Queen Discussion Thread

[talon]

1989 LIVE

1989 was a studio year for the band.  Without Queen to tour with, without a solo album to promote the band and its members chose to do very little live.  All there are are three appearances from Brian (always the one most willing to play with another artist.

09/10/89-  Brian May live at Hammersmith Odeon - London, UK w/BLACK SABBATH

Setlist (w/Brian):Heaven and Hell/Paranoid/Heaven and Hell Reprise 

10/23/89 -Brian May DAY TIMELIVE TV SHOW - UK(w/Ian & Belinda)

Setlist:Who Wants To Live Forever

Brian on TV stumping for Bone Marrow

11/21/89 -Brian May - live at HammersmithOdeon - London, UK w/JERRY LEE LEWIS

Setlist(w/Brian) - High School Confidential/High School Confidential Reprise/Rockin'My Life Away/Johnny B. Goode/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On/Great Balls of Fire/GoodGolly Miss Molly/Tutti Frutti/Mexicali Rose/Wild One






Short but sweet. Brian working with legend Jerry Lee Lewis is great. What's funny is that Brian gets the chance to do a rocking solo when...his guitar gets unplugged! Unruffled Lewis just starts the section again to give Brian his chance!

Next we go into 1990 and the second Cross album!

[talon]

The Cross - Mad, Bad, And Dangerous To Know



A little background

The second album from the band, in reality it is the first truly band effort. Instead of an album written and mostly performed by Roger and Spike, this second album boasts songs written by each member and even by the group at times. Roger took a bit more of a backseat as he worked more extensively with Queen again and the other members stepped up. It became a more traditional rock album but unfortunately did not make any mark on the charts and the band was dropped from their recording label. It did perform better in Germany where the band released one further studio album.

Tracks on the album

1. Top of the World, Ma (Taylor/Edney/Noone/Moss/Macrae)
2. Liar (Noone)
3. Closer To You (Edney)
4. Breakdown (Noone)
5. Penetration Guru (Moss)
6. Power To Love (Macrae/Noone/Moss)
7. Sister Blue (Noone)
8. Foxy Lady (Hendrix)
9. Better Things (Moss)
10. Passion For Trash (Macrae)
11. Old Men (Lay Down) (Taylor)
12. Final Destination (Taylor)

Additional Released Track
1. In Charge Of My Heart (Taylor) (B-Side)

Unreleased Track
1. I Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Moss) (Demo)

First up? They're on Top of the World, Ma

[talon]

Top Of The World, Ma

Written by: Roger Taylor/Spike Edney/Josh Macrae/Clayton Moss/Peter Noone

Musicians:

Roger Taylor - lead vocals, guitar, backing vocals
Spike Edney - keyboards, mandolin, backing vocals
Peter Noone - bass, backing vocals
Clayton Moss - lead guitar, backing vocals
Joshua J. Macrae - drums, percussion, backing vocals

I'm on top of the world ma
On top of the world
You know I got me a girl ma
She makes my kiss curl curl
She got some kind on witch craft
And its a working on me
What you get ma is what you see

She's a voodoo child when she weaves her spell
Gonna send me dancing to the gates of Hell

Is this the end of the world ma
Is this the end of the world
I think I'm losing control ma
You know my head's in a whirl
She's got her own kind of voodoo
And it's a working on me
When we get gymnastic oooee

Well she can make me rock she can make me roll
She makes me mad bad and dangerous to know

She's a voodoo child she's a living doll
She can crack the sky watch the angels fall

I'm on top of the world ma
I'm on top of the world
I'm on top of the world ma
On top of the world
On top of the world
I'm on top of the world
On top of the world ma
I'm on top of the world
I'm on top of the world
On top of the world ma
I know you honey I'm on top of the world

- This is the first time the band wrote a song together
- Played live at most Cross gigs after it debuted.

ALTERNATE VERSION

EXTENDED VERSION
- NO YT VID
- Recently released on Roger Taylor's box set, The Lot this was extended for a time when the track was considered for a single. When the decision was made to go a different direction this sat unreleased until 2013.

LIVE VERSIONS

LIVE IN IBIZIA 1990


PERSONAL NOTES:

- A great album opener. Really rocking. Silly as hell but fun. One of the only things about The Cross is that you have to get past some of the highly immature lyrics and subject matter but they were a great little rock band.

Next up? Liar. And no. The Cross didn't cover a Queen song from their first album!

[talon]

Liar

Written by: Peter Noone

Musicians

Roger Taylor - lead vocals, guitar, backing vocals
Spike Edney - keyboards, mandolin, backing vocals
Peter Noone - bass, backing vocals
Clayton Moss - lead guitar, backing vocals
Joshua J. Macrae - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Hey

When my lady walks into the room
The lights come on to her sweet perfume
I didn't know the devils by her side
There I stood I had nothing to hide

My love could teach the blind to see
My love's the wildest mystery
My love said she'd be the one
Now I know
Baby you're a liar
You're a liar

I wasn't watching for the danger signs
And I never read between the lines
She says c'mon boy can you do your thang
So I turned around still wondering

When my love dances she makes me cry
My love dances with me tonight
My love said she's be the one
But now I know
Baby you're a liar
Oh you're a liar
A liar
But I'm still burning with desire

With the look of a panther
I got lost in the jungle
No I can't help myself again
I can't help myself
Baby you're a liar

My love could teach the blind to see
My love's the wildest mystery
My love said she'd be the one
Now I know
Baby you're a liar
Oh yeah you're a liar
A liar
I'm burning with desire
Oh baby you're a liar
Oh baby you're a liar (you're a liar)
Oh baby you're a liar (you've bin known to veer from the truth)

Lies
You're a liar
You're telling me lies
Baby you're a liar
Lies
I'm burning with desire
Lies
Baby you're a liar

- The first Cross song that Roger had no hand in writing.
- So obviously not the Queen song that Freddie wrote back for the first album! This becomes a bit of a trend with Roger as he starts recycling titles!
- Played live on the 1990 tour.

ALTERNATE VERSION

SINGLE MIX

- NOT NECESSARY
- Some slight edits, very few in fact but just enough to trim it

EXTENDED

- NECESSARY
- This version is about double the length but the instrumental add ons really actually help develop the song a bit more imo. The Cross extended versions are usually worth hunting down.

LIVE VERSIONS

LIVE IN GENEVA 1990


PERSONAL NOTES:
- Definitely an 80s rock song but a very good one. Roger's vocals are sublime on this track.

Next up? Spike Edney wants to get Closer To You

[talon]

Closer To You

Written by Spike Edney

Musicians:

Roger Taylor - lead vocals, guitar, backing vocals
Spike Edney - keyboards, mandolin, backing vocals
Peter Noone - bass, backing vocals
Clayton Moss - lead guitar, backing vocals
Joshua J. Macrae - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Wasn't looking for love
But you found me anyway
Like a shot from a gun
You just blew me away

Because you got the power
And you got control
Ain't got no strength
And I can't fight it all

I'll be what you want me to be
And I'll do what you want me to do
And I'll see what you want me to see
If that's what it takes to get closer to you

Well I'm down on my knees
Because you got me in chains
So you do what you please
And you drive me insane

Because you got the power
And you got control
Ain't got no strength
And I can't fight it all

I'll be what you want me to be
And I'll do what you want me to do
And I'll see what you want me to see
If that's what it takes to get closer to you

Hey if that's what it takes
If that's what it takes
If that's what it takes to get closer to you now

I'll be what you want me to be
And I'll do what you want me to do
And I'll see what you want me to see
If that's what it takes to get closer to you

Be what you want me
Do what you want me
I'll see what you want me to see
To get closer to you

Closer to you babe
Closer to you
If that's what it takes to get closer to you

- First Spike Edney composition to be released.
- Played live throughout the 1990 tour.

LIVE

LIVE IN GENEVA 1990

- Contains a few songs but the first one is the one in question.

Personal Notes:
- A typical 80s rocker. Not bad, nothing I'm clamoring to listen to but it works well live.

Next? The Cross have a Breakdown

[talon]

Breakdown

Written by: Peter Noone

Musicians:

Roger Taylor - lead vocals, guitar, backing vocals
Spike Edney - keyboards, mandolin, backing vocals
Peter Noone - bass, backing vocals
Clayton Moss - lead guitar, backing vocals
Joshua J. Macrae - drums, percussion, backing vocals



- The B-Side to Power To Love
- Played live on the 1990 tour


LIVE

LIVE IN GENEVA - 1990

- Again with a few songs but it is the first!

PERSONAL NOTES:
- I really liked this one. A bit of a slow burn with some decent lyrics. One of my favorite non-Roger Cross songs.

Next? Clayton Moss gets dirty as the Penetration Guru

[talon]

Ok guys and gals, just to let you know I'm gonna be off for a few days for minor surgery. I should be back on Monday to continue!

[SophieB]

Jun 13, 2013 8:07:23 GMT -5 talon said:

Ok guys and gals, just to let you know I'm gonna be off for a few days for minor surgery. I should be back on Monday to continue!

Hope all goes well with the surgery, Talon....and thanks for this great thread!

[maya]

Jun 15, 2013 1:52:40 GMT -5 SophieB said:

Jun 13, 2013 8:07:23 GMT -5 talon said:

Ok guys and gals, just to let you know I'm gonna be off for a few days for minor surgery. I should be back on Monday to continue!

Hope all goes well with the surgery, Talon....and thanks for this great thread!

What SophieB said, Talon. Hope you get well soon... and thanks for the wonderful job you've been doing with this awesome thread.

[talon]

Thanks! Everything went well...I should be able to pick it back up for one day tomorrow - then take another 2 days off and then start regularly picking it up again!