Island Records will be home to the Queen back catalogue from January 2011, after EMI’s deal with band expires at the end of the year.
Island parent company Universal was widely known to be the new home for the band’s iconic back catalogue for the world outside the US. However, the band have now for the first time appeared on the Island schedule, with the entire back catalogue scheduled for digital release on January 3, while Greatest Hits 1 and 2 are set for a full release on the same day. Queen’s Greatest Hits is the biggest-selling album of all time in the UK with more than 5m sales.
Island is expected to reveal its plans for the catalogue shortly but it will have the perfect platform, with 2011 the 20th anniversary of singer Freddie Mercury’s death and the 40th anniversary of the band’s formation. In addition, 2011 will see a biopic of the life of Mercury go into production starring Sacha Baron Cohen.
HMV music manager John Hirst says Queen recordings are “among the crown jewels of our industry's back catalogue”.
“The band's albums continue to sell consistently well in reasonable quantities - both to domestic fans and overseas visitors, and it's also the type of catalogue that will pick up very quickly and go back into the charts every time people are reminded of the timeless appeal of the music,” he adds.
“With some notable anniversaries coming up, not to mention a high-profile Freddie Mercury film biopic, there's every reason to believe that, with a new home, the catalogue can enjoy a renewed lease of life, and connect with a whole new generation of fans."
(source: MusicWeek)
What do they mean ""Greatest Hits I & II" are set for a full release on the same day"?! Would they somehow get a "partial release"? What does that even mean? What about "Greatest Hits III"? I LOVE "Greatest Hits III".
AlexRocks wrote: What do they mean ""Greatest Hits I & II" are set for a full release on the same day"?! Would they somehow get a "partial release"? What does that even mean? What about "Greatest Hits III"? I LOVE "Greatest Hits III".
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Since I expect the January "digital" releases to be crappy mp3 itunes downloads, I wonder if the Greatest Hits will be proper CD releases.
Hopefully the official press release will be better worded and more precise.
A Night At The Opera - Ultimate 7.1 HD 3D version
album features All tracks in their original 24 track master, giving the listener the opportunity to 'walk' around the studio tweaking things or play along. A full 3D immersive experience!
GREAT STUFF!
Why don't Queen follow McCartney's route of allowing people to buy a 24 bit download of new remasters-as the technology is now there and the sound quality is miles better! Come on boys -also some 1970s live DVDs are certainly due...
blues buddha wrote: Why don't Queen follow McCartney's route of allowing people to buy a 24 bit download of new remasters-as the technology is now there and the sound quality is miles better! Come on boys -also some 1970s live DVDs are certainly due...
------------------------------------------------------ The only downside to that is most people would have to convert down to 16bit so it could be burnt onto a CD for playback.
Personally, I prefer to have something physical in my hand and after using CDr technology for 13 years (and DVDr technology for 10 years), i don't trust it 100%, nor do I trust hard drives for back-up unless I go as far as having a backup hard drive for every storage hard drive I have!
Now. If they'd release 24bit recordings on DVD-A or Bluray audio, then I'd be more likely to buy....
Does anyone know yet WHY they are switching labels? I mean it doesn't sound like they are angry with EMI, but they keep mentioning new ideas and "rulebooks", etc.
Also, you'll notice the press release briefly mentions "additional content" so we'll probably all have to buy the new releases! Haha.