The Freddie Mercury Solo Collection

The Freddie Mercury Solo Collection

This Collection is a lavish compilation of Freddie Mercury's Work
outside of Queen. It comprises twelve CD's and features his one true
solo album MR BAD GUY, the tribute album released in America in 1992
comprising remixes of his solo material THE GREAT PRETENDER, and his
duet album with Moserrat Caballe, BARCELONA.

Musically the collection also includes an instrumental CD of some of
his work, two CD's featuring singles released from 1973 to 1992, and
two CD's worth of outtakes from the various sessions that made up
BARCELONA and MR BAD GUY; including several demo's that he started but
never finished. There is also a third rarities CD's, which features the
first known recordings of Freddie to exist, as well as bringing
together other material that Freddie provided backing vocals on
etc...

A series of interviews with Freddie Mercury by the music journalist
David Wigg are also included, and two DVD's; one of which is a
collection of his solo videos, and the other THE UNTOLD STORY, which
recounts his early childhood and his development as a solo artist.
Aside from the singles and albums, all the material is previously
unreleased, and some of it is very rare indeed.

From a fan's point of view, it is interesting to hear the
'work-in-progress' of albums such as BARCELONA and MR BAD GUY;
showcasing as as it does his extraordinary musical ear and highlighting
the complex arrangements of his songs. The three 'offical' albums have
been digitally remastered for the first time, and it is particulaly
nice to be able to hear BARCELONA in all it's glory at last. I'm not
sure if it's just my copy, but I bought the CD a couple of years ago
and the sound was very muddy to say the least!

The interviews are also very candid; being conducted as they were at
all stages of his career. David Wigg was the only journalist that
Freddie allowed himself to be open with, which resulted in him being
able to reveal a side of himself that not many people saw. Freddie
talks freely about his solo career, his work with Moserrat Caballe and
his changing tastes in music, revealing his passion for the more
theatrical arts such as ballet and opera. It was rumoured that Sir
Andrew Lloyd Webber was to approach Freddie to play the lead in The
Phantom Of The Opera; I'm sure he would have loved that!

The more outrageous aspects of Freddies personality came across in his
videos with Queen, and his solo work was no exception.
The Video Collection is a worthy addition to the box set, containing
all of his videos plus the live performances of BARCELONA, HOW CAN I GO
ON, and THE FALLEN PRIEST in 1987. Controversy never seemed to be far
from a Freddie video; in 1986, when his 40th birthday party was used as
the basis for LIVING ON MY OWN, the resulting video was banned from
being shown on TV for being 'too rude'! It is thankfully avaliable here
in it's uncut form, and features several record company executives
dressed in drag!

I must confess to not having seen the THE UNTOLd STORY yet, but only
because there is so much else to listen too and watch!

Being a huge Queen (and Freddie) fan, I HAD to have this. It's a bit
expensive (I paid ?99) and to be honest, it's probably one for the
collecter or serious fan only.