5 comments about Queen - Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 &2.

1. If you are a Queen fan, you must have this greatest hits collection. Not only is the music fantastic, the price was great.



2. If you like Queen, you need to check out America's best kept secret for over 15 years, Poi Dog Pondering. The new '7' CD is incredible and is the only release to match the creative heights of the mighty Queen.....great, great work. A work of art, really.7



3. good selection of most of Queen's best songs. I wish Princes of the Universe was included, but one can't have everything.



4. At their best, Queen produced some of the finest rock songs ever recorded. I'm partial to the great work they did early in their career--tunes like "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Killer Queen," and "You're My Best Friend." "Under Pressure," their collaboration with David Bowie, is one of my favorite songs of all time. I accept the claim by several reviewers, who are no doubt more knowledgeable about the band than I, that this is probably the most complete collection of their hits you can find. I had never heard most of these songs before.
   
   The problem is that most of them are terrible, and not just in comparison to their greats. I found many of them to be unlistenable messes with operatic aspirations. It's hard to believe that the many 1-star tunes ( i.e., "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" and "I'm Going Slightly Mad") were composed by the same guys who wrote the comparatively few 5-star songs. Personally, I prefer the one-disc "Greatest Hits" compilation that many of the other reviewers deride.



5. This cd has the 2 volumers of Queen greatest hits, has a book telling the story of the band that creates a modern and classic rock, if you like music you must have this colection.

5 comments about 1962-1966 (The Red Album).

1. If you've spent any time burning your own audio CDs (i.e. "Redbook" CDs as they are known in optical media world), then you probably quickly figured out that all 26 tracks will easily fit on one standard CD-R (or, if you know your blank CDs, that'll be a Taiyo Yuden!).
   
   So, why are we "given" two CDs? Easy? So the record company can charge $23 instead of $13.
   
   Of course, the label's reason (read: pandering excuse) is that they are being "faithful to the original release." Since when are COMPILATIONS considered to be "original releases"?? Even classic packages such as Marley's "Legend" merely cherry pick the best (and best-selling) songs from his albums--just as every other "Greatest Hits" or "Best of" disc does.
   
   The VERY least that the label could have (SHOULD) done was to add extra tracks. God knows the Fab Four recorded enough hits and out-takes in order to fill these two discs out with a plethora of B-sides, different takes of classic songs, and sides that were unreleased for one reason or another.
   
   Those of us who pay attention wouldn't be sitting around wondering why so many albums by so many albums lesser groups are jammed to the gills with studio cast-offs, lame live versions and the occasional gem. (E.g. look at the "remastered" version of "Who's Next", a half-baked attempt to "recreate" the failed "Lighthouse" project, whose only notable result was the greatest album the Who and Pete Townshend ever recorded.)
   
   Even scraping the bottom of the barrel (creatively at least) they could slapped an interview onto one of the discs. The remastered version of Tull's "Thick As A Brick" has a fascinating 13-14min interview recorded around the time the album was made.
   
   What serious Beatles' fan wouldn't want to hear a good interview with the group, especially one from the period right before the became The Biggest Band in History, selling more than 170,000,000 records (that's more than Elvis and Barbara Streisand combined!).
   
   Bottom line is:
   
   The great songs are here (most of them anyway, "Twist and Shout" anyone?). The CDs sound is excellent; I'd love to a Mobile Fidelity version!
   
   But this package could have been fully fleshed into something interesting, something perhaps even special. That way the $23 we shelled out for this "two" disc set would have been worth it.
   
   Yet with this Beatles' set we get exactly what we would have paid for in 1967.
   
   Hello, record company executives!! It's 40 years later. Time to get a clue. Instead of taking advantage of the 80-82 mins ea. CD gives them, the label decided to pretend they still had to work within the time constraints, between 45 and 50 mins using both sides.
   
   And they wonder more and more people are downloading more and more music: they can pick exactly the songs they want without what used to be called "filler"--but is nowadays called "hit singles".



2. I enjoy every song! These songs I grew up with so they bring back happy memories of singing these songs on the way home from school.



3. A very good compilation, nothing to say about the songs included here. But I think that if you're looking something to start, you can buy this item and the blue album. Another good choice would be the CD called "1", but you wouldn't get some tunes included in this item and its companion (the blue album), but surely a far better sound since the "1" album was given a very good remastering that this compilations lacks, (that's the reason for which I rate this item "only" with four stars) and you will pay less for a single disc compilation. Both choices are here, and each one has its pros and cons, but anyway you can't go wrong with any choice you take.



4. If you like the Beatles, and the early Beatles you'll love this CD, as it
   contains most of the material and good Beatles songs from that period.
   A must have for Beatles Collections.



5. The Beatles - often called the greatest rock and roll band of all time. It would be impossible to pull off a complete greatest hits collection without including dozens of their songs. The next best thing? The double-sided albums "1962-1966" (red album) and "1967-1970" (blue album).
   
   As a new fan of the Beatles (I was born after the murder of John Lennon), it was this album that first allowed me to fall in love with the Fab Four. Sure, all of their hit songs aren't included. But it is a great introduction to the early years. More comprehensive than the "#1s" album, it features such classics as 'She Loves You', 'Yesterday', and 'Yellow Submarine'.
   
   It's evident on "1962-1966" why the Beatles have become so well-loved. While their early songs don't feature the most though-provoking lyrics, the melodies are downright fun. It's hard to listen to a song like 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and not sing along. However, these master songwriters expanded their horizons beyond that seen in Motown; with tunes such as 'Eleanor Rigby' and 'Michelle', they added a bit of continental flavor to mainstream rock.
   
   Wondering what made the Beatles so spectacular? Or looking for a more comprehensive greatest hits collection? Check out "1962-1966". It truly showcases the best of the early years.

5 comments about 1967-1970 (The Blue Album).

1. I enjoy every song! These songs I grew up with and enjoyed singing them walking home from school.



2. Very well liked if you like the beatles in the Late 60S phase this is the Cd For You !! Very well re-mastered and sounds good Favourites are My Guitar Gently weeps, Let It Be, Lucy in the Sky, Long winding road , A must to have !!!



3. Great price for a classic Beatles collection. I owned it on LP & the quality on CD is excellent



4. The copies are from either Brazil or Argentina, this is not stated in the product information. The Vendor, Innuendo has not sent the requested return call tag, and has indicated that it will not give a refund if the product is un-wrapped. It was never wrapped in a factory shrink with the tamper tape on top. I suspect that the vendor may be selling bootleg and/or pirated copies. Buyers beware of purchases made from Amazon and Innuendo. This is product misrepresentation that isn't disclosed until the shipping invoice is sent. 'Caveat Emptor.'



5. Being a big time Beatles fan since 1964. There is still no other band that gets as much play around my house. Great choice of songs here that any one would love to hear over and over again.
   
   The "BLUE" & "RED" albums are examples of stuff the record label was putting out. With no other reason except to offset the sales of Paul McCartney & John Lennon solo lp's. In their pitiful effort to force The Beatles back into reforming. (Along with lp's called, Rock and Roll Music & Love Songs) Notice they would always release them at the same time John or Paul had a new solo lp coming out.? Just buy the official Beatles cd's and all your dreams will come true, lol.
   
   You'll notice between the Blue & Red there are only 3 Harrison tunes and 2 Starr tunes.

5 comments about Déjà Vu.

1. For a contemporary comparison try Nick Worrall's debut album, it has been compared to CSN&Y and is FREE to download.



2. The title of this album is now ironic. When I listen to it I can remember the sweet smell of smoke as an 8 track cranked out music and pick-up trucks and cars formed a lazy half circle around a small fire. Leaves crunched and cracked under our feet and in the night air a few wore jeans jackets and some wore plaid wool shirts but all wore Levi's and sneakers. A silver keg had many many friends and clusters of laughter would roll from one group to the next. We shared the laughs and we shared the beer and the weed. Opinions were so clear. We shared everything but fear. There was so little fear in youth then though we all knew someone in the war far away. That bought it home. Through the night our party marched to it's own beat making progress standing still and that was getting high. So high. Youth goes on and on and in those nights no clock could say when or that's enough. Through the night cars left and came to the place in the woods down by the Res bringing more friends of my friends. Taunt and supple bodies danced above the shining smoke. Everyone was real and perfectly flawed. Ambition was set aside that night for desire. My eye had an apple spied. You were there too weren't you. We have all been here before. Do you know. Do you wonder. Feel like I've been here before. Four voices in harmony with guitars. I had a blanket in my pickup and I knew a place a short walk away. Over a hill and near the water. We'll bring some beers. Come sit with me down by the water and whisper with me away from the fire. I'll get you warm. Through the trees we can still hear the four voices in harmony with guitars and the see the sweet smoke that drifted over. What's going on down under you? We have all been her before. The night left back at the Res is locked on a compact disc. A fire with no smoke sings on.



3. With the Beatles, the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. Here, I'm afraid, the opposite is true. On this pretentious catastrophe of an album, two "great" (??) bands collide, the drippy and mellifluous Crosby Stills & Nash and the astringent-voiced faux yokel Neil Young. Adding to the confusion, one of the best songs on the album, "4 + 20," is channeling pure Paul Simon and one of the worst, "Everybody I Love," is a watered down version of watered-down-white-boy-Three-Dog-Night-style soul. I love this album, despite its obvious defects, for the timeless "classic rock" hits (e.g., "Carry On" and "Woodstock") but perhaps most of all for its early 1970s hippie turned farmer nostalgia value ("Country Girl..."). A solid two stars. Or three. At *MOST* four. All these five star reviewers need to pass me the bong...



4. Definitely an album everyone wanted back in 1970, especially with the rich texture of the LP cover. Only weak spots are Teach Your Children and Our House, both by Graham Nash, by far the weakest member of the group.



5. If you're fan of the 60's music then you'll enjoy this CD. If you're a CSNY fan then it's a must. I found the quality very good.

5 comments about Help! [UK].

1. The music on this Classic Rock CD represents the latter end of The Beatles' "early period" (of their three musical eras). It's one of the better albums they ever produced.
   
   This music is mostly of the happy sort, upbeat, and easy to listen to. But don't let that fool you into thinking that these compositions are not intricate and innovative as well. These songs broke a LOT of new ground when they hit AM radio at the time of their initial release.
   
   I acquired this album (33 1/3 LP) when it first emerged in the record stores and always maintained a copy in the latest technology available... LP, 8-track (yikes!), cassette, and now CD. It never seemed to loose appeal for me even as newer [in retrospect] Classic Rock tunes evolved throughout the '60s and into the early '70s. My favorite cuts are "Help!" and "The Night Before". Of course, "Yesterday" was probably the biggest hit of them all and I liked that one as well. "Act Naturally" is a tongue-in-cheek, comic relief rendering (sorry, Buck Owens!) by the always-loveable Ringo Starr.
   
   These songs are taken from The Beatles' film "Help!" which I never actually saw until years after hearing the film's soundtrack. It's sort of a funny, goofy flick that I enjoyed when I finally did get to view it but, commercially, I don't think it garnered much Kudos beyond the fans of The Beatles.
   
   If you're a Classic Rock enthusiast, (present at Woodstock or not!), you won't get hurt on this one -- the tunes are as superb today as they were in 1965.



2. This is not the American release of the Original Soundtrack, it has added a few songs not from that album and left off the original instrumentals such as "In the Tyrol", "rom me to you fantasy" " The Chase" and more.
   Don't know why they can't come up with standard releases instead of UK releases here in the USA, when all we got at the time of release from Capitol was the USA version............now they are all UK.



3. The Beatles-Help ****
   
   Help! is far from the five star classic it is being labeled but it was a precursor to what was to come from the boys. Just around the corner the four lads would release five of the greatest albums in music history, so for me this plays as a warm up lap around the recording studio.
   
   The title track 'Help' really was a personal cry for help from John Lennon, and not to mention on of the groups best. 'Yesterday' is the very best song McCartney ever recorded, it also went on to become the most covered song in history with well over five hundred version to date. 'Hide Your Love Away' would have fit better on Rubber Soul but is a nice addition to Help! ''The Night Before' is pretty catchy and Paul was really on to something here, and 'Ticket To Ride' might be the strongest thing The Beatles ever recorded. John was a true genius. As for the rest of the songs, honestly they are take it or leave it, and just because they are the Beatles does not make them great songs.
   
   Once again while I don't think this is necessarily a classic I do think it is worth owning and one of the best 'early' Beatles albums.



4. I Think this a great servis for de produts, i laike to bay bay this.
   Me gusta mucho el servicio por la compra de los productos por este medio, el servicio de paqueteria es muy bueno y eficiente.



5. All the CD's I ordered, did not indicate that they are South American originated copies - Brazil and Argentina. The nation of origin of the product should be listed. I still am not certain that they aren't pirate copies, and the vendor Innuendo still has not sent a return call tag. I would recommend using another service.

5 comments about Who's Next.

1. that will tell you how great this album is. I first bought the album in 1971 and played it till it was no longer payable.
   As much as you hear the short bursts on the television, it gives you an indication of how great this music is. Rock on and widen your scope for THE WHO.



2. This is my favorite album of all time. It is the one album in my collection that transcends the ages. "Who's Next", can still reach me after more than 35 years of discovery. "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain" and "The Song Is Over" speak to the inner spirit of a man, whether he is 18 or 50. It continues to bring pleasure and it always will.



3. Nobody writes stuff this good anymore, except maybe Nick Worrall. Simply stunning in every way possible.



4. After the enormous success of the band's previous album "Tommy" it was going to be very difficult for The Who to top it. Pete Townshend started off writing another concept piece called The Lighthouse Project. The recording sessions went on and on with the project eventually suffocating under its own weight. The band gave up on it, and went back into the studio to pick up the pieces. What emerged was the ultimate Who statement and probably one of the ultimate statements of rock n roll. "Who's Next" is about as close to a perfect album as you could get. Starting with the fist pumping anthem "Baba O'riley" and closing with what is in my opinion one of the greatest and most important songs of all time "Won't Get Fooled Again". "Meet the new boss.....same as the old boss", indeed. Words that are as relevant today as when they were written 30 plus years ago. Roger Daltry's famous scream near the end still sends shivers up my spine. In between these two tracks are 6 more great songs, "Bargain", "Love Ain't For Keeping", John Entwistle's "My Wife", "The Song Is Over" which featured the main theme from the abandoned Lifehouse Project, "Getting In Tune", and "Going Mobile". All just classic stuff. This is The Who at the top of their game and solidified their place as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. As great as this album is, in my opinion they topped it with the next one "Quadrophenia".



5. Every one can argue back and forth on the Who's greatest album. But this album goes sooooo far beyond that. This album is one of the few fundamental pillars that define rock and roll. Its place belongs right between Sgt Pepper and Led Zeppelin IV. Any one who does not get that is musically illiterate. Period.

5 comments about Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary Edition.

1. I am an audio engineer and musician by trade. I like Floyd but amd not a huge fan and this is my first album of theirs. For starters, the CD layer sounds like it's at least a 4th generation 1/4" copy duped at too high of a level. Luckily, this master was spared the horrific loudness was exploitation so the sound is fairly open. But the over-cooked source tape causes the loud passages to get a bit mushy and dull.
   
   Now for the SACD. They obviously went through great efforts to try and recreate the original mix as well as possible. The natural dynamics of the recording really shine and there's good usage of all the channels without being overtly weird with placement. The only real problem I can hear is the vocals are a bit overly bright, to the point of being harsh at times. But aside from that, the SACD layer is inof itself well worth the price of the album. Definitely worth owning even if you're relatively new to Floyd like I am.



2. 1973, I was all of 13. This was, in my pre-driver's license days, the only way for me to travel. "Dark Side of The Moon," a big old pair of Koss headphones, and a relatively cheap but OK stereo. Dark room. Posters. Dreams of escaping. Desires of being an astronaut. Wanting to be a pop star. And then this.
   
   Even today, over 30 years later, "Dark Side of The Moon" remains a sonic marvel. When you imagine that this was done well before the advent of digital recording, samples and the like, it becomes all the more impressive. Instruments dart in and out, effects (the clocks, the cash register) flood your head and room with sculpted sound and psychedelics. The wailing voice on "Great Gig in The Sky" (Clare Torry) is downright otherworldly, as are the snippets of conversation that pop up at intervals throughout. The album unfolds in the best conceptual album sense, as nothing here explodes as much as it does infiltrates. It's one of those albums where it's well nigh impossible to listen to it in segments, the cross of songs into each other demands that you take it as a whole.
   
   To this day, "Dark Side Of The Moon" is probably the best known Pink Floyd album, coming along with that masterpiece of dysfunction, The Wall. In many respects they're very much alike. On this, the band was still trying to make sense of Syd Barret's descent into madness (as they did again on Wish You Were Here), on "The Wall" they looks at the crush of success and how it almost drove Roger Waters over the edge. In the case of "Dark Side of The Moon" and its long and pristine sculpted sound (courtesy of a young Alan Parsons), they captured their moment, and over 30 years later, it still stands like a towering achievement.



3. This 30th Anniversary Edition brings back the almost-forgotten thrill of hearing this group the first time many years ago...and the continual enjoyment for a long period.Wonderful !



4. Well this is what Quadrophonic was promising in the late 60's, however with a quality that we could never have dreamed of then. The full effect of the project as only they heard it when they recorded originally can be heard in your listening room. The better your system and the better the set up brings you as close as you will ever get to "being there." That's because this remix will never be the weakest link. It is outstanding.
   
   Old and new at the same time. There is nothing else like it for this reason.



5. An album totally driven by emotion, there's nothing fake or plastic in it. A master piece.

5 comments about With the Beatles.

1. This is a completely subjective review - not an in-depth analysis:
   
   So I've had this playing in my car CD player for some time now, and I decided today that I'd sit down and assess the album in my iTunes - rank each song, and whatnot. It seems that a whopping 9 of the 14 songs I have felt worthy of receiving 5 stars - and I only give songs 5 stars if I feel they are worthy of repeat listening.
   I regrettably do not have 'Beatles for Sale' as part of the catalogue of theirs in my iTunes, but looking at the other albums it seems as if I've rated more songs with 5 stars on this album than any other Beatles album with the exception of 'Abbey Road'. This does not mean that I think 'With the Beatles' is one of their artistic best, but it does give an indication that it is definitely worth owning due to its awesome listenability factor - you could give this album many repeat listens without getting bored of it. Here are the songs that I have rated 5 stars:
   
   It Won't Be Long
   All I've Got to Do
   All My Loving
   Til There Was You
   Please Mr Postman
   Hold Me Tight
   Devil in her Heart
   Not a Second Time
   Money (That's What I Want)
   
   I will say my least favorite on here is their surprisingly bland version of 'Roll Over Beethoven'. And with the large number of covers (exactly half of the album), it might be a turn off for some folks, but really, if you haven't heard them do stuff such as 'Till There Was You', you are missing out.
   
   'She's got the devil in her heart
   Oh, no, no, no, this I can't believe...' and with this, it seems I've finally gotten Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' out of my head... thank you, George.



2. This really is a pretty good group. The hairstyles are a little strange but I think they have the potential to be moderately successful.



3. With the Beatles, one of the best collectable albums of the Beatles strongly recommended. I don't have that much to say, simple, the Mamas and the Papas of Pop and Rock music. The Beatles forever.
   
   Cuban/French, Hector.



4. Okay first off let me say im a big fan of the beatles but some there early stuff isnt the best. This album was the one that really started beatlemania but all the songs are about the same thing. Love, okay i mean its okay to have that as three of your songs but fourteen 2 minute songs is a little too much. But the beats are good and its a good basic rock album but its not as good as albums like revolver or sgt. pepper etc. Its okay
   3/5 stars



5. People. As you know, your beloved Metamorpho can transport himself to different eras. Or so I've told you. And you have no reason to believe otherwise because nobody knows what is real or illusion more than a true Seer. And complete devotion is required, but not a pre-requisite. So, believe me, even with your own limitations on "reality". But - to the point, I can travel time with the help of certain ingredients, such as, malted milk shakes, caesar sald dressing, and salted cashews. There are, of course, other things I add. But they are kept secret because then everybody would time travel. Just think. Cleopatra would be bothered incessantly by lonely men in New York City. Not good people. And, besides, my special brew isn't even known by Colonel Saunders ( or his employees). Special. Huh?
   
   Anyway, this time I wound up at some place in Liverpool called the Cavern Club. I think it was somewhere in the early 60's. Anyway, while nursing a drink and watching the mayhem a band on stage was creating, a man named Brian Epstein sat at my table. "What do you think of them"?, he asked. "Oh, I don't know", I said. "I think they are good but kind of rough looking. They sound good... but I don't know about that drummer". "You're quite right", he said, "but that can be taken care of", as I noticed a cheshire cat smile spring across his face. "And who are you"?, I inquired. "I am their new manager and I have very big plans for them", he replied. "Well", I said with total aplomb, "You'll never sell this group with them looking like street hoods. Clean them up - give them matching outfits, and maybe you'll have a shot", I said, nursing a shot of brandy. "You know, you're right"!, he said with great excitement. "Yes. and while you're at it, ditch that drummer for one more lovable. He just doesn't fit in", I said with total audacity (which is one of my strong points). "I will talk to them. Thanks"! And he ran off leaving me there to search for a Seeress. Take my word people, a Seerest was in very short supply in the early 60's. (I can say no more).
   
   Anyway, this review is about that group. A group that broke all the boundaries. Personally, I thought that this Brian Epstein was looney to consider managing them and yet, yet, at that club I heard something that was great. Something that had a certain charisma - an appealing and infectious sound. They were different, sure, but with a sound that was filtered with their own cohesive abilities. They did old tunes with their own sound. And, to me, this was very new and interesting and alluring for the time.
   
   Little did I know that after their first effort, they would go on to produce this perfect pop masterpiece. And, make no mistake about it, it truly is a pop masterpiece. We are talking about the Beatles, as you know. And they went on in future years to produce many masterpieces. But, for me, in regards to sheer joy, uplift, youthful exhuberence, and rock that was entirely unique and different than what had come before, this is a shining beacon in their catalog and everso shall remain.
   
   What strikes me as so fresh is the interplay of vocals between Lennon and McCartney and the harmonies within. Add to that these chords that were never used in pop music before such as the ending of "It Won't Be Long" and the beginning of "All I've Got to Do". What is incredible to consider is the total group effort to making every nuance of sound count. They were a united unit at this point, each one adding an essential piece to a much bigger puzzle.
   
   Of all their albums, and there are many, none of them make me happier than this one. It grooves, it loops, it does somersaults in the soul somehow. I mean, sure, this music conveys teen angst and the yearning of young love which was so prevailent at the time. But, it's the energy, the pop hooks, the construction of what they were doing which is so imprortant here.
   
   You can't help but be caught up in this sound. The frantic strumming and oh so appropriate lead guitar in "All My Loving". The side by side rythmn and picked out lead in George's "Don't Bother Me". The harmonica rocker of "Little Child" with Lennon's exclaimation whoop! And let's not forget McCartney's foray into doing a show tune, "Till There Was You". What rock group of the time would have dared do this tune? But they did. And, got away with it too boot!
   
   They took known songs and made them their own. "Please Mr. Postman" "Roll Over Beethoven", and "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" are examples of this. Yet, somehow they made the old sound new with their execution. In many ways, I prefer these to the originals. The Beatles, as time has proved, were always one step ahead of everyone. Then again, they set the bar high at this point and, with each evolution, the bar got higher and higher.
   
   In closing, there are moments here I wait to hear. And, believe it or not, I never fail to get that charge I've heard a million times before. Why? Because it's the joy of music. It's the spark of life. It's four young men with confidence and total control. But mainly, it's the combination of four extraordinary musicians that captured our hearts and souls. And, that is for all time people. Anyone who doesn't have this in their archive is sinning against themselves. If so, I would recommend Metamorpho's handy, dandy reality cure. I could suggest a monetary donation. However, do keep in mind, it is priceless. Now, let me travel back there. That Brian Epstein owes me a drink and he also promised a young lady to fawn over your worthy Metamorpho!
   
   All My Seering ------Metamorpho ;)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5 comments about Quadrophenia.

1. This is and carries a different and more intense understanding of a young life seen through his eyes suffering from schizophrennia. Maybe its my age and life experience but sounds great with a life lesson.



2. The Who's Quadrophenia (1973) is a double album rock opera that covers a Monday through Friday week in the life of Jimmy, a young man afflicted with a multi-personality disorder that includes four personalities.
   
   A tough guy, a helpless dancer.
   A romantic, is it me for a moment?
   A bloody lunatic, I'll even carry your bags.
   A beggar, a hypocrite, love reign over me.
   
   Schizophrenic? I'm bleeding Quadrophrenic.
   
   Each of the four personalities supposedly reflects the personality of a member of The Who. As with all concept albums, the story is somewhat open to interpretation, and in this case that's a good thing. A lot of these songs are so personally affecting that applying the lyrics strictly to the concept might be distracting, and mitigate any personal identification with the songs. The best of this music can be very meaningful even without applying it to the Quadrophenia story.
   
   The production of Quadrophenia is powerful and extraordinarily well developed. Orchestrated and vocal sequences of the main songs play throughout and connect the songs with the story, and several sound effects, including those of the sea and the rain, add an imaginitive visual. The booklet included with the 2-disc set features an essay by Pete Townsend that helps to explain the Quadrophenia story, some relevant black and white photographs, and the lyrics to the songs.
   
   The songs on the album include some of the best The Who have ever done. It just doesn't get any better than The Real Me, 5:15, Doctor Jimmy, and Love Reign O'er Me. These songs rock like nothing the band had ever done, or would ever do again. The Who at the very peak of their powers. Nearly everything else on the album is satisfying, too, although not nearly as epic as the songs mentioned. Quadrophenia is one of The Who's best albums, and an essential and powerful piece of rock n' roll history. The album is an emotional experience, and quite a revelation when listened to in it's entirety. It can be very moving, and even sacred, if you let it take you into it's world. It ends with the spiritual healing of Jimmy while he stands screaming on The Rock in a raging rainstorm.
   
   Only love can bring the rain
   That makes you yearn to the sky
   Only love can bring the rain
   That falls like tears from on high
   
   Love, reign o'er me
   Love, reign o'er me, reign o'er me



3. This would have to be The Who's best album. John Entwistle brings some of his best bass playing on The Real Me. Keith Moon's drumming is awesome. Love Reign O'er Me is a truely awesome song.



4. The music on Quadrophenia (1973) is sophisticated and represents the second large scale concept album by the group (the other being Tommy). The concept on Quadrophenia, which revolves around English youth, is handled carefully and with great intelligence, resulting in a concept work that is deep, multidimensional, and ever engrossing.
   
   On Quadrophenia, Townshend once again amply demonstrates his ability to embellish just a few central musical themes with instrumental preludes, interludes and postludes, all of which create the impression of something much larger and complex. In addition, highly melodic vocal, guitar and synthesizer parts weave and soar above a positively thunderous rhythm section to create some very interesting music. Speaking of which, John Entwistle is a ripping bass player and drummer Keith Moon is simply phenomenal.
   
   This remastered package is pretty nice and features a nicely detailed booklet and good sound quality.
   
   Quadrophenia is an excellent album and is highly recommended along with Tommy and Who's Next.



5. Nobody writes stuff this good anymore, except maybe Nick Worrall. Simply stunning in every way possible.

5 comments about "Queen - The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III".

1. I received the Queen CD I bought from Amazon in a reasonable time and in perfect condition.
   
   Thank You!



2. I don't have any comments on this album. It is just awesome
   Guy
   Zoetermeer, the Netherlands



3. Let me start by saying, I am a Queen fan(atic). Have been since I was 9 years old. I can pretty be counted on to A) buy any Queen merchandise and/or products, or B) or least give said merchandise and/or products a fair look before I pass by. That having been said, I don't think this greatest hits set is really the best representation of the most versatile band ever. That's right, Beatles, I said "ever".
   The problem with sets like these is that the average listener will buy it and think, "Well, that's Queen taken of, then", stick it on their shelf and forget about it. But then they'll miss out on great stuff like "Tie Your Mother Down", "Stone Cold Crazy", "In The Lap Of The Gods", "Mustapha", "It's Late", "Flick Of The Wrist"...the list literally goes on and on. Also, this just may be my inner anal-retentive fanboy speaking here, but some of the songs on this set are rather annoyingly edited, at least to my ears. For example, on this set's version of "Under Pressure", Queen's seminal 1981 New Wave collaboration with David Bowie, the second refrain of "This is our last chance" is--POOF!--completely gone. It's very unnerving, and takes someone who's heard the song that way their entire lives completely out of the moment. Further examples include the truncated version of "Fat Bottomed Girls" on Disc One, which on this version fades out, rather than coming to its usual strong finish in the unedited version, which can be found on the original album "Jazz" or the 1992 U.S. maroon-colored release, "Queen's Greatest Hits".
   As for the much-maligned "Greatest Hits III" (Disc Three), it's not quite as bad as all that. "Princes Of The Universe" was erroneously left off of most of the previous hits collections; long overdue to be included, as it's one of the best known Queen songs, thanks to the "Highlander" films and TV series. Also, it was good to have some cuts from Freddie Mercury's side projects, most notably "Barcelona" with Monserrat Caballe and "Living On My Own" from the "Mr. Bad Guy" album, which can prove difficult to find. Elton John's passionate rendition of "The Show Must Go On" is very moving in the context of things, and even George Michael acquits himself admirably with a joyous take on "Somebody To Love". Both performances serve as fitting tributes to Freddie Mercury's spirit. As for the remix of "Another One Bites The Dust" by Wyclef Jean? Well, to my surprise, I really didn't think it was as bad as some have made it out to be, especially when compared to some of the Rick Rubin remixes from the 1991 album re-releases (Anybody else remember that remix of "Bicycle Race"? Ick.)
   Anyways, to sum up, I personally think it would be better for the beginning Queen listener to at least delve into some of Queen's studio albums first, but being that we live in a world where everybody's in a mad hurry, it's quite understandable that people would pick up the most concise collection of material. Just don't make the mistake of ending your search here.



4. Absolutely OUTSTANDING. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the musical genius of Freddie, Brian and the band.



5. I have just recenty rediscovered Queen with the Wembly concert. So it was an absloute treat to recieve this collection to add to my ever growing Queen collection. I was absolutely blown away with the songs "I want it all", "The show must go on" and "Hammer to fall" I was also amazed at the version of "Somebody to love" that George Michaels did with Queen. ALMOST as good as Freddie. There is a few songs that were not so good on the last disk but most is an absolute treat to the ears. Not to mention the soul. Also, going through the little booklet was great too since it had a little background knowledge on each of the songs not to mention the great pictures.
   If you are a Queen fan this is a must to own and cherish!!! The only BAD thing about this whole set is after you've played them all it leaves you wanting more. Freddie was a great entertainer and showman and died way too soon but at least we have collections like these to remember just how great the band was and how talented they all were.