Hi Everyone,
I'm starting a Queen vinyl collection, and I need some advice on what to buy...
I currently have the following albums:
- Queen
- Queen 2
- A Night at the Opera
- A Day at the Races
- Jazz
- A Kind of Magic
- Live Magic
and my rough order of preference is:
- A Night at the Opera
- A Day at the Races
- Queen 2
- A Kind of Magic
- Jazz
- Queen
I'm not looking to buy any more live albums.
Are there any 'must haves'?
Also, any good shops/sites for purchasing? I live in Australia.
Any help much appreciated (:
^ that's mainly CD though, noorie :)
Personally, I'd say you're almost halfway there (as far as the original studio LPs go, out-with the compilations and live issues) so just get the other half and be done with it. Ebay would allow you to pick the majority up fairly cheaply, although be prepared to shell out a bit for Made In Heaven if you want it. It's a shame that you don't want any more live albums, as "Live Magic" is just a compilation of highlights from the Magic Tour and is quite poorly done. Live Killers is similar in that it's a highlights compilation, but would give you a nice idea of the 70s live sound if you don't bother with the bootlegs. On Fire At The Bowl (Milton Keynes) is a nice live one to have, too (IMO).
However, if you're insistent on concentrating on the "must haves", I'd say The Game and Innuendo.
By the time everyone has chirped in, you'd be just as well buying everything :)
Wait! What? Two recommendations for Innuendo, and not a single one for News Of The World - and what do you order? News Of The Friggin' World!
Unbelievable ;)
There are many great Queen records, but Queen II through ADATR are really the full picture of the band at their best. Sheer Heart Attack is essential listening, so be sure it's next on your hit list.
As far as I'm concerned, side B of Made In Heaven is the best side of Queen music after The Game ... worth hearing as well.
Enjoy the discovery ! There's great stuff on every album.
As for live material - most of the best stuff isn't on the official releases.
Grab the best copies of Rainbow 74 (the March show), Boston 76, Houston 77 and Montreal 78 off the announce section of this website. The track selection and quality of performance blows away anything the band have released.
Here's Boston (by far the best Queen live recording available) - link
That said, Queen Rock Montreal is the best of the official live albums, both in sound quality and performance. Although side 3 of Live Killers is my personal favourite.