Elly Roberts reviews
Freddie Mercury: The Very Best Of Freddie Mercury Solo
Distributed by
EMI
CD: 
DVD:
- Released: September 2006
- Rating: 10/10
- Format: 2-CD set
Queen’s Brian May’s inscription for the Freddie Mercury statute in Montreux was "Lover of life, Singer of Songs." So true.
In July 1986 I was fortunate to see Queen’s penultimate concert at Maine
Road, Manchester. It was a show I’ll never forget. Predictably Freddie was
on top form. The ‘same’ show is now available on DVD, Queen: Live At Wembley,
which recently topped the Music DVD charts.
Now, nearly 15 years after his untimely death, comes this magnificent account
of his solo career, which, some people don’t realise, began under the
pseudonym Larry Lurex, covering a Beach Boys classic I Can Hear Music in
1973: a very rare copy is in my collection (see image below-right).
It included Brian May and Roger Taylor, released just before Queen’s debut
single.
In all, Freddie scored 11 chart entries, one of which was a re-issue of
Barcelona, then a remix of Living On My Own, making it his only
number one, and final release in 1993.
To celebrate what would have been his 60th birthday on September 5, this album, subtitled
Lover of Life, Singer of Songs shows the once flamboyant and gregarious
Faroukh Bulsara is as popular as ever, particularly when, nowadays, leading
showmen are virtually non-existent.
CD 1 has the hits singles, plus a thinly sung I Can Hear Music, its
B-side Goffin/King’s Goin’ Back, with CD 2 bringing ‘alternative’
versions – remixes, extended versions, a demo, and one a cappella.
Opening with two splendid power-ballads In My Defence, The Great Pretender,
Freddie shows what a passionate interpreter of songs he was. There again,
passion overflowed on just about everything he tackled, like Made In Heaven.
Despite his rock credentials, he was fond of disco beats, highlighted on
Love Kills and disco favourite Living On My Own.
Some of Disc 2 doesn’t work form me, though Mr.Bad Guy (Bad Circulation
Version) and the reggaefied Love Is Dangerous (Extended Version)
are brilliant.
Mercury was a sophisticated guy possessing a fine arts degree, had a
fantastic art collection and I’m sure a harking to hit the stage doing
‘operatic’ classics, with Barcelona and Guide Me Home, (when
he memorably complimented Montserrat Caballe), giving us a clue for a future
direction. Another hint may be hidden in his spectacular hit Bohemian
Rhapsody. Sadly, we’ll never find out.
For a full track listing, check out the Amazon link above.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
