Search - Queen: The Making of A Night at the Opera (Classic Albums) on DVD

A Brilliant Mix of Hard Rock, Pop, Opera, Music Hall Camp &

Glen Ramirez | Massachusetts | 04/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful addition to the excellent "Classic Albums" collection. This was truly a ground breaking album in late 1975 and is broken down on this DVD in order of the original track listing. I am consistently pleased with the quality of sound and video of the "Classic Album" DVD's (this being my 4th; the others: Pink Floyd, Deep Purple & Stevie Wonder). This, like the others brings back key individuals that helped to make the album a success and a notch above others (i.e.: original engineers, music critics, fellow musicians and DJ's). They describe how no synthesizers were used for their sound. Multi-tracking, piano flourishes, a harp, a ukulele, and multi-layered guitars all combine for a great and unique sound.

A few highlights:

* A frustrated Freddie Mercury taking out his aggressions lyrically on their previous management in the opening song "Death on Two Legs". They had been taken advantage of financially previous to this album.
* A tale of the very shy bassist John Deacon who contributed very few songs in his career but they were critical and outstanding ones to the group. Brian and Roger tell of how he sheepishly introduces "You're My Best Friend" to them and Freddie. Of course they loved it and Freddie making it a classic vocal with John on keyboards.
* "'39". A "great" Brian May song that he revisits in great detail and sings in a new full acoustic version and in some original archived footage. This has always been one of my favorite songs by anyone but never realized it was about space travel. Now I know why it has some similarities to the Moody Blues "To Our Children's Children's Children" album also about space travel a few years earlier in 1970.
* "Love of My Life". Also one of my personal favorites and an incredibly beautiful song. This was a song Freddie had written about a "woman" he loved which it also explains in pictures. Not only is there some great footage on this but also some great bonus footage of him (appears to be at Wembley where he sings acoustically to a few 100 thousand people. What an incredible performance and performer! A MUST SEE! Also a touching new acoustic version by Brian on this track too.
* In depth details on "Bohemian Rhapsody". Music video footage, sound board separations and great archival live performances.

* Audio: 5 stars (new footage & studio recordings); 3-4 Stars (old footage)
* Video: 5 Stars (new footage); 3-4 Stars (old footage)
* Bonus Features: 5 Stars

Song List (as presented here):
* Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to ...)
* Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
* I'm in Love with my Car
* You're My Best Friend
* '39
* Sweet Lady
* Seaside Rendezvous
* The Prophets Song
* Love of my Life
* Good Company
* Bohemian Rhapsody
* God Save the Queen"

Buy it

Juz Man | Hobart, Australia | 05/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great DVD. For me, the original album gets only 4 stars. While brilliant, it has a couple of uninteresting tracks (Good Company, Sweet Lady and God Save The Queen). The rest though, Rocks!!!
The Making Of DVD is incredible. So interesting, I love hearing Brian and Roger talk. Watching them play is worth the price of the DVD alone.
I always thought '39 was about the Second World War. Silly me.
For me, I would love to hear the original 9 minute version of Bo Rhap and hoped it would be on here. It isn't which is a shame. Perhaps one day it will surface.
My version has the DVD of Night At The Opera (released on its own a couple of years ago) included, the 5.1 surround sounds amazing.
Hopefully they do A Day At The Races next as that is my favourite Queen and All Time album."

Only renewed my appreciation of it

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 04/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Good
This DVD release focuses on the stories and behind-the-scenes events that surrounded this Queen masterpiece. Although some music is featured, it's all about the stories. "Death on Two Legs" was written by Mercury about his former managers and how he felt they bled him dry. Roger Taylor gives you a drummers perspective of his song "I'm in Love With My Car." It's no surprise that John Decon penned "You're my Best Friend," but it's apparent within the dialoge here that there is some tension between him and the other surviving band members. Decon refused to be interviewed.

Brian May expresses his regret that "'39" was not releases as a single. He thought that it was unique in that most folk songs were about sailors setting out to sea, whereas this folk song was about setting off into space. Taylor goes into all of the crazy objects they used to produce the sounds on "Seaside Rendevous." May reveales he learned how to play guitar from his father who used to play a ukalale/banjo. Brian even shows you what it looks like. Brian breaks down his jazz band-like solo on the mixing board to show you all of the layers he used on only the guitar to create that sound. They don't really go much into "Bohemian Rhapsody," beyond what people know already.

I've seen a few of these Classic Album Series releases, and this is the only one that had bonus material. Basically it's just footage they cut out of the documentary (I'm sure for time restrictions). Brian May performs "'39" in its entirety on his guitar in the studio, and returns to do it again with "Love of My Life." Except on Love they split it with a live performance of a Mercury performance. A live performance of "Sweet Lady Luck" is included. It is taken from a historic Queen concert at Hyde Park. Discussions of "Bohemian Rhaposdy" are a little more in-depth in the bonus section. There are a few more bonuses, but I don't want to give them all away.

The Bad
What was Brian thinking when he picked out that shirt. Also, when did Joe Perry (Aerosmith) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) become Queen experts?

The Verdict
There's no doubt in my mind that A Night at the Opera was one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and this DVD only renewed my appreciation of it.

"

A Cool Masterpiece!...

Jeff T. Jesmorh | Mexico City. | 10/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was really a pleasure to see this DVD and realise the renewed personalities of drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May. If you remember after that Freddie passed away (RIP), they were really in a dark, gloomy mood. I don't remember their tranquility and peace of mind in an interview, since all happened, 6 years ago.
This DVD really is illustrative with an extensive analysis of the recording process song by song with Roy Thomas Baker and Brian May (I don't know if it had would been better to add the comments of Roy Thomas Baker about the making of "Bohemian Rhapsody" that appear in "THE MAGIC YEARS" vol. I), special Roger's drum demostration (almost a clinic!... If you aren't a drummer, with these tips you can understand better the Roger Taylor style), with good introspective interviews (and the reason of the John Deacon's disappearing of the musical scene), with people that lived the bankrup of the band in '74, and finally, the making of an extraordinary masterpiece: the A NIGHT AT THE OPERA album. It's interesting see the live footage and performances between one and another interview, and a good example of this is the live track "SWEET LADY" from the DVD LIVE AT THE HYDE PARK, '76... Good Luck!

"