I've just bought an Italian promo from 1984 which, among tracks from various other artists, contains a mix of I Want To Break Free I've never heard of before.
It is certainly not any of the mixes listed on Queen Vault or in JSS's threads; the best way to describe it would be a edited combination of the single and album versions that has been slightly but noticeably sped up. It’s not at all a bad mix actually.
Anyway, does anyone know anything about this one? Your help is much appreciated as always.
Micrówave wrote:
I'm sure the Italians wouldn't care.
Could you at least hum a few bars?
You're wasted on this forum, you should be posting on Comedy-Legends.com. I am sure they Italians wouldn't care, they are a warm and generous people. Italy is actually my favourite country to visit, I went on honeymoon there. But I am sure EMI would care.
What's the running time? What sounds different from either the album version or the single version? There's a Promo Edit of the single version that was released. Here's the description from the Queen Vault site:
***
I Want To Break Free (Special Single Mix Edit) 3:59
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: US I Want To Break Free 7" vinyl promo
Same as the single remix, except this edit fades out earlier and does not feature the 18 second synthesizer opener.
***
Could it be the same as this?
In your description, please describe the differences (are the synths louder? softer? more drums? louder guitars? instrumental breaks?...)
Ok here is a details description. It is NOT the Special Single Mix. The best way to describe it is an edited version of the extended mix (I know that doesn't make sense).
The track comes in at 4.12, and because it is from a mix album is segues into another track, 'Body Rock' by Maria Vidal. The track has been sped up by 2-3 beats per minute and so sounds quite a bit different to the version we are used too.
There are basically two edits that have been made to the extended version:
1) Only the last 2 seconds of the 18 seconds syth opening are present.
2) The verse following the syth solo has been cut (But life still goes on etc)
3) Following the syth solo we go straight into I've got to break free, I want to break free.
From 3.52 to 4.12 the song begins to fade into the track, at this point we also lose some of Freddie's outro vocals.
The album itself is called Mixtime and was released in Italy in 1984. According to the seller (eil.com) it was a promo for EMI artists. Also on the album are Durran Durran and Tina Turner.
This is defiantly a different mix that no one seems to have heard of before, and if you’re a geek like me that is quite exciting.