Queen on Air [2 CD]

by Queen

Overview

Back in 1989 -- or 1995, if you're an American -- Queen released a collection called At the Beeb, which featured two BBC sessions recorded in February and December, 1973. The 2016 compilation Queen on Air trumps this by adding a July 1973 session along with two sessions from 1974 and one from 1977, all adding up to the band's complete appearances on the BBC. Comprehensiveness is a feather in the cap for Queen on Air for collectors, but the additional material reveals that Queen got better as they stuck around. Those early 1973 performances have a couple of classic songs -- namely, two different versions of "Keep Yourself Alive," and maybe "Great King Rat" -- but these sound thin and tentative compared to the recordings from 1974 and 1977 on disc two, where the band feels bigger and bolder, recognizing the value in space. Queen can still wander into amorphous territory -- "It's Late" descends into echoing mush -- but their muscle seems defined, as does their camp: by ending the set with "My Melancholy Blues," there's no question that Queen is arch, delivering each of their tunes with a wink. Such revelations are interesting, but the relatively limpness of Queen on Air does mean it's an archival release designed only for fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2016
Label:	Bbc / A Bbc Recording / Hollywood
UPC:	0050087348113
Rank:	63932

Tracks

Disc 1

1. My Fairy King [Session 1]
2. Keep Yourself Alive [Session 1]
3. Doing All Right [Session 1]
4. Liar [Session 1]
5. See What a Fool I've Been [Session 2]
6. Keep Yourself Alive [Session 2]
7. Liar [Session 2]
8. Son and Daughter [Session 2]
9. Ogre Battle [Session 3]
10. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll [Session 3]
11. Great King Rat [Session 3]
12. Son and Daughter [Session 3]

Disc 2

13. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll [Session 4]
14. Nevermore [Session 4]
15. White Queen (As It Began) [Session 4]
16. Now I'm Here [Session 5]
17. Stone Cold Crazy [Session 5]
18. Flick of the Wrist [Session 5]
19. Tenement Funster [Session 5]
20. We Will Rock You [Session 6]
21. We Will Rock You [Fast] [Session 6]
22. Spread Your Wings [Session 6]
23. It's Late [Session 6]
24. My Melancholy Blues [Session 6]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Queen   Primary Artist
Kris Fredriksson   Completion
Sorm Deacon   Guitar (Bass)
Brian May   Guitar
John Deacon   Guitar (Bass)
Roger Taylor   Drums
Freddie Bulsara   Vocals

Technical Credits

Kris Fredriksson   Audio Supervisor,Audio Restoration
Richard Gray   Photo Research,Design Consultant
Gary Taylor   Photo Research,Photo Research
Terry O'Neil   Photography
Queen   Composer
John Deacon   Composer,Group Member
Bermie Andrews   Producer
Jou Sparrow   Engineer
Mike Robinson   Engineer
Adam Ayan   Mastering
Brian May   Composer,Group Member,Executive Producer
Bernie Andrews   Producer
Paul Davies   Photo Research
Chris Lycett   Engineer
Freddie Mercury   Composer,Group Member
Jeff Griffin   Producer
Roger Taylor   Composer,Group Member,Executive Producer
Justin Shirley-Smith   Audio Supervisor
Pete Ritzema   Producer
Nick Griffiths   Engineer
Tim Staffell   Composer
Mike Franks   Engineer
Joshua J. MacRae   Audio Supervisor
Janice Page   Photo Research
Jou Etchells   Engineer