With the exception of a couple of extra vocal ad libs from Freddie left in near the end, is the test pressing version of this exactly the same parts/takes as the final album version, but just not the same mix and master?
Holy crap, I can't believe I missed this, I still thought this was a rare track. Thank you for this! Is there a better quality version around?
So the only rare version that's yet to make its way to the Internet is the rough mix version from a 10" reel to reel tape. And it has circulated somewhat, but who knows...
Holy crap, I can't believe I missed this, I still thought this was a rare track. Thank you for this! Is there a better quality version around?
So the only rare version that's yet to make its way to the Internet is the rough mix version from a 10" reel to reel tape. And it has circulated somewhat, but who knows...
I don't think so. The thread that used to be on here(haven't been able to find it) only linked to the video
I voted for the studio version as I never get bored of listening to it.
The BBC version is not bad, but it loses all the emotion which is in the album, raw sessions and test pressing versions. I do like the Live Killers version too as I love how the audience singalong (even though it's fake apparently).
If I could make one adjustment to the song I wish it had backing vocals on the chorus like how it sounds on Live Killers with the audience singing along then it would improve the song in my opinion. It's still easily in my top 5 favourite Queen songs and has been ever since I first heard it.
I've voted the BBC Sessions because I just love the energy of it.
That said, the Live Killers version is superb. Couple of things - there's a lovely little bass flourish from JD around "since he was small, he had no luck at all" that gets me every time. Also, there's some Roger backing vocals either overdubbed in, or more likely, bleeding through on some turned-away mics during the choruses that I fucking love. Either that, or I'm just hearing his voice and it's a coincidence. Anyone else noticed those?
I think I remember listening to this test pressing once, after it being posted here on Queenzone some years ago, but maybe only once. Thanks for bringing it up!
Cheers,
Ogre-
This is so unfair making me chose, I think that SYW is an outstanding track, every version I know. But the Raw session kills me everytime. The piano intro, so fekking moving, the ending is sheer class!
Ask me again in a few days, I bet I chose the Beeb version.....
Tom
Roger used to sing the chorus vocals live but for Live Killers they mixed that out - probably still a bit of bleed left in though.
I could happily live with the album version forever, but the raw version just gets me every time when Freddie’s voice cracks at around 3:46 on ‘spread your little wings’ - just dripping with emotion. And imagine being as good as Brian May when that raw sessions guitar take is branded surplus to requirements!!
Raw sessions is the best one for me. The emotional way freddie singing and the great red special touch to it especially to the later part of it is just glorious.
Spread Your Wings has been my favourite Queen song since 1996 when I first heard it on the Too Much Love Will Kill You single and for a long time I felt that the BBC version was the definitive version of it. However, having said that, the original studio recording is the one I keep going back to. It just feels right to me.
The BBC version has a brilliant fast paced outro which they shouldn't have dropped from the live versions after 1977/78, and it's for that reason I'm not keen on the Live Killers version because it doesn't have the oomph of the BBC version. But yeah, the original studio version is fab - the vocals are perfect, Brian's solos are perfect, everything is perfect.
cmsdrums wrote:
Roger used to sing the chorus vocals live but for Live Killers they mixed that out - probably still a bit of bleed left in though.
I could happily live with the album version forever, but the raw version just gets me every time when Freddie’s voice cracks at around 3:46 on ‘spread your little wings’ - just dripping with emotion. And imagine being as good as Brian May when that raw sessions guitar take is branded surplus to requirements!!
I don't think there is a definitive version of Spread Your Wings - my favourite version would be based on the studio version with Brian and Roger contributing to the chorus vocals and the outro also consisting of fast paced section blended in with the slow but normal tempo.
I absolutely love that piano intro of the Raw Sessions version.
I would have loved to hear this performed on the 81 tour when Freddie’s voice live was in tip top shape live!