Queen - Greatest Hits I, II & III - The Platinum Collection (3CD)
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Free Music Notes for Greatest Hits I, II & III - The Platinum Collection (3CD)
Free Music Review: Amazing
Hit: 5 Stars
I am only going to be reviewing the first 2 CD's in this set, and there are quite a few songs so let's get right into it.
DISC 1:
1. Bohemian Rhapsody - To say this song is great would be doing it an injustice. This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest song of all time. It is a true classic and you will listen to it plenty of times. Awesome guitar solo and amazing transition from opera-style singing into hard rock. 10/10
2. Another One Bites the Dust - Another classic song. For some reason it puts me in a competitive mood. I like the guitar and the bass in this song. Very original. 10/10
3. Killer Queen - One of Queen's best songs. Another one of the greatest songs of all time. Great solo and really great vocals. 10/10
4. Fat-bottomed Girls - Not one of Queen's better songs. Starts off slow and never really catches the interest. 7/10
5. Bicycle Race - Who would think a song about riding bikes would be so great? I love the "bike bell" solo in the middle. Great song. 10/10
6. You're My Best Friend - Another one of Queen's more vocally excellent songs. The way the song starts out is great and it gets better. 10/10
7. Don't Stop Me Now - I love this song just because it sounds like the theme song to a 70's TV show. The pace shifts from slow and bluesy into a fast pace showtunes-esque beat. 10/10
8. Save Me - A good song, but there isn't really anything special about it. 7/10
9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - This Elvis-sounding song is brilliant. Makes you think of Happy Days just because of the 50's type sound. Awesome song. 10/10
10. Somebody to Love - Next to Bohemian Rhapsody, this is Queen's most vocally talented song. Love the way Freddie Mercury's voice sounds in this song. The one part of the song that stands out to me is the little interlude in which Freddie really shows off the amount of levels he can hit. Nails the extremely high-pitched sound then flows down into a deeper tone. 10/10
11. Now I'm Here - Good song. The beginning is the best part, and the rest is so-so. 8/10
12. Good Old-fashioned Loverboy - One of my personal favorites. Great vocals. Only problem with it is that it's a tad on the homosexual side, but it's almost funny because of that. 10/10
13. Play the Game - Great song. Freddie uses more high pitched voice in this song and it is enjoyable to listen to. 9/10
14. Flash - The theme song to a show I've never seen. Good song. After they say FLASH, they all sing and it actually sounds a lot like Styx. This song is good, especially the some of the audio clips from the show. 9/10
15. Seven Seas of Rhye - Good song that might get quite a few listens from, but the verses aren't too great. 8/10
16. We Will Rock You - It seems like the CD is starting to travel downhill, and then this song appears out of nowhere. It was smart to start the CD with a few classics and end it like this. If you are a sports fan, this will put you in the mood to watch a hockey game or a basketball game, etc. 10/10
17. We Are the Champions - Perfect way to end this CD. Probably Queen's 2nd greatest song. Another one of the many vocally special songs. The chorus is extremely vocally strong and the verses are amazing. Great song. 10/10
Disc 1 = 158/170 = 93%. Definitely a must-have. Makes this entire set worth purchasing.
DISC 2:
1. Kind of Magic - Good song. The beginning is the strong point and then it never really tops it. 8/10
2. Under Pressure feat. David Bowie - One of Queen's best songs. The best song on this CD. Absolutely nothing wrong with this song. 10/10
3. Radio Ga-Ga - This song has a very 80's mood to it, and it's extremely enjoyable. It's a different style of Queen, yet it is still great. 10/10
4. I Want it All - Great song. Many people will enjoy this song. It isn't one of my personal favorites however. 9/10
5. I Want to Break Free - Amazing song. Long introduction, long song, and it really all is great. I love the vocals in this song and the beginning really helps kick it off. 10/10
6. Innuendo - A song that doesn't sound like Queen, but this time it's for the worse. I didn't care for it. 6/10
7. It's a Hard Life - Reminds me a bit of Play the Game, but not quite as good because it lacks the vocal strength that Queen usually has. 7/10
8. Breakthru - Another very 80's style song. I like this song. Very fast paced and fun to listen to. 9/10
9. Who Wants to Live Forever - Very different style to this song. Sounds like an opera-style sound, more-so than Bohemian Rhapsody. 9/10
10. Headlong - It seems like Queen was going for more of a metal type sound with this and they didn't pull it off too well. Still a so-so song, however. 7/10
11. Miracle - One of the best songs on the CD. Vocally strong, instrumentally impressive, and overall enjoyable. 10/10
12. I'm Going Slightly Mad - The chorus does not sound like Queen one bit, yet it still manages to be one of the better songs on the CD. Great song to listen to. 10/10
13. Invisible Man - Another one of the 80's sounding songs that sounds like synthesizer was used quite a bit. Pulled it off fairly well. 8/10
14. Hammer to Fall - This song fits into Queen's hard rock category. One of their better categories. Great song. 9/10
15. Friends Will Be Friends - "Inspirational" song. Great beat but I thought it was a little cheesy. 8/10
16. The Show Must Go On - Another amazing song. One of the best on the CD. Great vocals and strong instrumentals. 10/10
17. One Vision - Seems like a typical hard 70's/80's song at first, but then moves into a good Queen song. Enjoyable. Not the best pick to end the Queen Greatest Hits album, but still a good song. 8/10
Disc 2 = 148/170 = 87%. Disc 1 and Disc 2 combine for a total score of 306/340, which is a 90%. Although not as many amazing songs as Disc 1, Disc 2 definitely confirms your reason to buy this set. Disc 3 has some nice remixes, especially Queen feat. Elton John - The Show Must Go On. This is a great set and is a must-have for any Queen fan or anybody who's ever liked at least one song by Queen.
Free Music Review: The Greatest Band Of All Time
Hit: 5 Stars
Just a few days ago, a close friend who asks me about certain music and who he'd like if he wanted something a little camp, a bit boisterous, often sensitive and touching, with soaring vocals and powerful guitar riffs and solos the size of the Empire State building. A hard task to name just one band you'd think, but only one elegant word sprung to my mind. Queen.My small-minded friend also with one word, stupidly came back to me and said, to my utter disbelief, 'Who?'...The guy is 19, and he claims to have never heard a song by Queen. So still in disbelief I noted to him, that children from 3 years old have heard a Queen song, and it's true they have, and they stick with the people who hear them. So he came back with 3 words: 'What to buy?' And I uttered just 3 words back: 'The Platinum Collection'.
There is no finer greatest hits selections on the market, and from one of the greatest, if not the greatest rock band of all time. There's an astounding 51 tracks on here, and the vast majority are complete gems.
Greatest Hits 1, a personal favourite of mine, is full from one side of the CD to the other with pure majesty, power, joy and ultimately the finest rock music of the 1970's and early 1980's. Of course, it has to kick off the with the grandiose, 'Bohemian Rhapsody', with its sublime mixture of operatics and straight out heavy metal, you can see why it's been voted so many times as the greatest song ever written. We have playful rock, with joyous and smile inducing piano (Dont Stop Me Now', the fantastic 'Somebody To Love', the utter camp of, 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy' etc.), we have straight out rock with Queen's own twisted mind (Killer Queen', 'Fat Bottomed Girls', 'Bicycle Race', 'You're My Best Friend' etc.), we have some of the greatest anthems ever written, (We Will Rock You', 'We Are The Champions' etc.) and even a little bit of thoughtful, emotion (the under-rated, 'Save Me'). Queen throughout the 70's were one of the most creative, powerful and downright creative, and quite literally outrageous bands out there, and to some extent, this one disc proves it. Further research can be found in the like of, 'A Day At The Races' and of course, 'A Night At The Opera'.
The second greatest hits compilation, is a lot more pop orientated, a lot simpler, switching from prog rock glam, to popular hard rock with synths. We have catchy pop tunes, in Queen's own 80's style ('A Kind Of Magic', 'I Want To Break Free', 'The Miracle', 'I'm Going Slightly Mad', 'The Invisible Man' etc.), we have pure rock (The riveting, 'I Want It All', the chugging, 'Breakthru', 'Headlong', the ground shaking, 'Hammer To Fall' etc.) we have a little bit of the prog rock that made Queen famous slightly updated (The quite sublime, 'Innuendo') and a sombre pause for thought amongst the overwhelming powerhouse of sound (the beautiful, 'Who Want To Live Forever'). Queen were voted the best band of the eighties by many British polls, and with a second disc such as this you can see just why. Don't leave home without it.
Ah...now.... Greatest Hits 3...is not. Greatest Hits 3, was seen by many as a final attempt to get money out of the Queen faithful and yet another chance for new fans to buy their entire collection, and going on the offerings available you can see why. As good as some of the songs are on here, they were just not hits nor should they be on any hits collection. For example, Elton John's live take on the fantastic, 'The Show Must Go On' is abysmal. As much as Elton has written some fine songs in his time, his voice just can't take anything that Freddie Mercury ever put his sweet tones to, and Elton turns into the roughest cat howling in the street. The remix of 'Under Pressure' is ok, but it's yet another thought of 'Why is it here?', as does the atrocious Wyclef Jean remixed AND RAPPED version of 'Another One Bites The Dust'. Not only does this say, 'How can you call this a greatest hits collection?' it also makes you say, 'Why couldn't they have released a rarities CD or something?'. But this is an album that's half good, and half bad. The half good is very good. We have some solo work by Freddie ('Barcelona', the fitting, 'The Great Pretender', and the clubby, 'Living On My Own'), one from Brian May (the Ford soundtrack of the early 90's, 'Driven By You'), and we have a few Queen classics that obviously just wouldn't go on GH2 (the rocking, 'Prince Of The Universe' and the touching, thought provoking and ultimately fitting, 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives'), and there are some real gems that they've pulled from the 'Made In Heaven' album too (Too Much Love Will Kill You', 'You Don't Fool Me', the majestic, 'Let Me Live', the most powerful Queen song in years, 'Heaven For Everyone' etc.), which unfortunately lacks the albums title track, which was one of the best songs on the album. This also includes Brian, and Roger Taylor's tribute to all those who have died young, such as Princess Diana, and of course, Freddie himself, 'No-one But You'. A curious end also, in the Christmas song, 'Thank God It's Christmas', which could have been placed much better, which would the have left the final two tracks ('These Are The Days...' and 'No-one...') as the final chapter in the Queen book. So it's half good and half bad, and the majority of the half good is from the stunning, 'Made In Heaven', so you figure out what you should do if you want just those songs...
But this is a complete package of a band who've seen it all and done it all, and maybe gone that little bit further, along the way. Through the nervous beginnings, to the confidence of the mid 70's pure pomp, to the 80's pure pop, to the final chapter of the sombre 90's, and with there being so much angst in rock music around right now, why not treat yourself to an antidote to such things? Queen's the key. My small-minded friend is finding that out. I asked him what he thought of 'Platinum...' and he answered me with just 4 words: 'I think it's brilliant', to which I replied likewise with my own 4 words:
'I knew you would'
5 Stars.
Free Music Review: A Queen Compilation that provides the most value
Hit: 5 Stars
Looking back at the 1970s, sometimes many forget how big the band Queen was. Even as Queen moved into the 1980s, while their popularity did slightly decline in the United States, it continued to be very high in Europe. Their performance at Live Aid is widely considered one of the greatest of all-time and their subsequent "Magic" tour is considered one of the all-time greatest concert tours. If it weren't for Freddie Mercury's death in 1991, we might still be talking about Queen being as big a band as the Beatles. Numerous compilation albums are available containing much of Queen's music. The period from 1974-1980 is considered the period where Queen achieved its most popularity - especially in the United States. Following 1980, Queen's popularity continued, but this was mostly in Europe. However, there was a lot of good music still done by Queen, thus continuing their legacy. In 1981, Queen released an album "Greatest Hits" covering that 1974-1980 period. Ten years later, Queen would release a second greatest hits collection - "Greatest Hits Volume II", that would cover the post 1980 period until Mercury's death in 1991. After Mercury's death, Queen would not officially disband. However the majority of the work in the 1990s would consist of "projects" or live performances. In 1999, a compilation of this project work, live performances, and solo work would be released under the title of "Greatest Hits III". In 2000, These three collections would be packaged into a single boxed set entitled "Queen - The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I II & III".
Queen is an example of the sum of the parts actually being greater than the whole. However, if you take each of the four members of Queen, they easily stand on their own as a top musician in their profession. Freddie Mercury is easily known to be the emotional and flamboyant lead vocalist of Queen who indeed has a legendary voice. Brian May is the legendary lead guitarist and probably the second most popular member of the band. Roger Taylor and John Deacon go extremely underrated. Listen to Taylor's thundering drumming in the studio or live and one can easily understand why he was asked to participate in an All Star Drum Jam (The S.O.S. All-Stars) at the Live Earth concert. As for John Deacon, he might be one of music's all-time underrated bass players. Many of his bass lines have proven to be the foundation for Queen's musical sound. In addition to being top musicians, all four members play integral roles in the songwriting.
The first CD represents "Greatest Hits I" and covers eight of the nine albums from 1973 through 1980. The albums represented on the 1981 UK Version are "Queen II" ("Seven Seas of Rhye"); "Sheer Heart Attack" ("Killer Queen", "Now I'm Here"); "A Night at the Opera" ("Bohemian Rhapsody", "You're My Best Friend"); "A Day at the Races" ("Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy", "Somebody to Love"); "News of the World" ("We Will Rock You", "We are the Champions"); "Jazz" ("Fat Bottomed Girls", "Bicycle Race", "Don't Stop Me Now"); "The Game" ("Another One Bites the Dust", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Save Me", "Play the Game"); "Flash Gordon" ("Flash"). The only album not represented is "Queen", however it is important to know that technically "Seven Seas of Rhye" appeared in an "unfinished" version on the "Queen" album. On "Queen II" the full version of "Seven Seas of Rhye" appears on that collection and that is the version that is included on this version of "Greatest Hits".
The second CD is "Greatest Hits II" and covers the five albums from 1981 to 1991. These albums include: "Hot Space" ("Under Pressure); "The Works" ("Radio Ga Ga", "I Want to Break Free", "It's a Hard Life", "Hammer to Fall"); "A Kind of Magic" ("A Kind of Magic", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "Friends Will be Friends", "One Vision"); "The Miracle" ("I Want it All", "Breakthru", "The Miracle", "The Invisible Man"); "Innuendo" ("Innuendo", "Headlong", "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "The Show Must Go On").
From "Greatest Hits III, there is a nice mix of Queen remixes, solo material from both Freddie Mercury and Brian May, material from "Made in Heaven" (the album released posthumously after Mercury's death), Queen's Christmas song - "Thank God It's Christmas", and two collaborations (also posthumous to Mercury's death) with both Elton John ("The Show Must Go On") and George Michael ("Somebody to Love").
One thing that disappoints me about this collection is that despite the fact the two volumes are divided by time, the songs are not ordered in chronological order on each disco. One reason why I like greatest hits collections to be chronologically ordered is because it often shows how a band has progressed over time. Queen originally started as a good mix of progressive rock and early heavy metal. Queen would eventually move away from their progressive roots and incorporate a variety of other types of musical genres including a more theatrical type of element, a pop element, rockabilly, and even Dance/Disco (as demonstrated on the "Hot Space" album) The shuffling of the order of these sounds really takes away from seeing how Queen evolved their sound.
As mentioned above each of the volumes are available as single volume releases. There also is a compilation that just includes "Greatest Hits I & II". One other boxed set worth mentioning is "The Crown Jewels". This is a boxed set that includes all Queen's first eight albums in their entirety (but doesn't include anything from "Volume II or III").
The liner notes include a nice booklet that has a detailed discography with background on each of the songs packaged in this collection. With the exception of "Tie Your Mother Down" not being included, Queen does a good job at providing a good snapshot of their musical portfolio. Overall, I'd recommend this greatest hits collection from Queen because it provides the most completeness and most value for your money.
Free Music Review: The Perfect Starter For Budding Queen Fans!
Hit: 5 Stars
Those who have followed my reviews and my particular style of music may be shocked to see this review. Yes, I like Queen. In fact, I love them. They are simply the best band in the history of the world. No one cam compare to them - not Pink Floyd, not the Rolling Stones or even the Beatles...well, that's just my opinion. Freddie Mercury is truly one of the greatest vocalists the world has ever seen. His personality and flamboyant style was truly one in a million, and he is still sadly missed more than ten years after he passed from this earthly plane, to no doubt rule a higher level of consciousness.
I myself had never bought a Queen album until I purchased this collection, but just from these three greatest hits CD's, I can easily call them my favourite band ever. That's how good they are. I will probably buy a lot more Queen albums in the future, but at the moment I'm just content with my copy of "The Platinum Collection - Greatest Hits I, II & III."
Disc 1 is definitely not the best of the three. It starts wonderfully with the mammoth classic, "Bohemian Rhapsody." The song is regularly voted the greatest song ever written, and topped the UK charts in two separate decades - shifting more than 1 million copies on both occasions. "Another One Bites The Dust" and "Killer Queen" follow. Both huge hits, and undeniable classics. The album sails along with more brilliant songs such as "Fat Bottom Girls," "Bicycle Race," "You're My Best Friend" and "Don't Stop Me Now." The disc finishes superbly with "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions." I challenge anyone over the age of ten to listen to these songs and not love them. It's a crime that the younger generation are not very interested in Queen...
Disc 2 is the ultimate highlight of this collection. It opens with a true triple-threat: three fantastic classics in the form of "A Kind Of Magic," "Under Pressure," and my personal favourite, "Radio Ga Ga." Two more songs pass, and then it's on to the absolutely amazing masterpiece that is "Innuendo." Freddie knew that he was dying of AIDS when he wrote the album of the same name. He wanted to go out on top, and he definitely did. This song is excellent, and Freddie's vocals have never sounded better, despite the fact that he was very weak at the time of the song's recording. "Who Wants To Live Forever" is Queen's greatest ballad ever. So slow, so moving, and so thought-provoking. I sat listening to this song in my garden one night, looking up at a sky filled with stars and a full moon. I can't describe how euphoric I felt about the process of life and the universe - how we're all here, and how we all die. Is that our purpose? To be born, only to die? Interesting. "Headlong," "The Miracle," "I'm Going Slightly Mad" and "The Invisible Man" follow up. All the songs are superb. Why? Because it's Queen, obviously. The album finishes second-to-last with "The Show Must Go On." This is another song recorded around the time of Freddie's death. He finally sings "The show must go on!" towards the end and it echoes. It's as if he has died once he sings this, and his voice echoes for eternity. Absolutely amazing.
Disc 3 is a good, but sometimes weak effort. "The Show Must Go On" starts the album, but this is a duet with Elton John. "Under Pressure" follows, but this is the duet with David Bowie. Freddie's unique duet with Montserrat Caballe, "Barcelona," is another highlight. "Too Much Love Will Kill You," "You Don't Fool Me," "Heaven For Everyone," and "Las Palabrad De Amor" are, yet again, all fantastic. The true highlight of this album comes with "Living On My Own." This UK No.1 dance remix is amazing, and you really see Freddie as every inch the legend when he opens the song with "De do, de do, day!" which echoes. It sounds so blissful and heavenly. The beat is amazing and the lyrics are just superb. Queen's duet with Wycelf Jean, "Another One Bites The Dust," is good, but it so does not have a patch on the original! Towards the end of the album, we have "These Are The Days Of Our Lives." A true classic, this ballad topped the UK charts in December 1991 after Freddie had passed away.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
Freddie Mercury is every bit a legend. He is a true rock God, with the greatest male vocals ever. Elvis doesn't even come close to him. No one can touch Freddie, he is truly unique. It's such a shame that he died in 1991, but once he did, he left the earth and in his place stands an icon. I dare anyone to listen to this collection and not be converted to a Queen fan. Long live Freddie!
Free Music Review: QUEEN ROCKS
Hit: 5 Stars
First things first. After reading the other reviews, there is an obvious conclusion: what is causing disagreement it's the 3rd cd, hence called "GH 3, Queen +". While some people say that it has terrible content, other reviewers liked it, but say it is not aptly to call it a Queen GH CD, rather more like a tribute to Queen, and others have no problem with it.I know that every head is a world, and therefore the same number of different points of view about the same thing or taste, or whatever, so if we are going to judge the 3rd cd, TO BE JUST, let's do it OBJECTIVELY, STEP BY STEP:
I. Songs performed by "QUEEN": A. The songs included here are mainly those that appeared on MADE IN HEAVEN,and that were GH caliber.( obviously were not included in neither the first 2 when they were issued, but rather on a THIRD ONE). "HEAVEN FOR EVERYONE" "TOO MUCH LOVE WILL KILL YOU" "LET ME LIVE" "YOU DON'T FOOL ME" "THANK GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS (B-SIDE to the MADE IN HEAVEN TRACK "A WINTER'S TALE") These are the excellent songs from the MADE IN HEAVEN ALBUM/TIME, that never had the chance to be included on a GH compilation. (Personal comment: I would have put MADE IN HEAVEN, MOTHER LOVE, A WINTER'S TALE here, simply amazing songs). SO OBVIOUS RIGHT TO BE HERE.
"THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES ( from INNUENDO, a #1 hit, not included on GH No.2 "I don't remember the month it was issued for the first time GH2, so that it could have been included there") "LAS PALABRAS DE AMOR" "PRINCES OF THE UNIVERSE", songs from the time of GH2, of the same caliber, very powerful, but simply ommitted when it was issued. RIGHTFULY ON A QUEEN GH cd.
II. Songs performed by "QUEEN +": THE SHOW MUST GO ON + elton john: REALLY, REALLY GREAT VERSION, besides, you get the original on GH2 (just one personal comment: since they included here the version of SOMEBODY TO LOVE + GEORGE MICHAEL performed in the FM tribute concert, and although i know that the purpose of this is not to be the FM TRIBUTE CONCERT CD, which by the way isn't out there in the market!, the songs that are performed by QUEEN + ( and TOO MUCH LOVE WILL KILL YOU) that have a version on the tribute concert, those are the versions they should have included here, like) UNDER PRESSURE (rah mix), which is an excellent version, not like the tribute concert, besides you get the original on GH2, but don't fall under the illusion that they are mere "fillers", they are of the same level, just different, like ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.
III. On the solo efforts: BARCELONA (FM + MC) it is just a very powerful and beautiful song. LIVING ON MY OWN by FM, was an award winning track, DRIVEN BY YOU by BM it is also a POWERFUL track, like the FM classic cover of THE GREAT PRETENDER.
Like I said, there are millions of different points of view on weather to include the "+" and the solo efforts on the 3rd CD, and the 3rd cd onto the BOX SET, there are different tastes, but the tracks included here have earned the right to be on this 3rd GH CD, and the cd on the set.
As for the first and second cd, there is nothing much more to say, in the sense that since you are buying them, it is because you like this kind of music(magic!), and it gives you a general look at the band's best work during their reign. Of course, there is always one or two songs that you say I would have put this song instead of this one, but not changing the main body of the cd's. But because they are to please the most people possible, they select the most popular tracks.
Alson highly recomended for newcomers, because this will introduce you very well to QUEEN'S music,(they have selected the most popular tracks, so you can have a general look at the best work of the band). And to those who just like excellent music
P.S. like it says on the credits of QUEEN ROCKS "of course, NO ONE BUT YOU is another story", an extremely powerful and beautiful track, tribute to freddie and others like Princess Diana who died before their time. Included on GH3
P.P.S Although I don't own it on this format, It is a better way to do so, because every cd is a must, and if you get 3 for the price of 2, and as a part of a nice boxed set package, it's a better deal.