| liam 14.10.2008 10:58 |
I know most people consider it the best and it is historically regarded as a masterpeice. However if i was to introduce someone to queen or even suggest an album to a casual queen fan to buy i would not suggest this one. It's a great album but things have always bothered me about it. I have a few reasons; 1. Two piano ditties, Lazing on a sunday afternoon and seaside rendevous. They are fillers, lazing on a sunday afternoon is good, but seaside rendevous is not a great song and does not represent queen or show their talents, surely they had something else to put in place of at least one of them. 2. Good company - I think two songs sung by Brian on an album is too much. Perhaps Freddie should have sung 39. 3. Sweet Lady - really is one of Queens worst songs. 4. Middle section of the prophets song - Ruins the song really. 5. If you take out the piano ditties, sweet lady, good company and god save the queen, thats only 7 songs, 5 of which are sung by Freddie. Just seems like theres a few fillers on this album. I know i'm going to be slammed for this but i've just started thinking perhaps it's overrated. Anyone else agree or am i going to be destroyed? |
| new one 14.10.2008 11:15 |
I fear you may be in for quite a roasting my friend. I like ANATO but I can imagine its not everyones cup of tea and I wouldn't give it to a newcomer as there first Queen album either, I'd go for something later on than that. To be honest I don't actually know which album is my favourite, I do know that Hot Space is my least favourite even though it has 3 songs I really like. |
| Rik&Roll 14.10.2008 11:29 |
Agree with your opinion that Sweet Lady is hilarious. Very much disagree that Seaside and Lazing are fillers. Great songs, with a genius-orchestration. The Prophet would indeed be better without the we-got-a-delay-and-we're-not-afraid-to-use-it-part, but it's still a great song. Overall: ANATO is a masterpiece, I'd recommend it to anyone. |
| teleman 14.10.2008 12:09 |
I fully respect your view but I disagree. I remember when ANATO was released and there was nothing else like it. At that time you pot the album on the turntable and when Side A was done you flipped it. I can't imagine listening to ANATO any other way and removing any songs would make it so incomplete. I like the campy cabaret songs and the cheezy lyrics of Sweet Lady. I liked listening to The Prophet Song middle part with my headphones. Maybe I'm just a nostalgic old fart hanging on to a memory but for me ANATO was and remains brilliant. |
| Marcos Napier 14.10.2008 13:02 |
This is why some of the young people don't see the relevance of artists like Hendrix, etc.. When it was released, it was different. For today's standards, it probably isn't - everything has been done, but one had to do it first, and generally it was one of these artists that tried it first. Anyone can burn a guitar today. But try do this in 1967... same for the "opera" + rock mix. ANATO isn't a very easy listening for anyone who knowns Queen for AOBTD or things like that. I would not recommend it as a starting point either for someone that has never listened to anything by Queen. Sweet Lady might have cheesy lyrics, but it's one of the best songs there for me... |
| Wiley 14.10.2008 14:21 |
My girlfriend knew like 3 or 5 Queen songs and didn't really know they were sung by Queen. She only identified Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody (she always includes the track when making a mix-CD). Still, she loved A Night at the Opera and she complains that I don't play it in my car stereo. Instead, she's been exposed to a Cosmos Rocks overdose, haha :D. By the way, I don't think it is that common to write Rock songs in 3/4, 6/8 timing and this album's got two (Sweet Lady and I'm in love with my car). How cool is that? |
| Markman38 14.10.2008 14:40 |
Wiley wrote:
By the way, I don't think it is that common to write Rock songs in 3/4, 6/8 timing and this album's got two (Sweet Lady and I'm in love with my car). How cool is that?
That is a good example of why this album is really outstanding. T'his album really have everything from the great rock of Death on two legs to the humor of Seaside. I think it's without any doubt the best album off course there are tracks from other albums I prefer over some of the tracks on this album, but everything that made queen so unique is on this album. For someone who are starting to discover Queen begin with The Game. |
| Hitman1965 14.10.2008 14:58 |
Obviously it's no good as there's no Paul Rodgers tracks on it! Seriously - you just can't win on Queenzone - we get loads of Queen + Paul Rodgers negativity from the Freddites then you start posting threads like this - maybe the only way to be accepted on Queenzone is to post negative comments about absolutely everything Queen have ever been involved with. With fans like this who needs bad reviews from journalists? Personally I love both TCR and classic material like ANATO - is there room on Queenzone for fans that love ALL of Queen's output over the years? |
| una999 14.10.2008 15:02 |
$0$0liam wrote: $0I know most people consider it the best and it is historically regarded as a masterpeice. However if i was to introduce someone to queen or even suggest an album to a casual queen fan to buy i would not suggest this one. It's a great album but things have always bothered me about it. I have a few reasons;$0$01. Two piano ditties, Lazing on a sunday afternoon and seaside rendevous. They are fillers, lazing on a sunday afternoon is good, but seaside rendevous is not a great song and does not represent queen or show their talents, surely they had something else to put in place of at least one of them.$0$02. Good company - I think two songs sung by Brian on an album is too much. Perhaps Freddie should have sung 39. $0$03. Sweet Lady - really is one of Queens worst songs.$0$04. Middle section of the prophets song - Ruins the song really.$0$05. If you take out the piano ditties, sweet lady, good company and god save the queen, thats only 7 songs, 5 of which are sung by Freddie. Just seems like theres a few fillers on this album.$0$0I know i'm going to be slammed for this but i've just started thinking perhaps it's overrated.$0Anyone else agree or am i going to be destroyed?$0$0$0$0$0$0i agree with u except and this is important - Lazing and Seaside...they are not fillers...the piano on them is not to be sniffed at they are extremely memorable piano intros...i think it captures freddie perfectly those songs. anyone who says they are fillers is wrong...they're quirky and catchy and musically clever...i mean prefer them than GSTQ$0$0 |
| P-Staker 14.10.2008 15:46 |
liam wrote: I know most people consider it the best and it is historically regarded as a masterpeice. However if i was to introduce someone to queen or even suggest an album to a casual queen fan to buy i would not suggest this one. It's a great album but things have always bothered me about it. I have a few reasons; 1. Two piano ditties, Lazing on a sunday afternoon and seaside rendevous. They are fillers, lazing on a sunday afternoon is good, but seaside rendevous is not a great song and does not represent queen or show their talents, surely they had something else to put in place of at least one of them. 2. Good company - I think two songs sung by Brian on an album is too much. Perhaps Freddie should have sung 39. 3. Sweet Lady - really is one of Queens worst songs. 4. Middle section of the prophets song - Ruins the song really. 5. If you take out the piano ditties, sweet lady, good company and god save the queen, thats only 7 songs, 5 of which are sung by Freddie. Just seems like theres a few fillers on this album. I know i'm going to be slammed for this but i've just started thinking perhaps it's overrated. Anyone else agree or am i going to be destroyed? I agree on one point - Freddie should've sung 39. But I don't agree ANATO is overrated - I think it's underrated! To my mind, that's what Queen was all about - energetic, playful, theatrical, extravagant, humorous - and still very moving! If you listen to other great albums of 1975, such as Wish You Were Here and The Original Soundtrack, you'll see other greats were trying similar things as Queen - but Queen stole the show that year, with their unbelievable, but utterly enjoyable mixture of prog with vaudeville and dixie, ballads with opera buffo and canon, space rock and country, strange samples and unusual timestamps. My only complaint is the harp on Love of My Life. Brian couldn't play it in one piece, so it was glued together in the studio, and it came out clunky. I prefer live versions of the song. But hey, if the album isn't perfect - it came damn close. |
| P-Staker 14.10.2008 16:06 |
Markman38 wrote: For someone who are starting to discover Queen begin with The Game. A great album, but not very representative - it's got drier sound and edgier beat than any other Queen album before or after it. It'd be a good pick to introduce Queen fans to The Clash, though. |
| AmeriQueen 14.10.2008 16:08 |
Bohemian Rhapsody and The Prophet's Song are to my ears arguably the two greatest epic songs in history. Not Queen history, not rock history, but music history meaning that Motzart, Tchaikovsky(spelling?), Bach and even Beethoven in all their genius never matched those two songs to my way of thinking. Next there is the purist ballad/love song ever made in Love of My Life. There is the zany songs of Seaside Rendeavoux and Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon, the powerful and hate-driven opener Death on Two Legs, the heavy I'm In Love With My Car and Sweet Lady pair, the more contemporary Your My Best Friend, and the two Brian songs. Nowhere else have I heard such a widely diverse selection of songs so beautiful and perfect in every way. Even God Save The Queen gives a proper finish to it. The album seems to me to be the wide and diverse culmination of everything they were working towards from Queen I and II and through Sheer Heart Attack, and I cannot imagine how anyone can like Queen at all and not gush over that album. The weakest link for me is Roger's track or Sweet Lady, and I love them both dearly. Probably the most gutless and dissapointing move Queen ever made as a band from my point of view was to not release a 2nd epic length single with The Prophet's Song as a follow up to Bohemian Rhapsody. It was taboo when they did Bo Rhap, and the results proved to be success beyond any song's reach within the 20th Century at least. Why then would they not take another chance and see if lightning strikes twice with Brian's magnum opus? If they had done that, I believe they would have the two biggest hits of the century and Queen would have completely left the Beatles legacy in rear view. Instead they went for the commercially safer 'Best Friend' Deacon song and the album is behind the Sgt. Peppers and Abbey Roads of the album rankings instead of far above it. I only agree that it's overrated in that I feel that Queen II and News of the World are no less than equally good, but beyond that I think you are a few french fries short of a happy meal and need to clean the wax out of your ears. |
| Hitman1965 14.10.2008 17:10 |
Couldn't have said it better myself - wonderful reply and extremely well articulated. Does anyone have any press reviews of the time relating to ANATO - would like to read how the music press reviewed the album - has anything changed over the years? |
| ggo1 14.10.2008 17:39 |
Yes it is. I will say that it is not my most played Queen album, that is probably A Day At The Races. It is not always my favourite Queen album, that has been all of them at various times, right now, I'm playing Innuendo quite a lot, but it is without doubt a wonderful album. Partly it is because it IS an album, some of the songs if listened out of context are less than magnificent, but when listened to in order, they flow perfectly. So a piece of nonesense like Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon works precisely because it is refreshingly light after the intensity of Death On Two Legs. Similarly for Good Company and Seaside Rendezvous, they propel the album along so even though at first they seem light and inconsequential, they are actually imntegral the whole. I would argue that Seaside is a particularly clever song. The use of voice as an instrument is pretty unique, even for a Queen album. The Prophet song does seem overlong at times, but after the vocal shenanigins, I would argue that when the guitar and drums kick in for the finale they make a greater impression than the guitar solo in Bo Rap. The segue from Prophets to LOML is inspired... There isnt actually any point where you can succesfully edit that and definitively say, 'this is where one ends and the other begins' On the whole I think the album has few flaws, certainly I have not heard a more perfect album. I think it is their masterpiece and they never reached those heights again, but that is ok, because it was a heck of a height to reach at all. there are individual songs on other Queen albums that are individually better than a lot of the songs on Opera, but there is no album so complete. |
| k-m 14.10.2008 19:41 |
First of all, my congratulations Liam - finally we have an interesting discussion on Queenzone. A true discussion about music as opposed to pointless QPR bashing. I agree that Sweet Lady should not have made it to the album. I think the song is terrible all the way from the opening riff. Always when I listen to it I have a feeling that Freddie didn't really feel comfortable singing it. I agree about The Prophet's Song. Finally, someone said it - the middle section kills this BRILLIANT song. I feel both embarassed and sorry when I listen to this part. I can only compare it to lenghty Brian's solos during the concerts:( Overall, I have an impression, that Brian was pretty much under the influence of Freddie on this album. Good Company is very much Freddiesque, just less genius, and the middle section of The Prophet's Song is an echo of Bohemian Rhapsody, possibly Freddie's idea (?). I back up what someone said that it could have been the 2nd single, unless it was heavily edited when it comes to the middle part. Sounds a bit inprobale, but hey - singles do get edited, don't they? I like Brian's vocals on '39. The song is quite serious and nostalgic and I think Brian delivers these emotions perfectly. I remember reading that Freddie sang the song during the sessions, but it just sounded too sweet. I think it's highly likely. I'm not a big fan of Brian's singing, but on a few songs it worked. '39 is one of them. And finally, sorry Liam, but I can't agree with the "two piano ditties". I think both Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon and Seaside Rendezvous are pure genius and as quintessential Freddie as Killer Queen or Somebody To Love. I think that if you are a fan of Freddie as a songwriter, you cannot ignore these two sweet displays of compositional talent and very rare sense of humour. These songs are meant to sound a bit silly, but by no means they are fillers. IMO they capture the real charm of seventies' Freddie Mercury and ANATO wouldn't be the same without them. More posts like this one, please! |
| mike hunt 15.10.2008 03:53 |
liam wrote: I know most people consider it the best and it is historically regarded as a masterpeice. However if i was to introduce someone to queen or even suggest an album to a casual queen fan to buy i would not suggest this one. It's a great album but things have always bothered me about it. I have a few reasons; 1. Two piano ditties, Lazing on a sunday afternoon and seaside rendevous. They are fillers, lazing on a sunday afternoon is good, but seaside rendevous is not a great song and does not represent queen or show their talents, surely they had something else to put in place of at least one of them. 2. Good company - I think two songs sung by Brian on an album is too much. Perhaps Freddie should have sung 39. 3. Sweet Lady - really is one of Queens worst songs. 4. Middle section of the prophets song - Ruins the song really. 5. If you take out the piano ditties, sweet lady, good company and god save the queen, thats only 7 songs, 5 of which are sung by Freddie. Just seems like theres a few fillers on this album. I know i'm going to be slammed for this but i've just started thinking perhaps it's overrated. Anyone else agree or am i going to be destroyed? ANATO is way underated IMO, What queen fan could not like the prophet song?...the song is brilliant. Lazing on a sunday afternoon and especially seaside rendevous is freddie at his best, pure genious. love of my life is the best ballad in queen history. 39 fits brian's voice perfectly, and is one of their best. A very minor complaint for me is sweet lady, also, I think 'good company' should have been sung by freddie, though it's still a great song. Opera should be mentioned more often as one of the best records of all time. Instead we hear how great nirvana's albums are, GNR. My personal favorite is queen2, but opera is their most complete and brilliant works they ever did. |
| joe90 15.10.2008 05:37 |
Yes, Night at the Opera is that great. |
| mooghead 15.10.2008 06:07 |
"Bohemian Rhapsody and The Prophet's Song are to my ears arguably the two greatest epic songs in history. Not Queen history, not rock history, but music history meaning that Motzart, Tchaikovsky(spelling?), Bach and even Beethoven in all their genius never matched those two songs to my way of thinking. " This is the reason rock fans in general think Queen fans are cocks. |
| Markman38 15.10.2008 06:11 |
Well if they put Tie Your Morther Down The Millionaire Walz and Somebody to love in place of Sweet Lady, Seaside Rendezvous and The Prophet Song, it would be the best overall album ever made. But then ADATR wouldn't be that great too |
| Holly2003 15.10.2008 06:26 |
ANATO is an amazing album, and will always be the one people point to when they want to hear Queen at their best. Fantastic musicianship and I don't agree there is any 'filler'. Regarding Sweet Lady, it's an unusual time signature, which makes it sound a bit odd compared to most of their other stuff, but when you learn how to play the riff on the guitar (it's not difficult) it makes more sense. It's also vey heavy, which gets my vote. |
| P-Staker 15.10.2008 06:34 |
mooghead wrote: "Bohemian Rhapsody and The Prophet's Song are to my ears arguably the two greatest epic songs in history. Not Queen history, not rock history, but music history meaning that Motzart, Tchaikovsky(spelling?), Bach and even Beethoven in all their genius never matched those two songs to my way of thinking. " This is the reason rock fans in general think Queen fans are cocks. Pink Floyd fans are much worse. Hmmmm... does that make me a double cock? |
| Lester Burnham 15.10.2008 10:16 |
Oh boy, actual discussion! While I personally prefer Q2 and ADATR over ANATO, there's no way its impact can be denied. You have to remember that Queen were penniless and feuding with their managers over finances, so they were really pouring all of themselves into this album. I really think that the only cringe-inducing moment on the album is "You call me sweet like I'm some kinda cheese" - but apart from that brief blight in judgement, even 'Sweet Lady' is a scorching rocker. And that's what I like about the album, that it doesn't stick in one genre for too long; it goes from rocker to camp to rocker to pop to sci-fi folk to rocker to vaudeville to epic rocker to ballad to trad jazz to opera/ballad/rocker to guitar orchestrated national pride. It's a veritable rollercoaster of sounds, and if you try to remove one of those elements, or replace it with another one, it loses its appeal. It should also be remembered that the entire album was done by just the four band members; no session musicians, no hired hands, no orchestras. So that trad jazz sound in 'Good Company', with all the woodwinds and flutes and trombones? Completely done by Brian. A labor of love, no doubt, and still impressive to me after all these years. Freddie and Roger are clearly having fun on 'Seaside', by vocally replicating the sounds of woodwind and brass - who cares if it's piano-based? That was the charm of Queen, that they never took themselves seriously, and the fact that there are two "music hall" songs on the album only add to their ability to laugh at themselves. Hell, the Kinks made several albums based off that genre... And I always thought 'Best Friend' was the perfect follow-up to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. If they had released 'Prophets Song', it would have failed, no doubt; not because it's a bad song (far from it!), but because one epic would have been enough. 'Best Friend' was the only way to have countered the pomp and circumstance of 'Bo Rhap', and it worked, didn't it? There was no other song on that album that could have been the follow-up. While I was born eight years after it was first released, I was lucky to experience the "LP effect" by having all of Queen's albums initially on cassette, and the impact this particular album had on me was astounding. It's interesting that someone noted earlier how younger fans aren't able to appreciate the music in the same way from when it was first released, and here's a little side story: I never understood the final piano chord in 'A Day In The Life' until a few months ago, when I was sitting in a parking lot and listening to the ending of Sgt. Pepper, and it just hit me all at once - the orchestra crescendo, with each instrument playing whatever the hell it wanted to, and then ... BANG. Phew. I had goosebumps. Anyway, that's kinda like what it was for me listening to ANATO for the first time, by listening to it as it was intended, with the gap between 'Seaside' and 'Prophets'. It's not my favorite Queen album by a longshot (though it does make my Top 5), but it's still just as impressive to me as it was the day I first listened to it. And if someone asked me the best way to get into Queen, I WOULD direct them to this album, because it contains all that Queen are known for: light, campy humor; exquisite ballads; balls-to-the-wall rockers; 'Bohemian Rhapsody'; tight, precise harmonies; grandiose production; and, most obviously, tongue planted firmly in cheek. |
| maxpower 15.10.2008 10:33 |
In a word yes to me it was their 70's peak though A.D.A.T.R isn't far behind it 2 sides of the same coin to me |
| liam 15.10.2008 11:23 |
Thanks for all these great replies everyone, good that we have a friendly, meaningful discussion again with no one mocking each other. |
| Marcos Napier 15.10.2008 13:07 |
Plus not so many albums today are planned and thought (and well done, according to what was planned) as ANATO was. Today any kid with his Protools clone can pick up his guitar and try to do a 1000 layers guitar track. Will it be the same? No. Also it's interesting to notice that ADATR could easily have been a clone of ANATO (mostly for commercial reasons), but it isn't. It's as creative and diverse as its counterpart. They could even have been a double album, but they didnt have much credit to make such a huge bet then I guess, BoRhap was already too much for a bet. |
| April 15.10.2008 16:47 |
ANATO is a great album! Every single song is in its place and can't be thrown away or replaced, and I can only wonder at the guys genius and admire their talent. It is certainly Freddie who deserves most praise in this respect. Though i would recommend SHA to a newbie. This album invariably appeals to everybody. |
| deleted user 28.10.2008 13:28 |
liam wrote: I know most people consider it the best and it is historically regarded as a masterpeice. However if i was to introduce someone to queen or even suggest an album to a casual queen fan to buy i would not suggest this one. It's a great album but things have always bothered me about it. I have a few reasons; 1. Two piano ditties, Lazing on a sunday afternoon and seaside rendevous. They are fillers, lazing on a sunday afternoon is good, but seaside rendevous is not a great song and does not represent queen or show their talents, surely they had something else to put in place of at least one of them. 2. Good company - I think two songs sung by Brian on an album is too much. Perhaps Freddie should have sung 39. 3. Sweet Lady - really is one of Queens worst songs. 4. Middle section of the prophets song - Ruins the song really. 5. If you take out the piano ditties, sweet lady, good company and god save the queen, thats only 7 songs, 5 of which are sung by Freddie. Just seems like theres a few fillers on this album. I know i'm going to be slammed for this but i've just started thinking perhaps it's overrated. Anyone else agree or am i going to be destroyed? I hate to destroy you Liam but, I actually used ANATO as a recommendation to a friend. He had heard of Queen before but I, as he said it, "opened his eyes to something totally new and different". I had him listen to Bohemian Rhapsody, I'm in Love With My Car, a little bit of Prophet's Song, and others from different albums. I do however agree with everyone else that Sweet Lady shouldn't have made it to the album, it's just not Queenish I guess, the guitar is excellent but the lyrics don't match well with it, they're a little rough and don't flow like most songs do. And the middle of Prophet's Song is a little drawn out but still well done. Seaside Rendevous and Lazing on a Sunday afternoon are really fun songs that I enjoy. They show the diversity between those two and songs like Death on Two Legs, The Prophet's Song, and others that Queen is known for, What Freddie is known for! I definetly recommend ANATO to anyone with a rising interest in Queen along with some picks from a few of the other albums both before and after this one. |
| Bad Seed 28.10.2008 17:41 |
Strange one for me this. I love all the tracks on ANATO. DO2L's, LOML, TPS and Bo Rap being four of my favourite songs, however I think I could go as far as saying its my least favourite album. Cant pinpoint why, I just dont think it works. Its not heavy enough for my liking and I think as an album its a bit of a cluttered mess. I know alot of people who are not Queen fan's go straight for it when buying a Queen album for the first time, just like people go straight for Led Zep 2, problem is I know it turns alot of people away. |
| QueenTaylor 29.10.2008 17:55 |
yes. that's it, that's all there is to it. and I find it even better when listening to the vinyl...so raw and simply amazing. |
| Brangwen Rocker 31.10.2008 13:15 |
First up, hi everyone, just joined Queenzone! It was 1972 or 73, and someone thrust a copy of Queen 1, into my dirty mits at school, took it home, put it on my parents then new Decca stereo, and I thought my God....wow, I'd never heard anything like it. Then in 73/4, Queen supported Mott The Hoople at the Brangwen Hall in Swansea, complete with out of tune piano! Seven Seas of Rhye sounded awful, but the boys were cookin' Queen 2 followed and to this day it is my absolute favourite Queen album! Father to Son is simply fantastic, as is Ogre Battle, superb guitar work by BM, Roger to my mind has never played better on an album. March of the Black Queen chorally has not been bettered. Loser in the End a song about leaving home is as poignant today as the day RT wrote it. The single Seven Seas.. is brilliant. All in all a superb rounded body of work, which sounds as good and as fresh today as it did back in the early 70's Sheer Heart Attack is a good album, but there were tell tale signs of the quartet's intentions to mix rock with commercial appeal a la Killer Queen! A Night At The Opera is a good album feted by many as their greatest ever. I can understand this, Bo Rhap had gone stratospheirc and the album broke new ground at the time, as has been alluded to, by the many excellent posts on the subject. As for recommending an album to someone new to Queen, I can see why some might suggest A Night as their choice, and all things considered, I would go along with this, however I would also give them Queen 2 also, as it would provide the new listener with a diverse perspective from which to conclude their own opinions. All the best everyone |
| mike hunt 02.11.2008 01:07 |
Brangwen Rocker wrote: First up, hi everyone, just joined Queenzone! It was 1972 or 73, and someone thrust a copy of Queen 1, into my dirty mits at school, took it home, put it on my parents then new Decca stereo, and I thought my God....wow, I'd never heard anything like it. Then in 73/4, Queen supported Mott The Hoople at the Brangwen Hall in Swansea, complete with out of tune piano! Seven Seas of Rhye sounded awful, but the boys were cookin' Queen 2 followed and to this day it is my absolute favourite Queen album! Father to Son is simply fantastic, as is Ogre Battle, superb guitar work by BM, Roger to my mind has never played better on an album. March of the Black Queen chorally has not been bettered. Loser in the End a song about leaving home is as poignant today as the day RT wrote it. The single Seven Seas.. is brilliant. All in all a superb rounded body of work, which sounds as good and as fresh today as it did back in the early 70's Sheer Heart Attack is a good album, but there were tell tale signs of the quartet's intentions to mix rock with commercial appeal a la Killer Queen! A Night At The Opera is a good album feted by many as their greatest ever. I can understand this, Bo Rhap had gone stratospheirc and the album broke new ground at the time, as has been alluded to, by the many excellent posts on the subject. As for recommending an album to someone new to Queen, I can see why some might suggest A Night as their choice, and all things considered, I would go along with this, however I would also give them Queen 2 also, as it would provide the new listener with a diverse perspective from which to conclude their own opinions. All the best everyone It's always nice seeing older queens fan post here, I regard these older fans as "the real queen fans" I don't think the younger fans understand The band like the original fans did. Anyway, As for a recommending an album to someone who's new to queen, I would say it depends on the persons taste. If they like pop/rock I would recommend 'the game' If they like epics I would tell them to buy ANATO for obvious reasons, the prophet song, bo rhap, or queen2. If they like classic hard rock, or Heavy metal I would go with the first album, SHA, or NOTW. |
| GonnaUseMyPrisoners 06.11.2008 18:19 |
Nice discussion indeed. Although I would quarrel on a few things mentioned along the thread: Loser In The End is hardly poignant in its discussion of leaving home... completely defiant, actually: "You'll get forgotten on the way if you don't let them have their fun" is a threat, really. (Leaving Home Ain't Easy is quite poignant on the topic, by contrast.) Back to ANATO: I like the unrestrained hard rock of Sweet Lady quite well, though it took me a year or three past its release to realize its genius. I don't know why it's so unpopular because I think it's great, particularly very LOUD! I think it's a slightly better song than '39, or I'm In Love With My Car, for that matter, though I realize I'm in the minority on that opinion. ANATO was my #1 for a very long time. Jazz came close to unseating it, though, despite what I consider to be the weaker tracks. For me now, ANATO is #2 (right behind Innuendo) as the best Queen album of all time. In fact, having recalled their waning popularity here in the USA at the time, I always suspected Innuendo was a specific effort to recall that earlier musical style (having moved so far away from it during the 80's) to deliver the more successful "classic rock" style of ANATO at that point in their careers and to do it "one better" with their wisened perspectives and improved musicianship. So, "yes", it is that great! :-) Peace |
| Ms. Rebel 06.11.2008 18:34 |
Yes, it is. |
| CJNovello 07.11.2008 19:12 |
the whole album is fucking genius but sweet lady is one i always skip |
| boca 08.11.2008 17:19 |
well liam, i think you may be right. i also share your opinion, but other songs on ANATO, like loml, borhap,39, etc. made this album fantastic |
| Dr. Mark 11.11.2008 09:32 |
I've always liked Jazz as a good introduction to studio Queen and Live Killers for live. Dead on Time, If You Can't Beat 'Em, Don't Stop Me Now...I could keep going. That album had little filler as all the songs were great. Mark |
| Kind of Magician 11.11.2008 15:48 |
Everyone has said how great this album is musically... I'll just say that this is IMO one of Freddie's best albums vocally... Only Innuendo and Barcelona can top it... |
| goinback 11.11.2008 20:38 |
I agree with the other Queen fan who thinks ANATO AND Queen II should be the two albums given to someone new, because that's what I already do :) ANATO showcases all of Queen's musical styles (including the ability to play a rock song in an odd meter, like "Sweet Lady") while Queen II is many Queen fans' favorite because I think it just seems to flow perfectly. |
| littlekillerham 13.11.2008 19:14 |
[img=/images/smiley/msn/heart.gif][/img] Yes it is. It is the greatest album that they ever put out. True, seaside rendevouz and good company aren't that good, but 39 was made for Brian. |
| mike hunt 14.11.2008 10:08 |
littlekillerham wrote: [img=/images/smiley/msn/heart.gif][/img] Yes it is. It is the greatest album that they ever put out. True, seaside rendevouz and good company aren't that good, but 39 was made for Brian. both seaside and good company are brilliant. |
| Brianmay1975 14.11.2008 10:18 |
A Night At The Opera is the greatest Queen album, a true masterpiece, in my opinion. I don't know if I would recommend it to a beginner. But the funny thing is that it was A Night At The Opera that made me fall in love with Queen. Just weeks before the best love-story of my life started off, I watched a Queen Top 10 on VH1. And I didn't like their greatest hits. Actually, I didn't like them at all. I watched it against my will, because my dad wanted to watch and I had nowhere to go (we were in a hotel room and outside the rain was pouring). But Bohemian Rhapsody glued me to the screen. I didn't fall in love with them by then, but Bohemian Rhapsody struck me as something so totally different, it did move me deeply. But half a month later, my heart was conquered by A Night At The Opera. I had listened to it before many times, my dad owned a vynil from 1975, it was our only Queen possession by that time. I never liked it, except for Seaside Rendezvous, which I adored when I was 10 years old, and '39.$0Then one evening I came in the room while my dad was playing the vynil. Didn't like it, again. I used to hate Death On Two Legs the most. I went for a couple of minutes on the balcony, I kept hearing the music and when I stepped into the room, the song had gotten to Brian's solo. The beauty of it struck me. It was the first time I was able to find beauty in it. So I just sat down and listened the whole album. And I loved it, totally devotedly loved it. That's how I became a Queen fan. The whole experience was akin to falling in love - akin to really falling in love, like head over heels, not just anyway! :)$0$0$0$0$0So yeah. That's how A Night At The Opera charmed me. But I don't know if it would charm somebody else in the same way. Before Queen, I was not into rock, I was into classical music, so perhaps the operatic stance of the album was what attracted me first. I guess it depends a lot on the musical background of the individual. Perhaps Queen Rocks would be a good introduction to Queen for heavy rock lovers. And it's to be noted that some people who were only into new music became Queen fans through The Cosmos Rocks (I've read two of such stories on this board). $0 |
| Brighton_Rocker 20.01.2009 16:43 |
liam wrote: I know most people consider it the best and it is historically regarded as a masterpeice. However if i was to introduce someone to queen or even suggest an album to a casual queen fan to buy i would not suggest this one. It's a great album but things have always bothered me about it. I have a few reasons; 1. Two piano ditties, Lazing on a sunday afternoon and seaside rendevous. They are fillers, lazing on a sunday afternoon is good, but seaside rendevous is not a great song and does not represent queen or show their talents, surely they had something else to put in place of at least one of them. 2. Good company - I think two songs sung by Brian on an album is too much. Perhaps Freddie should have sung 39. 3. Sweet Lady - really is one of Queens worst songs. 4. Middle section of the prophets song - Ruins the song really. 5. If you take out the piano ditties, sweet lady, good company and god save the queen, thats only 7 songs, 5 of which are sung by Freddie. Just seems like theres a few fillers on this album. I know i'm going to be slammed for this but i've just started thinking perhaps it's overrated. Anyone else agree or am i going to be destroyed? Oh God...your shitting me right ????????????? What was good in your eyes??? hot space >? |
| April 20.01.2009 17:37 |
ANATO is the best Queen album! I don't know a single person who dislikes it. Even a woman I know who is crazy about Sinatra and the like said that the CD is good. It is perfect to the smallest detail. |
| anet 01.02.2009 23:15 |
I agree that A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is the great, but i dont agree that lazing on the sunday afternoon and seaside rendzevous are piano dirties. I think both songs are very beutiful to listen and i like freddies manner of singing |
| john bodega 02.02.2009 03:49 |
I think Sweet Lady is the only misstep on the album, because it covers ground that they did in better fashion both before and after. I can't really fault the rest of the songs. One could say that Roger singing about cars is as painful as Freddie singing about his cat, but if you appreciate the song for what it is, it's not really a problem. I think (Sweet Lady aside) they're all great. |
| mike hunt 02.02.2009 04:14 |
Sweet lady isn't a very good song, but at least the vocals are good. My Second least favorite song is "i'm in love With my car" I could never understand why so many people like that one. freddie gets bashed for writing a song about a cat while dying, but roger gets a free pass writing about his stupid car. The album is still brilliant. The Great moments are better than any other album they did. |
| Sheer Brass Neck 02.02.2009 05:44 |
At least the vocals are good?!!! Mike, Sweet Lady is up there with Brighton Rock as arguably Queen's best rock performance. Brian's guitar is phenomenal, and the Taylor/Deacon rhythm section is fantastic, especially in the outro section. That song showed a band at the peak of their heavy chops, sadly most people can't get the drift of the humour and hate the lyrics so they hate the song. |
| Amazon 02.02.2009 11:30 |
Sweet Lady is my least favourite song on ATATO, and the only one which I rarely listen to, although I'm In Love With My Car is a song which I often only listen to the start of, before skipping. Nonetheless I think that Sweet Lady has two things going for it. It adds character to ANATO, but also I love Brian's guitar playing, particularly the solo at the end. I wouldn't replace any song on ANATO, which for me is the mark of a great album. I can't expect every track on an album to be great, but the less songs which I would have replaced (if I had the power to do so), the better. ANATO is my favourite album and remains IMO Queen's greatest album. |
| April 02.02.2009 16:17 |
I am in love with my car - is one of the best songs! i am surprised at such opinions, guys. But tastes differ... |
| Crisstti 02.02.2009 17:14 |
I haven't listened to A Night at the Opera... yet... though I've heard all the songs in it. This far I've listed to A Day at the Races, News of the World, Innuendo, The Miracle and Queen. I've liked the all, and I think News of the World is the one I like the best. Followed by Innuendo (though I don't like much a pair of songs...). Anyway, from the songs in A Night at the Opera, I don't like much Good Company nor 39 (sorry Brian... I do like the "ahs" in 39). Sweet Lady is fine, and all the rest are great or fantastic. By the way, I think it's such a lack of sensitivity and empathy to bash Freddie's song to his cat. I mean, he LOVED his cats and he was not gonna be with them any longer... Plus, it's a lovely song. |
| mike hunt 03.02.2009 01:49 |
Sheer Brass Neck wrote: At least the vocals are good?!!! Mike, Sweet Lady is up there with Brighton Rock as arguably Queen's best rock performance. Brian's guitar is phenomenal, and the Taylor/Deacon rhythm section is fantastic, especially in the outro section. That song showed a band at the peak of their heavy chops, sadly most people can't get the drift of the humour and hate the lyrics so they hate the song. I was also gonna mention that the song musically is great. I think the whole band was great on that song, but it doesn't make the song itself good. Like I said, vocally and musically I love it, but it somehow sounds messy during the chorus, and some of the lryics obviously could be better. Overall, Anato is a great album with no horrible songs, but sweet lady and I'm in love with my "cat" are my least favorites. For the person who said that 39 and good company is his/her least favorite...those are 2 great songs your missing out on. The Jazz section at the end of good company is brilliant, and 39 is one of queens's best songs. |
| Crisstti 03.02.2009 15:52 |
mike hunt wrote: I was also gonna mention that the song musically is great. I think the whole band was great on that song, but it doesn't make the song itself good. Like I said, vocally and musically I love it, but it somehow sounds messy during the chorus, and some of the lryics obviously could be better. Overall, Anato is a great album with no horrible songs, but sweet lady and I'm in love with my "cat" are my least favorites. For the person who said that 39 and good company is his/her least favorite...those are 2 great songs your missing out on. The Jazz section at the end of good company is brilliant, and 39 is one of queens's best songs. Mmm... they just don't do much for me... I've heard them like three times each, I guess. Before posting they were my least favourites i listened to them again, to see if I would like them better, as sometimes happens), but I just didn't. Well, I actually probably like them a little better... I thought Good Company was really bad when I first heard it... I think they just have a country sound which I don't like (especially 39). Plus, I don't like that much Brian's singing, usually. |
| *goodco* 03.02.2009 16:40 |
Best to introduce a 'newbie' to Sheer Heart Attack. As an oldbie........what an album for a 16 year old. So far ahead of its time. And then to hear A Night At The Opera. wtf was that? And it was all without synthisizers? Harps and glochinspiels and vocal horns and electric pianos and operatic midsections and ragtime and..... Blew me completely away! Saw Q in 74 in Harrisburg, PA....... but this was something else. It's like 'Sergeant Pepper'. One shouldn't introduce The Beatles to a new fan with that album, you have to lead up to it with an LP or two. Same with ANATO. As to 'Car' and '39 and 'Sweet Lady'. The LP wouldn't be the same without them. Especially on headphones. 'Lazing' and 'Seaside'.............wish they would have included little ditties like this on the following LPs.......and that's what made their later releases weaker IMO.....loved these little gems that segued into the next track. And........you don't listen to 'a' song.....you listen to 'a' side, and then another. As others have mentioned, listen to side one......take a few seconds or minutes, and then listen to side two. That's when you get the full effect, and possibly appreciate what us old farts heard 30+ years ago. anyhoooooooo............good to be back aboard joe+susan+the faithful dog denny+ |
| April 03.02.2009 17:13 |
Crisstti wrote:mike hunt wrote: I was also gonna mention that the song musically is great. I think the whole band was great on that song, but it doesn't make the song itself good. Like I said, vocally and musically I love it, but it somehow sounds messy during the chorus, and some of the lryics obviously could be better. Overall, Anato is a great album with no horrible songs, but sweet lady and I'm in love with my "cat" are my least favorites. For the person who said that 39 and good company is his/her least favorite...those are 2 great songs your missing out on. The Jazz section at the end of good company is brilliant, and 39 is one of queens's best songs.Mmm... they just don't do much for me... I've heard them like three times each, I guess. Before posting they were my least favourites i listened to them again, to see if I would like them better, as sometimes happens), but I just didn't. Well, I actually probably like them a little better... I thought Good Company was really bad when I first heard it... I think they just have a country sound which I don't like (especially 39). Plus, I don't like that much Brian's singing, usually. Crisstti, 39 is a very good song, just don't hurry, listen to it again. I sometimes can't help singing it the whole day. i agree with the opinion that 39 is one of the best songs. How the stadium sang it all along with Queen at their concert last year!!! And what do you mean you haven't listened to ANATO? How is it possible, you know the songs? |
| redspecialusa 03.02.2009 21:20 |
I'm afraid it is...Right there with Dark Side Of The Moon...A Night At The Opera is THE rock album of the 70's. Creatively, I feel it was the Zenith of their rock period (although none of their 70's albums sucked). It was a culmination of their efforts starting with Queen II. Queen however was a great debut album...one of the best rock debuts as well. I don't understand why people are slagging "Sweet Lady," Brian's vocals on "'39", or the extended middle section of "The Prophet's Song." But opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. I don't think there's a bad song on the whole album. My least favourite song on the album would probably be "You're My Best Friend," and I like the song a lot. "The Prophet's Song" is probably my favourite song on the album, and it's probably my favourite Brian composition (I'm usually torn between that and "It's Late."). When you weigh it up against other things that were going on at that time in music. This album was different, artistic, ambitious, and revolutionary. The only shame about ANATO is that the greatness of A Day At The Races is overshadowed by ANATO's legacy. |
| Marcos Napier 03.02.2009 23:02 |
Sheer Brass Neck wrote: sadly most people can't get the drift of the humour and hate the lyrics so they hate the song. It's probably one of my favourite songs, not of ANATO but overall (well maybe in my top 20). I would skip Good Company instead. |
| Marcos Napier 03.02.2009 23:09 |
redspecialusa wrote: The only shame about ANATO is that the greatness of A Day At The Races is overshadowed by ANATO's legacy. ADATR is my favourite Queen album, always one that I listen from start to finish. Some say that they didnt have nothing to lose when making ANATO, but with ADATR they didn't too - they became famous and respected, and therefore could make anything they wish and would be respected the same way. This is what makes ADATR better for me, it's a perfected ANATO. If that could be perfected even more. |
| redspecialusa 04.02.2009 00:00 |
Marcos Napier wrote:redspecialusa wrote: The only shame about ANATO is that the greatness of A Day At The Races is overshadowed by ANATO's legacy.ADATR is my favourite Queen album, always one that I listen from start to finish. Some say that they didnt have nothing to lose when making ANATO, but with ADATR they didn't too - they became famous and respected, and therefore could make anything they wish and would be respected the same way. This is what makes ADATR better for me, it's a perfected ANATO. If that could be perfected even more. Agreed about ADATR, in that it's slightly more perfected than its predecessor; and another step in the direction where ANATO left off. As Brian and Roger said on the "Making Of" DVD though...ANATO was a make or break album, everything was on the line for them. If ANATO hadn't worked out and been a success, Queen would've been no more. |
| Ken8 04.02.2009 00:53 |
r If ANATO hadn't worked out and been a success, Queen would've been no more. So, don't expect another Q+PR album then? |
| john bodega 04.02.2009 01:31 |
I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... ! |
| mike hunt 04.02.2009 03:31 |
A Day at the races is probably more consistent than opera, but I still think A Night at the opera is the better overall album. The second side of opera....The prophet song, love of my life, good company, and bo rhap is the greatest of their career. Even possibly better than Queen2, the black side. |
| April 04.02.2009 16:50 |
Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... ! You are right! Then they worked for their name, now the name is working for them! |
| redspecialusa 04.02.2009 16:52 |
Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... ! Thanks for clarifying that...I honestly had no clue that people would seem to have such a hard time understanding something so simple! |
| April 04.02.2009 17:06 |
redspecialusa wrote:Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... !Thanks for clarifying that...I honestly had no clue that people would seem to have such a hard time understanding something so simple! I don't agree with you, I think Zebonka's observation is quite relevant and logical and appropriately swift as a reply. |
| Crisstti 04.02.2009 20:10 |
April wrote: Crisstti, 39 is a very good song, just don't hurry, listen to it again. I sometimes can't help singing it the whole day. i agree with the opinion that 39 is one of the best songs. How the stadium sang it all along with Queen at their concert last year!!! And what do you mean you haven't listened to ANATO? How is it possible, you know the songs? Oh, YouTube, or course :), that's how had listened the songs. I did listen to it yesterday, though. Like I've said elsewhere here, I am a new fan, so I haven't had time to listen to all of the albums nor songs. And I like to listen to a "new" album many times, because just one listen is not enough at all. I mean, I didn't like AT ALL Wild Life when I first heard it, and now it's one my favourites (I'm talking about the Paul McCartney album, of course...). I sill don't like much 39 nor Good Company, I like a little better Sweet Lady, and a little less I'm in love with my car. |
| Ken8 04.02.2009 20:32 |
April wrote:redspecialusa wrote:I don't agree with you, I think Zebonka's observation is quite relevant and logical and appropriately swift as a reply.Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... !Thanks for clarifying that...I honestly had no clue that people would seem to have such a hard time understanding something so simple! Really? The same principle applies, despite my sarcastic tone What demand is there for another Q+PR album?? Nobody is willing to invest time and money in following up on a flop. More so now in this financial climate. You really expect a multi national record label rushing to get more of "TCR"??? As for the band, they have more money than sense, true but they're not idiots. |
| redspecialusa 04.02.2009 20:45 |
April wrote:redspecialusa wrote:I don't agree with you, I think Zebonka's observation is quite relevant and logical and appropriately swift as a reply.Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... !Thanks for clarifying that...I honestly had no clue that people would seem to have such a hard time understanding something so simple! Are you high? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? He took what I said earlier in this thread, and explained it further...I was giving him props for making it simple for those who are too stupid to understand. He was agreeing with me, and I was agreeing with him. Is that so hard to see? |
| john bodega 04.02.2009 20:50 |
Calm yourselves dudes, there'll be no fighting today unless I start it with an AIDS pun! |
| redspecialusa 04.02.2009 21:05 |
Zebonka12 wrote: Calm yourselves dudes, there'll be no fighting today unless I start it with an AIDS pun! You mean Gene Simmons IS going to start collecting royalty cheques for AIDS medicine that goes to Africa? SAY IT'S NOT TRUE!! |
| Marcos Napier 04.02.2009 23:16 |
Zebonka12 wrote: In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... ! The joys of being senile and rich. |
| john bodega 05.02.2009 00:01 |
redspecialusa wrote: You mean Gene Simmons IS going to start collecting royalty cheques for AIDS medicine that goes to Africa? SAY IT'S NOT TRUE!! It's among one of his most noble ACCOLAIDS. |
| April 05.02.2009 16:28 |
redspecialusa wrote:April wrote:Are you high? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? He took what I said earlier in this thread, and explained it further...I was giving him props for making it simple for those who are too stupid to understand. He was agreeing with me, and I was agreeing with him. Is that so hard to see?redspecialusa wrote:I don't agree with you, I think Zebonka's observation is quite relevant and logical and appropriately swift as a reply.Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... !Thanks for clarifying that...I honestly had no clue that people would seem to have such a hard time understanding something so simple! Look at the way I wrote to you and look at the way you wrote to me. You should be ashamed of your style. A guy speaking in such a way to a girl... |
| April 05.02.2009 16:36 |
Crisstti wrote:April wrote: Crisstti, 39 is a very good song, just don't hurry, listen to it again. I sometimes can't help singing it the whole day. i agree with the opinion that 39 is one of the best songs. How the stadium sang it all along with Queen at their concert last year!!! And what do you mean you haven't listened to ANATO? How is it possible, you know the songs?Oh, YouTube, or course :), that's how had listened the songs. I did listen to it yesterday, though. Like I've said elsewhere here, I am a new fan, so I haven't had time to listen to all of the albums nor songs. And I like to listen to a "new" album many times, because just one listen is not enough at all. I mean, I didn't like AT ALL Wild Life when I first heard it, and now it's one my favourites (I'm talking about the Paul McCartney album, of course...). I sill don't like much 39 nor Good Company, I like a little better Sweet Lady, and a little less I'm in love with my car. I take ANATO as a whole, as an inseparable construct (if it is possible to say so). I can't imagine throwing one song out of the album or saying that this song is not so good and that is ok. For me it is one unity. Unfortunately, I don't know this Paul's album, as I am not much of his fan, I know his classical solo albums such as Ram, Band On the Run, Venus and Mars. They are great. Listen to ANATO not song by song on YouTube but listen to the album. I think that is the problem with those who don't like some of the songs on it. The album was supposed to be listened to as a whole. I am sure of it. |
| redspecialusa 05.02.2009 18:59 |
April wrote: Look at the way I wrote to you and look at the way you wrote to me. You should be ashamed of your style. A guy speaking in such a way to a girl... If I made you upset with what I said, I sincerely apologize; however, as I said before what Zebonka said was similar to what I said. By that logic...if you disagree with what I said, then you should disagree with what Zebonka said. Period. And I still don't understand what you said before...it makes no sense to me. |
| john bodega 06.02.2009 01:19 |
redspecialusa wrote: then you should disagree with what Zebonka said. That's never a good idea, never! |
| April 07.02.2009 18:00 |
April wrote:Zebonka12 wrote: I think the situation is slightly different. Back then it was a make or break point in their career. In 2008, they've got more money than sense and can do whatever the hell they like... !You are right! Then they worked for their name, now the name is working for them! They needn't worry that much about the album having huge success. The name Queen is working for them. - I just liked this idea and the way Zebonka expressed it. Short and clear. Maybe he's a genius? Ha-ha! |
| Holly2003 07.02.2009 18:04 |
April wrote:Crisstti wrote:I take ANATO as a whole, as an inseparable construct (if it is possible to say so). I can't imagine throwing one song out of the album or saying that this song is not so good and that is ok. For me it is one unity. Unfortunately, I don't know this Paul's album, as I am not much of his fan, I know his classical solo albums such as Ram, Band On the Run, Venus and Mars. They are great. Listen to ANATO not song by song on YouTube but listen to the album. I think that is the problem with those who don't like some of the songs on it. The album was supposed to be listened to as a whole. I am sure of it.April wrote: Crisstti, 39 is a very good song, just don't hurry, listen to it again. I sometimes can't help singing it the whole day. i agree with the opinion that 39 is one of the best songs. How the stadium sang it all along with Queen at their concert last year!!! And what do you mean you haven't listened to ANATO? How is it possible, you know the songs?Oh, YouTube, or course :), that's how had listened the songs. I did listen to it yesterday, though. Like I've said elsewhere here, I am a new fan, so I haven't had time to listen to all of the albums nor songs. And I like to listen to a "new" album many times, because just one listen is not enough at all. I mean, I didn't like AT ALL Wild Life when I first heard it, and now it's one my favourites (I'm talking about the Paul McCartney album, of course...). I sill don't like much 39 nor Good Company, I like a little better Sweet Lady, and a little less I'm in love with my car. You are correct, Brian said ANATO is as close as Queen have ever come to producing a concept album. |
| April 07.02.2009 18:06 |
Zebonka12 wrote:redspecialusa wrote: then you should disagree with what Zebonka said.That's never a good idea, never! You see? That's never a good idea! So, guys, I agree with both of you, but prefer the way Zebonka put it. Women's logic and there's nothing to be done about it!!! |
| maxpower 08.02.2009 17:01 |
It probably is slightly over hyped I do agree in a sense that the songs initially mentioned seem weak(er) on their own but when the album is played from start to finish it just flows very easily unlike say Jazz which has the most erratic running order of any Queen album. You can argue all day if its Queen's best album but no one can argue it was Queens most important. I do in someways compare to Sgt Pepper, its a good album but there equally good albums either side of it i.e. SHA & ADATR in Queen's discography & Revolver & The White Album ref The Beatles |
| brENsKi 08.02.2009 18:02 |
Brangwen Rocker wrote: First up, hi everyone, just joined Queenzone! It was 1972 or 73, and someone thrust a copy of Queen 1, into my dirty mits at school, took it home, put it on my parents then new Decca stereo, and I thought my God....wow, I'd never heard anything like it. Then in 73/4, Queen supported Mott The Hoople at the Brangwen Hall in Swansea, complete with out of tune piano! Seven Seas of Rhye sounded awful, but the boys were cookin' Queen 2 followed and to this day it is my absolute favourite Queen album! Father to Son is simply fantastic, as is Ogre Battle, superb guitar work by BM, Roger to my mind has never played better on an album. March of the Black Queen chorally has not been bettered. Loser in the End a song about leaving home is as poignant today as the day RT wrote it. The single Seven Seas.. is brilliant. All in all a superb rounded body of work, which sounds as good and as fresh today as it did back in the early 70's Sheer Heart Attack is a good album, but there were tell tale signs of the quartet's intentions to mix rock with commercial appeal a la Killer Queen! A Night At The Opera is a good album feted by many as their greatest ever. I can understand this, Bo Rhap had gone stratospheirc and the album broke new ground at the time, as has been alluded to, by the many excellent posts on the subject. As for recommending an album to someone new to Queen, I can see why some might suggest A Night as their choice, and all things considered, I would go along with this, however I would also give them Queen 2 also, as it would provide the new listener with a diverse perspective from which to conclude their own opinions. All the best everyone i completely agree with you. I remember the first time i heard SSOR - and i was sold. as a young lad one year into grammar school, i like most of my friends was finding my musical feet. most were finding genesis, yes, clapton and zeppelin....i heard SSOR and that was it....11 years old and queen stayed with me til after my son was born in 89.....through great albums...II and races....good albums NOTW and Jazz, and soem not so good... but i do take the point about why queen fans are looked on as cocks....the kinda "up own arse" comment about rhap and prophet being the best two pieces of music ever are perfect examples... as are the references (jealousy) to the beatles....ffs - the beatles inspired queen, and did everythign they did with on 30% of the recording storage that queen had.... there are far too many queen fans who can't accept queen not being the no1 band of all time,,,it's a shame....because the music is so much more enjoyable without the "beatle/zep/who/floyd" chip on the shoulder....also - music by other bands becomes much more enjoyable by default if you let it in.... as for Opera? my two cents....is good, very good in places...but it aint, as good as Queen II, Dark Side of the Moon or Abbey Rd |
| redspecialusa 08.02.2009 20:26 |
Zebonka12 wrote:redspecialusa wrote: then you should disagree with what Zebonka said.That's never a good idea, never! Absolutely Not...Ex-Communication is not a pleasant experience. |
| kickandsnare 08.02.2009 22:26 |
I love this album. Its never not in my cd player. Theres just so much good music on this album. Love IT. |