| Chopin1995 18.07.2016 09:22 |
I decided to listen each track on both albums fragment after fragment to compare them. As a big fan of classical music and real instruments I am dissapointed. I've seen an old topic (link but there is a lot of off-topic discussion so I decided to post a new topic. Here are my thoughts. (Time marks come from 1988 version) 1. Barcelona - both are quite similar but there are some small differences. At 0:35 we can hear percussion but on 2012 that percussion is absent. There are similar cases further like at 0:55. 2. La Japonaise - these versions are much different. On 2012 version we have a real koto so this is advantage. The koto sounds much better here. At 1:41 we can clearly hear a gong but on 2012 is unheard. I hate that. I love this gong. From 4:15 to 4:18 on 2012 CD we hear vocals that did not appear on 1988 CD. 3. The Fallen Priest - that one sound wonderful with the full orchestra but there is one BIG problem. Vey big. Where is the original piano played by Mike Moran and repeated multiple times during the song??? 4. Ensueno - Only piano and vocals so the sounds are identical. The only difference I hear is that 1988 sound more "stereo" while listened on headphones. 5. The Golden Boy - Again, removed a lot of piano... And finally we can hear Rufus Taylor :) and...WTF? This is awful. Completely different that 1988! No felling! On 1988 CD weak beat sound like clapping, not like drum. And 2012 drums are too high in the mix. And at 4:47 we hear a joyful applause reduced to minimum on 2012 CD. Why? The only advantage of 2012 is that the harp is louder at the end and it's a real insturment. 6. Guide Me Home - different mix. A real violin solo from 1:58 on 2012 CD. 7. How Can I Go On - 2012 sounds more like a pop record. 1988 feels much more more natural. String accompaniment is nice on 2012 CD. 8. Overture Piccante - 2012 sounds like completely different track. From 0:56 piano on 1988 and flute&harp on 2012. 1:55 (1:59 on 2012) no piano, again! Next on 2:10 (2012 CD) we have a fragment from The Fallen Priest so we don't have the original piano. Then we have a real koto so that's good. From 6:08 1988 CD is very different. And they completely re-wrote the last few seconds of this piece in 2012. Check this out on your own! Bonus tracks on 2012 aren't worth mention. Those 2 bonus tracks shouldn't appear on 1CD. If need be, put them on the 2nd adittional CD with some more demos/rarities. They re-arranged Exercises in Free Love in 2012 for some reason. 1988 artwork has been completely changed. For worse obviously. What is more look at that - link Here from 40:50 you can hear what the Mike Moran opinion is - link These are Dane's words from that old topic (link above) - "Anyone listening to classical music knows dynamics are a very important part of orchestrated music. This version of the album captures this concept quite brilliantly. Not being seduced by the re-re-re-re-mastering trend of the loudness war!" I agree. I really love instumental part on this new album, full orchestra sounds better than synths but it's not enough as it turned out. They changed too much. They failed, in my opinion. It could have been done much better. |
| Vali 18.07.2016 10:18 |
thanks for the analysis and comparisions I just hate the 2012 version. Listened a couple of times and had enough of it forever more. That one should've been included as a bonus companion disc of the one and only original recording. La Japonaise and How Can I Go On are the shittiest shit to highlight of that successful attempt to destroy a brilliant album. |
| matt z 18.07.2016 12:02 |
Really interestingdisliked it. dynamic range; yes. But really uninteresting performances. As if it was so unfamiliar to them that it was just a one -off. (instead of intense rehearsals prior to recording) I'd bought it a night before my art class; played it in class on a speaker (my art teacher was inclined to do that) it was interesting to hear it at first, but it was also pretty disappointing. I told him: "Well; That's just a remake sort of"..."the original one is pretty bombastic and powerful" ... and he sarcastically quipped: "And that WASN'T bombastic?!" (imitating trumpets and Timpani) So I guess it'd depend on whichever you heard first. .... maybe. |
| mvdk 18.07.2016 15:09 |
Thanks for sharing your opinion and the information on the 2 issues of the album. I didn’t knew that Mike Moran had commented on the re-issue of 'Barcelona'. I can only say that I agree with him. I think they made a mistake to let Mr. Stuart Morley arrange the whole thing. I think he is very capable as a musical director of a West End-show, but to re-create a classical album feels like him stepping out of his comfort-zone. How can Queen Production say in their official press release: "The re-created Barcelona album is being hailed as the version Mercury would have wanted to make at the time had he felt able to work with a full symphony orchestra", and "‘Barcelona - The Special Edition’ is finally the album it should have been. The world will undoubtedly rediscover and fall in love with it all over again. The only downside is that the visionary behind this masterpiece is sadly not around to hear it too." Well, according to one of Freddie’s most loyal friends (Mr. Moran), the truth is very much different. |
| The Real Wizard 18.07.2016 16:06 |
mvdk wrote: I think they made a mistake to let Mr. Stuart Morley arrange the whole thing. I think he is very capable as a musical director of a West End-show, but to re-create a classical album feels like him stepping out of his comfort-zone.Check the list of credits - there are more names. Sometimes people's hands are tied. |
| MercurialFreddie 18.07.2016 16:30 |
Well, Mr Moran explained in that video (thank you Chopin1995) what Freddie thought about using orchestra. It is curious that they (Freddie and Mr Moran) had that debate about orchestrating the album TWICE, once before the album was finished, and the second debate took place after the tracks / ideas, all the synths I believe, were recorded. I personally think that they should have consulted someone who was more into the classical music than Mr Morley. Tolga Kashif made wondrous use of orchestra when he made The Queen Symphony. Maybe contact someone from the Royal College of London as they did when they were discussing different arrangements of BoRhap. While the new version is... well... just a downgrade from the original, they had a nice attempt at orchestrating Exercises in Free Love. It is one of the better tracks imho, really. If the visionary behind the original masterpiece was around, well, then I doubt that he would asked them the same question which he asked Mr Moran: Why do you want to orchestrate it? What's wrong with the original. I think that if Freddie was still alive then he'd prefer to record something new. Make fresh, new music with the use of orchestra. |
| cmsdrums 19.07.2016 03:48 |
Thanks for this summary - totally agree that the original is far better and more emotional and dynamic. Also totally agree with the almost slanderous comment towards Mike Moran that...."The re-created Barcelona album is being hailed as the version Mercury would have wanted to make at the time had he felt able to work with a full symphony orchestra", and "‘Barcelona - The Special Edition’ is finally the album it should have been". |
| Chopin1995 19.07.2016 05:06 |
What is more I suspect that the fact Mike Moran had not decided to cooperate with the new CD is the reason why they removed a lot of his piano playing. They didn't include him in the "thanks to" section: |
| Chopin1995 19.07.2016 05:08 |
And look at those "famous" names (What the hell is that?): |
| cmsdrums 19.07.2016 06:33 |
Chopin1995 wrote: What is more I suspect that the fact Mike Moran had not decided to cooperate with the new CD is the reason why they removed a lot of his piano playing. They didn't include him in the "thanks to" section:Did they actually remove a lot of his piano? That's horrific - if it hadn't been up to scratch maybe, but as it was a key part of the whole album, and he's actually the composer and co-visionary of those pieces that stinks. |
| Silken 19.07.2016 10:43 |
Barcelona is my favourite album. I've listened to it thousands of times since 1992 and I love every bit of it. I expected that a new version with a full orchestra would sound much better but it was just the opposite; it sounds weaker, there are a few notes missing here and there, and most importantly, it lacks the feeling and emotion of the original. I've listened the 2012 version only once, it was a huge disappointment. |
| The Real Wizard 19.07.2016 11:16 |
cmsdrums wrote: "The re-created Barcelona album is being hailed as the version Mercury would have wanted to make at the time had he felt able to work with a full symphony orchestra"The same way Paul Rodgers was Freddie's favourite singer. It's easy to speak for the dead when you have a new product to market. |
| Chopin1995 20.07.2016 03:14 |
^Exactly The Real Wizard |