| rhyeking 14.10.2010 01:30 |
Hmm...thumbing through and article on QueenArchives.com. This one is from 1995, Q Magazine... "Mercury was fully aware of what lay in store for him by the time Queen finished recording ‘Innuendo’ in the summer of 1990. His practical response was to move away from the big city bustle of his home in Munich to the calm of Montreux, where Queen had acquired their own Mountain Studios, and to keep working as and when his health permitted. With touring out of the question and promotion of ‘Innuendo’ kept to a minimum, the band were free to work in the studio as much as Mercury was able. The singer kept going on and off, right up until September 1991 when he recorded his last track - an untypical sombre and moving song called ‘Mother Love’. " I'm curious about both dates cited here: a) Innuendo album finish in the "summer" of 1990 (I thought it was October, which would be fall/autumn of 1990); b) "Mother Love" recorded in September 1991. Thoughts...? |
| Sebastian 14.10.2010 06:52 |
Innuendo was finished in November. Simply a matter of journalists not doing their homework and/or the producer misremembering. Mother Love in September: It's actually quite likely. |
| Mercury Roadrunner 14.10.2010 08:54 |
Actually Brian told me himself in 2004 that "Mother Love" was recorded at around the end of spring, May, 1991... |
| john bodega 14.10.2010 11:27 |
There isn't much in the way of straight answers on this one. People who should know the definitive answer have given contradictory ones in the past. Near as I can tell, it's entirely possible that he recorded right up until the end, but that maybe what he was recording simply wasn't used. |
| cmsdrums 14.10.2010 16:06 |
On the 'Phenomenon' documentary David Richards chats in Mountain studios and shows the studio track sheet for Mother Love. It is dated 22 May 1991, and so recording of this song certainly is in line with Brian's comments. In theory recording on that could have started earlier and finished on that date, but geneally the date on the track sheet would be completed on the day the studio is first booked and so it probably started that date and went on later. It's possible that recording of parts of the song went on until a lot later, but bearing in mind the time constraints on the band due to Freddie's illness, coupled with the relative simplicity of this songs (just synths, drum machine, lead vocal and some guitar), I doubt it. Basd on that I'd be happy to deduce that this was Freddie's last recording (at least that has been released), and that it was recorded mostly, if not all, in late May 1991. Interestingly there are notes on the track sheet alongside (Freddie's vocal I think) to say 'down 1/2 a tone'. I wonder if the more musically minded amongst us (hey, I'm just a drummer! :-)) can comment on whether this means that Freddie's vocals may have been sharp, and so needed 'tuning' down (no shame in that in his physical state at the time). |
| Thistle 14.10.2010 18:01 |
I hate to be pedantic, and I'm not trying to be funny or insensitive either - but surely Freddie's last recording was the statement he made the day before he died? To some collectors or purists, this would be something they'd want archived even if it was more than a little morbid. |
| rhyeking 14.10.2010 20:55 |
That was a press statement issued by him, NOT an audio recording, which is what we're discussing here. |
| YannickJoker 14.10.2010 23:15 |
I always heard that the recording sessions of A Winter's Tale and Mother Love overlapped and that Freddie recorded the last verse of A Winter's Tale last. But people have said a lot of contradictory things about it. |
| cmsdrums 15.10.2010 03:21 |
Thistleboy 1980 wrote: I hate to be pedantic, and I'm not trying to be funny or insensitive either - but surely Freddie's last recording was the statement he made the day before he died? To some collectors or purists, this would be something they'd want archived even if it was more than a little morbid. Whilst it's very possible that Freddie put that press release together a lot earlier whilst his health enabled him to, I am tempted to suggest that Jim Beach was certainly at least partially responsible for that statement |
| Thistle 15.10.2010 07:36 |
cmsdrums wrote: Thistleboy 1980 wrote: I hate to be pedantic, and I'm not trying to be funny or insensitive either - but surely Freddie's last recording was the statement he made the day before he died? To some collectors or purists, this would be something they'd want archived even if it was more than a little morbid. Whilst it's very possible that Freddie put that press release together a lot earlier whilst his health enabled him to, I am tempted to suggest that Jim Beach was certainly at least partially responsible for that statement I agree, but Freddie was the one who put it across to the press, I think this would make it his last recording. And, to rhyeking, I gathered you meant music but spoken word is also audio and it was recorded so, as far as the completists/archivists whatever would be concerned, this was his last recording. |
| Bad Seed 15.10.2010 08:49 |
Thistleboy 1980 wrote: cmsdrums wrote: Thistleboy 1980 wrote: I hate to be pedantic, and I'm not trying to be funny or insensitive either - but surely Freddie's last recording was the statement he made the day before he died? To some collectors or purists, this would be something they'd want archived even if it was more than a little morbid. Whilst it's very possible that Freddie put that press release together a lot earlier whilst his health enabled him to, I am tempted to suggest that Jim Beach was certainly at least partially responsible for that statement I agree, but Freddie was the one who put it across to the press, I think this would make it his last recording. And, to rhyeking, I gathered you meant music but spoken word is also audio and it was recorded so, as far as the completists/archivists whatever would be concerned, this was his last recording. ======================== Freddie never put this to the press himself. it was a statement written by himself and Jim Beach. I think it was then read by Roxy Meade. |
| Strident 15.10.2010 10:01 |
The "down half step" would probably refer to them recording it a semitone lower than initially intended, rather than "tuning down" any vocals already recorded. To pitch shift something in 1990 without altering the tempo would have been pretty sci-fi :) (Look for instance at Noone But You, where Brian pushed up the tempo post-recording, which also resulted in the song's key ending up being somewhere between A and A# - I'm pretty sure he would have preserved concert pitch if it was possible, and that was 1997). Hope that clarifies :) |
| prescott2811 15.10.2010 12:18 |
I heard somewhere it was A winters tale. I heard it was wrote a week before freddies death, n even recorded the song, although I'm not 100% of this correct. |
| Adam Baboolal 15.10.2010 13:39 |
Strident wrote: To pitch shift something in 1990 without altering the tempo would have been pretty sci-fi :) Not so, Strident. In fact, the earliest vocal corrections (Manually done) were being made with pitch shifting hardware back in the 80's. So, not really a SyFy concept after-all :P Adam. |
| Strident 15.10.2010 18:39 |
A fair point, but weren't those phrase, (or word)-specific corrections? I know that it was fairly common to pitch-correct in small doses, but wouldn't re-pitching an *entire* song's vocals down a half-step at that time would have altered the feel drastically, even if done in small sections? On account of deviations in tempo? Would love to know more about the hardware you're referring to. Could it alter pitch without affecting tempo and timbre? I've never worked with analogue personally, so it would make interesting reading :) *Edit: Just had a "D'OH!" moment when looking casually across the room at my early-90s guitar pitch-shifting pedal. Sigh...* |
| Sebastian 17.10.2010 10:11 |
link |
| john bodega 17.10.2010 13:03 |
Four songs, 'maybe' five he says. Hmmm! So much for a straight answer. As he says though, those latter recordings (Winter's Tale, Mother Love) were going on at sort of the same time. Obviously one of them had to come last. Anyone feel like rummaging through the recordings and getting some dates off of them? |
| Thistle 17.10.2010 17:28 |
Bad Seed wrote: Freddie never put this to the press himself. it was a statement written by himself and Jim Beach. I think it was then read by Roxy Meade. I stand corrected and humbly apologise - sorry guys! James |
| e-man 18.10.2010 04:20 |
according to peter freestone (as seen in "Queen's London" dvd), Freddie was in montreux recording at the end of october 1991. what was recorded and if it was used is of course another question. |
| john bodega 18.10.2010 09:42 |
Indeed. He might've just been doing some rehashing of something they already had. |
| steven77110 04.01.2012 16:36 |
Just a couple of points Freddie's last Vocals were on Mother Love, He returned from his final trip to Montreux just over 2 weeks before his death, as in Peter Freestones book, all the trips there were taken by private jet in the last years of his life, there is new footage on You Tube of Mary on one of these trips, possible the final trip. Also another comment that he was spending time in Munich is incorrect as he gave up Munich in 1985 when he moved full time back to Garden Lodge as most of the works had been completed. Again you can see around an hour of footage of Freddie's 1989 Christmas there with his friends. You get a good tour of the beautiful house & Mews, not sure how it got on there and whether it should be there, but it is... |
| John.Simon 06.02.2012 06:59 |
Last song you wrote Brian May and Freddie sang was Mother Love which was written sometime in the summer of 1991 and finally was filmed in October and November 1991 and four or three weeks before Freddie's death was completed and The Winter's Tale is the last thing that was written by Freddie at the turn January and February 1991. |
| princetom 18.02.2012 13:16 |
John.Simon wrote: Last song you wrote Brian May and Freddie sang damn. i wish they'd have performed my songs, too. |
| Dane 20.02.2012 09:22 |
to add: When was the Slightly Mad convention message recorded?? Freddie sounds totally messed up on this.. has a bad cold or something.. |
| matt z 21.02.2012 15:08 |
nasally... probably the drugs he was taking... someone who's researched more in depth to this would note his voice got thinner and higher. or it's also possible that the track was played back at the wrong speed...or recorded on a bootleggers tape....and never corrected. but the keys sound right to me... which leads me to think the song is in the key it was supposed to be in. funny how the guy managed to sneak in soo many jokes on a grim song. gallows humor at its best. God bless him. |
| John.Simon 24.02.2012 13:25 |
Freddie's final song is mother love that come the summer of 1991 and the last shooting took place on October 15, 1991 where Freddie said, "to not feel I have to come back to relax and finish it" but just as the song runs mad chill |
| The Real Wizard 24.02.2012 14:07 |
And what's your source for information? You can't just write things without footnoting and expect people to believe you. |
| bootLuca 24.02.2012 15:50 |
I believe that the source is the documentary "Days of Our Lives" just published |
| The Real Wizard 24.02.2012 16:48 |
And it provided the exact date? |
| john bodega 26.02.2012 03:56 |
I must've missed that bit. |
| inu-liger 26.02.2012 16:21 |
Did you mean to reference "Champions Of The World", bootLuca? |
| 4 x Vision 28.02.2012 14:37 |
Always thought last song he wrote was Winters Tale and last song he sung was Mother Love. Slightly on topic... just heard the new Innuendo remaster and think his voice comes through great. Stunning for someone so ill. The new mix really brings out bits I'd never heard before... especially in Innuendo and SMGO |
| matt z 28.02.2012 15:37 |
His LAST and final recording was a decree in September 1991 where he issued this statement: "Under none and any circumstances shall you tarts ever replace me with that child born on January 29, 1982 of those people on that US tour who excitedly told me that one day their son would sing in my fucking band!... Never! Pact with the devil, bunch of rubbish." -FM. It only exists in a collector's bin though...Oddly enough the same collector who holds an audio tape in which Freddie extols the magnificence of Paul Rodgers as his favorite rock singer....ever. |
| 4 x Vision 28.02.2012 16:45 |
matt z wrote: His LAST and final recording was a decree in September 1991 where he issued this statement: "Under none and any circumstances shall you tarts ever replace me with that child born on January 29, 1982 of those people on that US tour who excitedly told me that one day their son would sing in my fucking band!... Never! Pact with the devil, bunch of rubbish." -FM. It only exists in a collector's bin though...Oddly enough the same collector who holds an audio tape in which Freddie extols the magnificence of Paul Rodgers as his favorite rock singer....ever.IF I didn't know any better... you MIGHT be bashing Adam Lambert? It's not too obvious though? |
| matt z 28.02.2012 19:04 |
4 x Vision wrote:Nah. I'm on record as not being critical of the guy. It just is what it is... someone with range but no dynamism...matt z wrote: His LAST and final recording was a decree in September 1991 where he issued this statement: "Under none and any circumstances shall you tarts ever replace me with that child born on January 29, 1982 of those people on that US tour who excitedly told me that one day their son would sing in my fucking band!... Never! Pact with the devil, bunch of rubbish." -FM. It only exists in a collector's bin though...Oddly enough the same collector who holds an audio tape in which Freddie extols the magnificence of Paul Rodgers as his favorite rock singer....ever.IF I didn't know any better... you MIGHT be bashing Adam Lambert? It's not too obvious though? i'd be surprised if an audience took to it well... BUT(!) i'd still go see them if only to get my DNA altered by blaringly loud bursts of the Red SPecial. that would be incredible!... My post was just another cynical stab at the comment that i'd heard (second hand) that Brian was quoted as saying Paul Rodgers was his favorite singer. This upon the skepticism of Queen + PR. But out of sheer boredom, i quickly changed the story to Freddie saying DO NOT, instead of him saying "IF YOU GET ANYBODY, GET THIS GUY"... c'mon... it gets boring stateside. U guys are lucky. even if it is Adam Lambert. (yeah he kinda overdid the vibrato, but if he knows the songs at least its within his ability i guess...) |
| 4 x Vision 29.02.2012 09:13 |
I reckon he'll be alright. He reminds me of Peter Straker a bit... Heart Be Still and stuff |
| brENsKi 29.02.2012 16:50 |
i think Freddie's last recording was in all probability Have I Got News For You (Fri 22 Nov 1991) with guests Richard Ingram & Richard Littlejohn. it was VHS..and he used one of those video+ codes as his memory was quite bad (understandably) at that time |
| John.Simon 02.03.2012 09:02 |
apparently the last song is "Mother Love" which began filming in summer 1991 after October 1991 and Freddie, the study went on November 7, 1991 and Brian finished the song a few weeks after his death |
| John.Simon 12.03.2012 09:39 |
A Winter's Tale - the last song Freddie wrote which was 1990, but was filmed at the turn of January 1991 You dont fool me - was recorded between spring 1991 Mother Love - was filmed in the summer of 1991 and then somehow between October and November 1991 |
| freddie1mercury 25.03.2012 11:57 |
Freddie last recorded song Mother Love shooting date: May 22, 1991 to November 7, 1991 completion date: November 1991 days do not know |
| john bodega 25.03.2012 14:04 |
Hahaha, nice one retard. In case you don't fucking know, songs aren't "shot" - they're "RECORDED". Nice job of making it obvious that you're using separate accounts. You Cunt. |
| giocondo44 02.05.2013 10:16 |
Freddie recently sang (A Winter's Tale, Mother Love, You dont fool me) all the songs from the year 1991 to the autumn Freddie sang Mother Love and finished singing the last verse of Brian May, Freddie had been very badly |
| brENsKi 02.05.2013 11:43 |
giocondo44 wrote: Freddie had been very badlyvery badly what? a] behaved? b] sitting at right-angles to the equator? c] drawn...in charcoal? d] shaven around the testicles? e] impersonated by Adam Lambert? f] respected by the lead guitarist after his death? g] dressed for dinner? h] shagged by an over-sized marrow? |
| pietrek 02.05.2013 13:02 |
JOHN.SIMON is back |
| giocondo44 02.05.2013 13:57 |
im not john.simon, my name is Fabio I Maraviglia of Palermo and I love Queen and I just want to help people and ceases to threaten me or scold me and thanks for your understanding |
| mooghead 02.05.2013 14:12 |
Whoever you are fuck off. |
| waunakonor 02.05.2013 15:28 |
mooghead wrote: Whoever you are fuck off.And that is precisely why we don't have more regular posters around here. Do you not want having a variety of people posting here? giocondo, you can stick around, although just know that the stuff you're saying is pretty old news to everyone here. Keep in mind that we're all really big Queen fans, so we already know that Freddie recorded Mother Love, A Winter's Tale and You Don't Fool Me late in his life, and that Brian recorded the last verse of Mother Love. |
| mooghead 02.05.2013 16:08 |
What? Someone asking Freddie death questions and showing morbid photos 20 years after he died. Fuck off. |
| AlbaNo1 02.05.2013 16:24 |
brENsKi wrote:Fgiocondo44 wrote: Freddie had been very badlyvery badly what? a] behaved? b] sitting at right-angles to the equator? c] drawn...in charcoal? d] shaven around the testicles? e] impersonated by Adam Lambert? f] respected by the lead guitarist after his death? g] dressed for dinner? h] shagged by an over-sized marrow? |