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Review by Collectors
music
reviews
The Works
was Queen’s eleventh studio album and was released in February 1984.
It took several months before they began the tour to support the album,
but it began on August 24th at the Forest National in
Brussels
,
Belgium
. The demand for tickets was so high that a second night in
Brussels
was booked. But because the
Forest
was occupied on August 25th Queen had to schedule the second show a month
later on September 21st.
King’s Favorite
was pressed on 2LPs in 1985 in
Italy
. It utilizes a very good and atmospheric audience recording of the
complete show. King’s
Favorite (141
RC) is a two pressed CD copy from the vinyl. Whoever
manufactured this title used a clean vinyl copy, but slight
pops and surface noise is audible. They also reduced the hiss in the
upper frequencies. The volume on the second disc is much
higher than the first for some reason. It is packaged in a miniature
reproduction of the LP jacket and even getting the date wrong. The
manufacturers are also responsible for several other copies of classic
vinyl Queen boots, but this is the best of the lot.
“Machines”
from the new album is used as the taped introduction before the band
begin with a heavy versions of “Tear It Up” and “Tie Your
Mother Down.” Freddie greets the audience, saying “Hello again
Brussels
, you feeling happy? You ready for some rock and roll? Okay,
‘Under Pressure!’”
Several medleys
are played in the setlist on this tour. The first oldies begins with
“Killer Queen” and continues with “Seven Seas Of Rhye,” “Keep
Yourself Alive,” and “Liar.” At the beginning of the tour the
first half of “Staying Power” was played, segued with “Dragon
Attack.” But this was dropped and replaced with a quick reference
to “Mustapha.” A two song acoustic set with “Is This The World
We Created?” and “Love Of My Life” are played early on in the set.
“C’mon,
let’s do a jam,” Freddie says afterwards when Brian, John and Roger
are playing a mid tempo heavy metal riff. It goes on for close to
two minutes before they start “Stone Cold Crazy.” That song
segues into a (too) brief reference to “Great King Rat.”
“Machines” from the new album is played and is followed by Brian
May’s guitar solo which ends after six minutes with the final
verse of “Brighton Rock.” Of the three medleys in the set this
one is more effective by blending together various song that don’t
really seem to fit.
“Another
One Bites The Dust” is very funky in this recording. “Hammer To
Fall,” whose video was filmed in this venue the previous month, shows
Freddie’s weakening vocals as he struggles to hit the high notes.
This is heard further in the set closer “Radio Ga Ga,” the big hit off
of the new album. He manages to hit some of the higher notes but
sounds weak and May is slopping during this number as well. The
Brussels
audience sing along to “I Want To Break Free.” The encores
continue with “Jailhouse Rock” and end with “We Will Rock You” and
“We Are The Champions.” King’s
Favorite
is a very nice release although, given the quality of the performance and
recording, should be given a definitive release.
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