Once again, Hollywood records demonstrates their GREAT common sense by releasing yet another Queen compilation that at first glance, appears to be totally unneccesary. First, this isn't even a 'hits' collection, the only true hit here is Queen+ George Michael's 'Somebody to Love', so the name 'Greatest Hits' is misleading, even with the 'Queen+' moniker tacked on.

However, this collection definitley grows on the Queen fan. It's an odds and ends collection of Queen with guests (Elton John with a great, and very recent performance of 'The Show Must Go On', and a rather unneccesary rap mix of Another One Bites the Dust), a remix here and there (the 'Rah Mix' of Under Pressure is simply outstanding, blows the original away), long-forgotten album track-treasures(Las Palabras del Amor, Princes of the Universe) and the best of the solo projects Freddie and Brian had done (but no Roger.. why?), a couple of the best cuts from Made in Heaven, plus the new song that was sorely misplaced on Queen Rocks(No one but You).

This collection is great for people who are interested in getting some of Queen's loose ends. Brian May's solo work was great at best but quite uneven, and Freddie's original (and excellent) Mr. Bad Guy LP is long gone, replaced by a bastardized 'the Great Pretender', thank you again, Hollywood Records. It's also worth picking up because 'Princes of the Universe' and 'Las Palabras del Amor' aren't available elsewhere save on the original albums (and save yourself the pain of buying Hot Space).

This collection will definitley grow on you, but it's definitley not 'Greatest Hits', so if you're expecting a continuation of the other compilations, you're going to be sorely disappointed.

Does this collection of songs deserve to be sold under the title of "Greatest Hits"? I'm still not sure about that, but I do know that there are several incredible songs on this album, which make it a must-buy.

There are two live tracks with guest vocalists filling in for Freddie Mercury - George Michael on "Somebody To Love" (recorded at the tribute concert in 1992) and Elton John on "The Show Must Go On". Both are done well, although I prefer the originals.

Next come remixes. "Another One Bites The Dust" is remixed with added vocals from Wyclef Jean. The one song I skip over every time I play this CD, and one which was sensibly left off the video counterpart to the album. On the other hand, the remix of "Under Pressure" is surprisingly good and - dare I say - perhaps better than the original.

The difference between this and other Queen albums is that solo work is included. You have Freddie Mercury's Olympic anthem "Barcelona" (with Montserrat Caballe), the 1993 remix of his fabulous "Living On My Own" and of course his cover of the song he related to so well, "The Great Pretender". Brian May's "Driven By You" is also featured on the album, a song that made me want to go out and buy all of his solo work. Great song.

There's only one non-Freddie Queen song - "No One But You (Only The Good Die Young)" is an absolutely stunning, heartbreaking piece about those who have died too soon - inspired by the premature deaths of Princess Diana and of course Freddie himself.

Finally, the 'real' stuff, the fresh, never-before-on-a-greatest-hits-CD Queen tracks. There are eight of these, comprising almost half the album. "Heaven For Everyone" and "Princes of the Universe" are spectacular, the type of song you keep on replaying over and over again. "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" breaks my heart every time I hear it, due in large part to the fact that the video plays out in my head each time. Brilliant, brilliant song. "Thank God It's Christmas" is great. "Too Much Love Will Kill You" and "Las Palabras del Amor" are softer, ballad-like songs than a lot of Queen's stuff, but both powerful, and immensely enjoyable. "You Don't Fool Me" is a dance song, but in a good way. The only one I'm not too sure about is "Let Me Live" - it has a gospel-choir feel to it (mostly, I suppose, due to the choir singing "So let me live...") and although it is a good song, it wouldn't rate among my favourites.

So let's recap, shall we? Maybe not worthy of the Greatest Hits title, but certainly a great collection of songs, a tribute to an incredible man, and a CD that's getting five stars from me due to the fact that once you slip it into the CD player, it's almost impossible to stop listening to it.

Any true fan of Queen-particularly Freddie Mercury, will find this a tribute album to one of rock's great vocalists. This album is just great...from Freddie's "Living On My Own" to the remixed "Under Pressure" (just absolutely "fab" thanks to Brian and Roger). The only low point in the album is the hacked-up "Another One Bites The Dust" (I've never liked the remixes on the Hollywood releases of 1991 and find them a waste of space - this one included). I also long for a Roger Taylor single to be included (like Brian's "Drivin' By You" - a great track from his "Back To The Light" album). I was extemely happy to listen to "No-One But You" on this album - the only studio recorded single by Queen since Freddie's death; the ultimate tribute by the remaining bandmates. To all Queen fans young and old, sit back, listen, and reminence over one of the true greats in rock history. Freddie, we miss you!

It's been a looong time in waiting, and what has finally arrived is quite a mix - pleasing some, infuriating others, but, as Brian said, this was to be a package for the 'world' and not just fans. Roger said of it: "The choice of tracks on what is inevitably the last Greatest Hits package was always going to be controversial...I hope most of you like it - at least most of it?"

Containing much that was expected, some pleasant surprises are also included. Princes Of the Universe, never a single in the UK, and not charting in the states, is an odd inclusion for a greatest hits package, but one we're all happy to see as a commercially released video on Flix III. NOBY makes its second appearance at the end of an album, and it's as misplaced here as it was on Queen Rocks. But enough of the gripes.

The new 'Rah' mix of Under Pressure is astounding. The new drums, guitar and synth finally showcase the track as something more than just a novelty. You get the feeling that Roger and Brian have been allowed to do what they originally intended with it (Roger: "a song I personally always thought deserved more production values and hence exposure to more people"), in much the same kind of way that they 'Queened Up' some of Freds solo departures for Made In Heaven. Vanilla must be crying into his iced tea as he hears this new take on the track. Many friends who ain't fans tell me this will be huge as a single - it now sounds like a dance anthem and I imagine will be played to death in the clubs, and with Thank God It's Christmas as an extra track on the single, a christmas number one looks promising - let's hope so, as this means Queen will have the top position at christmas 25 years apart...don't forget Bo Rhap back in 1975. One thing - what IS that intro all about? It occurs to me that they were really searching desperately for something new of Fred that's useable. There also seem to be snippets of the Culture Beat Dance Traxx version used too.

The Elton version of Show Must Go On is a little strained (I suppose he *was* a tad emotional that night), but good to hear properly. George's Somebody To Love is as fab as ever (has it been remastered?). The Wyclef Jean Another One Bites The Dust still grates a bit, but as they say, anything to get new listeners, although I thought Wyclef remixed it without the boys help. Suddenly it seems to have been a collaboration...

Everything else we've all heard before, but Queen Prods seem to have got their act together now - great packaging (the booklet is beautiful), a good mix of toons, and incredibly, three days before its release, the record stores have huge displays in the windows for it! Queen are finally being MARKETED again?

What can I say? Buy it and let's try to end the millenium (jeez, how many others are going to use that tired old excuse) with a hit album from Queen. Plus.

Gaz, Queen Heaven

This album is better than I expected it to be. The only songs I don't like are the remixes of "Another 1 Bites the Dust" and "Under Pressure". It includes 3 of the best songs from Made in Heaven "Too Much Love...", "Let Me Live", and "Heaven for Everyone" (the liner notes are great, too!). I'm glad "Princes of the Universe" and "Las Palabras" were included. Add to that Freddie's "The Great Pretender", the beautiful "Barcelona", Brian's "Driven by You" and the poignant "No One But You" (which Brian co-sung with Roger) and you've really got a One of a Kind collection. Too bad they didn't include any of Roger's solo stuff or a song from the Cross. Also featured are collaborations with Elton John and David Bowie (from the Concert for Life). The final song "Thank God It's Christmas" ends the set perfectly, since after all Christmas is coming as I write this review (this rare song was originally found on the now out-of-print The Collection).