QueenZone discussion #1527014
The one thing Hot Space got right
| Biggest Band On The Planet 15.11.2018 02:06 |
Hot Space was the first Queen album were Freddie sung lead vocals on ALL the tracks. I think Freddie should of done this from the day one. If Brian and Roger wanted to sing lead vocals they should of done so on b-sides. |
| Joeker 15.11.2018 02:15 |
Roger shared lead vocals on Action This Day, as well as Brian on Put Out The Fire. |
| Grizzly Adam 15.11.2018 03:20 |
My favourite part of the "early" albums was often the songs sung by Roger and Brian. Tenement Funster, Drowse, '39, Good Company are all stand out tracks. |
| *goodco* 15.11.2018 03:22 |
Biggest Band On The Planet wrote: Hot Space was the first Queen album were Freddie sung lead vocals on ALL the tracks. I think Freddie should of done this from the day one. If Brian and Roger wanted to sing lead vocals they should of done so on b-sides.I don't think Freddie should HAVE done this from day one. Part of the appeal of the band to me was their decision to have different LVs. It's why 'Let Me Live' is my favorite on MIH. One of many disappointments from HS onwards was just Freddie on LV. |
| emrabt 15.11.2018 08:06 |
Also Bowie shared on under pressure. |
| Iron Butterfly 15.11.2018 08:33 |
I'm actually glad Brian and Roger sang some Queen songs through out their career. I couldn't imagine Freddie singng Drowse for example. |
| matt z 15.11.2018 08:55 |
You all already said it. ^ I was hoping it'd be something interesting. Or offensively funny. ...like Roger's shitty fake drum break before the synth prior to the blazing solo in back chat. |
| oligneisti 15.11.2018 10:16 |
Some guys I know were going through the 80s and 90s Queen albums that they had ignored at the time and one of the things they commented on was that they missed RT and BM on lead vocals and pointed out songs which could have benefited from being sung by the writer. One example, which we know and have both version, is Too Much Love Will Kill You. Freddie has the better vocal there but Brian has more feeling. Of course I always want to have both versions. |
| aristide1 15.11.2018 10:51 |
'Let me live' is an extremely naive song, even without the Concert for Bruzundanga multivocal interplay which nails it as a strictly tribute piece. Although adding your voice to a dead man's voice is the lowest form of tribute, in my opinion. |
| Sebastian 15.11.2018 11:22 |
Joeker wrote: Roger shared lead vocals on Action This DayOn stage, he did. In the studio, it could be argued that Roger's part constitutes multi-tracked backing vocals, while the bona fide lead is just Frederick. Joeker wrote: as well as Brian on Put Out The Fire.Fake news! (Roger does sing a few lines in that song, though). Then again, every single track on 'The Game' had Frederick on lead vocals at least for a few lines. |
| aion 15.11.2018 13:41 |
Should HAVE done! Where the hell is this "would/could/should OF" coming from?? |
| *goodco* 15.11.2018 14:03 |
aristide1 wrote: 'Let me live' is an extremely naive song, even without the Concert for Bruzundanga multivocal interplay which nails it as a strictly tribute piece. Although adding your voice to a dead man's voice is the lowest form of tribute, in my opinion.Yup.....The Beatles would have never done anything like that....... |
| Golden Salmon 15.11.2018 17:51 |
Just like we got bonus tracks with different singers in known tracks, we should have gotten more songs with Freddie on vocals at this point. Who knows what's yet to come in a distant future. |
| Russian Headlong 2 15.11.2018 18:54 |
Under Pressure and Put Out of Fire were the only good things to come from Hot Space. |
| MisterCosmicc 16.11.2018 01:04 |
I loved the fact Hot Space had all Freddie leads! |
| matt z 16.11.2018 04:20 |
Can't you see, I'm Frederick Mercury. ...whoa oh....spread your wings and fly away with me. I love ACTION THIS DAY, BACK CHAT, enjoy DANCER even with the dated synth bass, the solo is killer. LAS PALABRAS DE AMOR is pretty damn good, but the icing on the cake is COOL CAT. What an atmospheric swanky song. Best cut on the album. Under pressure is a great song, but it's basically tethered to the album/sessions. ...with its initial release having been quite a ways away |
| MisterCosmicc 16.11.2018 09:18 |
I was never bothered by a Queen single being released well-ahead of an album. |
| Ziggy_SD 16.11.2018 11:24 |
I actually consider your reason one of the album's weaknesses. As mentioned above, the band's appeal was that all four members contributed something unique to the Queen project. The fact that a member of a band that wasn't the lead singer could handle lead vocal on a song still amazes me! On a side note, why does Hot Space still offend people? Not that I was old enough to get an idea of the effect it had at the time, but consider the following: - It was the early 80s; - Synthesizers were the shit; - The emerging electrofunk sound out of New York was the future - Queen were an adventurous band; As if Hot Space wasn't gonna happen... |
| Sebastian 16.11.2018 13:04 |
The problem wasn't that they were following trends. The problem was that they did so with a mediocre record. When they did an epic album with prog-rock influences (coincidentally, just when 'Dark Side of the Moon' was relatively new), they did a great job. It sold poorly, but it was excellent. When they toned down the over-layered arrangements (just when punk was taking over and multi-part harmonies had gone out of style), they came up with an excellent album, which outsold everything they'd done before that. Even later on, when Brian and Frederick did a tribute to Jeffrey Beck's 'Where Were You', they did so with a well-thought composition and a proper track. Whether or not 'Bijou' is as good as Beck's song is up to personal opinion, but they did work hard on it and it showed. 'Hot Space' took them a lot longer and cost them a lot more than 'Queen II' but it was quite poorly executed. They had a great drummer but largely replaced him (on the first side) with horrible computerised programming; they had a great bassist but largely replaced him (on the first side) with cheesynths. That was the problem. Queen did songs in different styles, and sometimes they did a marvellous job with them (skiffle, waltz, piano ballad), sometimes they did a mediocre job ('Hot Space'). |
| matt z 16.11.2018 15:46 |
Who is this Jeffrey Beck fellow? Was he the fellow that played on those Franklin Zappathowitz albums? Or might you be referring to well known Geoffrey Arnold the guitar virtuoso? |
| Sebastian 16.11.2018 16:42 |
You're right - Geoffrey Beck. Zappa, as far as I know, was actually named 'Frank'. |
| philip storey 16.11.2018 20:02 |
Hot Space tracks worked well in the live set I thought the the band were great at Milton Keynes ,I really enjoyed the day. |
| philip storey 16.11.2018 20:02 |
Hot Space tracks worked well in the live set I thought the the band were great at Milton Keynes ,I really enjoyed the day. |
| mike hunt 16.11.2018 20:48 |
yes they did Phil....Makes me wonder if they recorded it differently, and worked on some of the lyrics how good it could of been... |
| MisterCosmicc 17.11.2018 06:02 |
Sebastian wrote: 'Hot Space' took them a lot longer and cost them a lot more than 'Queen II' but it was quite poorly executed. They had a great drummer but largely replaced him (on the first side) with horrible computerised programming; they had a great bassist but largely replaced him (on the first side) with cheesynths. That was the problem. Queen did songs in different styles, and sometimes they did a marvellous job with them (skiffle, waltz, piano ballad), sometimes they did a mediocre job ('Hot Space').Usually I agree with you, but I wouldn't say that because they used those that it makes the tracks mediocre. |
| aristide1 17.11.2018 11:58 |
Sebastian wrote: Queen did songs in different styles, and sometimes they did a marvellous job with them (skiffle, waltz, piano ballad), sometimes they did a mediocre job ('Hot Space').I thought the aim of your encyclopedic quests is a better understanding of the music, not just a desperate collection of facts. I am truly disappointed by your comment. |
| brians wig 17.11.2018 13:22 |
What I miss from later albums is the LACK of a track sung by Roger. |
| Sebastian 17.11.2018 18:30 |
MisterCosmicc wrote: Usually I agree with you, but I wouldn't say that because they used those that it makes the tracks mediocre.I gave the wrong impression if I came across as saying using synths and machines renders a work mediocre. Using them so basically and so lazily is what renders it lacklustre. aristide1 wrote: I thought the aim of your encyclopedic questsWhat made you think such nonsense? These aren't encyclopaedic quests, by the way... aristide1 wrote: a better understanding of the musicBetter than what? Either way, understanding that 'Hot Space' is mediocre (and not because of the styles explored) doesn't require a PhD. aristide1 wrote: not just a desperate collection of facts.Collections of facts are inanimate and, as such, cannot ever be desperate. You've got it completely wrong there - not the first time! aristide1 wrote: I am truly disappointed by your comment.So? |
| MisterCosmicc 18.11.2018 05:37 |
Sebastian wrote: I gave the wrong impression if I came across as saying using synths and machines renders a work mediocre. Using them so basically and so lazily is what renders it lacklustre.Your opinion! |
| The Fonz 18.11.2018 10:38 |
The cover is quite good. |
| Sebastian 18.11.2018 12:08 |
MisterCosmicc wrote:Yes, of course. Have I claimed otherwise?Sebastian wrote: I gave the wrong impression if I came across as saying using synths and machines renders a work mediocre. Using them so basically and so lazily is what renders it lacklustre.Your opinion! |
| MisterCosmicc 18.11.2018 14:38 |
Sebastian wrote:Of course. You were eating Whimpy's hamburgers. There's no doubt you'd go against policy ;-)MisterCosmicc wrote:Yes, of course. Have I claimed otherwise?Sebastian wrote: I gave the wrong impression if I came across as saying using synths and machines renders a work mediocre. Using them so basically and so lazily is what renders it lacklustre.Your opinion! |
| Sebastian 18.11.2018 15:31 |
I don't eat burgers... |
| aristide1 19.11.2018 12:55 |
Good to hear, because not eating burgers seems to be the only attribute that distinguish you from Mr.Right. Except for your unmistakable signature - replying word by word when something does not fit in your schizophrenic scheme. Although if all you have to say is "Better than what? ... So? ... Have I claimed otherwise?" then the trouble is for nothing. Can you return to the topic with more articulate thoughts? Until now you said everybody knows Hot Space is mediocre. That is all? |
| thomasquinn 32989 19.11.2018 13:13 |
Whereas your remarks on Let Me Live were so substantial and thought-provoking... And where is Sebastian trolling, threatening, abusing and insulting? Because Mr Right does all those, and very frequently at that. Seriously, is there any reason for your apparent bash-Sebastian quest? I don't agree with, or even like, everything he has to say, but at least he supports his views with reasonings and/or data. That I can respect. To equate him with Mr Right is utter BS and seriously lessens my respect for you. I did not previously have any opinion on you, but now I do. And yes, that the use of synth drums and bass on Hot Space is dull and unoriginal (by the standards of 1982) is very much defensible, and that Hot Space is a mediocre album is not just the dominant view among Queen-fans, but among music enthusiasts in general. |
| Vocal harmony 19.11.2018 13:45 |
Sebastian wrote: The problem wasn't that they were following trends. The problem was that they did so with a mediocre record. . . . . . . . . . 'Hot Space' took them a lot longer and cost them a lot more than 'Queen II' but it was quite poorly executed. They had a great drummer but largely replaced him (on the first side) with horrible computerised programming; they had a great bassist but largely replaced him (on the first side) with cheesynths. That was the problem. . . .. . sometimes they did a mediocre job ('Hot Space').It would be interesting, but almost impossible, to find out where those decisions came from. Was it the band's choice during the writing and rehearsal stage or was it Mack's input and influence that lead them away from playing to their strengths. As has been mentioned already, those songs from Hot Space played live sounded better and certainly more organic (despite the use of Synth Bass on Staying Power) Live drums brought some life to the rhythm. |
| aristide1 19.11.2018 14:32 |
When it comes to "bullshit, bullshit, my post" attitude, Mr.AlwaysRight exceeds Mr.Right by far. Queen fans are too biased, too immersed in the sound of the band from the 70's, to impartially judge Hot Space. The dominant view of an already idiosyncratic group, who became more radical over time, is irrelevant to me. What if "The Prophet's Song" is mediocre and "Back Chat" is brilliant? |
| thomasquinn 32989 19.11.2018 14:40 |
Ah, yes. "I'm right, you're all idiots who are biased and radical." How about providing an argument. You know, just for a change. |
| aristide1 19.11.2018 17:06 |
You're missing my point, and a few general points. No one is idiot, having a bias isn't something shameful, and I can't be right or wrong as long as I only put a question. |
| MisterCosmicc 19.11.2018 17:15 |
I love Hot Space more than any 70's Queen album, and I've been listening to Queen on a steady basis for decades. The Prophet's Song was ruined by the "and now I know, and now I know, and now I know, oooh-woah-oh-oh-oh" crap. |
| aristide1 19.11.2018 18:00 |
Well put, these are the words to use when speaking about Hot Space, "I love it" or "I hate it", not "it's a mediocre job", which may sound like a competent evaluation, but in fact speaks more of unfulfilled personal expectations than of the actual album value. Maybe we were mediocre back in '82, with our unreasonable expectations and limited musical horizons. I didn't love it nor hate it, just didn't comprehend it, it was like hitting a wall (of my ignorance probably). |
| The Fonz 19.11.2018 21:22 |
As much as I think it’s the worst Queen album, I just brought it on vinyl in Japan. So there you go. |
| mike hunt 19.11.2018 23:16 |
I always went back and forth on what's Queen's worst album...Time has settled that for me, my opinion Hot Space Is that album...I don't love it or Hate It...but It's the album that aged the worst. Aside from Under Pressure there Is no standouts. The Works has The four singles, and I like Keep Passing The Open Windows, Is This The World That We Created was nice as well...I Go Crazy was a nice addition. Magic has the singles and Princes Of The Universe. Gimmie The Prize I like more than Put Out The Fire....The Miracle Is uneven as well, but has better tracks than Hot Space. |
| Sebastian 20.11.2018 02:51 |
aristide1 wrote: Good to hear, because not eating burgers seems to be the only attribute that distinguish you from Mr.Right.Who? aristide1 wrote: Except for your unmistakable signature - replying word by word ...I do not reply word by word. I reply sentence by sentence. A word is not a sentence. You may benefit from going back to primary school and learn the difference. aristide1 wrote: ...when something does not fit in your schizophrenic scheme.I'm not schizophrenic. Then again, if someone who can't understand the difference between 'word' and 'sentence' tries to diagnose someone else, is there any credibility left? aristide1 wrote: Although if all you have to say is "Better than what? ... So? ... Have I claimed otherwise?" then the trouble is for nothing.I'm sure I've said more than that. Then again, you can't even understand the difference between 'word' and 'sentence', so it's not a big surprise you cannot read properly. aristide1 wrote: Can you return to the topic with more articulate thoughts?Of course. I have. Some may agree, some may disagree, and that's fine. aristide1 wrote: Until now you said everybody knows Hot Space is mediocre.I didn't at any point say that. Cor, you really cannot read at all! aristide1 wrote: That is all?No. Then again, you seem to be utterly unable to understand any of that... aristide1 wrote: Well put, these are the words to use when speaking about Hot Space, "I love it" or "I hate it", not "it's a mediocre job"Actually, all those three ('I love it', 'I hate it' and 'it's a mediocre job') are valid words to use. aristide1 wrote: in fact speaks more of unfulfilled personal expectations than of the actual album value.Not quite - 'I love it' or 'I hate it' are more about personal expectations. Mediocrity, depending on how you define it, could be - for some extent - measured. Of course, not everybody would agree with said assessment, but it still doesn't mean it should be banned. And, yes, if anyone thinks 'The Prophet's Song' is mediocre, I don't see anything wrong with that: I disagree, but I'm not gonna whine and throw a pathetic tantrum over that like you do. aristide1 wrote: Maybe we were mediocre back in '82, with our unreasonable expectations and limited musical horizons.That's not the definition of 'mediocre'. Then again, you can't even tell the difference between 'word' and 'sentence', so grasping the meaning of a term like 'mediocre' is certainly way out of your league. aristide1 wrote: I didn't love it nor hate it, just didn't comprehend it, it was like hitting a wall (of my ignorance probably).Well, you don't comprehend loads of things, including primary-school-level vocabulary, so of course this (and many other things) would be way beyond you. Not a big shock. |
| aristide1 20.11.2018 12:40 |
I would be more than happy to counter your superb reasoning, but after you repeated "Then again, if someone who can't understand the difference between 'word' and 'sentence'..." 20 times I realized it's a bad moment. Maybe some other time, when you will regain control of yourself. |
| Sebastian 20.11.2018 13:11 |
aristide1 wrote: I would be more than happy to counter your superb reasoningYeah, right... aristide1 wrote: but after you repeated "Then again, if someone who can't understand the difference between 'word' and 'sentence'..." 20 times I realized it's a bad moment.I only said it three times. Three is not the same as twenty. It seems you also lack pre-school arithmetic understanding. Not a big shock, considering all the nonsense you write here. aristide1 wrote: Maybe some other time, when you will regain control of yourself.Says the person who cannot tell the difference between 'word' and 'sentence' or between '3' and '20'... |
| aristide1 20.11.2018 14:05 |
"Only"(?!) three times in this exact form. There must have been a fourth time to precede "Then again...", don't you think? And adding the two references to primary school vocabulary, with the same meaning, we have a total of 6 times roughly. Anyway, I'm joking, but if you are serious with this "3 not 20" "sentence not word" argument, you are more fucked up than I thought. Maybe this idiotic side of you it's the price to pay for being a Queen savant. |
| Sebastian 21.11.2018 04:09 |
In other words, you've got nothing. |
| MisterCosmicc 21.11.2018 04:41 |
mike hunt wrote: I always went back and forth on what's Queen's worst album...Time has settled that for me, my opinion Hot Space Is that album...I don't love it or Hate It...but It's the album that aged the worst. Aside from Under Pressure there Is no standouts. The Works has The four singles, and I like Keep Passing The Open Windows, Is This The World That We Created was nice as well...I Go Crazy was a nice addition. Magic has the singles and Princes Of The Universe. Gimmie The Prize I like more than Put Out The Fire....The Miracle Is uneven as well, but has better tracks than Hot Space.But Princes is a single. Most of the tracks on A Kind Of Magic were singles! LOL! |
| mike hunt 21.11.2018 22:10 |
..Somehow It was never a hit..but, yea It was a single. |
| MisterCosmicc 22.11.2018 00:37 |
mike hunt wrote: ..Somehow It was never a hit..but, yea It was a single.I know it. But the funniest thing about that song, is the enthusiasm I've heard about it from Highlander fans. They are over the moon for that song, plus the others in the movie. They place the songs from Highlander higher than anything else they've heard by Queen. |
| MisterCosmicc 22.11.2018 00:40 |
I've never heard of so much enjoyment of the A Kind Of Magic album from a Queen fan as much as I have heard it from Highlander fanatics. |
| mike hunt 22.11.2018 01:32 |
Good point, and I actually brought that up before...AKOM gets bashed on this site from the old time fans, but the casual fan that loves Highlander who went out and bought the Album love It. I think It's pretty good but towards the bottom for me. |
| Grantcdn1 29.11.2018 02:58 |
Hot Space was just their weakest effort studio-wise...if Under Pressure wasn’t added as an afterthought it would have us complain even more...it was clear the band was being divided at this point.....maybe a bit too arrogant and misguided after the success of Another One Bites The Dust not realising that it’s success was because it could appeal to both rockers and dancers....funny though as I don’t mind Dancer, Back Chat or the second side except Cool Cat (great vocal though)....but seriously when Body Language is your single what did we expect....not enough rock...Action this Day and Staying Power could have been great if produced well capturing Queen’s energy. A Kind Of Magic was good but was too short....it felt like an EP.... |