Audio CD review:
Queen - The Works

Queen - The Works

Band: Queen Title: The Works Rating: Release Date: 26 November, 1991 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Radio Ga Ga 2: Tear It Up 3: Its A Hard Life 4: Man On The Prowl 5: Machines (Or Back To Humans) 6: I Want To Break Free 7: Keep Passing The Open Windows 8: Hammer To Fall 9: Is This The World We Created....? 10: I Go Crazy 11: Radio Ga Ga 12: I Want To Break Free

Customer Reviews Queen go back to basics on this classic album! The band were frustrated after the poor response to Hot Space and was the album that was the start of the unnecessary downfall Queen had. Queen's twelfth album The Works was released in March of 1984. With The Works, Queen made some changes. First, they switched record labels from Elektra to Capitol/EMI to all countries outside Europe where they were already with EMI. Second, the band decided to go back to their classic sound whilst moving forward. Third, Queen and co-producer Mack decided to record the album mainly in the US. Would these changes improve or hurt Queen, read on! The Works kicks off with drummer Roger Taylor's ode to MTV called "Radio Ga Ga". The song is about how much the singer misses listening to the radio, and how MTV has replaced the radio and interesting fact, Roger's son Oscar came up with the title after he heard some New Wave act and replied "Radio Ga Ga". That track did well hitting #16 in the US but was also the band's downfall in the US as their hard rock fans were irate that Ga Ga was the first single. We then rock out next with Brian's "Tear It Up". This song rock, had it been released as the Us' first single, I believe The Works would have done well Stateside. Next is classic Freddie on the ballad "It's A Hard Life". This song is a masterpiece and its video was classic. We end The Works' first side with Freddie's "Man On The Prowl". It is somewhat seen as a Crazy Little Thing Called Love re-make with different lyrics but I think both songs rock. The album's second half starts with the Brian/Roger collaborated techno-rocker "Machines (or Back to Humans)". The track combined techno with hard rock and the synth drums fight with the acoustic drums whilst electric guitar and bass guitar fight the synthesizers. There are even Roger's vocals sung through a vocoder, to simulate the voice of a robot akin to Mr Roboto from Styx. Next is the song, which its video damaged Queen's credibility in the US for years which is the John Deacon composition "I Want To Break Free". This track is a great song which had a comedic video of the band dressing in drag which got banned in the US and destroyed Queen but is a great song. MTV could show Madonna lip-locking with Britney and Christina (both of whom are young enough to be her kids) yet Queen got banned for jokingly dressing in drag, grow up losers! The song itself was an anthem about overcoming oppression. The album version is shorter but the full version appears at the end of the album as a bonus track. Next is "Keep Passing The Open Windows", a Freddie track that is another winner. We follow with the classic hard rocker "Hammer To Fall", this Brian penned track will rock you but unfortunately went nowhere in the US when released which is a shame(Capitol under-promoted Queeen IMHO). We close the album with the classic Brian and Freddie collaboration "Is This The World We Created?". This beautiful anthem of injustice closes the album in a sweet way. The Works initially when relased hit #24 in 1984 in the US and went Gold but the US abandoned the band for New Wave trash like Culture Club and Duran Duran! In 1991, Hollywood Records re-released The Works with THREE bonus tracks which were Brian's hard rocker "I Go Crazy" which rocks and 12" mixes of Radio Ga Ga and the previously aforementioned I Want to Break Free! Recommended! . 4 thumbs 4 this album First, when I was 12 years old. I bought this album 3 times. Then, second time I bought via amazon. co. uk. And now I'm 36 years bought for the third time recently thru amazon. com (hollywood records). It definitely show that album keeps me stunning thru all the years. Those guys always be my idols all the time. Hope this review could help everyone who intent to buy this album. . The Works I recomend this for any Queen fan. The Works is a great piece of awork from Queen. I got the song Tear It Up stuck in my head for a few days after listening to this album. It really show a renewal for Queen. . You can see a complete list of all Queen discography, or go back to the Queen tabs