I now have on my site a video containing two takes of Seven Seas Of Rhye.
I found this on an old videotape I have.
Can anyone tell where it was filmed? I wish it would be Top of the Pops, but then in the first take there seems to be the NBC logo at the back of the stage. I have brightened the video up a bit, but perhaps you should brighten it up more in your viewer.
Give me your comments please. link see downloads/video
deleted user 01.10.2004 13:25
Definitely not in NBC, as their Peacock has 6 and the video has 8-9 'feathers'. Also, the audience seems to be SWINGING to SSOR! Doing the mashed potato eh? Why do you think it's not color all the way? Last thing is, there is a very disturbing image at the end of the video, when the static comes on. Check it out! Looks like somebody with long hair and wearing a hat.
Actually Rein, I don't think either of these are the Top Of The Pops I have (I will need to look through my tapes though). I think one may be an "alternative TOTP" version, and the other Australian (based on the PAL format).
Both of these would have been transmitted in colour - but they have been copied so often - that the tapes suffer from degeneration loss. The first thing to go would be the colour - thus the black and white coupled to the colour flashing or spiking effect.
The final thing to go would be the sound. In this case the sound is far more important than the visuals. Here's why.
Top Of The Pops was NOT mimed. It was more "karaoke". That is the lead singer, (Freddie) could sing "live" to pre-recorded backing tapes. (Don't know if this is still true today).
For their first ever TOTP appearance, Freddie sang along to the "wrong" backing tape. Thus the "mix" for the show was totally unique. It was never broadcast in stereo.
The problem is that Queen Productions have a habbit of re-dubbing old footage with the official release (for example the "Keep Yourself Alive" video is faked - as the original live sound track has been wiped and replaced with an overdub of the album version).
If yours is the real deal, the audio track should be slightly different and perfectly preserved!
Rein, You can record and clean up these images if you use some of the sophisticated software currently available, but the easiest and most dramatic way to significantly clean up this footage is to sacrafice the colour.
Better to have "perfect" black and white (and get rid of all those colour information spikes) than a second rate colour version.
Besides, only about 20% of the population had colour sets at this time. For example: I know Jon Pertwee's early "Doctor Who's" were recorded in colour, but I still find that B&W works best for me, as that is how I recall the original transmissions.
Nothing fantastic I know - but it would make a vast improvement.
Thanks for your comments so far. Interesting.
Brian was the first to come into my mind about asking about the origin of this video by the way and I did send him a message.
oh, and if I was hoping for Brian to "pay me loads", I would not have placed this video on my site :-)
Almost missed this post! College keeps me to busy these days!
Many thanks for posting Rien, the video is better quality than my previous copy, and not to mention far more complete also.
It's a shame a full colour version hasn't surfaced yet, as there must surely be a few around. Does QP have anything like this now?
From Greg Brooks, back in June:
"Dear EVERYONE,
We are trying very hard to track down a good quality (picture quality I
mean) version/s of Queen's performances of SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE on Top Of The
Pops 1974.
I have asked this before, but I think certain people who may have this
footage, think that they might get into trouble by saying they have it.
THIS IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL.
We have only a poor quality version, but we want better if possible. So, if
you know of anyone with this footage (Queen performed the song 2 or 3 times
in 1974, we'd like all if we can find it), then please contact me ASAP. We
will of course pay you for the usage and credit you.
This is 'an earner', if you can help us.
Regards
GB"
Might want to e-mail him too?
I bought the very same version of these videos (same quality, same colors at a certain point) in London in May, when I went there to see Brian at Royal Albert Hall.
Found the bootleg dvd in a stall in Camden Town, I paid 20 pounds for it and besides the SSOR performances, the dvd features milton keynes, hammersmith 75, live aid and some other bits.
I guess Queen prod. is looking for a full colored version, anyway many compliments to Rien for having shared it!
cheers
I only had the second one. But I have one or two more TOTP performances of SSOR. Both are better quality but also wider around in collectors circles. (Well... untill now, I guess, thanks to Rien ;-)
Anyone in here know exactly how many times they did the song on the show and the (approximate) recording or airing date?
thanks for the replies.
I've also written to Greg Brooks and am waiting to hear something from him.
If anyone has better quality of these clips... feel free to send them to me! :-)