machines, IAHL, Radio GA GA, IWYBF, HTF are really good songs with nothing subpar than their 70s.
Is Misfire, She make me, MTRnR, Subpar songs?
I can imagine Keep passing the open widows, one year of love, tear it up, Friends will be friends, Breakthru, scandal, cool cat, back chat, staying power and some songs from Mr bad guy to be sung by other pop or pop rock artist with different orchestration - production. As I said, maybe there was a graet potential to be hits and sound better.
Also Flash Gordon album, One vision, Machines, HTF, Ginme the prize, POTU have progressive and good rock elements.
My conclusion is that ,their writing changed in the 80s, some bad production and short timing albums left a disappointing feeling. But if those songs had a different treatment or given to any other artists, they could have a better faith.
P.S. I forgot who wants to live forever and AKOM original soundtrack a very beautiful songs.
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Post by ChimChamIt'sAScam on Jul 31, 2021 2:45:26 GMT
I'm one of the people who grew up with most of Queen's 80s output (although admittedly it was through our family copy of GH, back in 2009ish), before slowly introducing myself to Queen's earlier output. I appreciate their 70's output, but I do think there are still some standouts in Queen's 80's catalogue. Hammer to Fall, AKOM (the song), WWTLF, POTU, and Dragon Attack are all great songs IMO. The Game is a great album, and I don't even hate Hot Space (the muddy production notwithstanding)
But I'm also one that believes Innuendo is Queen's best album, so I suppose I've just got weird taste.
Top five for me goes as follows:
1. Innuendo
2. Queen II
3. News of the World
4. A Night at the Opera
5. The Game (maybe? Races might round out the list tbh)
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Dimitris
Ploughman
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Likes: 282
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Post by Dimitris on Jul 31, 2021 12:03:40 GMT
I'm one of the people who grew up with most of Queen's 80s output (although admittedly it was through our family copy of GH, back in 2009ish), before slowly introducing myself to Queen's earlier output. I appreciate their 70's output, but I do think there are still some standouts in Queen's 80's catalogue. Hammer to Fall, AKOM (the song), WWTLF, POTU, and Dragon Attack are all great songs IMO. The Game is a great album, and I don't even hate Hot Space (the muddy production notwithstanding) But I'm also one that believes Innuendo is Queen's best album, so I suppose I've just got weird taste. Top five for me goes as follows: 1. Innuendo 2. Queen II 3. News of the World 4. A Night at the Opera 5. The Game (maybe? Races might round out the list tbh) Innuendo is a great Queen album and also many fans cite it as one of their favours. It is on my best three Queen albums along with Queen II and ADATR. |
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ted
Ploughman
Cool.
Posts: 291
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Post by ted on Jul 31, 2021 14:49:30 GMT
I'm almost exclusively a '70's Queen Era' fan, so I'll post my ranking of those albums only here:
1. Sheer Heart Attack
2. Queen II
3. A Day at the Races
4. Queen
5. News of the World
6. A Night at the Opera
7. Jazz
Regarding their 80's Era and beyond, I like the songs Save Me, Flash's Theme, One Vision and maybe Innuendo. I've posted elsewhere that IMHO Queen should have concentrated on their solo careers and made movie soundtracks only during the 80's and beyond. I consider the 1st 6 songs on Back to the Light to be stellar tracks and far superior to just about all of their post-Jazz output.
Ted
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Strange_frontier
Dragonfly Trumpeter
I'm Sister Blue (and yes let's get together)
Posts: 107
Likes: 61
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Post by Strange_frontier on Jul 31, 2021 17:42:07 GMT
The Miracle and AKOM are amazing, Hot Space and the Game have their merits, The Works has died down on me over time (but RGG and IWTBF are still fantastic), but Flash Gordon....I would have preferred if "Flash" and "The Hero" had been a double-A side single instead.
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Raf
Dragonfly Trumpeter
Sweet like some kind of cheese
Posts: 198
Likes: 236
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Post by Raf on Aug 2, 2021 2:24:37 GMT
To be honest, I think the production 'issues' continued with The Miracle and Innuendo. Brian's guitar sound is too thin on many tracks, and they relied too heavily on electronic drums. They even managed to make real drums on IWIA sound weird! To my mind, Brian's Back To The Light was the first album that had a return to the 'Queen sound', and Made In Heaven sounds 100 times better than The Miracle and Innuendo. I honestly love the guitar work both on The Miracle and Innuendo. Even on tracks without proeminent guitars, like The Miracle, Brian's licks and ornamentation were absolutely killer. IWIA probably features one of Brian's best solos. But I can see how one could say it's not Queen-like. 70s Queen featured simpler melodies which you can easily hum along, and heavy harmonization/orchestration, and I believe The Miracle and Innuendo rely less on multiple layers and more on a single lead guitar doing trickier stuff. If I had to guess, I'd say Brian was probably influenced by what was going on in the hard rock/heavy metal scene in the 80s, and probably wanted to be one of the cool kids with heavier gain, dive bombs, fast picking and tapping. Since AKOM he seems to be going for a more technical guitar sound. He collaborated with Eddie Van Halen in 83, and in Sevilla 91 we can see how much he seems to admire Vai and Satriani. Not to mention he was the only one who kept the hair  Even to this day, on his social media posts, every now and then he writes something like "although I can't play as technical or fast as these guys", such as when he won a poll for best guitarist in some magazine. But who knows? Maybe I'm reading too much into it. |
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