BEST OF MONTREAL  

2 CD
Label: Wardour 022 
Country: Japan
Released: July 2005
Recorded: The Forum, Montreal, Canada,  December 1st. 1978.  
Sound: Very good ~ excellent audience recording.
Comments:  From US/Canada "Jazz" tour. Looks like a complete concert. 
Roots: The best sounded bootleg from this concert. Lower generation source than previously bootlegs from this show. 2 more bootleg 2CD's are released.. 'Live In Montreal' (Continental sounds  CS CD 10-005/006) 1993 releasing, and 'Live Achievements' (Gypsy Eye 090/091) 1998/99 releasing. 
Sounds that all 3 cd's comes from the same tape source, but from various generation. This bootleg, is nearest the master tape.
Time: 71:58 / 46:54


Front cover
 We Will Rock You  (fast)
 Let Me Entertain You
 Somebody To Love
 If You Can't Beat Them
 Medley: Death On Two Legs
               Killer Queen
               Bicycle Race
               I'm In Love With My Car
 Get Down Make Love
 You're My Best Friend
 Now I'm Here
 Spread Your Wings
 Dreamers Ball
 Love Of My Life
 It's Late		  Brighton Rock
 Fat Bottomed Girls
 Keep Yourself Alive
 Bohemian Rhapsody
 Tie Your Mother Down
 Sheer Heart Attack
 We Will Rock You
 We Are The Champions
 God Save The Queen....
 
Back to bootleg page
  
  
A CDR version with different front cover was made out in 2015 in Canada.
Back cover on this cdr, is a copy of the original cover. I don't know more about
 this release. I found it in 'Discogs' page of 'Wardour' released cd's.



Back cover



Disc one

Disc two

 
 Review by Collectors music reviews
 
The tape of Queen's Montreal concert first surfaced back in 1993 with the release of Live In Montreal Continental Sounds  (CS CD 10-005/006).  The next silver release was in 1998 out of Japan as Live Achievements on Gypsy Eye (GE-090/91).  Both releases were problematic, utilizing a high generation tape that ran too slow.  Given its excellence and potential, it was always hoped a definitive version from a lower generation would appear.

  

Wardour's Best Of Montreal comes close.  Using a lower generation tape, this release sounds much better and is closer to the actual speed although it still sounds a bit too slow as the show really seems to drag.  Maybe the band was sluggish at the beginning of the Jazz tour?  Whatever the case may be, this tape does sound very dynamic and detailed and is one of the best sounding tapes from this era.  The recording is only affected by the taper (or someone close by) clapping along incessantly during the performance.  It isn't loud enough to detract from the music but can be annoying during clap along portions of the show like "Keep Yourself Alive".

 

The actual performance is one of the better ones.  "You're terrific...It's gonna be a good night tonight" Freddie spiels after "Somebody To Love".  It is good to hear a complete Killers performance and the band play both "If You Can't Beat Them" and “Fat Bottomed Girls" on this night.  "Don't Stop Me Now" wasn't played until the European leg later on.  They also play the longest acoustic set with three numbers, and Freddie is very self-conscious about boring the audience.  The crowd sounds like they really enjoy the tunes, especially the fun of "Dreamer's Ball".  Both "It's Late" and "Brighton Rock", the latter with the tympani solo, sound massive in this recording.  In general the limitations of this release do not detract enough and I'd recommend this release.  (GS)