| miraclesteinway 23.02.2015 10:13 |
You know, there has been a lot of argument about what was the last recorded vocal from Freddie. I'm sure I read in one of the biographies that John Brough the sound engineer went round to Freddie's home in June 1991 to record the 'Totally Bonkers' version of Slightly Mad, for the fan club convention message of 1991. Since this post-dates the last sessions he recorded for Made In Heaven, does that not technically make this the final vocal that Freddie recorded? link IF it is this, it's actually quite a cute way to sign off! |
| matt z 23.02.2015 10:46 |
Wish I knew. (Get the popcorn ready, MJ) Would be GREAT to verify that and put it all to an end |
| miraclesteinway 23.02.2015 11:00 |
Well, all I can say is, it's in Lesley Ann Jones' biography, and it's John Brough the producer who said June 1991, and that was the last time he saw Freddie. All sources say that the last vocal in Montreux was in May 1991. What is most certainly true, is that there won't be one other complete song from the Miracle, Innuendo or Made In Heaven sessions that could be finished and released as a complete track because it would have found its way out by now, surely. Even if it wasn't that good, they'd have put it on Made In Heaven. |
| musicland munich 23.02.2015 11:02 |
No offense, but can you voch for that information ? Maybe the dates were confused, wouldn't be the first time (snicker snicker) And if - I am not sure if it's safe to say that this track is technically an official relesed Queen tune. But if you're right...then congrats...nice observation. |
| miraclesteinway 23.02.2015 11:12 |
I read it in someone else's copy of the L.A.J Freddie bio, the edition that came out the year before last. So perhaps someone with a copy of the book can quote chapter and verse. Oh, don't get me wrong I could be way off the mark and have read April and remembered June.... It's not technically a released Queen track but it may indeed be Freddie's last recorded vocal. |
| Nitroboy 23.02.2015 11:28 |
I find the thought amusing that, his last vocal would be: "This is Frederick Mercury signing off, bye bye" |
| miraclesteinway 23.02.2015 12:31 |
Whether it's his last vocal or not, it's true that he had a marvellous sense of humour, and I think a lot of the time you see Queen taking themselves 'seriously', they're actually poking fun at themselves in a way - everything kind of has a sense of irony. That's not to say there isn't sincerity in their work, I think at times there is deep sincerity, but there's always a bright side to it in some way. |
| Biggus Dickus 23.02.2015 13:08 |
If someone knows when the actual convention in 1991 took place, that would give us some sort of time frame. |
| Sebastian 23.02.2015 13:37 |
miraclesteinway wrote: ...and it's John Brough the producerHe was an engineer, not producer. Not the same thing (just like 'last song' and 'not the last song' are not the same). |
| brunogorski 23.02.2015 13:52 |
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/2837510/michael-jackson-eating-popcorn-o.gif" title="source: a" /> |
| miraclesteinway 23.02.2015 14:12 |
Engineer, producer, ok I mixed it up. Right name, wrong position in the studio. Can anyone confirm the story from the Lesley Ann Jones biography of Freddie? I suppose I could go buy a copy and quote it here. |
| miraclesteinway 23.02.2015 14:22 |
First post here I did actually say sound engineer.... second post I said producer. Whoops. |
| Sebastian 23.02.2015 15:39 |
miraclesteinway wrote: Engineer, producer, ok I mixed it up. Right name, wrong position in the studio.But that's the whole point. May, June, OK, they might have mixed it up. Right year, wrong month. |
| joerijoerijoeri 23.02.2015 16:14 |
who says they used new vocals for that version? most of the vocals are the same I think, I always presumed it's just a different mix with some takes that didn't make the album/single version. |
| Thistle 23.02.2015 20:13 |
miraclesteinway wrote: You know, there has been a lot of argument about what was the last recorded vocal from Freddie. I'm sure I read in one of the biographies that John Brough the sound engineer went round to Freddie's home in June 1991 to record the 'Totally Bonkers' version of Slightly Mad, for the fan club convention message of 1991. Since this post-dates the last sessions he recorded for Made In Heaven, does that not technically make this the final vocal that Freddie recorded? link IF it is this, it's actually quite a cute way to sign off!I made this point a couple of years ago, and it was quickly shot down. There's some form on timeline on that thread too which may help (or not lol). link |
| The Real Wizard 23.02.2015 21:10 |
Biggus Dickus wrote: If someone knows when the actual convention in 1991 took place, that would give us some sort of time frame.Ha, love the name. No matter when the convention was, this still wouldn't prove that Mercury's vocal isn't simply an outtake from 1990. It would, however, prove that it isn't from June if the convention was earlier in the year. I'll do some digging. |
| matt z 23.02.2015 21:38 |
^ thistleboy... Doesn't seem like anybody addressed the convention recording in that last post. I'll grab the Shirley Ann Jones book when I get back home and leaf through those bits |
| Biggus Dickus 23.02.2015 23:15 |
The Real Wizard wrote:Yup, it would take someone in the know to prove that this whole piece was recorded just for the convention. I know they could easily put together a tape from older out-takes with the new have fun-bit, but I think it doesn't sound cobbled together.Biggus Dickus wrote: If someone knows when the actual convention in 1991 took place, that would give us some sort of time frame.Ha, love the name. No matter when the convention was, this still wouldn't prove that Mercury's vocal isn't simply an outtake from 1990. It would, however, prove that it isn't from June if the convention was earlier in the year. I'll do some digging. |
| Biggus Dickus 23.02.2015 23:30 |
miraclesteinway wrote: Well, all I can say is, it's in Lesley Ann Jones' biography, and it's John Brough the producer who said June 1991, and that was the last time he saw Freddie. All sources say that the last vocal in Montreux was in May 1991. What is most certainly true, is that there won't be one other complete song from the Miracle, Innuendo or Made In Heaven sessions that could be finished and released as a complete track because it would have found its way out by now, surely. Even if it wasn't that good, they'd have put it on Made In Heaven.I flicked through the few pages from the release of Innuendo up until his death and there was no mention any convention messages. Maybe it's somewhere else in the book but I don't have the time to look for it now. |
| antiden 24.02.2015 00:05 |
I don't want to sound pathetic, but it is quite obvious, that this Freddie's Convention message was recorded on purpose i.e. for the Fan Club convention in 1991 (and not the unused outtake from 'Innuendo' sessions). The other point is WHEN EXACTLY was it recorded. |
| The Real Wizard 24.02.2015 00:14 |
The convention was held from April 26-28, 1991. So there goes that idea ! |
| Biggus Dickus 24.02.2015 00:33 |
The Real Wizard wrote: The convention was held from April 26-28, 1991. So there goes that idea !Cheers Mr. Holmes. Now we know the truth. |
| Ron 24.02.2015 02:44 |
Unless the 'June' recording was for the 1992 convention? |
| Daz85 24.02.2015 04:36 |
I've been meaning to bring this up for a while, but there was a Queen fansite I stumbled across a few years ago that posted information from the Fan Club magazines, and the early ones after Freddie died claimed there were FOUR songs that were recorded in his final sessions. Maybe someone could double check that with the actual magazines? |
| miraclesteinway 24.02.2015 05:07 |
Oh well either I remember reading it incorrectly, or it was recorded before April as a convention message and the story was relayed to the author incorrectly! Sorry folks, false alarm, nothing to see here..... I doubt Freddie would have recorded a message in June for the '92 convention but you never know. Even at that time in the back of his mind he probably expected to see '92. |
| Kuijpy 24.02.2015 06:58 |
I asked Freddie Mercury himself, he said it was June 1991, and there was no Don't try so hard video, and then he was leaving me. |
| matt z 24.02.2015 07:17 |
Hah. Glad to hear that sorted out. I was just up late rummaging through old books and found no mention of the BROUGH guy, bros. Maybe my edition of three Lesley Ann Jones book is condensed? I dunno. Thanks wiz |
| Sebastian 24.02.2015 07:18 |
Daz85 wrote: claimed there were FOUR songs that were recorded in his final sessions.Yes, four songs recorded by the band: * Lost Opportunity * You Don't Fool Me * A Winter's Tale * Mother Love 'Lost Opportunity' is Fred-less, unless he plays the synth (which I very much doubt). Band recordings not necessarily featured all four members. Remember 'Bijou', 'Seaside Rendezvous', 'Who Wants to Live Forever', 'Fight from the Inside', 'Dancer', 'Procession', 'Dear Friends'? |
| The Real Wizard 24.02.2015 08:30 |
^ damn you, Seb, and your facts ... !!! ;) |
| The Real Wizard 24.02.2015 08:34 |
link Btw, here's my source... kind of bulletproof, I'd say :-) |
| Oscar J 24.02.2015 09:26 |
Sebastian wrote: 'Lost Opportunity' is Fred-less, unless he plays the synth (which I very much doubt). Band recordings not necessarily featured all four members. Remember 'Bijou', 'Seaside Rendezvous', 'Who Wants to Live Forever' These first three ones were a surprise for me. Care to elaborate? |
| Sebastian 24.02.2015 12:00 |
Bijou: It's just Fred (synth and vocal) and Brian (guitar). No John and no Roger. Rendezvous: There's no guitar and Brian doesn't sing any backing vocals. Who Wants to Live Forever lacks electric bass. It does have Roger on drums, Brian on synth and guitars and of course the three founding members on vocals. The rest is the orchestra (including some percussion). There might be some drum machines at some point, I reckon Brian programmed them, or perhaps David Richards, but not John, definitely not. There are plenty other Queen songs not featuring all four band members. Essentially all albums except for 'Queen', 'The Miracle' and 'Made in Heaven' have at least one song with three or less members... and on 'Made in Heaven' we could quibble about 'Track No 13' allegedly being John-free. |
| cmsdrums 24.02.2015 15:35 |
Following your post Seb, can you give some insight as to how much bass John plays on the Innuendo album? I've always thought that some tracks really don't seem to feature much of his trademark playing styles.... cheers |
| Thistle 24.02.2015 17:28 |
Biggus Dickus wrote:That was EXACTLY the answer that shot my observation down a couple of years ago lol.The Real Wizard wrote: The convention was held from April 26-28, 1991. So there goes that idea !Cheers Mr. Holmes. Now we know the truth. |
| Sebastian 24.02.2015 21:20 |
cmsdrums wrote: Following your post Seb, can you give some insight as to how much bass John plays on the Innuendo album? cheersI'm pretty sure he plays on all tracks except for 'Bijou.' Some of what he did there was actually quite good. All in all, these are the album tracks not to feature John on electric bass: * Queen II: Procession. * Sheer Heart Attack: Dear Friends. * Opera: God Save the Queen, '39. * News: Who Needs You, Rock You and Roger's songs. * Jazz: More of That Jazz. * Flash Gordon: Roughly half of the album. * Hot Space: All the first side except for Back Chat. * Works: Is This the World We Created. * Magic: Who Wants to Live Forever. * Innuendo: Bijou. * Made in Heaven: Track No 13. |
| Heavenite 25.02.2015 04:32 |
So once again we are left with no evidence of Freddie recording after May 1991, yet he had six months to live! But with Queen saying it's the end so many times yet now saying there is another album coming out one day, it's hard to know anything for sure. Is it just bits? Or are there more tracks that will be once again "discovered" in due course when the time approaches to promote and release them? |
| Sebastian 25.02.2015 06:08 |
Heavenite wrote: Or are there more tracks that will be once again "discovered" in due course when the time approaches to promote and release them?All those so-called discoveries are related to an entirely different period for the band. Most of those discoveries are from the early 80's, namely 'It's a Beautiful Day,' 'Let Me Live,' the one that Anita did later on... in other words, outtakes from the Game-Works era. |
| Heavenite 26.02.2015 05:01 |
So there is still nothing beyond May 1991 and only a relatively small part of the band's career has yielded any of those "discoveries". But we know there are pieces that Brian says he can make into tracks. So I guess those could come from different parts of the band's career where a song might not have come together or not been proceeded with at that time. In that respect I recall Freddie saying that they usually wanted songsto come together quickly or they would drop it and proceed with something else. |
| artist_nine 26.02.2015 05:23 |
Sebastian wrote:I'm quite sure John plays electric bass on Who Wants To Live Forever. Have a listen at 2:00, you can faintly hear his trademark bass slide up the neck. It's more evident in the karaoke version.cmsdrums wrote: Following your post Seb, can you give some insight as to how much bass John plays on the Innuendo album? cheersI'm pretty sure he plays on all tracks except for 'Bijou.' Some of what he did there was actually quite good. All in all, these are the album tracks not to feature John on electric bass: * Queen II: Procession. * Sheer Heart Attack: Dear Friends. * Opera: God Save the Queen, '39. * News: Who Needs You, Rock You and Roger's songs. * Jazz: More of That Jazz. * Flash Gordon: Roughly half of the album. * Hot Space: All the first side except for Back Chat. * Works: Is This the World We Created. * Magic: Who Wants to Live Forever. * Innuendo: Bijou. * Made in Heaven: Track No 13. |
| Biggus Dickus 26.02.2015 06:22 |
artist_nine wrote:I can hear similar sound at 3:13 going down the neck. I'm not sure if it's bass or guitar.Sebastian wrote:I'm quite sure John plays electric bass on Who Wants To Live Forever. Have a listen at 2:00, you can faintly hear his trademark bass slide up the neck. It's more evident in the karaoke version.cmsdrums wrote: Following your post Seb, can you give some insight as to how much bass John plays on the Innuendo album? cheersI'm pretty sure he plays on all tracks except for 'Bijou.' Some of what he did there was actually quite good. All in all, these are the album tracks not to feature John on electric bass: * Queen II: Procession. * Sheer Heart Attack: Dear Friends. * Opera: God Save the Queen, '39. * News: Who Needs You, Rock You and Roger's songs. * Jazz: More of That Jazz. * Flash Gordon: Roughly half of the album. * Hot Space: All the first side except for Back Chat. * Works: Is This the World We Created. * Magic: Who Wants to Live Forever. * Innuendo: Bijou. * Made in Heaven: Track No 13. |
| cmsdrums 26.02.2015 06:42 |
Sebastian wrote:Thank you!cmsdrums wrote: Following your post Seb, can you give some insight as to how much bass John plays on the Innuendo album? cheersI'm pretty sure he plays on all tracks except for 'Bijou.' Some of what he did there was actually quite good. All in all, these are the album tracks not to feature John on electric bass: * Queen II: Procession. * Sheer Heart Attack: Dear Friends. * Opera: God Save the Queen, '39. * News: Who Needs You, Rock You and Roger's songs. * Jazz: More of That Jazz. * Flash Gordon: Roughly half of the album. * Hot Space: All the first side except for Back Chat. * Works: Is This the World We Created. * Magic: Who Wants to Live Forever. * Innuendo: Bijou. * Made in Heaven: Track No 13. |
| Sebastian 26.02.2015 07:06 |
artist_nine wrote: I'm quite sure John plays electric bass on Who Wants To Live Forever. Have a listen at 2:00, you can faintly hear his trademark bass slide up the neck. It's more evident in the karaoke version.You're absolutely right! Thank you. I've been wrong for about fifteen years :D Unlike religious fanatics, I don't see any shame in admitting that and from now on adhering to the more accurate claim: John does play on WWTLF. Heavenite wrote: So there is still nothing beyond May 1991 and only a relatively small part of the band's career has yielded any of those "discoveries".Exactly. Personally, I'm far more interested in learning more about the material that did get released. How? Well, there are plenty of options: * Stems * Multi-tracks * Instrumentals * Demos I know I'm in the minority, but I far prefer more things like the 'Sail Away Sweet Sister' early take or the 'Kiss / Football Fight' demos than any work on an early 80's reject, or than any new tour for that matter. |
| cmsdrums 27.02.2015 09:41 |
Sebastian wrote:Whilst 'new' tracks such as 'Let Me In Your Heart Again' have been great to hear, I'm with you Seb; as a musician (well, drummer! :-) ), hearing the early versions, different workings, etc.. are fascinating to me, and a real insight into how they worked on tracks in the studio. The examples you quote, along with the alternate 'Dreamers Ball' are magic. If only there was some more video footage of them in the studio - we have the slightly contrived 'One Vision' sessions, but some of the Bob Harris stuff from the BBC Sessions looks superb and just MUST come out one day!artist_nine wrote: I'm quite sure John plays electric bass on Who Wants To Live Forever. Have a listen at 2:00, you can faintly hear his trademark bass slide up the neck. It's more evident in the karaoke version.You're absolutely right! Thank you. I've been wrong for about fifteen years :D Unlike religious fanatics, I don't see any shame in admitting that and from now on adhering to the more accurate claim: John does play on WWTLF.Heavenite wrote: So there is still nothing beyond May 1991 and only a relatively small part of the band's career has yielded any of those "discoveries".Exactly. Personally, I'm far more interested in learning more about the material that did get released. How? Well, there are plenty of options: * Stems * Multi-tracks * Instrumentals * Demos I know I'm in the minority, but I far prefer more things like the 'Sail Away Sweet Sister' early take or the 'Kiss / Football Fight' demos than any work on an early 80's reject, or than any new tour for that matter. |
