Greatest Hits Vol.1 & 2 - Queen

...awesome by using all the Greatest Hits from Queen (most if not all appear on this CD) and making a story out of it. I won't go into details about the show as that is not really relevant to the CD. But all I will say is that once the show had finished I left the theatre as a real Queen fan and I couldn't wait to get the CD!

I was actually rather fortunate as my Birthday wasn't too far away from Christmas and lo and behold I was given ...
...seen as one of the Greatest bands ever and released hundreds of CDs and have been estimated to have sold around 300 million copies worldwide. They are also famous for their live performance which greatly involve the audience participating and singing along - such as in We Will Rock You.

The CD (the important bit):

This CD is one of loads of different CDs that have been released by the band and has sold millions of copies ... more

Introduction:

I was never really a Queen fan until a few years ago now. I of course knew loads of their songs and in particular We Will Rock You and We are The Champions which are forever being played at all sorts of places. I knew of them for a while and liked them but had never once bought one of their CDs.
However as I said first of all this all changed a few years ago now and since that point I loved Queen and now own this CD as in my opinion it is certainly the best one to buy with all the best Queen hits put onto two of the best CDs you will ever encounter!

Becoming a Fan:

A few years ago now for my Birthday my Mum bought two tickets for the show in London We Will Rock You and she took me there a few weeks after my birthday as a special present. I wasn't really aware of what it was about, but guessed it may have been something to do with Queen from the title.
We watched the show at this theatre in London and I thought it was absolutely awesome by using all the Greatest Hits from Queen (most if not all appear on this CD) and making a story out of it. I won't go into details about the show as that is not really relevant to the CD. But all I will say is that once the show had finished I left the theatre as a real Queen fan and I couldn't wait to get the CD!

I was actually rather fortunate as my Birthday wasn't too far away from Christmas and lo and behold I was given this CD that Christmas from one of my Aunts. It was the perfect present and I have listened to it loads and am always listening to it in the car, in my room and have even transferred all the songs to my Ipod and listen to them whenever I get the opportunity (along with all the other songs on my Ipod).

The Band:

Queen is a British rock group whose music has a wide variety from pop rock to Hard rock and includes loads of musical variety and experiment. The Band was formed by Brian May (guitarist) and Roger Taylor (drummer) and Freddie Mercury (lead singer - who died in 19191). They were seen as one of the Greatest bands ever and released hundreds of CDs and have been estimated to have sold around 300 million copies worldwide. They are also famous for their live performance which greatly involve the audience participating and singing along - such as in We Will Rock You.

The CD (the important bit):

This CD is one of loads of different CDs that have been released by the band and has sold millions of copies worldwide.
It includes two CDs - greatest hits volumes 1 and 2.

Greatest Hits 1:
These songs feature from the first half of their career (1973-81)

1. Bohemian Rhapsody:
This is possibly one of their most famous songs ever and has been voted the greatest song of all time. I have to say that I totally agree as it is such a great song with superb vocals and music and has so much variety and texture! The video for this song is also very original and different.
Rating: 10/10

2. Another one bites the dust:
Another great classic which is now played on the hit show 'Gladiators' when a contestant is defeated. Again a really good song which I enjoy listening to and has a strong beat - great to sing along too!
Rating 8/10

3. Killer Queen:
Good track that emphasises the ability of the band with great guitar solo and superb vocals. Certainly not as good as the variety on Bohemian Rhapsody!
Rating 8/10

4. Fat Bottomed Girls:
The first thing you notice about this song is the rather amusing title (and the original was released in a case with a naked women which caused a bit of an outcry). This song is very funny and enjoyable to listen to and of course has some sexual tones. It also has lines linking to the next song - Bicycle Race - as they were released together.
Rating 8/10

5. Bicycle Race:
One of my favourite songs on this CD with a great tune and great singing - which I enjoy signing along too (thought not very well!). My favourite bit is when all the bicycle bells start ringing and then it goes back into a guitar solo and then the song again! Also links back to Fat Bottomed Girls with a line mentioning them.
Rating: 9/10

6. You're my Best Friend:
A much slower song than most of the Queen hits and one which I am not overly fond of as I prefer the more upbeat tunes, but it is still a good song with some catchy lines!
Rating: 7/10

7. Don't Stop Me Now:
Absolutely amazing song - very fast and upbeat with some great lines "travelling at the speed of light, that's why they call me Mr Fahrenheit"!
You won't be able to stop once you get going on this song!
Rating: 10/10

8. Save Me:
Not too keen on this song but it is still okay. It is slightly different to the normal Queen songs and is a rock ballad about a friends broken relationship - a more emotional side that is often unseen from Queen - interesting
Rating: 6/10

9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love:
A great song - one that seems to make you sway and what to click or clap along (you know what I mean!). It is rumoured that this song only took 5 minutes to compose and was even written by Freddie whilst he was in a bubble bath!
Rating: 8/10

10. Somebody to Love:
This song is another rock ballad which is about love and religion - God. It is made to be like a gospel choir with their voices being layered to sound like 100 people. Another good song - but not great.
Rating: 6/10

11. Now I'm Here:
A very good sign which sees Freddie hit some of his highest notes ever. I really enjoy this one and would have loved to have seen it live as it was very popular and even featured two Freddie Mercury's on stage (a fake appeared one side then he appeared the other side).
Rating: 7/10

12. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy:
Less successful than most of the other hits on this CD and not one of my favourties. Includes a great guitar solo and some great solo singing from Freddie!
Rating: 6/10

13. Play the Game:
Another good track which was the first to use electronic synthesisers and also the first to show Freddie's famous moustache which he is often recognised for having. Good vocals but not a brilliant song.
Rating: 7/10

14. Flash:
A superb song which is from the film Flash Gordon (a great film) and is from the opening scenes. It even includes dialogue from the first scene of the film which makes it even more unique and great to listen to. A great start to this song!
Rating: 9/10

15. Seven Seas of Rhye:
The earliest released song to appear on this album and was from a fantasy world made up by Mercury. A relatively short song but still good including some superb guitar playing from Brian May.
Rating: 8/10

16. We Will Rock You:
Stomp, Stomp, Clap..Stomp, Stomp, Clap. I bet you can all recognise that being one of their most known sons for its superb beat and ability for anyone to join in with! Very powerful, loud and strong song that I love - it is also played in the show We Will Rock You funnily enough and the whole audience has to join in!
Rating: 10/10

17. We are the Champions:
This is one of the best songs ever and is always being played at football stadiums and sung by fans (I know as have done this several times when my team won promotion!). An anthem for many sports teams and one that is loved be everyone (I think!). Another amazing song and a favourite for me!
Rating: 10/10

Overall:
One of the best CDs with some of Queens best and greatest from the first half of their career!
Overall rating: 9/10 - I love this CD!

Greatest Hits 2:

This CD completes the package to make this one of the best CDs ever. This second one consists of the second half of their career after 1981 and includes several more amazing hits and some which are slightly less known and not so popular.

1. A Kind Of Magic:
This hit became number one in over 35 countries, but not in Britain and I don't see why as it is such a great song and was made for the film Highlander. The video was very modern and included loads of special effects. A very well known and popular song!
Rating: 8/10

2. Under Pressure:
This song was the first time that Queen joined up with another artist: David Bowie in this case and it was a massive success. A good song and one that includes some great vocals between Bowie and Mercury both high and low.
Rating 7/10

3. Radio Ga Ga:
This was one of my favourite songs after watching We Will Rock You in London and it was extremely well performed on the stage. A very robotic song but enjoyable and not monotonous at all. Very easy to listen to and great to join in with.
Rating: 9/10

4. I want it all:
This song reminds me of something you will probably hear lots of kids saying when they are at a toy shop! A great classic rock hit - something that Queen can do with absolute perfection!
Rating: 9/10

5. I want to beak free:
Another favourite of mine on this second CD. with superb vocals and lyrics which like many of the tracks has a great variety and build up to that best bit in the song! One of their most successful releases in Europe!
Rating: 9/10

6. Innuendo:
One of their longest tracks ( 6 and a half minutes) and a very successful one as their first to be released in the nineties. This one proves just how skillful they can be as it includes a whole variety of different music styles - but it is not one of my personal favourites.
Rating: 8/10

7. It's a hard life:
Not one of their best in my view but displays Freddie's love for opera which influenced several songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody. Good song - but nothing to stand out from the rest.
Rating: 6.5/10

8. Breakthru:
Displays great variety s it starts off slowly which I am not too keen on but is then great as it suddenly speeds up into a great rock song!
Rating: 7/10

9. Who wants to live forever:
This is again another slower track but one which I really like as it is very powerful and emotional and was for the film Highlander where the main character has to face losing his wife. A heart wrenching song that is my favourite slower song by Queen and one which I really like!
Rating: 8.5/10

10. Headlong:
A typical fast paced rocker which is relatively good. he importance of this song is that the video was one of the final shots of the band with lead singer Freddie Mercury who died not long after.
Rating: 7/10

11. The Miracle:
This song is about God's creations and refers to many famous figures in the lyrics as well. I wouldn't say it is one of their best but was described as "an incredibly complex track" by Taylor.
Rating 7/10

12. I'm going slightly mad:
A typical eccentric Queen song that is very funny and light hearted, although many people think it has darker undertones - though I don't think this and feel it is a good song.
Rating: 7/10

13. The Invisible Man:
Another more light hearted song which resembled very much Ghostbusters. It also has a great video for the song which shows as child playing a computer game trying to shoot the band who are the bad guys!
Rating: 7/10

14. Hammer to Fall:
Another song to feature in the film Highlander and is another heavy rock song. The record sleeves, particularly the one from the live version, are now a collector's item (so have a look in the loft if you may have one!)
Rating: 6.5/10

15. Friends Will be Friends:
Not one of their most successful but still a record being their 30th single release in the UK and reached 13th in the charts. Not one I like that much.
Rating: 6/10

16. The show must go on:
It is about how Freddie is continuing to sing and perform despite being near the end of his life (hence the title). Definitely one of their most powerful and emotional songs about life and death and a very good one!
Rating: 9/10

17. One Vision:
Written after a live aid performance and one which focuses on the problems in the world and was used as an intro to many of their concerts. A great song and great end to the album!
Rating: 9/10

Overall:
A great second album with some super ones at the beginning and end yet has a few not so good ones in the middle!
Overall rating: 8/10

Price:

£5.40 from amazon.co.uk - no question about getting it at this price!

Conclusion:

This has to be one of the greatest albums ever with the best songs from the greatest band ever! Super hits which are really well known across the world including Bohemian Rhapsody and We are The Champions! (They certainly are!)
Overall rating: 9/10! 

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