Being a Queen fanatic, I buy anything "new." But I was reluctant, at first, to purchase yet another live album from them. Especially since I saw this concert when it was calleed "We Will Rock You." I know that Brian May said that they had completely cleaned it up and raised the standard of the audio and video. I have yet to see the DVD, but I can say that Brian and the crew did an AWESOME job of it. And more than that, the actual performance is the BEST of all of the live stuff they've put out. I thought Live at the Bowl was A+. Well, this show is A+++.

There are some super gems on here. "Love of My Life" is sung completely by Freddie, which is a very rare thing. He doesn't seem happy about it, though. "They don't know it," he declares after singing the first verse. "That's all right," Brian responds, and then Freddie gives on of the best live vocal performances I've heard from him. "Save Me" is wonderful, completely topping the Bowl performance. I really think Queen were totally on because they were well rested (these two shows were a "one off" because they weren't on tour any more). "Under Pressure" "Let me Entertain You" "Flash (ACTUALLY live, not a tape) and "Play The Game" are all standouts.

My only gripe, and it's small, since the tracks sound great, is I do get weary of "We Will Rock You" "We Are the Champions" "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Bohemian Rhapsody." Though, as I said, the tracks sound great, there are so many other great versions of these songs on other live albums. I think Brian said something about re-doing the Budapest concert next, and I really hope he doesn't. We have FAR too many post-Jazz live shows. I think there needs to be some News of the World Tour live album or something. I'd love to hear a remastered concert with "It's Late" or "March of the Black Queen." I know it probably won't happen anytime soon.I won't hold it against this Montreal concert, however, because I really loved it. I hope you will, too. A must have!

English rockers Queen have just released its fifth live album entitled Queen Rock Montreal.
This live recording and its off-shoot DVD was recorded and filmed at The Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on November 24 and 25, 1981 (approximately ten years before the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury).
Not officially released on either vinyl or CD before, Queen Rock Montreal marks the first time the show is available on CD and/or vinyl. (It had been released previous as the concert film We Will Rock You).
Audio producers Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson returned to the original 24 track analog tapes recorded and originally mixed by 80s Queen co-producer Mack with The Record Plant Mobile Truck and created brand new regular stereo (for this CD and one of the two DVD mixes) and DTS 5.1 surround sound mixes (found on the DVD).
We kick off as the band hits the stage with the entrance music of "Intro" which sets the tone for the show. We then start off with a killer version of "We Will Rock You (fast version)" which is is stunning. Next is "Let Me Entertain You" which trumps either the Jazz version or Live Killers versions. We then slow things down with the ballad "Play the Game" which is stunning. Next is possibly the best version of "Somebody to Love I ever heard, only the versions from Earls Court 1977 and Houston Summit 1977 give it a run for the money. Next is a short but simple version of "Killer Queen" which is superb before we segue into drummer Roger Taylor's classic "I'm In Love With My Car" which was just superb. Next, John Deacon's classic bass riff begins "Get Down Make Love" which is the best live version of the three now available. We then slow down again as guitarist Brian May sits at the piano for the ballad "Save Me" (which Freddie would take over for the middle of song as Brian switched to his regular Red Special guitar). Next is "Now I'm Here" which is excellent and features the famous Freddie Mercury/audience vocal duel before segueing into "Dragon Attack" which rocks and then stops cold and Freddie goes back to a reprise of Now I'm Here. The first disc ends with a nice version of Love of My Life with Freddie singing his heart out and the whole song because "Love of My Life" was not a hit in either the US or Canada so the song would be dropped from the band's 1982 US/Canadian tour.
The second CD begins with "Under Pressure" and was the only time it was played by Queen as a four piece (the track was then a new song on the US/Canadian issues of Queen's Greatest Hits album released a few weeks before) and a great version (even without keyboards). Next is "Keep Yourself Alive" which has a nice impromptu jam before the track which is a spirited version. Next is Roger's Drum and Tympani Solo which shows why Roger Taylor is one of rock's best drummers. then we segue into Brian's Guitar Solo which is amazing and Brian finishes with some help from Roger's drumming. We then get two songs that were not on the We Will Rock You DVD but were fully recorded which was a superb version of "Flash" which was only played in 1980/81 and a superb version I must add then we go segue into "The Hero" which trumps the Queen On Fire version (both of these were performed after Under Pressure during the original shows). Next is a superb version of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". Then we have Queen's almost speed metal take of Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" which is superb (this was actually performed before the final encore). Next is an excellent take on "Bohemian Rhapsody" which shows the band playing with a fire they hadn't had in awhile. We then rock out with the set closing "Tie Your Mother Down" which rocks. The first encore of "Another One Bites the Dust" is a killer version. Next is "Sheer Heart Attack' and is the best version of the track ever. We then have the final encore of the traditional "We Will Rock You" with audience participating and a stellar version of "We Are the Champions". We then have the band say farewell as God Save the Queen plays over the PA.
An off-shoot 2-DVD is now also available and has a boatload of extras.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I love Queen. They are my all time favorite band. HOWEVER: Since the last live release was Milton Keynes 82, we really didn't need almost the EXACT CONCERT! The only differences are the songs that were in their final plays before being replaced by Hot Space material.

The highlights:
Flash/The Hero medley, Jailhouse rock and a nice medley of Keep Yourself alive and the traditional Brian May solo.

The lowlights:
Somebody To Love (MUCH better on Live at the bowl), Crazy Little Thing Called Love, (WAY Better on Live At Wembley),

The rest is ok.

Don't get me wrong, its a great sounding concert, I am grateful that they released anything at all. I just wish to god that they would move to older 70's concerts. A works or The Game tour concert would have been better choices. Jazz, News of the world or Day At The Races tours would have been EXTREMELY better choices!

If you like Queen, it is essential, if you are searching for only one live album by them, get Live At The Bowl, it is by far the best live release yet by Queen!

I give this three stars because it's Queen and even at their worst, they're pretty darn good.

That said, I have a hard time recommending this album to anyone but the true die-hards who have to have everything. It's yet another live Queen album from the latter part of their career. Live Killers covered their 1979 European tour, On Fire At The Bowl covers their 1982 Hot Space tour and we have two live cd's covering the 1986 Magic tour (Live Magic, Live at Wembley '86). And now this, which makes 5 live albums from 1979-1986 and none during their peak years of 1974-1978.

Much of the material on this Montreal set is already performed (and performed BETTER) on 1979's "Live Killers", and the few songs that not on that set that appear here just aren't enough to justify getting this Montreal set unless you are a true Queen collector and completist. There are mistakes by the band on at least one song ("We Will Rock You" fast) and another song that the crowd typically sings on ("Love of My Life") just baffles this Canadian audience, so this is simply not Queen at their best. Not even close. So pass on this and get the Live Killers set if you want Queen live during the mid-part of their career, or if you want live versions of more of their slightly newer songs like "Under Pressure" and tracks from 1980's "The Game" and 1982's "Hot Space", get On Fire At The Bowl. Both are far superior to this Montreal show.

The fans would be better served if Queen would give us an earlier concert, several of which were recorded in professional quality and are already widely available in bootleg form (Houston, 1977; Christmas in London, 1974 or something from their 1975-76 tours just after their breakthrough Night At The Opera album was released).

Freddie Mercury is an performer; He's also voted as the
Ultimate Rock God. You can't get better than Freddie.