Does anyone know if the new ANATO 30th anniversary edition will be released in the USA? I was checking amazon.com and they had it listed as in import CD. Thanks!
who cares? it's a con... the "classic albums" documentary that SHOULD have been featured won't be and will get its own DVD release at a later stage. plus, it will have the latest CRAP remaster... when are queen productions going to get the albums re-mastered by someone that a, isn't an amaetuer and b, who isn't deaf... and from the actual original stereo master tapes, and not just production masters that are several generations down from the original stereo master.
Negative Creep wrote: who cares? it's a con... the "classic albums" documentary that SHOULD have been featured won't be and will get its own DVD release at a later stage.
There isn't a Classic Albums docu on ANATO. If you mean the paltry BoRhap BBC3 one, then I'm glad that that's not anything to do with them. Brian has already made his feelings pretty clear on it. A lot of their stuff wasn't used. Plus, Brian has already said that he'd want to do a proper docu.
But I definitely agree on the remaster and the person doing those...JSS. He should let someone with proper mastering experience do that job. Does he really have to gain mastering experience with a high profile band's catalogue? No. It's unfair to the fans.
Peace,
Adam.
Negative Creep wrote: who cares? it's a con... the "classic albums" documentary that SHOULD have been featured won't be and will get its own DVD release at a later stage.
But the Classic Albums documentary would need to be *significantly better* than the documentary on the BBC earlier this year about Bohemian Rhapsody.
To be honest, I don't think it will be - the band's back catalogue is being treated more and more shoddily as time goes on and there appears to be absolutely no light at the end of the tunnel.
Had ANATO been given the same kind of treatment that every other band's "legendary" albums have been (ie 2 or 3 CDs with the original, plus a disc of out-takes and or a live set from that period A-la Springsteen's Born To Run, The Who's Who's Next / Tommy, Janis Joplin, Cream, Elton John, Marvin Gaye etc etc), then I would have seen all of this as a wonderful omen for the future.
But, all we get is another "compilation" as a bonus disc in the mould of Live Magic and Queen Rocks - a shabby attempt at making product that has no right to be associated with what was once a band that held the highest ideals in terms of their music and quality of product.
This died when Freddie died.
Benn wrote: But, all we get is another "compilation" as a bonus disc in the mould of Live Magic and Queen Rocks...
Ehm... what compilation? It's the original album plus the dvd-a mixed in 5.1 with extra video.
I'm still interested to see the video content, but yes, it's not enough to herald the 30th anniversary of such an album.
Peace,
Adam.
Agreed with Adam and Benn. Might as well throw 'Lost Opportunity' on there as a bonus track.
I wanted to believe that QPL would pull something decent out of the hat, but my faith in that was shattered when everything was confirmed with the press release. Here's how I imagine the meeting went down with the officials:
Brian: "We need to have some way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of A Night At The Opera in November."
Roger: "It's our most well-known album to date, and it has 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'You're My Best Friend' on there."
Brian: "Don't forget 'Good Company'."
Roger: "Yeah, ok."
Jim Beach: "What's the cheapest way we can do this?"
Brian & Roger: "Wait a minute..."
Record company official (RCO): "I was thinking, we rerelease the album with a bonus DVD of the 5.1 mixes. You guys said you found 'God Save The Queen' now, right?"
Brian: "Yeah..."
RCO: "Terrific. Well, we'll see you in time for the 40th anniversary!"
Roger: "Hold on. Didn't we just release the DVD-Audio a few years ago?"
Jim Beach: "Well, yeah."
Brian: "What about some kind of special feature? Like a documentary?"
Jim Beach: "Mmm, no. But we'll film you miming the harp and toy koto parts and splice that to footage of 'The Prophet's Song'."
Brian: "What a terrible idea."
RCO: "Actually, it's a good idea."
Roger: "No it's not!"
*RCO and Jim Beach get out a pair of sunglasses a la Men In Black and wipe Brian's and Roger's memories*
RCO: "So, how about some extra footage to supplement the DVD?"
Jim Beach: "I was thinking..."
RCO: "Yeah?"
Jim Beach: "Seaside. Archival footage of... SEAS! We can put that on 'Seaside Rendezvous'."
RCO: "Marry me."
Lester and Benn, that's spot on. Benn, I'd love to see you send a leeter to Brian's site, with your thoughts on this, especially your final thoughts about quality dying when Freddie did. You'd never get an answer but I'd love to hear Brian justify this release given the treatment Pink Floyd, Springsteen and Elton John are giving their respective 30th anniversary releases. The more I think about it, I think that Brian and Roger are more concerned with the sales aspect of their music by dumbing it down for the masses than protecting their legacy of great music. They've become the Garth Brooks of rock.
Springsteen is eh! Elton John not bad but the WYWH Hybrid SACD might be delayed awhile due to PULSE DVD being released. WYWH's 5.1 mix is due to be fantastic with James Guthrie once again doing the re-mixing and re-mastering as he did with Dark Side in 2002/2003.
I respect everybody's feelings on the matter but I have to say, I am really having a hard time getting wound up about this and viewing it as a tragedy or a smack in the face of some kind. Its a CD that I will either buy or not, but generally there are just too many things going on day to day for me to dwell on what might have or should have been released and wasn't - and to then get outraged about it on top of everything else. Whatever is or isn't released is out of my hands (and I don't think a Queen Zone led boycott would have an impact), so I'll take a look at whatever comes out and decide if its worth my dime or not. The end. Your mileage may vary, of course, and more power to you.
reeddr wrote: Who did the remastering and why is it bad? I have heard a lot of complaints about the mastering but no specifics. Exactly what is wrong with it?
Please refer to this thread that has links to our opinions on why there have been issues brought up in the past about the last remasterings. link
Peace,
Adam.