Letters QFN-20                                      
==============================================================

As most of the letters below are personal opinions about
'Made In Heaven' there is no need for me to reply.


Dear QFN,
I want to write to you to tell you of my thoughts about the
last album. After looking forward to it for four years I was
initially concerned when I read the track listing as there
seemed so many old tracks rehashed, but I needn't have
worried, as when I played the album I discovered they are
all quite brilliant.

Of course the totally new tracks somehow seem better than
the re-recorded versions as they are so very new to us me.
'Let Me Live' and 'Mother Love' are classics without a
doubt. There is so much passion in Freddie's voice and they
never fail to bring a tear of both joy and sadness to my
eye.

'You Don't Fool Me' is a great instrumental track, yet has a
different feel to the rest of the album. Of course the
lyrics aren't about dying etc. It makes me think of 'Rain
Must Fall' from 'The Miracle'.   

I must confess that 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' isn't as
dramatic as the original, but I still like it sung by
Freddie.

I had reservations about 'Track 13' when I first heard it,
and I though is was never going to end. I was so impatient
to play the album over again, but now I set the CD player to
play 'Track 13' over and over again. It's so peaceful. 

With the exception of the 'It's A Beautiful Day' (reprise),
I think all the tracks could be released a singles at some
point, though I don't suppose they will be. That would be a
record I bet. What I fine ending to the recorded legacy of
best band in history.

Queen It!
Brian Andrews
__________________________________________________________________

Dear Dave,
I've just read the book 'The Early Years' and it's so
detailed. It begins each chapter about each member from
their childhood. There are even some very early photgraphs -
of Roger's first girfriend, or John in his school uniform.
and of Brian's first group '1984'. The author has really
done his homework and spoken to loads of friends and family
of all band members. It is more deatiled than 'As It Began'
which really only begins in ernest with the forming of
Queen. I can't recommend this book enough. It hardback at
the moment, but I'm sure the paperback will be out soon, and
possibly be updated with any errors anyone has spotted, as
there is sure to be a few with the ammount of stuff that's
in this essential pre-Queen bible.

I've also got 'Queen Live - A Concert Documentary' by Greg
Brooks, but I've only skimmed through it. It lists all sorts
of things though - track listings, the first time certain
songs were plkyed in a whichever country etc. It looks very
interesting, and I will send you a review soon.

Keep Yourself Alive
Janice Horton
__________________________________________________________________ 

Dear Dave,
I guess I'll upset a few fans by what I'm about to say, and
you might not even want to print this letter, but here
goes...

I just have to express my dissapointment over the new album.
I can't believe there are so few new songs, (though the new
songs are all very worthy). The last thing I exected was
Brian, Roger and John to re-record old song. For some reason
I though the album would contain the songs Freddie worked on
and the also new track by the remaining members. I heard
Brian only wanted to release an EP with the new songs on,
and I think that could have been one way of avioding
re-recording old songs.

I don't usually like Christmas songs, but I think 'A
Winter's Tale' is fantastic and truely expected it to be the
number one UK song at Christmas. I bet many people around
the world will be wondering who 'Robson and Jerome' are/when
when they look at the UK charts, especially in the coming
years.

'Heaven For Everyone' is a good song here, but it hardly
seems any different from The Cross version. So why did they
go to the trouble of covering someone elses material? It's a
Cross song - end of story.

The best version of 'My Life Has Been Saved' is and always
will be the b-side of 'Scandal'. This version is just
slightly more polished.

'Too Much Love...' isn't a patch on Brian's original. There
is no drama in it at all. I was most upset with this track
as Brian did it so well.

Is it true 'You Don't Fool Me' is an old song from the 'Hot
Space' sessions? It sounds like that period to me, and
someone told me they'd heard demo tapes from that session
and it was on, in a slightly rawer but recognisable form.

Funnily enough all the press seem to love this album,
whereas in the past they slagged anything by Queen off as
pomp or overproduced. Maybe they didn't want to seem callous
because of Freddie's death. They should have told the truth.
I don't expect to see this letter in print, but now I've got
that off my chest and can go and play my classic Queen
collection.

Keep up the good work with QFN and have a Happy New Year.
Leo Arlings 
_______________________________________________________________ 

Dear David,
I want to say a few words about 'Made In Heaven'.

November 6th arrived. 'Made In Heaven' was at last in the
shops, but although I'd waited patiently like everyone else
for what seemed like forever, now that it was actually here
I was emotionally torn.

Of course I was thrilled, but on the other hand, the build
up to the morning was something that I will never experience
again. None of us will have a Queen album to look forward
ever again. That feeling leaves a hole in my life.

I take this opportunity to thank Queen for all that they
have given us - an eternities worth of great music, and not
least of all 'Made In Heaven'.

My heart has voloumes to say. Can I put it into words? Let's
see...

An album for Freddie to say goodbye, an album for us to say
goodbye, an album for Brian, Roger and John to say goodbye
to their dear Friend, and an album to end a chapter of
musical history.

From the breathtaking cover, to the bird song on 'It's A
Beautiful Day', through the brilliantly remixed songs that
we love, to Freddie's final song - 'Mother Love'.

Finally track 13 (only available on CD), and not mentioned
on the cover, but the part which was perhaps the most
pleasant surprise. A piece in which to reflect on the late
great Freddie Mercury. It's 'heaven-like' music.

S. Dance  
_____________________________________________________________

An open letter to everyone...

I want to share with you something which has been occupying
my mind for a long time.

Maybe I would never feel like writing about it, but some
time ago 'Time' magazine (10/7/95) published an article
about something similar, so I'm not alone thinking this way.

I will refer to the above magazine article below because
isuppose it was written by some one who knows the show
business much better than me - an ordinary music buyer and
listener.

Recently there is almost an epidemic of posthumus releases
by many artists. Freddie is only one of them.

'Time' magazine wrote about albums which are completed after
the musician's death, which takes their music to a wider
audience than it did when they were alive.

"It should not be surprising. The music world has long been
fascinated with performers cut off in their prime. Death,
the saying goes, is frequently a good career move".

Obviously Queen hasn't ever needed such tragic circumstances
to obtain new listeners.

However we can all see what happens when someone remixes old
songs. I think the increased production of different
versions of well known songs has its place, especially after
the death of an artist. Is it good to make a career out of
someone elses achievements and name? What of songs finished
by others when its creator isn't around any longer?

"Today, advances in recording technology have given record
producers an even greater ability to finnish work of
deceased performers, to remix, remaster and restructur
unfinished recordings with digital precision, and via
aggressive '90s marketing, to sell them to the public as
authentic".

I want to ask these questions.

Is the recorded voice of an absent vocalist anything to
build an album on?

Can technology replace a man and his creative spirit?

Does technological progress and its abilities excuse
operations done with somene eles music?

The main thing troubling me is the disturbance of the
natural creation process - the natural balance. 

I believe with 'Made In Heaven' there is credibility and
good faith with the people who performed the r resurrection.
I am sure the Queen legacy has been protected this time. How
will it be next time? We have time until the deformed
remixes are released...

A Arosimowicz.
Poland

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please indicate when you write to QFN if you don't want any
of your letters to appear in the 'Letter To The Editor'
section
__________________________________________________________________

END
 




