QueenZone discussion #1580870
Released Concert Videos
| Dusta 24.12.2019 00:58 |
Hello folks! I am curious as to which Queen concerts were taped for eventual release, and if, and when, all of them were overdubbed post production. I do have the George Purvis book, but I couldn't find mention of the overdubbing process. It seems as if, early on in the days of Youtube, there were quite a few one off videos released that were not *fixed* in post, however, it has been some time, and my memory is likely failing me. Thank you so much! |
| Mrmarioanonym 24.12.2019 15:02 |
Rainbow 1974: both the March and November shows were overdubbed way back in 1974 and/or 1975 (vocals, some piano and guitar IIRC). The 2014 release removes most of the overdubs and is much more complete, but now instead uses digital pitch correction on the vocals and has a weird, artificially bombastic mix too. Hammersmith 1975: no overdubs recorded, but the 2015 release pitch-corrects the vocals and fixes some stuff by flying in bits and pieces from other shows (like the legendary goof in Liar or Fred's voice crack in Bo Rhap) and editing the individual tracks. It also has a strange mix. Hyde Park 1976: professionally videotaped and multitracked, but only excerpts were ever released. The more recent excerpts have pitch correction. The video master is alledgedly damaged. London 1977: both nights professionally videotaped and multitracked, but never released. The multitrack recording malfunctioned on the first night, leaving some tracks blank IIRC (Fred's piano mic and another one?). Some bits and pieces were since scattered on multiple releases as bonus tracks (with probable pitch correction). Houston 1977: in-house video plus mono soundboard audio, some tracks released. Live Killers (European Jazz Tour 1979): Heavy editing and overdubbing. London 1979: professionally videotaped and multitracked in its entirety. Sadly, the multitrack master is purported to be lost. A handful of tracks released here and there. Montreal 1981: professionally filmed and multitracked. Some subsequent vocal overdubs (parts of Play The Game, Another One Bites The Dust, Now I'm Here, Under Pressure, Jailhouse Rock, Bo Rhap rock section, Tie Your Mother Down, Sheer Heart Attack at least) as well as editing together of parts from both nights. Milton Keynes 1982: professionally videotaped and multitracked. No overdubs recorded, but for the official release a voice crack on Fat Bottomed Girls was fixed by editing in the vocal from another show. Tokyo 1982: professionally videotaped and multitracked. Excerpts included on out-of-print VHS tape and some on the Milton Keynes DVD as a bonus. Rio 1985: professionally videotaped and multitracked. Excerpts from both nights on Rock In Rio video. Some more stuff as b-sides and bonus tracks. Tokyo 1985: professionally videotaped and multitracked. Most of the show is available on We Are The Champions: Final Live In Japan. Wembley 1986: both nights professionally videotaped and multitracked. Official release of 2nd night features heavy overdubbing (mostly Freddie's vocals, but some Brian vocals and guitar too). Official release of 1st night features some mild pitch correction and editing. |
| Mrmarioanonym 24.12.2019 15:06 |
Sorry for the double post, here's a detailed description of what was redone and edited for Live Killers: link As for Rainbow: link |
| Dusta 24.12.2019 16:48 |
Thank you SO much! |
| Negative Creep 24.12.2019 18:52 |
Mrmarioanonym wrote: Hyde Park 1976: professionally videotaped and multitracked, but only excerpts were ever released. The more recent excerpts have pitch correction. The video master is alledgedly damaged. London 1977: both nights professionally videotaped and multitracked, but never released. The multitrack recording malfunctioned on the first night, leaving some tracks blank IIRC (Fred's piano mic and another one?). Some bits and pieces were since scattered on multiple releases as bonus tracks (with probable pitch correction).I genuinely believe that Brian just doesn't like the performances. Earls Court - 2 nights to work with. I don't believe the claim about the multi's missing certain tracks - that to me sounds like a claim from someone pretending to be in the know, but actually just based on the bootleg video with a rough mono mix that is unlikely to be mixed from the multitrack. Remember that there were 2 nights professionally recorded - they didn't set up the mobile recording gear and leave it. There would have been a professional sound engineer overseeing it through both gigs, and would have soundchecked it all both nights. We're not talking about a DI'd bass that could be overlooked, but that they apparently failed to record Freddie's piano vocal mic both nights? Nah. |
| Toozeup 31.12.2019 02:23 |
Bare in mind that everything that was intended for a home video/theatrical release has been released. Some releases like Hammy 75, Rio 85, and Japan 85 were filmed for television and not initially with a release in mind and the quality is sub-par camera and lighting-wise in some cases. We're lucky we have what we have. Earls Court might be the best contender for a future DVD as they have the live feed for the big screens from both nights to work with (largely close-ups though). Brian has gone on record stating that he hated the acoustics at Earls Court, felt that it affected the band's performance and vowed never to play there again so if he's suppressing anything it's probably EC. I can't see Houston being released anytime soon due to the sub-par sound and as for Hyde Park, speed issues with the video tape and audio recording have been mentioned plus rumors of instruments missing on the multi-tracks. Hammy 79 is probably the best untapped video footage in the vault from a technical and performance perspective and supposedly Brian's favorite contender for what was supposed to be the next vault release after Milton Keynes. Only the missing multi-tracks are preventing it's release. |
| pittrek 31.12.2019 10:31 |
Toozeup wrote: Bare in mind that everything that was intended for a home video/theatrical release has been released.Well that's depressing. Some releases like Hammy 75, Rio 85, and Japan 85 were filmed for television and not initially with a release in mind and the quality is sub-par camera and lighting-wise in some cases.Sub-par camera? Have we seen the same recordings? I can't see Houston being released anytime soon due to the sub-par soundSub-par sound? Houston? Sub-par??? and as for Hyde Park, speed issues with the video tapeWhat speed issues with video tape? The speed issues which can be fixed by a random person using his PC using free software? Those speed issues? and audio recordingThat's a bit worse but not something which should be a problem for a professional audio engineer with professional equipment. have been mentioned plus rumors of instruments missing on the multi-tracks.That's sad, but maybe somebody could explain to Brian that 90% of the fans are perfectly OK with a raw stereo mix Hammy 79 is probably the best untapped video footage in the vault from a technical and performance perspective and supposedly Brian's favorite contender for what was supposed to be the next vault release after Milton Keynes. Only the missing multi-tracks are preventing it's release.Releasing Hammy 79 would be awesome, it's one of my (or maybe THE) favorite Queen concerts. Again, somebody should explain to Brian that multitracks are not necessary. |
| cmsdrums 31.12.2019 13:20 |
No mention of Budapest in the listing above? |
| . 31.12.2019 15:41 |
pittrek wrote:Toozeup wrote:and as for Hyde Park, speed issues with the video tapeWhat speed issues with video tape? The speed issues which can be fixed by a random person using his PC using free software? Those speed issues? |
| . 31.12.2019 15:52 |
There is a better transfer of the Hyde Park source that was used for the QTV broadcast (without the logo of course). It's in limited circulation at present, but it's just a matter of time before it leaks on here. |
| Holly2003 31.12.2019 18:05 |
The Kurgan wrote: ... it's just a matter of time before it leaks on here.43 years and counting. |
| . 31.12.2019 20:59 |
Holly2003 wrote:The Kurgan wrote: ... it's just a matter of time before it leaks on here.43 years and counting. |
| . 31.12.2019 20:59 |
The first "scheduled" full broadcast of Hyde Park was the time coded version on QTV in 1989. It may have been broadcast before that date, but does not appear in any schedules before then. Subsequent broadcasts got progressively worse, but some decent recordings exist and clips can be found on YouTube. Fairly recently what is probably one such transfer circulated privately, and is probably the best it's going to get bar an offical release. |
| Negative Creep 01.01.2020 11:58 |
Just look at all the archives live videos the Stones have released in recent years. They obviously take a hands off approach to them, and allow a team of professionals to work the stuff up and fans love them. They're not even iconic gigs they're releasing. QPL are sitting on multiple pro shot iconic gigs and are reluctant to release any archive stuff, and when they do they employ their inhouse (un)professionals who badly remix the audio. What a shame!! Hand over all the tapes to Universal, and there'd be a steady stream of amazing releases. Not just video obviously. |
| Penetration_Guru 02.01.2020 12:40 |
Toozeup wrote: Bare in mind that everything that was intended for a home video/theatrical release has been released. Some releases like Hammy 75, Rio 85, and Japan 85 were filmed for television and not initially with a release in mind and the quality is sub-par camera and lighting-wise in some cases.Source for this, please. Also, what was the purpose of filming Earl's Court, Houston, Hammersmith 79, given none of them made it to any release? Are you claiming that because they weren't released theatrically, there was no such intention? |
| dudeofqueen 03.01.2020 10:47 |
Penetration_Guru, re: Earl's Court had a screen that was used to provide the audience with something to watch in the cavernous environs of the building - what is circulating is the mix that was used from the cameras on the night(s). I'm pretty certain that the band did not look to retain all the tapes from all the cameras that were used and, therefore, no release was planned or possible. Houston I'm pretty sure is / was the same. All bands were filmed for the Concerts For The People Of Kampucea run for release as a film directed by Keith McMillan as a vehicle for raising more money, but, certainly where The Who were concerned, there was never any intention for the show to be released, complete, under Trinifold's auspices. |
| Negative Creep 03.01.2020 14:12 |
dudeofqueen wrote: Penetration_Guru, re: Earl's Court had a screen that was used to provide the audience with something to watch in the cavernous environs of the building - what is circulating is the mix that was used from the cameras on the night(s). I'm pretty certain that the band did not look to retain all the tapes from all the cameras that were used and, therefore, no release was planned or possible.You simply do not know what tapes they have. It would depend on what the production team's setup was on the night. Do you know what that was? However, let's say they do only have the "live mix" - they have 2 nights to work with, and they WERE professional camera men filming. Broadcast quality material - no different to something filmed for TV. |
| dudeofqueen 03.01.2020 14:31 |
Negative Creep, re: >You simply do not know what tapes they have. It would depend on what the production team's setup was on the night. Do you know what that was? I didn't say I did and there's no evidence to support anything other than there being just the widely circulating mix; being "pretty certain" is based on the assumption that QPL haven't tried any harder to restore the audio (a simple process given what they've thrown at us so far) for a product that would nett the organisation a huge amount of money. I'll go to 95% certain that they don't have all of the multi-camera tapes for either night. What would YOU determie the production team's set up to be on the night? regardless, THAT wouldn't give any indication as to whether the John Reid retained the tapes from each of the cameras over just having a document of the performance to casually refer back to for the band. >However, let's say they do only have the "live mix" - they have 2 nights to work with, and they WERE professional camera men filming. Broadcast quality material - no different to something filmed for TV. They may have been professional camera men, but that doesn't make the MIX any better than it is with the incredibly naive focussing on Brian throughout White Queen or the dodgy panning noticeable thrroughout. Don't get me wrong, I love the film and would love it restored to releasable quality but it's incredibly amateurish as a mix and - given what we know about QPL's "standards" - unreleasable as it is. |
| Vocal harmony 03.01.2020 15:15 |
dudeofqueen wrote: Penetration_Guru, re: All bands were filmed for the Concerts For The People Of Kampucea run for release as a film directed by Keith McMillan as a vehicle for raising more money, but, certainly where The Who were concerned, there was never any intention for the show to be released, complete, under Trinifold's auspices.Interestingly although The Who had no plans to officially release anything from that gig they were given more TV time than any other artist on the TV special shown after the event. Wings set featured an all star jam consisting of many of the artists who performed that week. Queen were the only band to play a full night headlining show. The cameras in operation for those shows were there to shoot footage for the TV program and as such it really is a bonus that we've got a Crazy Tour show worth watching. |
| dudeofqueen 03.01.2020 16:47 |
Vocal Harmony, re: >Interestingly although The Who had no plans to officially release anything from that gig they were given more TV time than any other artist on the TV special shown after the event. Wings set featured an all star jam consisting of many of the artists who performed that week. They had just recently taken Kenney Jones in to the fold with Moonie's death still fresh and had performed some absolutely incindiary shows up to that point, proving that they were STILL, after 16 years, the best live band and value for money in Rock. Add to that the resurgence in interest due to the Quadrophenia film as well as the The Kids Are Alright movie and soundtrack still to the fore. >Queen were the only band to play a full night headlining show. With The Who playing the longest show of all the bands on the bill at two and a half hours. |
| Toozeup 05.01.2020 03:01 |
cmsdrums wrote: No mention of Budapest in the listing above?We are talking unreleased material here, though, pending some miracle the missing negatives turn up, we might get the full uncut show one-day. |
| pittrek 08.01.2020 13:40 |
Toozeup wrote:Thread title : Released Concert Videoscmsdrums wrote: No mention of Budapest in the listing above?We are talking unreleased material here, though, pending some miracle the missing negatives turn up, we might get the full uncut show one-day. |