| The Real Wizard 26.12.2019 03:15 |
"Baker's dozen" posts were inspired by Led Zeppelin collectors who posted their top 13 bootleg releases of the year on the Underground Uprising website. After the Bohemian Rhapsody film came out, the attics and basements of the world opened up and a bounty of photos, audio, and video came out in 2018 and 2019. These are my picks for the best new Queen tapes of the year. 1. Kobe - April 23, 1975 ("Complete Kobe 1975 Uncirculated Master" - Wardour) This fourth source from the Kobe show is the first time the complete concert has been heard. It still doesn't sound nearly as good as the best sources from the last couple nights of the tour, but it still well worth a gander as the band are on fire. 2. Santa Monica - March 11, 1976 (master) This is the first new tape from the US A Night At The Opera tour to emerge since the Boston recording a decade ago. While the sound isn't nearly as good, the performance is still top notch. Any Queen from this era is welcome in my house (and my neighbours'). 3. four Tokyo 1976 shows ("Geisha Boys, The Complete Tokyo Tapes" - Empress Valley) Several decades after three of these incomplete shows were first released on vinyl, the uncut tapes emerged at long last. The gems of this box set are the April 1 Budokan and April 4 Nichidai Kodo shows being made available for the first time in great quality. This first Queen release from Empress Valley is hopefully the first of many. 4. Zurich - February 4, 1979 (upgrade) This Live Killers tour audience recording circulated for ages, but a single song in considerably better quality was heard on various 1990s compilation bootlegs with hopes that the uncut copy would one day be heard. It finally dropped in 2019, and while it is still missing the last few songs, it's now one of the best sounding shows of 1979. 5. Lyon - February 17, 1979 ("Lyon 1979" - Wardour) It had long been rumoured that the Lyon show featured heavily on Live Killers, and this audience tape did not disappoint, with six songs turning up. This is an excellent show and a reasonably good sounding recording that captures it. 6. Sapporo - May 5, 1979 ("Up Field Tapes" - Soldier's Things) New sources of both nights in Sapporo came out this year on a new CDR bootleg label called "Soldier's Things." The second night is distorted and forgettable (which is fine considering the existing source is good and complete), but the first night is a considerable upgrade of the previous distant and massively incomplete source. 7. Rosario - March 6, 1981 (video) Some bits of an 8mm film from Rosario were seen on Argentinian TV. The quality isn't great, but it has been many years since any new footage from 1981 has been seen. 8. Cologne - May 6, 1982 (source 2) This new audience source from the first night in Cologne was a welcome addition to the collection. The performance is top notch, and the recording is more than audible. 9. Philadelphia - July 24, 1982 (master) The existing copy of this recording was already quite good, but the master tape blows it away and even included the encores for the first time. Fabulous stuff. 10. Tokyo - May 8, 1985 ("Budokan 1985 1st Night" - Wardour) The Uxbridge source released in 2009 is the best sounding source of the three existing ones from this night, but it's missing the second half of the show. This source is the first time the latter half is available on a listenable tape. 11. Osaka - May 15, 1985 ("Queen's Last Stand 1985 Definitive Master" - Wardour) This bootleg is exactly what its title says it is - the master tape of the original bootleg LP of the show. Essential listening. How lucky we are to have two excellent sounding sources of Queen's last show in Japan. 12. We Are The Champions - 24 track master What a delightful surprise this was, and from a legitimate DJ remix website, which should imply that Queen Productions approved of this. With all the gripe over what they release and do not release, this is one of those quiet little gifts that should satiate anyone who's watching carefully enough. And it's not just three minutes long - there's even an extra minute of the song at the end with the band jamming over the chorus. Open up your DAW and turn up the guitar, and listen to May searching for the licks that would eventually be played under the vocal in the last two choruses. Hearing things like this are like learning how the pyramids were built. 13. Under Pressure - mix from 24 track master The 24 track of Under Pressure hasn't leaked yet, but a mix with a whole lot of previously unheard vocals got out this year. What a delight to hear this. Honourable mention #1 - Live Aid 1985 video by Chief Mouse Resident Queenzone contributor Chief Mouse created an excellent video of the classic Live Aid set with four choices of audio, including the audience tape. Check it out. Honourable mention #2 - Perth 1976 interview with Donnie Sutherland A shorter version of this interview came out in 2018, but this copy from the Getty archive is the whole six minute piece in broadcast quality (it came out at the tail end of last year, just after I'd compiled my 2018 baker's dozen list). The band speak mostly about their creative process, all while guarding it like a mother hen. Essential viewing. A giant thank you to concert tapers and everyone else who is somehow involved in the process of unearthing old tapes from the attics and archives of the world. Previous years: http://www.queenconcerts.com/queenzone/1532711.html http://www.queenconcerts.com/queenzone/1498893.html http://www.queenconcerts.com/queenzone/1334236.html http://www.queenconcerts.com/queenzone/1294397.html http://www.queenconcerts.com/queenzone/1253025.html |
| NastyQueenie74 26.12.2019 04:45 |
Kobe 1979: A performance that is simply too great for words |
| sahm 26.12.2019 08:37 |
Thanks and great work Real Wizard |
| Chinwonder2 26.12.2019 09:18 |
I look forward to these lists each year, thanks Bob and to everyone who has contributed this year to all the shares we got. Wishing everyone a good Christmas and a happy New Year! -Chin |
| cmi 26.12.2019 09:41 |
It was a fab year for Queen fans indeed. But another let-down year from QPL... not counting 'Mr Bad Guy' SE. Thanks Bob! |
| pmatsynot 26.12.2019 10:00 |
Nice list for this year,but can I ask where We are the champions 24 track master came from? Was it available on QZ. Thank you for your hard work over the years |
| Chopin1995 26.12.2019 11:58 |
pmatsynot wrote: Nice list for this year,but can I ask where We are the champions 24 track master came from? Was it available on QZ. Thank you for your hard work over the yearslink It's here. Thanks to everyone responsible in any way for those tapes, videos and photos, and to you Bob, for your huge contribution to Queen fandom. Always a great pleasure to read thread like this. |
| Victorvil 26.12.2019 13:06 |
Thanks Bob, for putting everything that has been shared here in perspective. And also thanks to Masahiko, Pittrek, Chief Mouse, Chinwonder, CMI, and "The Real Wizard" for every contribution to relive what most of us couldn't witness. |
| Sam99 26.12.2019 13:14 |
Bob, thank you very much, I must have missed a few of these I’ll have a search later. Your review of any show is always welcome and a good pointer for us to seek them out, think I missed Zurich 1979, I’ll certainly look for that one later. Being 40 years today since Hammersmith I actually did expect something from Queen on this, disappointing. However, Greg did mention a Live Killers box sometime in the future!! |
| Masahiko 26.12.2019 13:21 |
Thanks Bob, This is a nice list and excellent review. In this year, a lot of amazing treasures was discovered. I hope we see some other great treasures next year. Happy 2020 for all QZ members! |
| Chinwonder2 26.12.2019 13:34 |
Here are the links to each of the shares! 1: link 2: link 3: link 4: link 5: link 6: link 7: link 8: link 9: link 10: link 11: link 12: link 13: link 14: link 15: link -Chin |
| Kakarot 26.12.2019 14:17 |
An argentinian YT user has a better source of the Rosario 1981 concert, I've spoken to him but he is only interested in trading. Maybe we've got here in QZ something of his interest. Could you speak to him Bob? Maybe you can convice him of sharing his version Here's the sample: link |
| MemeOverlord69 26.12.2019 19:46 |
Gregsynth is already trying to contact the Rosario 1981 dude. As a side note, I'm surprised to see the absence of Kobe 79 on this years list. It was the final piece to Japan 79, which now has every date available on recording. |
| Arnaldo "Ogre-" Silveira 26.12.2019 20:35 |
Thanks, Bob! Great list! It is great to have this summary yearly! It also reminded me of the multitracks thread and that kept me busy for the day :D Cheers, Ogre- |
| Chief Mouse 26.12.2019 21:03 |
Cheers Bob! |
| The Real Wizard 27.12.2019 02:18 |
MemeOverlord69 wrote: As a side note, I'm surprised to see the absence of Kobe 79 on this years list. It was the final piece to Japan 79, which now has every date available on recording.Serious oversight on my part. Glad you guys mentioned it ! I probably just let it slip by because those late April shows are just so mediocre. |
| pmatsynot 27.12.2019 10:06 |
Thank you Chopin 1995 and Chin for your links |
| Penetration_Guru 27.12.2019 11:46 |
I really appreciate the effort that goes into sourcing, comparing and writing up all this stuff. Plus the efforts of those who are remastering audio and especially video. |
| Chopin1995 27.12.2019 14:09 |
Bob, I sent you a PM. To make sure it's delivered I also sent you an email with the same content :) |
| MercurialFreddie 27.12.2019 15:28 |
As The Real Wizard and Penetration_Guru stated: A giant thank you to concert tapers and everyone else who is somehow involved in the process of unearthing old tapes from the attics and archives of the world and remastering them. Also, what is really interesting about Philly 1982 is the crowds anticipation, emotions, shouting in unison "Queen! Queen! Queen!" just before the first bars of Flash are about to burst out of the speakers. Are there any other recorded instances of an audience chanting "Queen!" before the concert? |
| Penetration_Guru 28.12.2019 17:09 |
MercurialFreddie wrote: Are there any other recorded instances of an audience chanting "Queen!" before the concert?There's about 90 minutes of buildup before Brixton 2005, you'll find some increasingly bored examples on there... |