Headbangers unite (Queen Rocks - Queen)

Member Name: competition.man

Product:	Queen Rocks - Queen
Date:	11/10/03 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: smoe great tracks, its rock

Disadvantages: missing some CLASSIC rock, too many found on the greatest hits collection

Queen - ?Queen Rocks ? - released 1997

A compilation album dating from 1997 , that contains no less than seventeen classic Queen tracks . I say seventeen , even though his album contains eighteen tracks - but why , well in truth this compilation was just another money spinner used by EMI , and they got away with track eighteen as it was the then single release from the yet unreleased ?Made In Heaven? , namely ?No-One But You? (Only the good die young ) , a track recorded by the three remaining members of Queen in tribute to the great Freddie , and a feature used heavily in the marketing of the record.

I was however disappointed by this album . The sleeve described the album as containing eighteen classic Queen rock anthems . Aside from the previous mentioned track , most Queen fans can name the truly great rock anthems , however certain true classics are missing , for example , ?We are the Champions? , ?Radio Ga Ga? and ?Brighton Rock? ( the latter from ?Live Killers? ) to name but a few . In fact hardened rockers should be outraged at the non inclusion of ?Brighton Rock? - true rock at its best .

As for ?Seven Seas of Rhye? being a rock classic - hardly ! Okay it was the first single and as such history , but classic Queen , no !

This said the album does encompass the whole of Queen , and tracks not to be found on the Greatest Hits collections , due to not being UK single releases , are to be found here , and rightly so , and it is therefore a worthy addition to any true Queen fans collection.

As for the album sleeve , typical Queen sleevage - really good . The cover being a reworking of the Queen crest logo , ala Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell style . Inside you have track by track lyrics and information , interspersed with pen drawing by artist Damien Rochford ( the drawing representing the star signs of the members of Queen ) .

The track listing is as follows :

( track title , album from which from , v
iews)

?Queen Rocks?

1) "We Will Rock You" , News of the World

What can one say , perhaps the most notable record recorded by Queen , Bo Rhap excluded . The hand clapping epic , with a superb guitar solo by Brain May .

2) "Tie Your Mother Down" , A Day At the Races

A must for live performaces , and true rock classic . Well suited to Brian?s guitar playing , and Freddie?s superb vocals .

3) "I Want It All" , The Miracle

Under-estimated by many , this track has it all , the rock eliment and some superb chorus vocals , brought to the fore by Brian?s guitar and Rogers drums .

4) "Seven Seas of Rhye" , Queen 2 (Queen1 having unfinished version )

Early , non synthesiser Queen , a classic - maybe ? , but not a rock classic . When recorded Queen were still experimenting musically . The rock element can be found amidst the vocals , but in my opinion this should not have been on an album of this title.

5) "I Can?t Live Without You" , Innuendo

A re-worked version , with new entry , however the remainder of this track remains almost indistinguishable from the original . Superb group vocals make this a great song.

6) "Hammer To Fall" , The Works

I just love this song. Some superb percussion throughout , and great vocals from Freddie , produced a well respected rock based record .

7) "Stone Cold Crazy" , Sheer Heart Attack

A quick paced instrument based song . Freddie sings , but sounds to distant for my liking . In the same musical style of Seven Sea?s Of Rhye .

8) "Now I?m Here" , Sheer Heart Attack

Taken from the same album as the previous track , but a totally different syle . True rock , with some great vocal harmonies , ypical of Queen .

9) "Fat Bottomed Girls" , Jazz

One of the best tracks from the Jazz album , and
one that caused so much contriversy . Oh I?d loved to have seen this played live ! ( and I mean seen ) . Well worthy of its inclusion here , beautifully crafted rock.

10) "Keep Yourself Alive" , Queen 1

Glam rock from ?73 . Long flowing hair , weird clothes , but great rock music , that you can?t help but sing along to , while finger tapping the desk . Great alround vocals , and nice to hear Roger . Musically well ahead for its time.

11) "Tear It Up" , The Works

A heavier type of rock from the masters . Vocals , guitar and percussion combine really well to produce a superb well balanced rock song .

12) "One Vision" , A Kind of Magic

Synthesised vocals lead to some brilliant guitar work , with a tidy drum beat background . Brian oozes every lit bit out of his guitar , while Freddie produces some great vocals . The inclusioin of non conforming rock strings , only add to this great song.

13) "Sheer Heart Attack" , Sheer Heart Attack

Back to the glam rock era . Faced paced , with strained distant vocals . 70?s style rock at its best .

14) "I?m In Love With My Car" , A Night At The Opera

Another of my favourites . This time with Roger at the helm of the vocals . a boy racers dream record . Has to be played loud to fully appreciate it .

15) "Put Out The Fire" , Hot Space

Hot Space was an album that drew quite a lot of critism . Many Queen fans thought it too radical / pop orientated , me being one of them . This song however was one of the high spots of the album.

16) "Headlong" , Innuendo

Hoop diddy diddy , hoop diddy do !. Bet you can?t put such words into a rock anthem . Late Queen rock at its best .

17) "It?s Late", News Of The World

The clssical type intro , blends into some great Freddie vocals . Brian?s guitar renditions blend seemlessly with
the vocals , and the chorus is quite superb , with the drums and bass nicely brought to the fore during the chorus times .

18) "No-one But You" ( Only the good die young ) , Greatest Hits 3

The remaining three?s tribute to Freddie . Written by Brian may , in the style of his solo album of the time . Both Brian and Roger contribute vocally . A rock ballad of true class , that proved their could be live after Freddie . Sadly they thought otherwise . I myself would have like Queen to coninue as a threesome , especially if this song is anything to go by . You could not replace Freddie , but life could have continued .

My choice tracks :

I?m in love with my car , Hammer to fall , Tie your mother down

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