Mustapha Ibrahim
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(Mustapha! Mustapha! Mustapha!) I've never heard of the bloody song!
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Post by Mustapha Ibrahim on Jul 15, 2020 21:46:44 GMT
Let's talk about the Hot Space album. I'll begin. So, what did you think about the songs? I really liked Under Pressure, Back Chat (which is basically John's diss track on Brian), and Staying Power.
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Post by macduff77 on Jul 15, 2020 22:09:36 GMT
Hot Space is one of my favourite Queen albums. I actually prefer the first side over the more rockier second side. I wasn’t a huge fan of Body Language being the lead single - but it did chart well here in Canada. Freddie’s voice is in good form and some of the beats/grooves are pretty fun. It’s a big departure from prior Queen releases, but I’m happy they tried something different. It was a supposedly dark time for the band, so that’s too bad, and it seems some of the band didn’t like the outcome, but I still prefer it to the rest of the 80’s output onwards.
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Mustapha Ibrahim
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(Mustapha! Mustapha! Mustapha!) I've never heard of the bloody song!
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Post by Mustapha Ibrahim on Jul 15, 2020 22:17:02 GMT
I think that John really liked some of the songs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2020 0:59:38 GMT
I think that John really liked some of the songs. He didn't, according to John himself. He liked 'Under Pressure', but he hated the album.
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Mustapha Ibrahim
Politician
(Mustapha! Mustapha! Mustapha!) I've never heard of the bloody song!
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Post by Mustapha Ibrahim on Jul 16, 2020 1:03:42 GMT
I think that John really liked some of the songs. He didn't, according to John himself. He liked 'Under Pressure', but he hated the album. Oh...
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Post by pokemaniacjunk on Jul 16, 2020 2:22:58 GMT
I really like the album, I'm particularly fond of Staying Power and Dancer
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Jul 16, 2020 7:39:00 GMT
It's probably my least favorite album. I think that, with better production, a decent EP could be made out of it, but that's pretty much it. I think Under Pressure is probably the best track, but the Mike Spencer-remix proved that even Under Pressure had a LOT of room for improvement production-wise.
What I really dislike is the apologetic myths that are spread about Hot Space. Sebastian already addressed one of the weirdest counterfactual claims making the round, but I get particularly ticked off by the claim that Queen were somehow 'ahead of the curve', 'breaking new ground' or 'trying something new' - in actual fact, with Hot Space Queen were, for the first time in their career, several years behind the curve.
I also think no other Queen-album, The Works and A Kind Of Magic included, has dated so badly. The thin, plastic 'aesthetic' is IMHO cringe-worthy and doesn't even compare particularly well to the sound of albums from the same period.
Hot Space is Queen's Never Let Me Down.
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Post by wijnand on Jul 16, 2020 8:01:19 GMT
Not really my favorite album as well but I do love 'Life is Real (Song for Lennon)'
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billy
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Post by billy on Jul 16, 2020 16:48:15 GMT
Hot Space was their first studio album I bought on the day it was released. I loved it and was glad they hadn’t abandoned the hard rock sound completely. I thought the sides should have been switched - American rock fans might not have given up on them if they’d heard the more “traditional” Queen sound on side two first. I know I played side two more than side one in the beginning. I guess it’s obvious in hindsight that Body Language shouldn’t have been the lead single in the States.
Even though I liked side two better I did love the whole album. It was the first time (apart from Flash Gordon and Under Pressure on Greatest Hits) that I was hearing brand new songs from my new favorite band! Hot Space cemented my love for Queen. I saw that tour and the songs were heavier live than on the album. I tracked down the 12 inch remixes at record stores and started going to record conventions. And I soon learned about bootlegs and the ROIO section in most independent record stores!
I even wrote a fan letter to Elektra Records and they sent me a press kit - Hot Space folder and all! (It included a bio, album info, discography and some glossy 8x10 photos.)
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Steve
Wordles & Heardles
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Post by Steve on Jul 16, 2020 18:05:52 GMT
Hot Space was their first studio album I bought on the day it was released. I loved it and was glad they hadn’t abandoned the hard rock sound completely. I thought the sides should have been switched - American rock fans might not have given up on them if they’d heard the more “traditional” Queen sound on side two first. I know I played side two more than side one in the beginning. I guess it’s obvious in hindsight that Body Language shouldn’t have been the lead single in the States. Even though I liked side two better I did love the whole album. It was the first time (apart from Flash Gordon and Under Pressure on Greatest Hits) that I was hearing brand new songs from my new favorite band! Hot Space cemented my love for Queen. I saw that tour and the songs were heavier live than on the album. I tracked down the 12 inch remixes at record stores and started going to record conventions. And I soon learned about bootlegs and the ROIO section in most independent record stores! I even wrote a fan letter to Elektra Records and they sent me a press kit - Hot Space folder and all! (It included a bio, album info, discography and some glossy 8x10 photos.) I LOVE hot space. Its my 4th favourite Queen album.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jul 17, 2020 7:42:13 GMT
It's probably my least favorite album. I think that, with better production, a decent EP could be made out of it, but that's pretty much it. I think Under Pressure is probably the best track, but the Mike Spencer-remix proved that even Under Pressure had a LOT of room for improvement production-wise. What I really dislike is the apologetic myths that are spread about Hot Space. Sebastian already addressed one of the weirdest counterfactual claims making the round, but I get particularly ticked off by the claim that Queen were somehow 'ahead of the curve', 'breaking new ground' or 'trying something new' - in actual fact, with Hot Space Queen were, for the first time in their career, several years behind the curve. I also think no other Queen-album, The Works and A Kind Of Magic included, has dated so badly. The thin, plastic 'aesthetic' is IMHO cringe-worthy and doesn't even compare particularly well to the sound of albums from the same period. Hot Space is Queen's Never Let Me Down. For me - there's too much wrong with it to like. Really lazy song-writing, synths everywhere - even where the instrument being "synthesised" would've been a marked improvement over the final result - poor arrangements and awful production (which continued into Works and AKOM). and as you've rightly pointed - it was neither pioneering nor groundbreaking. Most (if not all) major 70s rock bands had ventured/diverted into dance styles - when disco started to break through - around '75ish. The only other two major 70s bands to hit the dancefloor as late as Queen were Genesis and Yes...and coincidentally, their 80s dance output was also (IMO) pretty sub-standard.
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Mustapha Ibrahim
Politician
(Mustapha! Mustapha! Mustapha!) I've never heard of the bloody song!
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Post by Mustapha Ibrahim on Jul 17, 2020 20:29:02 GMT
I feel like Queen sort of lost their rock feeling after The Game. Then, they brought it back in The Miracle.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Jul 18, 2020 5:42:23 GMT
I feel like Queen sort of lost their rock feeling after The Game. Then, they brought it back in The Miracle. I think it was still there, but maybe not as much as previous albums.
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Post by sms1970 on Jul 18, 2020 7:22:56 GMT
I listen to the album as a whole - not just picking the songs I like the most. Yes it is very different to their other albums but they were never afriad to try something different, no matter if they were ahead or behind with the times, and I have always admired them for the diversity in their music.
I like the album but it's not my favourite.
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Mustapha Ibrahim
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(Mustapha! Mustapha! Mustapha!) I've never heard of the bloody song!
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Post by Mustapha Ibrahim on Jul 18, 2020 21:59:01 GMT
I give the album a 5/10. It's just... okay.
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CoolCat
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Post by CoolCat on Jul 28, 2020 20:06:18 GMT
It‘s not a masterpiece, but I really like it. Calling All Girls, Life Is Real and Dancer are my favourite songs on the album. Yes, it‘s different, but that doesn‘t mean it‘s bad.
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Post by Billblackman on Jul 28, 2020 20:51:04 GMT
It‘s not a masterpiece, but I really like it. Calling All Girls, Life Is Real and Dancer are my favourite songs on the album. Yes, it‘s different, but that doesn‘t mean it‘s bad. Life is real is probably the best song on the album with Under Pressure. It's underrated but yet simple and good.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Jul 28, 2020 22:45:53 GMT
I listened to the full album for the first time in a while, not as bad as I remember. I still rank it lower than most Queen albums. Back Chat is probably the best of the "disco" songs, the instrumental section in the middle is my favourite thing about it. I love the electronic drum solo even if it is outdated! Staying Power is one song that I don't like on the record or live which may be part of the reason why I don't like Hot Space so much as it is the opening track.
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on Jul 30, 2020 4:25:11 GMT
I wish their record contract would be very different and they didn't need to deliver an album in 1982.
They seemed tired from the previous years and wanted to sound new and fresh. It was very difficult to keep that pace.
In my opinion the talent was still there, but the songs were not for them, I believe Mack tried his best to make some songs sound new and made them in terms of production sound different from other artist at that time, even the drum machines sound good and even better than the sound of forthcoming Queen albums.
As I said the talent was there, but the majority of the songs didn't suit Queen, if these songs were given to any other artists with different production & orchestration, there was a potential to be hits or having different fate.(The same I think for many pop - "weak" other Queen songs in the 80s).
I understand they wanted to try different styles and all that, however it was a missed opportunity not use their talent and especially Freddie at the best in a period when his voice was great, like the rest were on their abilities.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jul 30, 2020 16:10:29 GMT
I feel like Queen sort of lost their rock feeling after The Game. Then, they brought it back in The Miracle. I think it was still there, but maybe not as much as previous albums. i don't think the "rock feeling" was still there at all. rather, i think they paid lip service to it to try and retain their fanbase. think about it: Freddie and John had gone all dance. Roger was writing radio-friendly pop hits (completely at odds with his own, superior rock-oriented solo stuff). Brian was trying to write some rock stuff, but 3/4 of the band were pulling differently. From 1980-1986 (6 yrs, 5 LPs) the rock tracks were: ♦ Rock It (Prime Jive) ♦ The Hero ♦ Put Out The Fire ♦ Tear It Up ♦ Hammer To fall ♦ Princes of The Universe Now take any 3 consecutive LPs from 73-Jazz, and the rock tracks would be double those above. ♦ I (6), II (4), SHA (5) - 15 ♦ II, SHA, Opera (5) - 14 ♦ SHA, Opera, Races (3) - 13 ♦ Opera, Races, NOTW (5), 13 ♦ Races, NOTW, Jazz (5), 13 incidentally the final two LPs: Miracle (4) & Innuendo (5) produced more genuine rock tracks than the total of the previous 5 (80-86) LPs
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Post by Chief Mouse on Jul 30, 2020 19:38:25 GMT
I think it was still there, but maybe not as much as previous albums. i don't think the "rock feeling" was still there at all. rather, i think they paid lip service to it to try and retain their fanbase. think about it: Freddie and John had gone all dance. Roger was writing radio-friendly pop hits (completely at odds with his own, superior rock-oriented solo stuff). Brian was trying to write some rock stuff, but 3/4 of the band were pulling differently. From 1980-1986 (6 yrs, 5 LPs) the rock tracks were: ♦ Rock It (Prime Jive) ♦ The Hero ♦ Put Out The Fire ♦ Tear It Up ♦ Hammer To fall ♦ Princes of The Universe What about Dragon Attack, Need Your Loving Tonight, Coming Soon, Under Pressure, One Vision, Gimme The Prize? Perhaps not straightforward rock all of them but loosely rock, for sure.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jul 30, 2020 20:51:50 GMT
What about Dragon Attack, Need Your Loving Tonight, Coming Soon, Under Pressure, One Vision, Gimme The Prize? Perhaps not straightforward rock all of them but loosely rock, for sure. but then, if we include the "loosely" rock tunes, then the other albums would double their "rock tunes" too
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Post by Chief Mouse on Jul 30, 2020 21:35:52 GMT
Of course, that comes with the decade.
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NathanH
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Post by NathanH on Jul 30, 2020 23:04:06 GMT
Gimme The Prize is definitely rock as is I Go Crazy but that probably doesn't count. I've always considered One Vision as rock for starters it was on Queen Rocks and it was the opening song on the Magic Tour - Queen pretty much always had the tendency to have rock and/or fast-paced songs opening the show.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Jul 31, 2020 6:20:47 GMT
Gimme The Prize is definitely rock as is I Go Crazy but that probably doesn't count. i take you point about GTP - but it's not really a song (as such). I'd consider it a piece of incidental music filled with movie dialogue. I've always considered One Vision as rock for starters it was on Queen Rocks As for One Vision, it's basic back beat really isn't a rocker - it feels more pop. The bridge section really gives it away for me. Factor in the 12" version and "Blurred Vision" it's whole feel is quite poppy - the band really didn't consider it a rocker, to do what they did with it. . "No One But You" is also on Queen Rocks.
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Post by Lupine Assassin on Aug 10, 2020 15:39:24 GMT
Despite what many critics said, I love "Hot Space" because it dares to be different and forced fans to be open-minded. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Deacon's personal favorite Queen album.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2020 15:41:11 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if this is Deacon's personal favorite Queen album. It wasn't: he said several times that he didn't like it, and, in fact, he claimed it was the worst point of their careers. His favourite album was The Game, one in which he was a lot more involved.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Aug 10, 2020 16:26:29 GMT
Despite what many critics said, I love "Hot Space" because it dares to be different and forced fans to be open-minded. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Deacon's personal favorite Queen album. thing is about John Deacon: back in the 80s, he liked good dance music. Hot Space was not liked by John - he said as much. On that basis, I'd say that if the "dance aficionado" in the band gave one of the band's own albums the thumbs down, then it's fair to say it wasn't up to scratch.
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Post by mevansnow on Nov 10, 2020 0:10:08 GMT
I love Hot Space - it’s definitely in my top 5 Queen albums, but I know that’s far from being a popular opinion....so my question would be what could be done to make it an even better album, something that more Queen fans could possibly get behind? imagine if Brian and Roger revisited Hot Space today and decided to bring it up to date and turn it into a more modern Queen album? What would it take and how would you feel about that? A couple of ideas come to mind.... - Re-record some of the instrumentation to give it a more modern/rockier/organic sound
- Change the sequence of the songs
- Include some different songs from the period
- Release different singles from the album
What do you reckon?
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Nov 10, 2020 1:04:37 GMT
I love Hot Space - it’s definitely in my top 5 Queen albums, but I know that’s far from being a popular opinion....so my question would be what could be done to make it an even better album, something that more Queen fans could possibly get behind? imagine if Brian and Roger revisited Hot Space today and decided to bring it up to date and turn it into a more modern Queen album? What would it take and how would you feel about that? A couple of ideas come to mind.... - Re-record some of the instrumentation to give it a more modern/rockier/organic sound
- Change the sequence of the songs
- Include some different songs from the period
- Release different singles from the album
What do you reckon? They say you can't polish a turd, but I reckon the sound of the album is at least 50% of it's problem, so definitely a re-record, with new guitar and proper drums, leaving only the original vocal (and bass?) would do it a favour. But leave out Body Language. I think that one is beyond saving. 🙂
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