I know there are two versions of this song, one with Freddie the other with Montserrat on vocals (well at least that's what Greg the Queen's archivist said), but I have no idea who sings on the version from The Freddie Mercury Album. Since the album is called like that, it would be natural to be Freddie's version, but still the voice is too feminine and too high to be his... Perhaps someone knows for sure and helps me!
P.S. If it's Fred's voice, this guy certainly had the best voice ever!
I'm so surprised a question like this would be asked!! Freddie's falsettos could easily mimic a woman's voice. Bear in mind Montserrat Caballe did Ensueno on the Barcelona CD -- a variation on the same song -- and there's a marked difference in Freddie's and her voice. I like Freddie's version better though!
Lisa, I am also surprised of your answer!
Why to compare Freddie's Exercises In Free Love with Montsy's Ensueño when you can compare it with Montsy's version of the SAME SONG???
By the way, Freddie's version is repeated on his box set, while Montsy's is absent. Weird.
It is the same song indeed! :-))
I loved the way Freddie was singing both parts of Barcelona on the Solo Collection CD (Barcelona Sessions). And all of the outtakes! I wish we could see a Boxset Part II -- I'm sure there's stuff that's still never been released. So much still to be heard and enjoyed!
Incredible! I was just about to post this very same question. I've been listening to The Great Pretender,and the first time I heard Exercises In Free Love I almost thought it was Montsy. But then I realized that it is Freddie when I heard the part where he goes low key for a moment. It's a beautiful song and Freddie is beautiful in it. It's proof that he had the best voice of all time.Is this why EIFL is on The Great Pretender album and not Barcelona??
Well, thanks to you all for helping me with this problem. By the way, Lisa said she was surprised that a question like that could be asked, but I wanted to be 100% sure, even if I already supposed it was Fred's voice: I'm working on a Queen site and I didn't want to write about something I wasn't sure.
Freddie's vocal range was astounding. His voice seemed to get better as he got older! The smoking and drinking added to its lustre (and took away the "innocence, don't you think?) and, after the Montserrat Caballe sessions, improved so much. (Matured in that sense?) Notice how his songwriting changed a bit as well!
Woof. Fred recordings manage to forever floor me. [Grasps counter a bit harder.] His range scares the crap out of me ... :) (I sing, so yah, it's a bit scary to hear a man like that. Wow.)
Best voice of ... all time.