Let Me Live was a favorite of mine since the first time I heard it November 1995.
When I first heard it, I thought it was a new song written on the bands final days with Freddie. Of course we know now it’s origins were in 1983 or so.
Is it interesting that a song that turned out this well was shelved for so long? It missed making four albums.
I guess it’s hard to picture it on any of the 1984-91 albums, though I’m sure it would have for somewhere well enough (maybe The Works actually).
Anyone know why this was left behind for so long? Was it the Janis Joplin thing? Seems like it got set aside and started gathering dust and was abandoned only to finally see the light on Made In Heaven. Why did it take that long?
In fact, it's been said it'd been around, in embryonic form, since 1976.
Now, these are all guesses so take them with a pinch of salt:
- Races: Two gospel-influenced tracks would've been too much.
- News: Too soon after 'Somebody to Love', would've reeked of sequel.
- Jazz: The nostalgic quota had been met with 'Jealousy', 'Leaving Home 'and 'Seven Days'.
- Game: Frederick didn't want to diversify too much.
- Flash: No connexion to the film (unless you picture Vultan singing it to Prince Barin).
- Hot Space: Frederick wanted more dancey stuff.
- Works: Probably legal issues to get Roderick there.
- Bad Guy: Frederick wanted more dancey stuff.
- Magic: Sessions were too scatty, there were easier tracks to put together.
- Miracle: They prioritised the newer material.
- Innuendo: Too on the nose because of Frederick's illness. He picked 'Delilah' instead.
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Frederick Douglass refused to sing it.
However, it (along with most of Made In Heaven) has possibly my favorite Brian May solos
Not to discard the light stuff and the grandeur stuff and the incredible Good Company bit and the singularly recognisable stuff of the 70's in 3 measured pieces. .
.....But his work in Innuendo and MIH is truly transcendent. They're Underepresented albums.
Let me live and His tone on Mother Love and Winter's Tale.... They're so immensely beautiful though unfortunately tragic... they just cut
Yehoshua would've probably been more into 'let me die' than 'let me live' type of lyrics. He may have tried out a collaboration with Michael Ehrmantraut titled 'Shut the Fuck Up and Let Me Die in Peace', featuring Grateful Dead guitarist Robert Weir as well as Massimiliano Cavalera (Sepultura), Anthony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and James Page (Led Zeppelin). American chess grandmaster Robert Fischer described it as a check mate of a collaboration, and English footballer Robert Charlton said it was a bit of a hat-trick. Former Yank president William Clinton, on the other hand, declared that he did not have sexual relationships to that song, and actor James Belushi said he agreed.
matt z wrote:
Frederick Douglass refused to sing it.
However, it (along with most of Made In Heaven) has possibly my favorite Brian May solos
Not to discard the light stuff and the grandeur stuff and the incredible Good Company bit and the singularly recognisable stuff of the 70's in 3 measured pieces. .
.....But his work in Innuendo and MIH is truly transcendent. They're Underepresented albums.
Let me live and His tone on Mother Love and Winter's Tale.... They're so immensely beautiful though unfortunately tragic... they just cut
I would add The Miracle to that list..It's not the strongest album, but his guitar work Is some of his best. The last 3 albums were a return to form for Brian after Hot Space to Magic which were his weakest.
My favourite solos of his are 'These Are the Days of Our Lives' and 'Who Wants to Live Forever', which are precisely on the albums preceding and succeeding 'The Miracle'. I agree that's probably the strongest album in terms of guitar playing, whereas something like 'A Night at the Opera' is probably the strongest album in terms of guitar arranging.
Brian had a blast on the last three albums (Miracle-Innuendo-MIH). His solos in songs like The Invisible Man, Days of Our Lives and YDFM are among his finest.