just watchin the champions of the world documentary here for the first time in many years, and it brings me back to the first time i saw it, or even the magic years box set for that matter, and I cant help but remember how fascinated I was to track down all the various bits of footage and various rare recordings that you are exposed to in these documentarys. I got me to thinking at how readily available all these different snippest are available on the likes of youtube and other domains online. my question is did you prefer having to work harder in order to obtain "new and unheard/unseen" bits and pieces of the band prior to the easy availibility of such footage and audio recordings or did you prefer the quest for this not so easily available stuff at the time? I personally enjoyed hunting this kind of stuff down and felt quite chuffed when I got my hands on it.
your kind thoughts please...
Not an easy question to answer.
I think the hunt for rarities adds to the appreciation of the tracks when you finally get them. I started tracking things like non-album tracks, extended versions, demos and remixes in the days before the internet. Back then, you had to do research via biographies, articles, published reviews, etc. Anything with a discography was my goal! I made copious notes on singles and albums, then hunted for those items in order to get the songs/versions.
Some early websites did monthly updates where they posted rare tracks, so when the internet arrived, I thought it was a dream come true. Then Napster, which offered even more.
It's different today, as the information is all much easier to access and the tracks much easier to locate. I could probably type in "Freddie Mercury Torrent" and download the entire boxed set. What does that do to the appreciation of the rarities, when you have hundreds at your fingertips which you've never heard?
I think it's easier for new fans to dismiss rare tracks now that they aren't so rare. With ten alternate versions to choose from, you pick the one you like and throw away the rest. If you only had one and thought the odds on hearing the others was slim to none, now that 'throw away' remix might get a better chance at winning your affections.
Good question.
I wholeheartedly agree with your oppinions, and it lends my thinking to the fact that had this world wide web not become so generous in its exposure of so called "rarities" would we all be so obsessed with the release of a complete queen rarities box set. Personally I would love to see/hear one but also it gets me to the thinking that as soon as such an item is published, then that's all queen's (as an original quartet) mystique as regards what is there that we haven't heard put to rest. in otherwords, would it mean that once we've heard all that there is to offer we would resign ourselves to that fact and our thirst for the band would demise after we've seen and heard all that there is to offer?
I've asked that question here before, particularly to fans who seem fixated on getting the much-discussed Queen Anthology rarities set. What will you do afterwards, when the novelty wears off?
One question I've never posed is this: What if the studio tracks released aren't very good?
There are fans who vehemently despise certain directions the band took, but imagine the horror if they find that many of the abandoned ideas were just as bad. They *were* rejected for a reason. This is what you waited years for...?
When we're debating the merits of Hot Space and The Works, for instance, how many have considered that what the band released was the best they had to offer?
All we know for sure is that certain tracks we know to exist are good. The rest could well be rubbish.
I think we ought to appreciate more what the band gave us (and continues to give us) rather than pining for mostly-enigmatic vault material.
rhyeking wrote: I've asked that question here before, particularly to fans who seem fixated on getting the much-discussed Queen Anthology rarities set. What will you do afterwards, when the novelty wears off? ------------------------------------------------
THAT's why the Boxed set has to be GORGEOUSLY PACKAGED so it will look great along the rest of my Queen collection. When novelty wears off, that's the only redeeming factor for me, I guess.
Think BIG! think outrageous, think QUEEN OUTRAGEOUS! The boxed sets packaged as full sized Freddie, Brian, Roger and John's heads/skulls (Miracle era). Each head wil have discs dedicated to each author's songs and material. All 4 may be assembled to create the big headed 5 eyed "Miracle monster" that contains all discs.
(Richard Gray, call me!) ;)