MADE IN HEAVEN

I suppose I'm the first to review this, maybe there is a reason for that, maybe not. I will be the first to say that I waited years for the release of this album and I was let down when it finally came out in 1995. There's really only five NEW songs on this CD, these being the very final recordings of Freddie Mercury in 1991. Both versions of "It's A Beautiful Day" aren't anything really amazing, and although they contain all of the Queen elements, there is something missing. The end "Day" is slightly better with a different arangement and a heavier rock piece at the end, but it doesn't help the song much! It just feels pieced together.

"Let Me Live" was the masterwork everyone had been hoping for and Queen didn't let us down on this track. This song could have come from "A Night At The Opera" or "A Day At The Races" and you wouldn't have known the difference. This is a beautiful song, once again incorporating all of Queen's elements including the beautiful harmonies and the unmistakable guitar of Mr. May. My Queen trivia is a bit rusty, but I believe this is the only song to feature all three vocalists (Freddie, Brian, and Roger) on a single song!! Excellent!!!

"Mother Love," the last song Freddie Mercury ever sang on. Not an exciting song by any means, quite depressing actually, but Freddie's vocals are in top form, and you can tell he's singing from the heart on lyrics such as "I'm a man of the world, they say that I'm strong / But my heart is heavy and my hope is gone." Not a bad song, just not a great song. "You Don't Fool Me" is possibly the oddest new track, fitting into something of a pop / dance track and quite different even by Queen standards. The final new track is also a wonderful bonus! "A Winter's Tale" seems to find Freddie in a very whimsical mood in his final hours, writing these lyrics about his beautiful view at Montreux, Switzerland. These would be the final lyrics ever penned by Freddie, and sadly these new tracks were recorded only months before his death and remained unfinished until the remaining members of the band polished them off and released them here in 1995.

As for these new tracks, it was great to hear what Freddie and the boys were working on at the end, but as a whole the spirit of Freddie seems to be missing from these recordings, making them depressing and bland at times, and yet more poignant at others. If "A Winter's Tale" doesn't put a smile of pure joy on your face, then there may be something medically wrong with you.

The remaining tracks on this album (not counting the 20 minute waste of time bonus track of noises) are all songs Queen fans had heard before, only re-recorded for this release. "Made In Heaven" and "I Was Born To Love You" were originally recorded for Freddie Mercury's solo album "Mr. Bad Guy" in 1985. "My Life Has Been Saved" was a Queen B-side from 1989!!! "Heaven For Everyone" had been recorded with Freddie on vocals back in 1986/87 for Roger Taylor's band "Cross" on the album "Shove It." Possibly the best of these tracks was "Too Much Love Will Kill You", a song recorded in 1989 for the "Miracle" album but never released. Brian May recorded it in 1992 for his first solo album "Back To The Light" taking over lead vocals, and re-recorded it again here with Freddie's original vocals added!!!! Sure, these songs are all hugely improved upon, but perhaps they lack because they weren't Queen songs to begin with!!!!

I'm not going to say these songs aren't good because they are, but any Queen fan already had the songs in the first place. I personally feel that they shouldn't have put these covers on here as they make the album feel very derivitive! All of the Queen trademarks are here...

...but Freddie Mercury was dead!! These songs just feel wrong somehow, missing the fun loving, happy go lucky attitude of other Queen albums. Perhaps having the remaining members of Queen perform this final tribute to their fallen brother needed to be done. Unfortunately most of this album feels just like that...like it was done out of necessity and that all feeling and heart were gone.

Freddie can never be replaced - rest in peace Fred, I'll never forget!!!!