Great band, Greatest Hits, Great value (The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III - Queen)

Member Name: gillyman

Product:	The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III - Queen
Date:	09/12/02 (579 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some all time greats, They're practically giving it away

Disadvantages: The 3rd disc

The last time I wrote an album review, the comments that I received convinced me it was time to announce my retirement citing creative differences.

Driving home last night however after a battling 1 - 1 draw, I found myself, once again, singing along to classic after classic, accompanied by the less than dulcet tones of our goalkeeper and enthusing about how "they don't write them like that any more". Queen is music for which I have a real passion. I love the songs, know the words and want to tell the world to listen to them. That is why I have come out of retirement to write this - then I will go back to Alcohol and films - promise!

I consider myself to have been incredibly fortunate, a little over 10 years ago (yes it is that long) to stand shoulder to shoulder with 70,000 Queen fans, arms aloft, taking part in the most famous mass hand clapping ceremony of the lot - Radio GaGa. Queen was a band that transcended the generations (even my Mum likes them) and crossed decades, inspiring a certain passion in their fans that is impossible to quantify. The sorrow at the untimely passing of Freddie Mercury was immense.

This package spans 20 years and contains all three Queen Greatest Hits albums at the bargain basement price of 12.99 (on CDWOW.com) Each album costs 8.99 when bought separately so this really is superb value - particularly when you are getting some of the greatest songs ever written.

Due to the amount of material under review, I am only going to give a very brief description of each song. Otherwise this review will be far too long although it is already going to be a considerable length. My advice is to buy it and hear for yourself!

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Queen
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Queen released their eponymous debut album in 1973 and subsequently went on to record a further 16 studio albums (including the posthumous Made in heaven). In addition they released 3 live albums which some would argue is th
e best format to enjoy them in. This material, together with a series of solo albums, orchestral versions and tributes, is the catalogue from which these three Greatest Hits albums are drawn.

+++John Deacon+++

Bassist John Deacon is probably the least recognisable member of the foursome. The last member to join the band after he was introduced to Brian May and Roger Taylor in 1971, it took time for his creative juices to start flowing and when they did the results were intially fairly forgettable. He went on to write two of Queen's best loved songs however; Another one bites the dust and I want to break free.

***Brian May***

With his 70s Kevin Keegan / Clipped poodle hairdo, Brian May stands out from a crowd. His guitar licks and solos pepper Queen's output over the ages and his efforts at writing generally reflect his love of his instrument. We will Rock you and Hammer to fall in particular reflect his influence whilsy Who wants to live forever is probably the most famous example of his gentle side. Has since gone on to some fairly ghastly solo efforts.

###Roger Taylor###

Drummer Taylor answered an ad for a drummer that had been posted on a college noticeboard. The ad had been pinned up by Brian May and the rest is history. Taylor contributed material throughout Queen's history. Almost all of it was destined to be at best B sides until he penned a tune called Radio Ga-Ga. He was to add A kind of Magic shortly after.

@@@Freddie Mercury@@@

Possibly the greatest rock showman of all time. Presposterously talented. An outrageous performer and marvellously talented vocalist and writer. His masterpiece is a little tune by the name of Bohemian Rhapsody which became a number one hit twice over. As you will see further on - he was responsible for a huge number of Queen favourites but he will be perhaps best be remebered as a consummate showman, stealing the stage at Live Aid and playing huge
concerts at Wembley, Rio and Knebworth amongst others. His versatility can be seen in quasi operatic opuses such Bohemian Rhapsody, ballads of the calibre of Love of my life, crowd pleasers such as We are the Champions and although credited to Queen, the superbly poignant The show must go on.

Sadly missed. The mold was broken when Freddie passed away on November 24th 1991 of AIDS related pneumonia.

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Disc 1 - Greatest Hits 1
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Covers the period from 1973 to approximately 1981 and contains some of the best loved tunes.

Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury - A night at the opera)

"Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me". One of the best loved songs ever. Consistently voted at number 1 in polls run by anyone and everyone. Queen's magnum opus is a huge, swooping haunting effort taking in the gamut of musical styles from opera to heavy metal and everything inbetween. A Queen song that cannot and is not performed live (other than in a severly curtailed version), the band also managed to popularise the idea of the video clip.

Another one bites the dust (Deacon - The Game)

"Are you happy? Are you satisfied" How long can you stand the heat?" The familiar base line coupled with the bad attitude lyrics makes this a classic - used by Gladiators and sports teams around the world!

Killer Queen (Mercury - Sheer heart attack)

"She keeps Moet & Chandon in a pretty cabinet". Superb lyrically - you really have to listen to this one a few times to get the full benefit as a portrait of a high society bitch is painted.

Fat Bottomed Girls (May - Jazz)

"Fat bottomed girls you make my rocking world go round". An amusing poke at the slim blonde oriented society in which we live - a clear preference for real women!

Bicycle Race (Mercury - Jazz)

"I don't want to be a candidate for Vietna
m or Watergate". Not really sure what they're trying to say here but they say it in a fun way.

You're my best friend (Deacon - A night at the Opera)

"You make me live". A ballad to a friend full of feeling and sincerity - something to play when you're down and want to remind yourself that sometimes having just one friend is a superb thing.

Don't stop me now (Mercury - Jazz)

"I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball". This just races along. A good fun track - suitable for driving too.

Save me (May - The game)

"I can't face this life alone". A dolorous but uplifting ballad. Play at the end of a relationship when you need to move on.

Crazy little thing called love (Mercury - The Game)

"She gives me hot and cold fever then she leaves me in a cool cool sweat". A superb guitar based track with an excellent riff - the first that my brother learned to play with his Brian May signature model guitar. Really very rock 'n' roll and illustrates Queen's diverse song writing well.

Somebody to love (Mercury - A day at the races)

"Each morning I get up, I die a little". This was a big hit a second time round for George Michael and the surviving members of Queen. All credit to George but it wasn't a patch on the original sweeping piece bemoaning the lack of a person to share it all with.

Now I'm here (May - Sheer Heart Attack)

"Tonight you still light up the sky". Classic Brian May - a slow start building to massive guitars and lots of rock and roll.

Good old fashioned lover boy (Mercury - Day at the Races)

"Set my alarm, turn on my charm". A top notch parody from Freddie. Amusing lyrics with a wonderful sing along tune.

Play the Game (Mercury - The Game)

"When you're feeling down and your resistance is low
- light another cigarette and let yourself go". A rather weak ballad but not bad as filler.

Flash (May - Flash)

"Flash, Flash I love you". Anthemic theme to the movie of the same name. Quite frankly I'm not a big fan of either the single or the album but many love it.

Seven Seas of Rhye (Mercury - Queen)

"I destroy your very souls you unbelievers". A rock song which always draws to mind the idea of ancient battles a la Lord of the Rings - a sweeping song with all the makings of a classic before it finishes rather bizarrely with a chorus of "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside".

We will rock you (May - News of the World)

"Big disgrace, somebody better put you back into your place". Possibly the most instantly recognisable song - perhaps ever (?) as soon as the beat kicks in - you know precisely what it is that you are listening to. A classic to sing and clap along to with a guitar riff at the end that only ever leads into.......

We are the Champions (Mercury - News of the World)

"No time for losers coz we are the champions". Since they were written separately by different band members it is surpising that this and We will Rock you fit together so nicely. They are always placed together on Queen albums. We are the Champions is a song of celebration used by sports teams and anyone who wins all over the world.

n.b. Under Pressure was included on the original US version of Greatest Hits - here it is where it belongs - on disc 2.

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Disc 2 - Greatest Hits 2
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In my opinion, this disc stands alone as the best Greatest Hits compilation of all time with a well chosen mix of Queen's greatest moments. It is an essential part of any self respecting music collection. Here it is an especial bargain!

A kind of magic (Taylor - A kind of magic)

"One golden gl
ance of what could be". This song is the reason I got into Queen in the first place. It is the reason I bought my first album (Live Magic) and I still love it today. It is a song full of hope and a portent of things to come - perhaps best illustrated on the album cover - a fun and jazzy affair with colourful representations of the band members. Uplifting.

Under Pressure (Queen/Bowie - Hot Space)

"These are the days - it never rains but it pours". Queen's first and best collaboration. Working with another giant of the industry, they produced what was incredibly only their second number one UK hit. The baseline was famously later to be sampled by Vanilla Ice for his awful number one "Ice Ice baby".

Radio Ga-Ga (Taylor - The Works)

"You had the time, you had the power, you've yet to have your finest hour". The finest hour of Roger Taylor without any shadow of a doubt. Another instantly recognisable Queen Anthem with a video that had millions of people clapping in time. The feeling of unity whilst performing this simple action in a packed stadium is an amazing experience.

I want it all (Queen - The Miracle)

"Here's to the future - for the dreams of youth". The miracle was not Queen's finest hour and this is a fairly run of the mill rock song with a run of the mill on stage video. Pleasant enough but could have been written by anyone.

I want to break free (Deacon - The Works)

"You're so self satisfied I don't need you". Queen's longest charting single although it only made it to number 3. Accompanied by a video featuring the members of the band in drag including Freddie in pink top (with bra straps showing), black mini skirt and stockings (spoiled by the moustache?) and Brian May in rollers.

Innuendo (Queen - Innuendo)

"You can be anything you want to be". Although credited to the band, th
is has Freddie written all over it - a flamboyant, 6 minute plus epic which like Bohemian Rhapsody before it brings in several different musical styles. Unlike most songs written by anyone, ever, these two songs can be mentioned freely in the same breath. It represents the end of a cycle which started with the words "Is this the real life?" and finished shortly after this album was completed. It is a huge ambitious piece which deservedly provided Queen with their 3rd number one single. Accompanied by an ambitious video. Genius.

It's a hard life (Mercury - The Works)

"Now you're saying its over and I'm falling apart". Not their strongest single but accompanied by a grandiose and humourous video.

Breakthru (Queen - The miracle)

"I'm under your thumb, under your spell - can't you see?" With a video filmed on the back of a moving train - this is a classic rock song which although not great is acres better than anything being written today!

Who wants to live forever? (May - A kind of magic)

"There's no time for us, there's no place for us". The theme song to the movie Highlander. A haunting, sweeping ballad which featured a whole orchestra, showing Brian May's versatility as a songwriter.

Headlong (Queen - Innuendo)

"Whoop diddy diddy - whoop diddy doo" - best forgotten!

The Miracle (Queen - The Miracle)

"The one thing, we're all waiting for, is peace on earth and an end to war". Another lyrically uplifting song which is perhaps best remembered for the video that accompanied it. The video featured four young lookalikes imitating the performance of the band superbly.

I'm going slightly mad (Queen - Innuendo)

"Unravelling fast its true". Listening to this one gets the feeling that the band went through a thesaurus and found every euphemism for madness and the
n used them all in the lyrics. Quite a fun song, very tongue in cheek and with a video to match.

The invisible man (Queen - The Miracle)

"Incredible how you can see right through me". Lighthearted fun - nothing too amazing.

Hammer to fall (May - The works)

"Comes to you as to us all". A superb example of the rock guitarist's craft. A superb riff, great continuation and decent lyrics. Queen used this one at Live Aid and it set the tone for their act - a real crowd pleaser.

Friends will be friends (Mercury/Deacon - A kind of magic)

"Your other half ran away - taking all the cash and leaving you with the lumber". An immensely cheesy song which I just love - play it to a good mate and you'll sing along with big smiles on your faces.

The show must go on (Queen - Innuendo)

"I'll top the bill, I'll overkill, I have to find the will to carry on" Poignant, superb, a fitting requiem to Freddie which still makes me cry every time I hear it.

One Vision (Queen - A kind of magic)

"All we need is one worldwide vision". Another great rock song to round things off, released after Live Aid and used as the theme for the film Iron Eagle. A rip roaring song with superb lyrics - one of my faves and best played at full volume.

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Disc 3 - Greatest Hits 3
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This was put together after Freddie's death and is a mixture of tributes, solo work and other filler. Quite frankly, I would not expect anyone other than a diehard Queen fan to buy it separately. The tributes are not a patch on the originals, the inclusion of Brian May solo stuff is questionable and even Freddie's solo stuff was hardly ground breaking. It makes a nice bonus but other than Barcelona and The Great Pretender, I don't rate it and am not going to go through each song. The track listing is as fo
llows:

The Show must go on (Queen with Elton John)
Under Pressure (Queen with David Bowie)
Barcelona (Freddie with Montserrat Caballe) - worth a listen
Too much love will kill you (May) - pure cheese
Somebody to love (Queen with George Michael)
You don't fool me (Queen)
Las Palabras De Amor (May)
Driven by you (May)
Living on my own (Freddie)
Let me live (Queen)
The Great Pretender (Freddie)
Princes of the Universe (Freddie)
Another one bites the dust (Queen with Wyclef Jean)
No-one but you (May)
These are the days of our lives (Taylor)
Thank god its christmas (May/Taylor)

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