|
Review
by Collectors
music reviews
When Queen released The Game in the summer of 1980, it turned out
to be the apex of their career. The LP peaked at number one in seven
different countries and produced several number one singles. With a
basic rockabilly “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and the
funk-dance track “Another One Bites The Dust” both being
number one in the US proves that Queen were the most versatile and
eclectic of all the major rock bands. Queen’s US tour was their
biggest to date and by the time they began their European tour in Zürich
they had just released their latest single “Flash” with “Football
Fight” on the b-side. Standing On The Arena documents the
first of three sold out shows at the Wembley Arena on the day their second
album of the year, the soundtrack to Flash Gordon, was released
in the UK.
The tape is a little bit distant but very clear and
enjoyable. It is same source used for the 2LP release Flash
Alive and Gypsy Eye is thus far the only silver pressed release
of what can be argued is the definitive live statement of the era.
There are minor cuts after “Save Me,” the end of the guitar
solo and around the encores but nothing is lost. opening notes of
“Tie Your Mother Down” cut
Queen make the unusual and daring decision to open
these show with a cover of “Jailhouse Rock” before the double
blast of the late seventies openers, the fast version of “We Will Rock
You” and “Let Me Entertain You.” Things slow down a bit with
“Play The Game.” None of the live arrangements has the
synthesizer swoops in the introduction and before the guitar solo as the
studio version does. That arrangement sounds more like a gimmick
anyway and the sound is much better in the live setting. Before
“Mustapha” Freddie says, “It’s fucking freezing in this auditorium
especially for all those people in the back. But we’ll get your asses on
fire in a minute, don’t worry. We’re gonna do something in
Arabic right now and for those of you who speak it you can join in.”
This is the beginning of a long medley with includes the first three
verses of “Death On Two Legs,” “Killer Queen” (in which Freddie
sings “perfume comes naturally from Paris” in a French accent and pronouncing
Paris correctly), “I’m In Love With My Car” and finally “Get Down
Make Love.”
John Deacon’s “Need Your Love Tonight” is a nice
diversion, occupying the same spot as his older song “You’re My Best
Friend” in set in previous tours. Freddie
introduces Brian on the piano for “Save Me” and engages in a strange
conversation with someone in the audience, saying “What did you say in
belching? I’ll turn you into a frog if you don’t watch it.”
Freddie continues before “Fat Bottomed Girls” by asking, “You girls
like this moustache? Any of the boys like the moustache? Many
people don’t like but I don’t give a fuck…I’m gonna keep it.”
He responds to an audience request, “We’re gonna do that one, yes.
You shut up! You keep out of this! We’re gonna do as he says, by
the way. This is a dirty little number, and we’ve ah…you shut up as
well. What is this!? You wanna come up and sing it? C’mon! It’s
all about tits and bums as you know. It’s called ‘Fat Bottomed
Girls.’”
May takes his turn introducing “Love Of My Life” by
mentioning how cold it is in the arena. “Well, I hope you’re all
warming up a little by now. It feels like it. Some time ago we made
a live album in which most of you actually participated. Do you
remember that? We’d like to hear your tonsils again.” But
his set piece is the long improvisation in “Keep Yourself Alive.”
Roger Taylor plays a loud tympani solo, sounding as if he’s trying to
summon the ogre from his sleep with May following with long drones before
his heavy metal clinic. This segues into their latest single
“Flash” with May switching to the synthesizer.
“Flash” is segued with ”The Hero” with
what sounds like a soundbite from the film playing on the PA. This
portion would be expanded to include “The Battle” and “Vulcan’s
Theme” when they toured Japan in a few months. The encores
are switched around a bit with “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The
Champions” being played first. “Another One Bites The Dust”
sounds very close to the studio track and “Sheer Heart Attack” sounds
very energetic. The final song of the night is “Tie Your Mother
Down” and the final “God Save The Queen.” Standing On The
Arena is one of the best recorded dates from the tour and is one of
Gypsy Eye’s best productions. They didn’t play with the tape too
much allowing the natural timbre to shine through.
|
