Listening to this brings a wicked smile to my face. Good God, how infinitely more charming is it than the final version! Roger's vocal gives it a certain quirkiness and silliness. Plus the raw, unpolished drum/bass track sounds so cool. I love it!
While we're discussing rare tracks, Gary, can you clarify the "Sail Away Sweet Sister" Take from The Game deluxe edition?
The Game sleeves all say the song, along with "Crazy Little Thing," "Save Me" and "Coming Soon," were all recorded between June and July of 1979.
Yet, this early take claims to be from 1980, but it's clearly an early version of the song. How do we account for the discrepancy?
Thanks. :-)
This is the definitive version. No Computer drums at all and Roger's vocal are great.
well, they're some electronic drums in some parts, but the most of percussion are acoustic drums...
I've got a feeling that these so called 'early' versions are remixed in some way to sound more complete. Both seem to include musical parts which are (to my ears) exactly the same as the final version which appeared on the album.
I always found it strange that the Hints of Innuendo demo of Innuendo did not have the hoop-diddy-diddy's, but did have Freddie's vocals. The "Embryo"-version has the hoop-diddy-diddy's, but a Brian vocal... The Invisible Man demo has some parts which (again, to my ears) sound quite advanced/finished for an 'early version'. Ride the Wild Wind after the 1-minute mark sounds a lot like the instrumental version of the final version, but with Roger's demo/guide vocal laid on top of it.
Can anyone confirm or deny this, or what are your thoughts about this? If the demo's are true demo's, props to Brian and Roger for making such advanced/complete demo's. Please note, I'm NOT complaining - I love the fact that we finally got some true new stuff. I'm just wondering if these 'early versions' have been sweetened/remixed by the production team to sound more polished for the casual listener.
>I've got a feeling that these so called 'early' versions are remixed in some way to sound more complete. Both seem to include musical parts which are (to my ears) exactly the same as the final version which appeared on the album.
Some parts of demo could be used in final version.
As for Headlong, this is very interesting example. Newly released version is not an 'embryo', but almost complete version. Guitars in this early demo is the same as in album version, that's why another known demo doesn't contain any of guitars: Queen used guitars from demo and newly recorded vocals, drums and bass.
Hints of Innuendo version isn't demo, but alterate mix. This is just the album version without some vocals: Queen could still work on this track at that moment and didn't knew if these vocals fits well or no.
A lot of times, lyrics can be the last things written for a song. The writer might have a bit here and there and can write a demo around it, but then the work on the music begins, followed by the refinement of the lyrics. Complete songs don't come fully formed too often. "Early Version with Guide Vocals" says to me the band have been working on the music, with partially finished lyrics, but aren't near completing the song, so yes, there will be familiar bits and segments later abandoned. Also, the recording of the song doesn't tend to be all four guys in the room at the same time playing it. Whomever the writer is tends to be the one guiding the direction and taking the parts he likes and stitching different takes together with the engineer.The band might do a polish take and overdubs at the end to cover the seams, but recording technology can allow for pretty seamless results.
If you were expecting the recording to be little more than Roger's original home demo, obviously that's not what we got. I'd say this version is maybe halfway or two-thirds through the process towards completion.
I can't help it but personally my natural interest only sends me to the song "A kind of Vision". Though I like Roger's and Brian's solo work very much. It's great to see how these songs changed over the time.
I think these are best described as early working versions, remixed to include later elements. They are the same masters, but with restored guide vocals and scratch playing. Like if they added those Hot Space 'demo's to the reissues - they are the same basic takes as on the album but not complete and featuring discarded instrumentation. Bit of a cop out really, but interesting nonetheless.