talon
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Post by talon on Dec 23, 2013 8:21:12 GMT -5
Wilderness
Written by: Brian May
Musicians:
Brian May - all vocals, instruments, and programming
- Very atmospheric track, with Brian playing everything
- This was not attempted live.
- There is reportedly a demo out there which I have heard which sounds pretty much identical to the track.
QUOTE:
“’Wilderness’ was a fusion of a lot of feelings I had at the time which were (and are) hard to express. It was one of those songs which more or less wrote themselves. I had no confidence in it at the time, but Justin (Shirley-Smith) encouraged me to finish it. There is a lot of darkness in these songs from this period which I find hard to revisit even now. The upside is that they were part of a path which led me eventually to a good place, though not in a way I was expecting.” – Brian May
PERSONAL NOTE: A very different song from Brian. Deep, very keyboard driven, with some VERY emotional guitar and some great harmonies.
NEXT? One of the songs from the original Heroes sessions...a cover of Larry Williams Slow Down also made famous by The Beatles!
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 25, 2013 17:35:08 GMT -5
Slow Down
Written by: Larry Williams
Musicians:
Brian May - vocals, lead guitar
Cozy Powell - drums
Neil Murray - bass
Jamie Moses - guitar
Spike Edney - keyboards
- Initially recorded during the period the album was going to be a cover album.
- Recorded as a live take.
- Played live very sporadically, surprisingly.
QUOTE:
"The only track we really recorded live is ‘Slow Down’, which I have played with my old band. Otherwise I had a plan, a frame to which people should play. I found a friend and a fiend in the computer. It is a friend because you can write wonderfully with it. For the album I spent most of the time programming a good drum track. The track had, of course, not been used but instead of describing to Cozy Powell what he should play, he heard it directly. But a computer can also be terrible because you can become obsessesd and spend your whole life with it.” – Brian May
PERSONAL NOTES:
A fun fun cover. Rocking and rolling. A feel of innocence and old school vibe. Very nice indeed. Next? Brian covers Jimi Hendrix! One Rainy Wish
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 26, 2013 8:31:32 GMT -5
One Rainy Wish
Written by: Jimi Hendrix
Musicians:
Brian May - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Cozy Powell - drums
Neil Murray - bass
London Metropolitan Orchestra - strings , conducted by Michael Kamen
- Initially recorded for a Hendrix Tribute album, In From The Storm it was re-worked a bit for this album.
QUOTE
“Somebody asked me to do a tribute to Hendrix and I think they asked me to do something like Burning the Midnight Lamp or something and I thought, ‘Oh please – how can I possibly do it when it’s been done perfectly by the master?’ So I said, ‘Can I choose my own track?’ and they said okay. So I chose ‘One Rainy Wish’, because I think it was done really quickly by Jimi Hendrix – it’s something he put down in ten minutes, and the lyric, I think is genuinely a dream. That’s the way I hear it. I’ve written stuff from dreams before, and I think Hendrix had this dream. And you know it sounds like ‘golden rose’? Everybody thinks it’s a golden rose, like a rose made of gold, but there’s a little scrap of paper which is in one of the Hendrix biographies, where he’s written down his dream, and he says ‘Gold and rose, the colour of the dream I had.’ So I thought, ‘That’s what it’s about,’ you know, it’s about these colours, and it always sends shivers up my spine ‘cos it’s so real – it’s like he drifts off into his dream, so I wanted to recreate that, and make it a bit more spacey, in the modern way you can do, with production. So I just really enjoyed doing it, and it’s a big challenge doing a Hendrix song. Me and Freddie used to listen to Hendrix albums, and sort of go round to the speaker here, and say “Well, a piece of guitar appears over here, and then it sort of comes over here.’ You know, all these little secret things that you don’t realize at first. And there’d be a bit of backwards guitar and a backwards vocal and if you played your record backwards it would say something different.” – Brian May
ALTERNATE VERSION
ORIGINAL TRIBUTE VERSION
- ESSENTIAL
- I like the original version better than the Another World version. There's something a bit more energetic about it. It's not tremendously different but the differences do count.
PERSONAL NOTES: I love the idea that Brian picked a lesser known work of Hendrix simply because there was no way to better the original's big tunes. It's a beautiful Queen-like canvas and Brian paints it well!
NEXT? A third cover? The Heroes concept lives for the third (and final) cover on the album. This time he takes on his old friends Mott The Hoople with All The Way From Memphis
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Post by talon on Dec 27, 2013 7:24:51 GMT -5
All The Way From Memphis
Written by: Ian Hunter
Musicians:
Brian May - vocals, guitar
Cozy Powell - drums
Neil Murray - bass
Shelley Preston - backing vocals
Nikki Love - backing vocals
Becci Glover - backing vocals
Ian Hunter - guest raconteur
- Originally recorded for a Mott the Hoople tribute album, Moth Poet Hotel.
- Ian Hunter is the guest raconteur
- Played live throughout 1998
QUOTE:
“Mott The Hoople was really our first experience of life on the road, and a pretty blinding experience it was, I must say. It's always remained close to my heart, cos' we grew up on that tour, we had to, it was just insanity, and to survive you had to adapt, you had to become a rock'n'roll kind of animal &endash; in the good sense of the word, you know. And, yeah, it was phenomenal. And I used to watch them do All The Way From Memphis every night, and every night the place would erupt, it was like an earthquake. They really were a fantastic band live. Should have stayed together, I have to say.” – Brian May – Clyde 1 - May 1998
“The first proper gig we had as Queen, we supported Mott The Hoople, which was a brilliant stroke – the best thing that could possibly have happened to us. We were doing a few small gigs around England, but really not getting incredibly far. I mean there was as ort of reputation building up, but what we did was go out with Mott who had the proper audience already there. You know, they’d worked on their audience, they had it down, and anyone who was into state-of-the-art rock ‘n’ roll at the time would have been there. So they saw us, which was just the best thing that could have happened. I saw Mott the Hoople play this song all around England and all around the States and it was a storm every night. It was something exemplary – to see an audience erupt and react that way to that song. I wish it was still possible to see them do that. But I’m gonna do it, which is why I put it on the album, ‘cos I damn well wanna play that song live. I just love it so much. It’s got all the right elements. Ian had it taped – you know, it’s got light and shade, changes of pace, it’s got suspense, and you think, ‘When’s it coming?’ and he’d milk that for all it was worth and now I’m gonna milk it!” – Brian May 1998.
LIVE VERSIONS
LIVE IN BUDAPEST 1998
- Not great quality, but Brian loved playing this live
SPECIAL LIVE VERSION:
IAN HUNTER W/BRIAN MAY & JOE ELLIOT (of DEF LEPPARD) - 2004
PERSONAL NOTES: TO be honest, a third cover song in a row wears a bit thin considering this was no longer supposed to be a covers album. I'd much rather have gotten a few more Brian tracks than slapping together some of the covers he did for tribute albums BUT that's more a knock on the concept than the execution. I can't fault the execution. It's a fun rocking take, done well. Can't ask for much more!
NEXT? We end the album proper with the title track, a very gentle piano ballad, Another World
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talon
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Post by talon on Dec 28, 2013 7:47:00 GMT -5
Another WorldWritten by: Brian May Musicians: Brian May - vocals, acoustic guitar, piano Steve Ferrone - drums Ken Taylor - bass - Played live throughout 1998 - The press release stated that it was a “ballad which would probably work for anyone from Axl Rose to Celine Dion”. - There is a hidden track at the end after some silence which is Brian basically playing a slow instrumental version of Business on piano. QUOTES: "My favourite song at the moment is the last song on there, ‘Another World’, which is utterly different from anything else; it’s very kind of grown-up and calm." - Brian May - Guitarist - July 1998 “This guy who wrote Sliding Doors, who's an old friend of mine, came and said, ‘Brian, would you write a song for this film?’ Gave me the script, I got very inspired and wrote it, and the song was called 'Another World'. Um, I just wrote it kind of overnight and gave it to him, and he was thrilled, he was jumping up and down and said, ‘This is what we need for the film. This is perfect’. Um, to cut a long story short, I never heard from him for the next six months. And it didn't go in the film. - Brian May - August 1998 “As soon as you start working on an idea for a song, then all kinds of things come into your head, and you weave all the threads together. It’s primarily a love song, really, and the first seed of the idea came from a film again, strangely enough. This guy, Peter Howitt, worte a script for a film called Sliding Doors, which has now come out, as a matter of fact. He was an old friend of mine, and he said, ‘Please write me a song. I’ve always dreamed of asking you to write me a song, Bri.’ So I wrote this ‘Another World’ track and was very pleased with it: took it straight round to him, and he loved it, jumped up and down, said ‘This is it! This is the perfect thing for the film!’ About four months later I’d never heard another word from him and he said, ‘Oh, sorry Brian, politics, y’know. I got involved with a record company who is financing the film and we can’t use your song.’ So I was upset for a couple of days, but then I thought, ‘Well, I have the song.’ And I started to weave into it the thoughts which go with my own life and my own feelings and I’m ver…actually it’s a shock. Every time I hear the song, it’s a shcok, because it’s very different for me, and it really is another world in terms of technique and atmosphere in songwriting and record making. It’s a record which I didn’t think I would make. I’m much more into excess y’know (laughs). This is a very grown-up kind of song, and it is another world for me.” – Brian May ALTERNATE VERSIONS SINGLE EDIT- Basically just loses the hidden track OTRO LUGAR- Same track, Spanish lyrics, performed live a few times in Spanish speaking counries. LIVE IN STUGGART 1998PERSONAL NOTES: A nice sentimental track. Brian does these very well - surprisingly since it has no Red Special to use  NEXT? Brian recorded a few more covers before abandoning the Heroes project, so he ended up releasing a 4 track mail in EP that I've included in the bonus tracks. The first track is Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul) from the Rocky Horror Picture Show!
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Post by talon on Jan 1, 2014 3:28:13 GMT -5
Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul)
Written by: Richard O'Brien
Musicians:
Brian May - vocals guitars
- The NSO recorded a soundtrack for the Rocky Horror Show and Brian did this track and possibly played guitar on another.
- Brian also included it on an EP called Retro Rock that he offered as a mail in to those who purchased Another World
- This track was made famous by Meat Loaf
- Never attempted live.
PERSONAL NOTES: I LOVE this cover. It's a real hard rocking' affair - very fun.
NEXT? Brian goes older school with his covers when he covers Maybe Baby by Buddy Holly & The Crickets!
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Post by talon on Jan 2, 2014 7:30:09 GMT -5
Maybe Baby
Written by: Buddy Holly and Norman Petty
Musicians:
Brian May - guitar, vocals
- Issued as a B-Side on more than one occasion but also as a part of the Retro Rock EP
- Brian always said that Buddy Holly and the Crickets were one of his favorite bands growing up.
- Brian didn't perform it in his sets but he did join a reunion of The Crickets in 2004 to play a few of the old standbys including this one.
LIVE in 2004 w/THE CRICKETS
PERSONAL NOTES: Again another fun silly nostalgic old time classic done with more modern production. These songs fit Brian vocally very well and though they hold him back slightly with the guitar, it's still a very fun track. NEXT? Brian tackles another one of his heroes, Hank Marvin and the Shadows as he covers F.B.I. with a few of his friends from Status Quo!
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Post by talon on Jan 2, 2014 8:22:51 GMT -5
After receiving my copy of Roger Taylor's The Lot I went back into the thread and edited a few things. 1. Celebration (Demo) -- An official version was released that was slightly abridged. Merely edited the post to include that new information - no new video. 2. I Can Take You Higher (Demo) -- An official version was released that was an actual full version! Edited in the new video replacing the snippet. I did not get to transcribe lyrics. Perhaps someday. I also initially had placed this demo during the Strange Frontier Sessions as there was confusion as to whether it was Rog or The Cross. I can't move the actual post (especially since it was a 2-fer and one still does come from the Strange Frontier sessions I believe. BUT I changed the index at the front to accurately depict where it came from. 3. I Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Demo) -- An official version was released that only edited out the guitar count-in. Also moved it from the Mad Bad And Dangerous To Know Sessions back to the Shove It Sessions. Really, all of these tracks could be placed in either place as basically they were just after Shove It but before Mad Bad so I just decided to at least put them all together. 4. Passion For Trash - The box set included a demo of the track with writer Josh Macrae on vocals. Edited in the new information (although no YT vid surfaced) 5. Top of the World, Ma - The box set included an unreleased extended version intended for use on a single that never materialized. No YT Vid surfaced but I edited in the new info. NOTE: There were a ton of mistakes on the first edition of The Lot as well as some interesting choices. Some of which I'm not going to bother to edit in simply because the changes are very slight. BUT for your reading pleasure from all the RT releases that we have covered already - the rest I'll note when I get there: FUN IN SPACE - The whole album and My Country (single version) were both mastered at a slightly (although more correct according to sources) speed changing the running times slightly. THE CROSS - SHOVE ITRough Justice - An error on the box set version cuts off the last 3 seconds. THE CROSS - BLUE ROCKMillionaire/ Put It All Down To love - The track break point is slightly different between the two segued tracks. Life Changes - On the first pressing there was a major error where the last 30 seconds were chopped and the song started over before fading. It was awful and I believe the major reason there were correction sets issued. HAPPINESS?Nazis 1994 - The track is drawn out a bit more at the end before going into the next track. There are a few more sound effects at the end. Happiness - The track is again drawn out and does not segue into Revelations so there is more closure Revelations - Without the segue, it is more of a standalone. Everybody Hurts Sometimes - Instead of fading out, the song ends on a drawn out synth string ending which despite only adding ten seconds, actually adds to the song. Dear Mr. Murdoch - Again another drawn out ending with more horn playing at the end[/b] |
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Post by talon on Jan 3, 2014 8:06:04 GMT -5
F.B.I.
Written by: Hank Marvin/Bruce Welch/Jet Harris/Tony Meehan
Musicians:
Brian May - guitar
Francis Rossi - guitar
Rick Parfitt - guitar
- A cover of Hank Marvin and the Shadows' track. Brian has long proclaimed his love for Hank Marvin and worked with the legend as well.
- This cover features Brian's friends from Status Quo
- Features on a tribute album to Hank Marvin as well as on Brian's Retro Rock EP.
- Interestingly Hank liked it so much, he ended up trying it in Brian's style in concert:
PERSONAL NOTES: Simple, fun, rocking instrumental! NEXT? My personal favorite on the Retro Rock EP: Only Make Believe
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Post by nica575 on Jan 3, 2014 13:03:47 GMT -5
Talon, I want to wish you a wonderful 2014! and please continue sharing your amazing knowledge of all things Queen! 
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