MercurialFreddie 26.04.2015 10:08 |
Hey guys ! Thanks for all the answers and info which you've given in the Royal Philharm. Orch. plays Queen (1982) thread. Encouraged by your positive response, I'd like to ask you what is your opinion of Elaine Paige's rendition of Queen songs ? Does someone know if - at some point in the past - Freddie or the whole band met Elaine Paige ? Surely Virgin organised release party for the album and I wonder if Queen were invited... I don't recall Ellen Paige being mentioned in any of the interviews from 88' onwards and it would be tremendous if you'd share your knowledge on that matter. Cheers ! Martin PS. Whole album is up on Spotify so you can listen it for free. |
MrBdGuy 26.04.2015 10:46 |
Well the CD booklet contains a picture of the whole band with her so they met at least once... |
cmsdrums 26.04.2015 11:03 |
Tim Rice wrote with Freddie for the Barcelona album, and Tim was in an extra marital relationship with Elaine Paige at the time, so it's very possible they socialised with Freddie. I certainly know there is a picture of the whole band around about 87-88 with Elaine, and it looks like it could have been taken on a jetty near the Duck House in Montreux. I don't know if this is the same pic as in the album as I don't have it. |
KJ 26.04.2015 12:27 |
this pic was taken near the Mountain Studios in Montreux |
IanR 26.04.2015 13:40 |
Other photos taken at the same time, possibly on the same day: link link link link link link link |
IanR 26.04.2015 13:50 |
link We might be able to deduce the exact date by way of the newspaper in Brian's hand. |
MercurialFreddie 26.04.2015 15:08 |
Wow, guys, that is awesome... I really feel like a fool now... that photo (posted by KJ) is quite popular and I didn't realised that it's her. Is there a possibility that they made a duet or, they gave a try working together (same as the origin of UP with Bowie) and there is something yet unreleased remaining in the archives ? I also don't have a CD and heard this album only on spotify so it would be great if MrBdGuy could scan the booklet so we'd know if that's the same picture as the one was taken at Montreux. |
master marathon runner 26.04.2015 19:13 |
Well I saw Elaine at the Edinburgh playhouse in 2004, her pianist, and musical director was, none other than mike Moran. And if I remember rightly,she asked if "there are any Queen fans here tonight?" ( at which point I gave out a puny little "yeah"). She then proceed to regale about recording the album, meeting Queen and then she delivered her rendition of"love of my life" with Mike on piano. Highlight of the night. |
JeroenG 27.04.2015 02:35 |
http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2439735 scroll down and you have a look at the inner sleeve including the photo. |
cmsdrums 27.04.2015 04:40 |
If these are indeed sessions from The Miracle (as I believe they are), interesting to see Mike Moran in the studio with them at that point. (Last pic linked above by IanR) |
Sebastian 27.04.2015 05:03 |
Sessions for 'Shove It', 'Barcelona', 'The Miracle', 'The Queen Album' and 'Back to the Light' overlapped and there was a lot of cross-pollination. Also, 'All God's People' was initially done for 'The Miracle'. |
Apocalipsis_Darko 27.04.2015 05:15 |
All God's People, as I said before, began (Africa By Night) for the second and never finished Freddie solo album, and yes, finally became a Queen song. I talked with Mike Moran about this album, because was a surprise to me she elected My Melancholy Blues. To be honest, not remember all the details.. Later, Lesley Ann-Jones said Elaine Page was very dissapointed because she was not invited to the FM Tribute concert, and she thought she deserved as Peter Straker or other people. Even Elaine Page said it was more a tribute to Queen than to Freddie, because there were not Prince, there were too hard rock/heavy metal bands, etc... I also talked about that with Tim Rice, very nice person, but he didnt know about that issue (FM Tribute concert). |
MercurialFreddie 27.04.2015 09:30 |
Wow, that is some interesting info... now, thanks to JeroenG we see that that is the same photograph. As to All God's People... I haven't heard that theory before but I've heard that it originated as Africa by night and was intended for Barcelona... Apocalipsis, have you stayed in touch with Mike Moran since then ? Is there any way you could pass a message from me ? Sebastian... so there is a possibility that they've recorded something together just for fun ? |
cmsdrums 27.04.2015 14:46 |
She thought there were too many 'hardrock/metal' artists at the FM tribute? Lisa Stansfield Seal Elton John Liza Minnelli (!) Elizabeth Taylor Zucchero Paul Young Bob Geldof Chris Thompson David Bowie George Michael I don't recall any of the above being hard rock or metal; she's clearly a bit bitter. As for Peter Straker being invited? He was a close friend of Freddie's - virtually living in Logan Place at times - dud she have that close-a-relationship with Freddie?? Yes it would have been great for Prince to have played it...amongst many others, but the same could be said for countless others. Do we know of any other artists that may have been considered? (Apart from Gary Glitter who was ditched for blabbing his mouth to The Sun; lucky escape for them there!!) |
mooghead 27.04.2015 15:48 |
I love this thread.. did Elaine Paige even meet Queen? Erm .. yes.. here are a million pictures and quotes.. :-) |
Apocalipsis_Darko 27.04.2015 20:07 |
I only quoted Elaine Page...don't take like my word! I think, to be honest, Peter Straker deserved to sang something, as chorus vocalist. Subjetive opinion. Chris Thompson was not happy with the FM Tribute. He was at first to sang A kind of magic, he was the vocalist to rehersal the songs before the guest artists came to the rehersals...and...later, he didnt sang A Kind Of Magic. |
flash00. 27.04.2015 21:52 |
With regards to Striker I'm sure I read that Freddie fell out with him the last one or two years of his life so if true thats maybe why Queen never chose him to participate in the tribute show... It's just a thought. P.s I own that Elaine Page album on CD |
antiden 28.04.2015 03:11 |
cmsdrums wrote: Do we know of any other artists that may have been considered?I always wondered, why these artists with a certain relation to Freddie hadn't performed at FM Tribute: - Rod Stewart - Dave Clark - Peter Straker - Billy Squier (appeared only in the finale) - Montserrat Caballe - Elaine Paige Also these artists could have been a very logical choice for the occasion: - Prince - Madonna (there were rumors she was going to perform) - Mick Jagger - Phil Collins - even MJ... Instead we've got more tribute to Brian, than to Freddie... |
Costa86 28.04.2015 04:37 |
^Regarding Montserrat, I don't think she'd have been comfortable singing live at Wembley. It might have been a bit too far out of her comfort zone. That said, she did perform Barcelona in 1992 for the Olympics, and again for UEFA '99 in Nou Camp stadium - I'm not sure if any of these were live. I'm glad Madonna didn't perform. Doubt MJ would have ever performed, but it would have been extremely cool if he did. |
mooghead 28.04.2015 04:51 |
Why would Prince be a logical choice? I think he is great but have never linked him with Queen or Freddie in any way?! |
antiden 28.04.2015 05:04 |
mooghead wrote: Why would Prince be a logical choice? I think he is great but have never linked him with Queen or Freddie in any way?!Freddie liked this artist very much. Indeed he saw some resemblance between Prince and young himself. Hence Prince could bring to life some of earlier Mercury's stuff on stage. And of course Prince was very popular at that time. |
cmsdrums 28.04.2015 05:23 |
Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: I only quoted Elaine Page...don't take like my word! I think, to be honest, Peter Straker deserved to sang something, as chorus vocalist. Subjetive opinion. Chris Thompson was not happy with the FM Tribute. He was at first to sang A kind of magic, he was the vocalist to rehersal the songs before the guest artists came to the rehersals...and...later, he didnt sang A Kind Of Magic.Sorry...I was very much directing my comment towards Elaine, not you my friend! :-) It's a shame that A Kind of Magic was cut... to be honest it would have been more fitting for Roger to sing it rather than Chris Thompson, but it would have been good with either. It's not as if they cut it on purpose though - they were just running out of time. Have you ever published any of your interviews over the last few years? I'd love to hear/read ones with Mike Moran and others that were 'behind the music'? Cheers |
Sebastian 28.04.2015 16:59 |
MercurialFreddie wrote: As to All God's People... I haven't heard that theory before but I've heard that it originated as Africa by night and was intended for Barcelona...No, it wasn't intended for 'Barcelona.' It arose around the same era as the 'Barcelona' project but it wasn't meant to be part of it. Freddie asked Brian to play on it and then John and Roger (dunno in which order) so it became a Queen song. A demo of it was included on the hints of 'The Miracle'. |
Apocalipsis_Darko 28.04.2015 19:00 |
cmsdrums, only in spanish....sorry. First was Brian invited, and finally, it was taken as a Queen song. |
Mr.QueenFan 28.04.2015 19:27 |
Great thread with great information. I think that it's possible that some of the artists mentioned in the wish-list of the fans for the tribute concert simply didn't accepted to do it, or couldn't do it because of their own schedule. But in the end, it was a memorable concert, and in my opinion it makes perfect sense to make it a Hard-Rock/ Heavy-Metal oriented, because Freddie and Queen are a huge influence on those genres of music. The Elaine Page album is great. I haven't listened to it for a while but i remember that i really enjoyed it. She is a great singer with a beautiful voice. |
Ozz 28.04.2015 21:10 |
Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: cmsdrums, only in spanish....sorry.me encantaria leer esas entrevistas en español :D |
Bohardy 29.04.2015 02:12 |
Sebastian wrote: No, it wasn't intended for 'Barcelona.' It arose around the same era as the 'Barcelona' project but it wasn't meant to be part of it. Freddie asked Brian to play on it and then John and Roger (dunno in which order) so it became a Queen song. A demo of it was included on the hints of 'The Miracle'.That's not right, is it? I've never heard of a demo for this being out there. A portion of the final version was on the Hints Of Innuendo promo teaser, but I think you're mistaken about a demo version being on a Miracle teaser. |
BETA215 29.04.2015 02:20 |
^ I'm agree. Ozz wrote:Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: cmsdrums, only in spanish....sorry.me encantaria leer esas entrevistas en español :D ¡Mi chu! |
Costa86 29.04.2015 11:55 |
I always confuse Elaine Paige with Ellen Page, and I'm like, how the hell did Ellen Page meet Freddie Mercury? |
Sebastian 30.04.2015 07:56 |
Bohardy wrote: A portion of the final version was on the Hints Of Innuendo promo teaser, but I think you're mistaken about a demo version being on a Miracle teaser.I might have, I'm not sure. I seem to remember seeing it as part of the Miracle teaser, but that may have very well been a mis-recollection (it doesn't only happen to Brian, after all). |
ggo1 30.04.2015 12:07 |
Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: Chris Thompson was not happy with the FM Tribute. He was at first to sang A kind of magic, he was the vocalist to rehersal the songs before the guest artists came to the rehersals...and...later, he didnt sang A Kind Of Magic.Yeah, Def Leppard technical problems meant the whole concert was behind schedule, GNR had to drop a song too. They almost got back on time then Elizabeth Taylors speech went on too long and A Kind Of Magic got dropped. I do think its a shame, but at that point they weren't going to drop any of the big names. Good though Chris Thompson is, he is virtually unknown to the general public. He did sing backing vocals in the rest of the set. |
MercurialFreddie 30.04.2015 16:11 |
Many thanks for all your knowledge shared in this topic. Interesting info popped up here and there. Is it too much to hope or assume that Queen gave a try doing sth together in studio? One might wonder.... thanks again ! |
k-m 01.05.2015 12:10 |
I suspect many artists weren't included simply because they wouldn't blend well with the format of the event and tastes of the public who basically came to see a tribute concert to Freddie, whom they knew from Queen, as opposed to his guest appearances on other people's albums or his personal relationships. Can you really imagine what sort of a show it would be had they added Elaine Paige, Peter Straker, Dave Clark and Cliff to the list?!? Especially Cliff, who is a big name and they would have to give him quite a good slot. I did miss Montserrat though, as she was so important in Freddie's artistic life towards the end and a one-off performance of "Barcelona", the great FM song, would have added more texture to the concert. Prince would also be good, perhaps Boy George as well, but some of these other names, sorry, no. They would have turned it to a fucking Broadway musical, while people were expecting (quite rightly) a rock concert. On the other hand, I know many people saw Extreme's set as one of the highlights, but I am not convinced. I think it would have been better had Roger and Brian had more solo slots, e.g. Rog performing AKOM and Brian doing... "Star Fleet", lol! To cheer them up after TMLWKY. Kidding of course, but LOML would have been great. Looking back, it's hard to believe they gave it to Extreme instead... They probably thought, "Well, listen to More Than Words, such a nice ballad. They will be perfect for LOML." And those baggy trousers of Gary Cherone, cringe!! |
The King Of Rhye 01.05.2015 13:08 |
MercurialFreddie wrote: Is it too much to hope or assume that Queen gave a try doing sth together in studio? One might wonder.... thanks again !sth?? |
Apocalipsis_Darko 01.05.2015 18:47 |
As I said, I think Peter Straker or singers like that, deserved to be in the tribute. Not as artist singers, but chorus singers. About Chris Thompson, was a problem of managament.... |
Apocalipsis_Darko 01.05.2015 18:55 |
For spanish readers, and is easy to translate for english people. Chris Thompson: "Sólo me sentí defraudado por no poder cantar ‘A Kind Of Magic’ en el concierto de Wembley en 1992, donde realicé todo el listado de temas con los miembros restantes de Queen antes de que los cantantes invitados al tributo llegaran al local de ensayo. Básicamente yo no tenía mánager en esa época y no se me incluyó en el concierto". Chris Thompson had a number1 hit (a cover of Bruce Springsteen) in USA in the 70's, with Manfred's Man Band. |
cmsdrums 04.05.2015 04:13 |
ggo1 wrote:Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: Chris Thompson was not happy with the FM Tribute. He was at first to sang A kind of magic, he was the vocalist to rehersal the songs before the guest artists came to the rehersals...and...later, he didnt sang A Kind Of Magic.Yeah, Def Leppard technical problems meant the whole concert was behind schedule, GNR had to drop a song too. They almost got back on time then Elizabeth Taylors speech went on too long and A Kind Of Magic got dropped. I do think its a shame, but at that point they weren't going to drop any of the big names. Good though Chris Thompson is, he is virtually unknown to the general public. He did sing backing vocals in the rest of the set. I don't recall Def Leppard having any issues - Spinal Tap had an awful few mins though when Nigel's amp didn't seem to work, and I gathered that was an issue with the time. You're right with G n R though - they dropped Sweet Child O Mine.......I wonder who had to break the bad news to Axl!!!! |
MercurialFreddie 04.05.2015 08:03 |
The King Of Rhye wrote:Sorry that I wrote that so sluggish. Is there a possibility that they (Queen and Elaine) made a track together and it wasn't released for some reason ?MercurialFreddie wrote: Is it too much to hope or assume that Queen gave a try doing sth together in studio? One might wonder.... thanks again !sth?? |