Queen/Canada 1981 2Days Ultra Rare Original FM Mix

Keio’s famous album “ROCK MONTREAL” is also called “QUEEN’s best live album”. A soundboard album that can be said to be another version is now available. What is included in this work is, of course, “Montreal performance on November 24th + 25th, 1981”. This is the FM sound board recording. There may not be a live album as special as “ROCK MONTREAL”, which went through many twists and turns and became a masterpiece. In order to explain the circumstances, let’s first look back at the show’s position from the schedule at that time. 1980《“THE GAME” released on June 30th》・June 30th – September 30th: North America (49 performances)・November 23rd – December 18th: Europe (17 performances) 1981・February 12th – 19th: Japan (6 performances), February 28th – March 21st: Latin America #1 (7 performances), September 25th – October 18th: Latin America #2 (6 performances)《October “GREATEST HITS” released on the 26th》・November 24th + 25th: Montreal (2 performances)←★Here★ This is QUEEN in 1980/1981, when they were at their peak. They finished their world tour in October 1981, and then released “GREATEST HITS”. The Montreal performance of this work was a special performance that took place about a month after it was in the midst of its huge success. The reason why it was held at this time was to take pictures. At that time, a concert film was planned to record the stage at its peak, and the show was booked just for the filming. This alone is special, but that’s not all. Looking back, this show was also the final performance of “QUEEN for 4 people” without a support keyboardist, and it was also the world premiere of “Under Pressure” that accompanied the best album. Furthermore, 1981 was the band’s 10th anniversary, and speaking of “November 24th”, it was exactly 10 years before Freddie passed away… Even one of these would have been a special show, but it was a fateful show where many of them overlapped. As you know, those two performances in Montreal became “ROCK MONTREAL” and reigned as one of the most famous albums among the many QUEEN live performances. Some enthusiasts even call it QUEEN’s best masterpiece. However, this famous record was not wrapped in the glory of a great masterpiece from the beginning. In the first place, the movie “WE WILL ROCK YOU” was first released in 1984, but this was a big problem. It was supposed to be the best rock movie ever made on 35mm film, which was the highest quality at the time, but with several songs cut and the pitch significantly higher, it was not really watchable. Apparently the director wasn’t used to rock music, and there was a lot of trouble on set. After that, it seemed like a tragedy that occurred because QUEEN withdrew from production. After that, after several upgrades, in 2007 it was sublimated to the current “ROCK MONTREAL”, which is a masterpiece in the history of QUEEN, but let’s take a look at the differences in versions that occurred during the twists and turns. Sho. A (1984) First VHS version of “WE WILL ROCK YOU” → “Flash/The Hero” and “Jailhouse Rock” were cut. The pitch is significantly distorted and there are many overdubs. I made a mistake in the solo of “Killer Queen”. B (1997) DVD version of “WE WILL ROCK YOU” → “Flash/The Hero” was cut. Although the pitch is normal, the overdub and “Killer Queen” solo mistakes remain. C (2006) 2CD version “ROCK MONTREAL” → Complete version. Overdubs have been reduced, and the solo of “Killer Queen” has been replaced with a take without mistakes. D: WESTWOOD ONE broadcast version ←★This work★ → The editing is similar to A, but the pitch is normal and the mix is ​​natural. …and it looks like this. This work is an FM broadcast sound board that is different from the official version that has evolved. This is the broadcast version of WESTWOOD ONE’s famous program “Superstars Concert Series” and was created from its master reel. As a matter of fact, although there are other broadcasts other than those listed above, most of them are “B” and later versions that include “Jailhouse Rock.” Unlike that, this work is at a stage where “Jailhouse Rock” has not yet been included. Although we cannot say for certain because the exact broadcast date is not known, it seems that it was probably broadcast on FM in the 1980s. So, is it playing the original VHS version as is? Or is it different? There is a radio DJ at the beginning and end, but that’s not all. Although there are some details that are edited to match the original VHS, such as the shortened intro of “Now I’m Here” and a mistake in the solo of “Killer Queen,” the pitch is normal, and above all, the mix is ​​different. . Although it is not a perfect sound like the current “ROCK MONTREAL”, it is much more natural than the first VHS version / DVD version “WE WILL ROCK YOU”. “WE WILL ROCK YOU” had an extremely tightly squeezed sound that was three-dimensional, but had no breadth at all. The vocals have no resonance and the guitar orchestration is poor. As for the drums, it was a full-bodied sound. However, in the FM broadcast version (this work), everything sounds naturally. Since the mix is ​​somewhat monaural, the ensemble doesn’t have much of a sense of space, but the sounds of the instruments extend naturally throughout, creating an analog-like sound that is close to the band’s original sound. As I mentioned at the beginning, “Montreal in 1981” is a too special show, and since it is not part of the tour, Freddie also roars the climax without getting tired. Although there were some troubles with the director, this was a great performance in which the band’s anger turned into energy. What if “WE WILL ROCK YOU” with a normal pitch had been released as an LP at that time? Of course, it was loved as the stage version of “GREATEST HITS”, and it undoubtedly took the scene by storm as a historical masterpiece surpassing “LIVE KILLERS”. I can’t help but imagine such a “historical IF” with the analog sound of this work. Although it cannot be said that it exceeds the current “ROCK MONTREAL” which has been super upgraded in length, editing and sound, this work is also one of the wonderful “1981 Montreal”. A 2-disc set that permanently preserves such a valuable alternative version. Live at Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 24th & 25th November 1981 STEREO SBD Taken from the original radio broadcast reels (Ultra rare original FM Mix) Disc 1 (44:35) 1. DJ Intro 2. We Will Rock You (Fast ) 3. Let Me Entertain You 4. Play The Game 5. Somebody To Love 6. Killer Queen 7. I’m In Love With My Car 8. Get Down Make Love 9. Save Me 10. Now I’m Here 11. Dragon Attack 12. Now I’m Here Reprise 13. Love Of My Life Disc 2 (44:36) 1. Under Pressure 2. Keep Yourself Alive 3. Drums And Timpani Solo 4. Guitar Solo 5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love 6 . Bohemian Rhapsody 7. Tie Your Mother Down 8. Another One Bites The Dust 9. Sheer Heart Attack 10. We Will Rock You 11. We Are The Champions 12. God Save The Queen Freddie Mercury – Vocal Brian May – Guitar John Deacon – Bass Roger Taylor – Drums STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING