Queen

[Codiekitty]

Could somebody point me in the direction of a single album of their's that has as much of their best/most appealing to a newbie stuff on it as I can get?

I don't want to hear "Well, isn't a Best Of/Greatest Hits album obviously the way to go?"; I bought the 2 Disc Best of David Bowie, and liked maybe two songs on it (and that "All the Young Dudes Carry the News" made me want to break thumbs), and all-in-all feels like it was meant for somebody who was already a fan of his. And as a fan I say Weird Al's second Greatest Hits album really isn't his best stuff. "I Love Rocky Road" is 10x the song "This is the Life" is, yet Rocky Road isn't on either of the Greatest Hits Albums. Even "My Bologna" is better than "This is the Life". And "Beverly Hillbillies" sucks.

So yeah, I don't want a Best Of album.


Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

[Dylan]

I don't think there is such a thing; their greatest hits were pretty much spread out. I might be wrong though. Help me out, Koga.

~Dylan

[L007 is Undecided]

If you want live hits, get Live at Wembley. For greatest hits, get Queen Greatest Hits I. All of the popular songs. Greatest Hits II has slightly less popular (But still awesome) songs. III is mostly a tribute.

Can't go wrong with Greatest Hits, actually. It's usually on sale for $10. However, I believe there are at least two different versions of Greatest Hits, varied on the USA's and Europe's tastes.

Like Dylan said, some of the greatest songs are still spread out.

[Codiekitty]

That's fine. A lot of Weird Al's best stuff is spread out.

But when I listen to a "Greatest Hits"/"Best Of" and end up not really liking or downright hating the majority of the songs, I go "Damn, if this is their best stuff I'd hate to hear their worst." With a regular album, I can filter out the crap because there's nothing calling it quality.


Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

[Booyakasha]

Depends on what you want, really. Almost all of Queen's albums are worth picking up, though the earlier ones tend to be better. Most people would probably recommend either Jazz, News of the World or A Night at the Opera--all are rock-solid albums, and each one features a few well-known songs that will make the album more accessible to the casual listener.

Oh, and regarding David Bowie--assuming your 'Best o' Bowie' experience hasn't soured you on him, I'd recommend Space Oddity and Hunky Dory, two of his earlier, better albums.

[Codiekitty]

I haven't been soured to Bowie, I'm just kind of wondering "WTF?"

I really liked "Changes", but only other song I even remember is "All the young dudes carry the news" which I remember simply because of how retarded it was (plus, "all the young dudes carry the news" was spoken no less than twenty times throughout the entire song). I do remember skipping several because they were getting on my nerves, I just don't remember which ones.

On the other hand, I only listened to each disc once, and there's been songs I love now that I had to listen to several times before I appreciated it.


Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

[Dr. Horrible]

I really enjoyed Queen on Fire: Live at the Bowl. I preferred all the tracks on there to the originals, except Bohemian Rhapsody, which was much to staccato for my tastes live.

[Koga]

I would definitely reccomend Greatest Hits I to the casual listener. Queen never set out to write singles; they just picked the best songs on their albums and put them out as singles. Which is why you get songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, which no one would've released as a single in that time. If I had to pick a favourite song from every album, all would be one of their (UK top 20) hits. Some won't be as familiar to the casual listener as others (e.g. Save Me). So, in short, Queen's greatest Hits 1 certainly has some of the best songs of Queen of that period, and I can garantuee that some of them aren't familiar to you (Play The Game, Seven Seas of Rhye, Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy), but there are a lot of great album tracks of that period as well.

As for Greatest Hits II, that is the best Queen album of the 80s(early 90s) to get. Unlike their 70s albums, their 80s albums contained a lot more filler songs, which in my opinion weren't as strong as their singles. They released a lot of singles in that period as well (4 or 5 per album). Problem is that these songs will probably not sound as familiar to you, because Queen lost a lot of popularity after 1982.

If you definitely don't want to go with a Greatest Hits album my first reccomendation would be The Game. It was their biggest selling US album, which gave them two number one hits (Another One Bites the Dust and Crazy Little Thing Called Love), and is really accessible to the casual listener. Other reccomendations from the 70s include A Night At The Opera (their breakthrough album, with Bohemian Rhapdosy on it) A Day At The Races (follow op to ANATO with Somebody To Love) or Sheer Heart Attack (their first succesful album, including Killer Queen).

I wouldn't reccomend News Of Thw World or Jazz to the casual listener. Although I think they're great albums, I don't think they're the best Queen has to offer. These albums deviated from the layers of guitars and vocals, which I love so much about Queen.

I personally love their first two albums as well, which were very experimental. Queen I is quite hard, which you would not expect from Queen and Queen II shows that early Queen is definitely progressive rock. These albums aren't very accessible, though, so I would only reccomend them if you are already a bit into Queen, or if you like their (progressive) rock side best.

So in summary:
- get Greatest Hits I, if you just want a sample of their best stuff
- get GHII if you want their best stuff of the 80s
- if you want a studio album I'd reccomend The Game, A Night At The Opera, A Day At The Races or Sheer Heart Attack (in that order)
- if you want their toned down stuff (no extravagant layers of guitar, vocals and over the top production) get News of the World or Jazz
- if you want their harder/more experimental stuff get Queen or Queen II

[Crazyswordsman]

I'd definitely reccomend Night at the Opera. It has some of Queen's finest, including Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as some songs I like personally. Jazz also has some of my favorites, such as Fat Bottomed Girls (my favorite Queen song), or you could try The Game, home to Another One Bites the Dust and Crazy little thing called love.

Still, Queens Greatest Hits (all three albums) is one of the few GH albums I'd actually consider buying. I hate GH albums, but Queen is a major exception. -CSM

[Koga]

I wouldn't reccomend GHIII; as L007 said it's mostly a tribute. They didn't have enough hits left for an entire album, so there are a lot of collaborations (e.g. Queen + George Michael), solo songs and remixes. I would only reccomend it to a fan.

[Codiekitty]

I wasn't able to find The Game, but I did find A Day at the Opera, A Day at the Races, and Greatest Hits 1.

Yeah, I originally didn't want a Greatest Hits thing, but then I noticed (A) it had Another One Bites The Dust on it, and (B) there's a griffin (or at least what looks like one to me) on its cover.

Opera honestly didn't impress me, but I am enjoying the Greatest Hits a lot more than the Bowie one. Was also fun to hear the original of a Weird Al parody, and where parts of the parody came from (i.e. that bouncing "Heeey-eeey-eeey").


Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

[Koga]

Some songs on Opera take a while to get into, but I immediately liked Death on Two Legs, Love of My Life, '39 and the vaudeville ditties (Lazing, Seaside Rendezvous, Good Company), and of course I already knew Best Friend and Bo Rhap. I guess if you don't like the lighthearted vaudeville type songs, it won't be as enjoyable.

You had never heard Another One Bites the Dust before?! I can hardly believe that. The song is played a lot on the radio (in the US as well, as it was their biggest hit) and it's used a lot on tv shows.

It's a phoenix on the cover (at first I thought the Queen crest wouldn't be on there at all, but then I remembered the American release of all 3 GH albums features the crest). The other symbols are two Lions to represent the two Leo's Deacon and Taylor, the crab represents May (Cancer) and the fairies represent Mercury's star sign Virgo.

So what did you think of Races? That one actually took me a while to fully appreciate, but now I love all the songs except White Man.

[L007 is Undecided]

By the way, American Idol is supposed to have the contestants sing Queen songs. I can't really stand the show, but I love to hear other people sing Queen. Hopefully it will be more than We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, and Bohemian Rhapsody. I want to hear In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited, One Vision, Under Pressure, Ogre Battle (Dunno why =P), Bicycle Race, A Kind Of Magic... the list just goes on.

I seriously want the Special Edition of A Night at the Opera. Unfortunatly, my brother lost his job so I'm by myself and I have to buy a Nintendo DS Lite to replace my crappy one.

[Codiekitty]

Guess who doesn't listen to the radio or watch much TV (I used to watch Animal Planet, but now all I ever watch is Leno). And the only music my parents ever play (and hence, all I ever heard growing up) are old fashion country (dad) and love songs (mom).

Didn't listen to Races.

Bicycle Race amuses me somehow.


Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

[Koga]

Yeah, I heard about that on the Queen site, but of course I won't be able to see it. I'd expect them to play the big hits, so there may be a chance of Bicycle Race, One Vision, Under pressure or Magic, but definitely no LITG Revisited or Ogre Battle.

I thought Another One Bites The Dust is the type of song you would have heard even if you don't listen to radio. Surely you must hear radio sometimes (in shops, at other people's places, when you're with someone else in the car). It's the type of song that even people who are not even into music at all would know of. In Queen's case, the same goes for We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions and Bohemian Rhapsody.

[Codiekitty]

If I heard it, I don't remember it. Not only was it new to me when I listened to it, but I didn't recognize Another One Rides the Bus when I first heard it.

Though do keep in mind I just recently had it explained to me what "Going postal" means, and back in the 8th grade I was the only person in my Math class who didn't know what a pimp was.

Although We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions, yes, I've heard before.


Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

[CaptHayfever]

Well, yeah; those two songs are in about 90% of all sports movies ever made.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Koga]

Yeah, I guess Rock You and Champions are more part of the public awareness that AOBTD or Bo Rhap.

BTW, I'm not blaming you that you never heard the song before. I'm just surprised.

[Crazyswordsman]

Rock You and Champions are often played back-to-back in radio syndication. AOBTD is also part of public awareness in that sense, as it is a sports anthem as well.

But I'd think Bo Rhap is more so part of public awareness than those songs, just most people don't know it's called "Bohemian Rhapsody" or only heard the a capella part.

But the other (usually better) songs are usually only known by Classic Rock enthusiasts. -CSM

[Platinum]

Watch American Idol. They all are doing Queen songs tonight.