In honor of the new remasters (which I haven't picked up yet...), I've been revisiting each album in order via the 1991 Hollywood Records CD releases (all which have been on my shelf since... 1991).
Just finished the first album yesterday. Regarding Keep Yourself Alive... a big WOW on the 'Long Lost Retake'. Anyone FAR prefer this version?? I was blown away by it. In comparison, on the original track, you can barely hear Freddie, as the production almost completely drowns him out (or is that just the 1991 CDs problem??)
The Retake is by far the one I'd listen to more often.
Thoughts?
Yes. In the US, but they went with the normal version being reissued.
I do remember there being discussion on here back in the day assuming it was from the first album era - either another crack at the song or perhaps an earlier attempt. I certainly couldn't make sense of it. I do believe an acetate edit turned up on here - and as you can hear, the long version we have is edited slighty as it it.
It's cool they put it on ANATO (confusing at first, to be honest) - but perhaps it would have more in common with Sheer Heart Attack? Either way, nice to have. Makes you wonder what else they have lurking.
I watched the Classic Albums ANATO today and enjoyed Brian discussing his solo recording of GSTQ (on the same tape as Procession) and I wondered that he must have done loads of messing about like that.
I prefer the De Lane Lea demo of KYA over any other studio version. In fact, I prefer all the DLL material over what was recorded for the official album release, to the point that I have mixed my own version of Queen 1 replacing original tracks with either DLL or BBC cuts wherever possible. Q1 has always sounded like mud to me. Very glad there are some many other options for experiencing these outstanding tracks.
Well it is better than the album version, but the drum solo is very short. That's the main reason why I strictly prefer the demo version, and I think Brian prefers it too
To me, the "Long Lost Re-Take" is the definitive version. It just gives the impression of being much more carefully made than the album take.
The same goes for the Mike Spencer (re)mix of Under Pressure. The album version just can't compete, IMHO.
The most recent 2011 40th Anniversary remaster of Queen 1 has the De Lane Lea demos as bonus tracks.
The 1975 KYA single used the same US Edit as previously appeared on the 1973 US single.
I'm still curious why the switch back to the previous version happened for the 1975 single. If they'd re-recorded it, then decided to not release anything, then okay, that's one thing. However, to re-record the song for the US, only to have the older version used, makes little sense. Whose decision was it to switch versions? Were they worried fans would hear the Re-take, prompting them to buy the album, only to find a different version was on it? Did they just not like the Re-take? Did Queen veto it at the last minute?
I've talked about this single before, because what was released, even without the LLRT, was still unique. They included the full, uncut, non-segued version of "Lily Of The Valley" and more interestingly, the original mix of "God Save The Queen.' At the time, ANATO was not even recorded or conceived, and GSTQ had only been recorded by Brian and Roger right after Sheer Heart Attack was finished, as a track to play at the end of concerts for that tour. So, when this track came out, it was a non-album recording, exclusive to the US. It wasn't until they were finishing Opera that they decided to use it because it was nice and regal and fit with the tone of the album, and was the only thing worthy of following "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the track listing.
In case anybody's interested, I have two of these U.S. KYA singles with GSTQ and Lily of the Valley and I could sell one of them. Actually, I had 3 but I recently sold one.