malicedoom 24.05.2011 07:35 |
So I've read more than one comment recently with less than positive things to say about 'The Works' tour. Why is that? I'm not as familiar with that tour as I am with some of the others. Was Freddie's range an issue? What was it about this tour that has so many people disliking it (compared to the others, that is)? |
Hangman_96 24.05.2011 07:45 |
At first I must say that Freddie's voice was in a bad shape on some gigs. |
The Real Wizard 24.05.2011 10:15 |
His voice was in bad shape at a lot of Opera, Races and Jazz gigs too ... but the Works tour is the one that gets the most flack. Why is that? Are people just applying their distaste of the album to the tour? |
Holly2003 24.05.2011 11:00 |
It wasn't nearly gay enough. Freddie should've spent even more time in drag and grew his moustahce to Mexican-bandido proportions. ... but seriously folks .... Given it was the 1980s, the setlists were excellent. |
malicedoom 24.05.2011 11:19 |
I was under the impression most loved The Works 'album', no? It's funny, so many people rejected Hot Space (at least when it first came out - I think the tide has shifted a bit now), but most will agree Freddie sounded incredible on that tour. |
master marathon runner 24.05.2011 11:29 |
malicedoom wrote: I was under the impression most loved The Works 'album', no? It's funny, so many people rejected Hot Space (at least when it first came out - I think the tide has shifted a bit now), but most will agree Freddie sounded incredible on that tour. . . Same here, there's nowt wrong with 'The Works', great album. Master marathon runner |
Soundfreak 24.05.2011 12:40 |
I saw the "Works"-Tour in Dortmund and I only have the best memories. "The Hot Space"-Concert two years before was a very mixed affair with huge gaps of nothing in between the songs. The new Hot Space-songs sounded horrible live and the mood in the concert hall was very cold. Freddie also was in a bad mood and the bootleg of that tour somehow makes it look better than it actually was. There is a Zurich bootleg that comes closer to what Dortmund was like as it has some of these gaps. I remember leaving the building with the thought that this might have been the beginning of the end. Never forget, most successful bands only have three really good years. So their return with the "Works" was a major step forward again and the show was great from beginning to the end. You should also take into consideration, that light- and stage shows were still developing in those days. So every tour ...every stage got bigger and more exiting. No bootleg can reproduce this part of the attraction. The quality of a concert has more ingredients than just Freddie hitting a high C at the right place..... |
deleted user 24.05.2011 12:40 |
I was lucky enough to see Queen live many times throughout the 70's & 80s and enjoyed every minute. Having said that I would have to say the 70's gigs were the most enjoyable for me personally, particularly Hyde Park and Earls Court and Drury Lane. For sheer surrealism, the Mayfair Tottenham 1979 (Tiny venue - very big band) and just down the road as well! |
Thistle 24.05.2011 12:47 |
kurgan100 wrote: I was lucky enough to see Queen live many times throughout the 70's & 80s and enjoyed every minute. Having said that I would have to say the 70's gigs were the most enjoyable for me personally, particularly Hyde Park and Earls Court and Drury Lane. For sheer surrealism, the Mayfair Tottenham 1979 (Tiny venue - very big band) and just down the road as well! ============================================================================================= Which of the Earls Court gigs to you go to Kurgan? If it was the second, I'll ask before Hangman2011 does - did you record it? What gig would you say was your absolute favourite, and why? |
deleted user 24.05.2011 12:50 |
Earls Court was 2nd night. Favourite gig, probably Earls Court or Hyde Park, but that mad gig at the Mayfair meant a lot. |
Rick 24.05.2011 13:44 |
The overall sound of the band during this tour has always disappointed me. Especially those trash cans Roger was using. What was he thinking? Must have been an 80s thing. For some reason those Simmons pads sounded amazing during the Hot Space tour, but very bad during The Works tour. Let's just say the people who witnessed the very first Works concert were lucky bastards (referring to Dust here). The surplus of keyboards/synths during heavy songs like TYMD and Now I'm Here. The summit of disappointment being the Final Live In Japan release. A great visual release, but the audio mix is abysmal. Brian's guitar sound wasn't too convincing, according to my ears. A really thin sound. It's missing the heavyness which the Hot Space tour had. In fact, I think the band sounded perfect during the HS tour. Great use of keyboards as well! However, it has to be sad, on some of the Works bootlegs Brian does sound stunning. Especially the third night in Birmingham. |
deleted user 24.05.2011 13:48 |
Milton Keynes says it all, there was no official video release from 1984. However, there is a master copy of a private video recording lurking, |
The Real Wizard 24.05.2011 14:30 |
You mean an audience video of Milton Keynes? |
deleted user 24.05.2011 14:37 |
Sir GH wrote: You mean an audience video of Milton Keynes? Sorry for confusion, no Stuttgart September 27th 1984 |
Hangman_96 24.05.2011 15:45 |
kurgan100, you attended the second night at the Earls Court, right? What do you remember from that gig? Is it true that Sweet Lady was played on this night? |
Gregsynth 24.05.2011 16:20 |
Sir GH wrote: His voice was in bad shape at a lot of Opera, Races and Jazz gigs too ... but the Works tour is the one that gets the most flack. Why is that? Are people just applying their distaste of the album to the tour? ===================== This is exactly why the Works tour gets the most flack. TERRIBLE drums, low mixed guitar, and Freddie's voice completely FAILING. This is the absolute worst version of the song (no joke). Freddie was great on the Opera tour overall (a little rough on Hammy 1975, some bad gigs in Japan), he was tired on the North American leg of the Races leg (not too bad overall, though), but good on the European leg, and the Jazz Tour was very hit and miss: Freddie was decent on the 1978 leg (best gigs for him are the the New York gigs, Philly, Richfield, and Oakland). He starts off weak on the 1979 leg, but improves by Cologne (he remains in decent enough shape until Paris). Japan? What more can I say? Cracked notes, wrong keys, failing to hit 4th octave notes, cracking and airing third octave notes, dropping to second octave notes in the wrong key, etc. The Japan leg is Freddie's worst vocal tour--but the reason that it doesn't get as much flack as the Works Tour, is because it's only Freddie that's bad--everybody else is wonderful, creative, and they step it up a notch to make up for Freddie. On the Works Tour, Freddie tries to sing everything he can on his (many) bad gigs, and often fails, least at Japan, he wisely stays in lower octaves (for the most part). So results: The Works Tour is the weakest tour overall (for the band), and the Jazz Tour is Freddie's weakest tour (but one of the band's strongest tours). |
jamster1111 24.05.2011 16:38 |
Sir GH wrote: His voice was in bad shape at a lot of Opera, Races and Jazz gigs too ... but the Works tour is the one that gets the most flack. Why is that? Are people just applying their distaste of the album to the tour? No but the thing about the Works tour is he is in bad shape a lot of the time PLUS he has that deep husky voice...and the two do not mix and match well. He barely even sounds like himself on gigs like London 9/7 and Vienna 9/29. On the Jazz tour, when he was weak and could barely make it through the songs on some gigs, at least he sounded like Freddie. He just sounded really tired. The Works tour does have some great gigs though and the first Rio gig of 1985 is one of their greatest concerts of all time. |
Gregsynth 24.05.2011 16:50 |
jamster1111 wrote: Sir GH wrote: His voice was in bad shape at a lot of Opera, Races and Jazz gigs too ... but the Works tour is the one that gets the most flack. Why is that? Are people just applying their distaste of the album to the tour? No but the thing about the Works tour is he is in bad shape a lot of the time PLUS he has that deep husky voice...and the two do not mix and match well. He barely even sounds like himself on gigs like London 9/7 and Vienna 9/29. On the Jazz tour, when he was weak and could barely make it through the songs on some gigs, at least he sounded like Freddie. He just sounded really tired. The Works tour does have some great gigs though and the first Rio gig of 1985 is one of their greatest concerts of all time. ================= Here's some classic examples! Gotta love these performances! |
Russian Headlong 24.05.2011 17:10 |
probably the best Queen set list ever though on that tour. Too much keyboards and tinny drum sound on a lot of shows though. |
Woody43 24.05.2011 17:13 |
Ooh, can't believe the Wembley songs!! I remember the Works at the NEC as a top gig, although it was my first concert and I may have rose tinted specs on. I know I walked out thinking the night was the dogs B's though. But I've never been impressed by the bootlegs (eg Tokyo or the Rock in Rio vid) all of which sound poor. I've alway put that down to poor 80's mixng/production on Rio and poor quality recording elsewhere. I'm sure a bit of remastering glitter would make Rock in Rio a great DVD/CD release of the tour - I'd buy it in a nano-second. |
Gregsynth 24.05.2011 17:28 |
Woody43 wrote: Ooh, can't believe the Wembley songs!! I remember the Works at the NEC as a top gig, although it was my first concert and I may have rose tinted specs on. I know I walked out thinking the night was the dogs B's though. But I've never been impressed by the bootlegs (eg Tokyo or the Rock in Rio vid) all of which sound poor. I've alway put that down to poor 80's mixng/production on Rio and poor quality recording elsewhere. I'm sure a bit of remastering glitter would make Rock in Rio a great DVD/CD release of the tour - I'd buy it in a nano-second. ================= Stuttgart sounds wonderful! As well as 5/9/1985 and Osaka! |
Thistle 24.05.2011 17:29 |
Nice recovery on IAHL from the example above, I think. Shocking start, but nice recovery. |
Gregsynth 24.05.2011 17:44 |
I know! Gotta love the crack to Eb5! hehehe |
The Real Wizard 24.05.2011 21:30 |
I don't care that his voice cracked a few times during the show. That recording is in my top 20 favourites, because of the wonderful atmosphere. The shows at home were so informal .. almost feels like you're having tea with them while listening. |
Gregsynth 24.05.2011 21:33 |
Sir GH wrote: I don't care that his voice cracked a few times during the show. That recording is in my top 20 favourites, because of the wonderful atmosphere. The shows at home were so informal .. almost feels like you're having tea with them while listening. ================== I dropped my tea cup by mistake when the It's A Hard Life intro came on :) |
Gregsynth 24.05.2011 21:46 |
Bob, what are your favorite recordings anyway? |
dive2063 25.05.2011 03:14 |
Thistleboy 1980 wrote: Nice recovery on IAHL from the example above, I think. Shocking start, but nice recovery. ================== Yeah, "with a broken heart" line sounds really good. As for me I would like to mention (besides first six shows) Stuttgart and Milan gigs. And the general atmosphere at Leiden gig was superb! |
on my way up 25.05.2011 12:17 |
I think Queen performed many great shows during the Works tour. My personal favourites are: - opening night in Brussels - Stuttgart - Leiden (wonderful atmosphere) - Berlin - Freddie's birthday show for atmosphere - Sun City and Tokyo 9 may 1985: 2 of my very favourite Freddie Mercury performances - Osaka (such a beautiful intro to STL, nobody ever mentions this one!) The drums are a real problem in Another one bites the dust and Hammer to fall (thank god they corrected that for the magic tour). The official products sound way worse than the best audience recordings! Also, the stereo soundboard from Sun City is way more enjoyable than the releases... Especially Brian's guitar! |
Queen1973 25.05.2011 12:28 |
The Works Tour......what i heard is that the sound and lighting failed at most gigs. |
The Real Wizard 25.05.2011 14:13 |
We've heard just about every Works tour show, and not a single show had technical issues sound-wise. So that's likely an urban myth. As for the lights, I've only heard of a couple shows where the lights went out, or half of them - in Birmingham and Melbourne. But it was one hell of a rig (the most expensive one they ever used, I think), so no doubt it was hard to keep it in full operation from night to night. This is why they paid their crew very well, so that they had the very best on board with them. Queen put so much money into their show that they almost always took a loss when touring. The Magic tour was the only time when they actually made a profit. |
The Real Wizard 25.05.2011 14:29 |
Gregsynth wrote: Bob, what are your favorite recordings anyway? ====================== I'll take out all the obvious ones, and make a nice B-list of 20 of my favourites.. so maybe some of these will be a surprise to you. 4-28-74 5-1-75 - "Stunning" LP (it just has a certain charm) 11-26-75 2-9-77 3-6-77 - 8mm video 11-17-78 - source 3 12-1-78 2-1-79 - "Save Me" LP 2-2-79 4-20-79 5-6-79 3-8-81 - audience 10-17-81 4-24-82 5-1-82 5-12-82 7-23-82 10-29-82 - "Live In Japan" silver 9-2-84 9-7-84 |
on my way up 25.05.2011 15:10 |
Sir GH wrote: Gregsynth wrote: Bob, what are your favorite recordings anyway? ====================== I'll take out all the obvious ones, and make a nice B-list of 20 of my favourites.. so maybe some of these will be a surprise to you. 4-28-74 5-1-75 - "Stunning" LP (it just has a certain charm) 11-26-75 2-9-77 3-6-77 - 8mm video 11-17-78 - source 3 12-1-78 2-1-79 - "Save Me" LP 2-2-79 4-20-79 5-6-79 3-8-81 - audience 10-17-81 4-24-82 5-1-82 5-12-82 7-23-82 10-29-82 - "Live In Japan" silver 9-2-84 9-7-84 Very interesting list! I agree with many choices but: -->Take out Montreal '78 and replace it with Vancouver --> take out Boston'82 and replace it with New York '82 second night --> take out Birmingham 9-2-84 and replace it with Stuttgart'84, a simply stunning show in my opinion I'm especially glad you mention Sapporo'82 and Sapporo '79 (second night). I really hope Mr. Peach taped one of those Sapporo'79 shows... Also, Dortmund'82 is a nice pick, great show from Freddie! |
fjac1980 25.05.2011 16:07 |
In my point of view...Works Tour tried to make a review of a lot of songs that they doesn't played regularly ( KYA, Liar, Seven Seas, Great king Rat, Stone Cold Crazy, etc.). But, the result wasn't good...cause, Roger drums rang like a jar of tuna, Freddie's voices wasn't in good shape. Set list good. executions...not so good |
deleted user 29.05.2011 07:07 |
Can anybody provide an answer to these questions please regarding any copies you may have of the following recording? Wembley 7.9.84. At the start of TYMD, is the audio slightly muffled? Can a female voice from the audience be heard talking over God save the Queen for a few seconds? I only ask as I may have another unshared source, although Bo Rhap is incomplete on it. Thanks. |
Bicycle 29.05.2011 10:27 |
The Works tour - one of my favourite tours. |
Soundfreak 29.05.2011 12:12 |
Also, Dortmund'82 is a nice pick, great show from Freddie! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Funny...I was there and it was far from being a good night. It proves my theory that recordings do not really tell the truth nor present the full picture.....Freddie was in a very bad mood that night... |