QUEEN Discography- MONTREAL '81 in theaters near you

[TAC]

BILLY SQUIER  'Love Is The Hero' and....

Released in December of '86, the album only reached #61 on the charts, a commercial disappointment selling about 300,000 copies in the United States, making it his first album since 1980's The Tale of the Tape to not reach Platinum status. Mostly because of the negative reception for the video of Squier's 1984 hit "Rock Me Tonite" and changing music trends, his career had taken a sudden dip, damaging both ticket and album sales.

There’s ‘Shot ‘O Love to open, the following two tracks, and a damn good Side One closer called ‘Come Home’, co written by Bobby Chounard.  Side Two was below average IMO.  I bought the album because it was Billy Squier.  Didn't know I was in for an unexpected treat (which could have been even better)



As to the collaborations, this would be the third straight Billy Squier LP that a member of Queen had performed on a song.  This time it's two. Freddie sang on ‘Love Is The Hero’, and co wrote ‘Lady With A Tenor Sax’.

Love Is The Hero   album version   4:49 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYsqtC_W47E
Freddie’s intro was removed.  Wonder whose brilliant idea that was? 

Extended 12” single version …the video starts with a flyin over the Hudson River focusing on The Twin Towers.  This has the Freddie intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8WeggAnAlg&list=RDq8WeggAnAlg&start_radio=1   I've watched this on 9/11 for eons.

The mostly extended version on the  ‘Reach For The Sky’ Anthology  (cuts out the short instrumental after Freddie’s intro)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw95a0XCN8A

Lady With A Tenor Sax  Freddie’s demo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih4HOsyhzaU

The album version      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa9WIsQdNU8

OK... lots to chew on in this latest post. I'll start with the Freddie portion.


Love Is A Hero....kind of blows.

But damn, that Freddie intro is 
Too bad the song actually starts.


Come Home isn't that bad.

Lady With A Tenor Sax..a rocking tune but only Freddie could save it. As a Billy tune it goes nowhere.


I liked Billy circa 1982, but he could never find his place after that.

[King Postwhore]

I disagree.  He rocked out on Hear & Now in 1989.  That was back to his roots.

[TAC]

What are you disagreeing with?

[TAC]

Oh I forgot to mention… is he really advertising Coca Cola on the back album cover??

[Stadler]

I disagree.  He rocked out on Hear & Now in 1989.  That was back to his roots.

Big fan of Tell The Truth too.

[TAC]

I'm all up for any recommendations. I just said he struggled to find his place in the scene.

[TAC]

BRIAN

1987: Bad News, self titled: producer

1987   Heavy Pettin, 'Lettin Loose':  produced by May and Mack

So Bad News was actually kind of a spoof heavy metal band which included 3 of the 4 guys from The Young Ones, a popular comedy show in England. I think either VH1 or MTV used to air their episodes. They were hilarious.

Here's their cover for Bohemian Rhapsody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb3D7SfgKm4

WARNING:  JOE....DO NOT WATCH!   You've been warned.

They even opened for Iron Maiden at Hammersmith on the last night of Maiden's 6 night run in November '86..



Anyone recognize the two guys in the back??

Here's the audio of the three way duel between Jimmy, Brian, and Vim that night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na70Lux3-gA

*********************************************

Heavy Pettin's Lettin' Loose actually came out in 1983. This is a great album that I bought when I was a kid.
Musically, I've always described it as sitting right between Def Leppard's High n Dry and Pyromania.

Here's the full album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXMH-59dwWk

[Kwyjibo]

Re: Magnum

Big fan of Magnum but I totally forgot that Roger had a hand in recording Vigilante.

And I never had the chance to see Queen live, but I saw Roger live, when Cross opened for Magnum in 1991.

[DragonAttack]

Oh I forgot to mention… is he really advertising Coca Cola on the back album cover??

Keen eye! I've owned 'Enough Is Enough' since its release, and had to look at it today to see what you were talking about.  Product placement, eh?

'Hear and Now' was OK, 'Creatures of Habit' just seemed more of the same.  Always expected a 6-7 minute 'mood' song would have helped on those two releases.

As to 'Love Is The Hero'....never heard the Freddie intro until his Solo Collection release in 2000.  Of course, the wife had the 12" vinyl single some time in the late 80s.....

That Billy Squier song with Freddie is amazing.  I haven't played that in a decade.   

On a side note, an employee who retired a few years ago was the niece of Bobby Chounard. Small world.

I listened to the CD for the first time yesterday in eons.  Chounard's name stuck out because Tim had mentioned him during the Hot Space tour thread.  Anyway, knowing the niece of a rock drummer from the 80s.......retiring.  Frick, we're getting old!

BRIAN

1987: Bad News, self titled: producer

1987   Heavy Pettin, 'Lettin Loose':  produced by May and Mack

So Bad News was actually kind of a spoof heavy metal band which included 3 of the 4 guys from The Young Ones, a popular comedy show in England. I think either VH1 or MTV used to air their episodes. They were hilarious.

Here's their cover for Bohemian Rhapsody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb3D7SfgKm4

WARNING:  JOE....DO NOT WATCH!   You've been warned.

They even opened for Iron Maiden at Hammersmith on the last night of Maiden's 6 night run in November '86..



Anyone recognize the two guys in the back??

Here's the audio of the three way duel between Jimmy, Brian, and Vim that night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na70Lux3-gA

*********************************************

Heavy Pettin's Lettin' Loose actually came out in 1983. This is a great album that I bought when I was a kid.
Musically, I've always described it as sitting right between Def Leppard's High n Dry and Pyromania.

Here's the full album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXMH-59dwWk

Thanks for correcting me as to the Heavy Pettin release.  Damn wiki   And, darn me, for not double checking   

Bad News....oh, the flac Brian got from this!  I had heard it once before and cringed.  I did ignore the warning and watched the video for the first time.....and.....
laughed along!   Good satire, and then read about it.  I could tell listening, and then reading confirmed that this took a lot of work to play it sooooo badly but cohesively.

And...first time I'd seen a picture of May and Page together.  Thanks.

Re: Magnum

Big fan of Magnum but I totally forgot that Roger had a hand in recording Vigilante.

And I never had the chance to see Queen live, but I saw Roger live, when Cross opened for Magnum in 1991.

That's a WOW!  I have some Cross concert bootlegs, but never looked that deep into all that surrounded their touring.  I never knew until now that they were ever a support act.  Interesting.  Thank you.

Their first album write up tomorrow.  But I've got '87 to do today.

[TAC]

On a side note, an employee who retired a few years ago was the niece of Bobby Chounard. Small world.

Yeah, he's from Brockton (right next door to me) and is buried there. He had a great style.

[TAC]

ROGER

1985
Elton John   "Too Young"   Ice On Fire (album)   drums (bass by John Deacon)    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JORwlCK5Lk

1986
Virginia Wolf    Virginia Wolf (album)   produced by Taylor and David Richards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nom4o3ByfWY&list=RDEMzUAy9glEwnNcNv4mU_W8dA&start_radio=1

Roger Daltrey   "Under a Raging Moon"   Under a Raging Moon (album)   drums  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4VuUBI5gtw

Elton John   "Angeline"   Leather Jackets (album)   drums (bass by John Deacon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S3-PQCSh3c

Magnum   "When the World Comes Down", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1VerQbpvSA
"Sometime Love"   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vUQVY0FHqA
Vigilante (album)   producer; backing vocals on two tracks

Ice On Fire has a Fred Mandel sighting, and I also see that Davey Johnstone is on both Elton tracks.

I have an extremely vague memory of the Virginia Wolf.

I have just never given Magnum any attention. No good reason why either.

The Daltry song has a bunch of drummers doing a few seconds each. Interesting. Cozy Powell follows Brian!!

[Stadler]

And...first time I'd seen a picture of May and Page together.  Thanks.

Sidebar, Page is a fascinating figure to me.  He's built such a mystique around himself, he's put himself on such an alternate plane (in a sense), that when he shows up in photos like that it's always interesting to me.  Paul Stanley posted a tweet a couple weeks ago that he had dinner with Page and it was wonderful.  I know he's just a musician, and despite the 10 years of Zeppelin - the biggest band in the world - he is still a London studio musician at heart, and so well-plugged in to the community (he and Blackmore have similar origins in that way; same with Beck). 

Even now, I look at a picture like that, and Page sticks out to me like a sore thumb.

[DragonAttack]

^
Brian's career is very similar....though he still gets to tour.....

[DragonAttack]

ROGER

snip

Ice On Fire has a Fred Mandel sighting, and I also see that Davey Johnstone is on both Elton tracks.

I have an extremely vague memory of the Virginia Wolf.

I have just never given Magnum any attention. No good reason why either.

The Daltry song has a bunch of drummers doing a few seconds each. Interesting. Cozy Powell follows Brian!!

Glad you're digging into these and providing some further details....while you give  Minako Honda's 'Cancel' repeated spins due to Gary Moore's appearance

.....as I watched Bad News again, this time with the wife.  We needed the laughs

[DragonAttack]

Hold on is right, as time waits for no one.....

Jumped the gun, and never listed my favorite concert intros.  There's always time down the road for others to chime in. (per many reviewers back in the day: "Never miss the beginning of a Queen concert!")

1A, 1B, 1C: 
Father To Son (taped intro) Father To Son ....since I witnessed it.  The dark arena, and then that crashing first note with the lights.   

A Day At The Races (taped intro) Tie Your Mother Down ...the same.  Dark arena, the thunderous opening chords of TYMD, and then x amount more lights than the prior one...... and flash pods!   

Flash (tape intro) The Hero and We Will Rock You [fast]  That video from Milton Keynes.....   wish they'd have kept it for the entire tour.

'second' by a whisker:
Thunderbolts and lightning (tape) We Will Rock You [fast]. To see that 'pizza oven' rig begin to turn and rise above the drumkit as the first chords of WWRY were played.....not knowing it was Queen on stage because I'd never heard that version......just 'Wow!' And then to see the Paris video 

taped intro and One Vision....perfect...with Tie Your Mother Down a second later

ANATO and WWRY tours would place 3rd

By far my worst:North American Hot Space tour:  the eerie Flash taped intro into 'Rock It'.  Seeing the spotlight shine just on Freddie at the beginning was terrific, but way too laid back before changing gears.  And the song was not a good choice as well.

[DragonAttack]

FREDDIE MERCURY  Jo Dare  HOLD ON b/w A Change Is Gonna Come (Tina Turner)

Recorded: 1986
Released:  1987 West Germany (EMI)
Lyrics by Freddie Mercury, and music written by Mack.
Produced by Freddie Mercury and Mack





AUDIO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1qW8K2BAoQ

Tina Turner's 'A Change Is Gonna Come'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6S-CrZgqhE


per Jo Dare:

"I was in Munich at MusicLand Studio recording my music with Mack. Freddie came in and I couldn't believe it! He was so nice to me and we became fast friends."

Interviewer: Tell us about the recording of the song “Hold On”. How did it happen this opportunity? Did you and Freddie record your vocals together or separate? How can you qualify this experience of recording a track with Freddie? Did you like the final result of this song?

 Jo Dare: "He was in Studio a lot, while I was recording. One day, he just grabbed my hand and said, "Why don't we do something together, darling"? I said, “Of course"! It was a very nice experience. I loved the final result of "Hold On"!"

full interview at   https://royaltrilogy.blogspot.com/2015/11/jo-dare-strong-voice.html?fbclid=IwAR3JiStuoZ_VidfLg2sXy66Y7mcLQV_i3v-iRrBWulWxaH8dhB8P9bELdcU

from the 'Living On My Own' video


 ZABOU...
Is a German film, with German dialogue, based on a TV police series starring Götz George. Released in Germany in 1986, although the soundtrack album was also released in Brazil so it is possible that the film was released there as well.

The soundtrack of the film was much sought after for this track, until it's inclusion in 'The Solo Collection' in 2000, which was the first time I heard it.  Broken record time....of course, my wife already owned it  

oh, and btw....it's a good duet, fun and very enjoyable song.



EMI
Joe Cocker–   Now That You're Gone  4:15
Talk Talk–   Why Is It So Hard?  4:03
Anne Haigis–   Pictures Of Paradise Lost
Klaus Lage Band & Albert Mangelsdorff–   Zabou
Argandoña*–   Sailors
Purple Schulz–   The Vision
Robbie Nevil–   Time Waits For No One

Freddie Mercury / Jo Dare–  Hold On
Tina Turner– A Change Is Gonna Come
Danny Deutschmark & Klaus Lage–   Desperado
Next Big Error–   Big Shot
Wolf Maahn–   Born Beautiful
Klaus Lage Band–   Nie Wieder Kind

[Stadler]

Götz George is quite the man's man. 

[Kwyjibo]

I saw that movie when it came out, but hardly remember anything. 

Götz George is one of the better german actors and his role as Schimanski (a kind of undercover cop) has a definite cult following here in Germany.

[hefdaddy42]

I have never ever liked Billy Squier in any way, shape, or form.

[DragonAttack]

The GREAT PRETENDER

The Platters original version 1955 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEzfhclKO8Q  16 MILLION VIEWS
Charts:  UK #5, USA #1

FREDDIE MERCURY   The GREAT PRETENDER b/w  Exercises In Free Love

Released:  February 23, 1987, UK (Parlophone), USA (Capitol)

Charts: UK #4, USA (DNC)
Ireland #2, New Zealand #5, Belgium #6, Finland #7, Netherlands #11, France #13, Sweden #14, Switzerland #15, Austria #26, West Germany #26, Australia #54

Rankings are for 87-93, with only the highest listed for each country.

VIDEO   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLRjFWDGs1g  42 MILLION Views

Hey…..the mustache is gone!!!!  And we get to see three lovelies as backing vocalists…..Freddie, Peter Straker…..and Roger!

The B-side…..vocal demo prelude leading up to ‘a night at the opera’……..

Exercises In Free Love   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8n52i_dWrg (1 Million total views on various sites)



Freddie Mercury: lead vocals and backing vocals
Mike Moran: synthesizers
Alan Jones: bass
Harold Fisher: drums

Produced by Freddie Mercury, David Richards, Mike Moran
Recorded at Ripe Studios, London, November 1986
Mixed at Townhouse Studios by David Richards

Written by Buck Ram
***********
The Great Pretender demo   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aptk22usx7g

12” extended version  minus video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbusNFSqDOY (some easy repetitive vocals at the beginning, but nothing much different from the 45)

With video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly-JZowFHDA  3.2 MILLION Views
***********
Freddie had developed a friendship with Mike Moran after working with him on Dave Clark's Time. Moran was recruited for Freddie's next couple of solo projects, including a cover song he always wanted to record. The track was recorded at Mike Moran's Ripe Studios.

If this wasn't Freddie coming out, I don't know what was.  That video is him just totally letting loose, much like 'Living On My Own'.  And it's as if Buck Ram wrote those lyrics almost four decades earlier just for him.

 EXERCISES IN FREE LOVE 

Freddie had Mike Moran play classical piano while he sang overtop.  When Freddie first met Montserrat Caballé in March 1987, he brought in this composition.

No lyrics, but Freddie is in excellent voice (Superb! Magnificient!).  This was recorded during "The Great Pretender" sessions in anticipation of the meeting with Caballe.  When he played it for her, it more or less kicked off the entire Barcelona project, and ended his planned solo album. This piece would eventually be given proper lyrics and become "Ensueno."
***********
 I can just imagine the initial reaction to both in ’87, especially that over the top video. Would have been interesting. That said, I never saw it in the stores, or heard it on the airwaves.  My first listen was in ‘93.  The same with the video. Fun yet sad to watch then, as it is now.

As to ‘Exercises…’, hearing it for the first time in '93 was powerful and moving to the point of tears. It has almost that same effect today.
 


The GREAT PRETENDER '93 reissue

 


In ’93, a very revised and remixed version, sounding very ‘Queen-ish’ with Brian May imitation guitar, was released as a single and as the title track on the North American version of his Greatest Hits. The song reached #29 in the UK.

Since I had never heard either version until then, I had no time based affection for the original.  I totally enjoy both, but find this superior because it has that Queen sound (though many of the BVs have been removed...but to good effect).  Since there was such an insistance by Jim Beach for 'new' and 'fresh' remixes, I wish they'd been given the Brian Malouf treatment. This is equal to the '93 remixes of 'Time' and 'In My Defence'.

VIDEO (from the ’92 Robert DeNiro film ‘Night And The City)      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGUzO7J0TQU

Total sales for the re-release of ‘The Great Pretender’ in the UK also included the CD, which also had the remix.
1. The Great Pretender
2. Stop All The Fighting
3. Exercises In Free Love
4. The Great Pretender (remix)
 

[DragonAttack]

Not his last interview, but filmed shortly after the release of 'The Great Pretender'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4XgdWDhvQw&t=4s

which was shortly followed by....

[DragonAttack]

....the Paul Prenter May 4th and 7th articles in The Sun

https://4imaroza.livejournal.com/1101.html     

[TAC]

So I actually bought The Great Pretender CD for my wife shortly after we met. It's been in my basement for at least 15 years.

I'll give it a quick Spotify run.


Speaking Of Spotify..

...er...nevermind, it's not on Spotify.



I must say, for a band that was fraying a bit by the end of the '86 tour, they each stayed quite busy once the tour ended.

[TAC]

BRIAN



1986:  Minako Honda   'Cancel', producer  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtY5QF9U6Gk
And guess who wrote and plays guitar on this.  Of course, it’s GARY MOORE!!!!

Not sure how I missed this. I had to go back to it.



Gary is great on this!




Also..

[DragonAttack]

Gary and Brian with Hank Marvin in 2004 at the same function

[DragonAttack]

Montserrat Caballe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_Caball%C3%A9



************

FREDDIE MERCURY   MONTSERRAT CABALLE
BARCELONA b/w Exercises In Free Love

Released:  October 26, 1987  UK (Polydor)

Charts: UK #8
Ireland #8, Sweden #15, West Germany #32, Netherlands #37, Australia #85

1992:  UK #2
Ireland #2, Netherlands #2, New Zealand #2, France #6, Switzerland #8, Portugal #9, Switzerland #12, Sweden #12, Belgium #21, Australia #42

2018:
Scotland #63, Germany #100

VIDEO   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1fiOJDXA-E  18 MILLION Views
The single version is shorter, and has a different beginning than what would appear on the album. 

Exercises In Free Love the non album B-side   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h328CMDPPAM

Freddie’s version appears as the B-side of ‘The Great Pretender’ single, which was the starting point of the ‘Barcelona’ sessions.  This is Montserrat’s version.  Since Freddie was doing his best Montserrat homage in the original, this is her proving that Freddie's vocal was right on. 

This was not included in the 2000 ‘Solo Collection’ box set.  Pity.  I heard her version for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It is worth a listen.
 


Written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran
Produced by Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran, and David Richards

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_(Freddie_Mercury_and_Montserrat_Caball%C3%A9_song)
*************
Stateside, I wouldn’t hear the album until after his passing, or the 45 version of the title track until Queen + Greatest sH*ts III.  I’m sure listeners were as surprised and semi shocked in ’87 as I was in ’92. 

Everyone’s cup of tea?  Not even close.

Memorable, well done by two giants in their field? Totally

Enjoyable to many?  Absolutely, and count me as one of them.

The album project certainly ended up being quite ‘a night at the opera’…….



***********
May 87 interview with Freddie and Montserrat Caballe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPGCmxA-Hmc  6 MILLION Views

The note under the video translated:
We rescue the complete tape with many unpublished fragments of the interview that 'Weekly Report' conducted with #FreddieMercury and #MontserratCaballé in May 1987 on the occasion of the presentation of the song 'Barcelona' in Ibiza.
You can activate the subtitles in the settings button located in the corner of the image.
******
A shame this wasn’t all in English.  It is obvious that Freddie understands a great deal of what is being said in Spanish.  And it’s obvious as to the mutual affection and respect the two had for each other.



 

[Zydar]

I've always had a soft spot for this song, love it.

[Stadler]

Everyone’s cup of tea?  Not even close.

Memorable, well done by two giants in their field? Totally

Enjoyable to many?  Absolutely, and count me as one of them.

This is spot on.  I have to say, I'm not the hugest fan of this side of Freddie - both The Great Pretender (I have the reissue) and "Barcelona" - but it's undeniable how good a singer he is, and the chemistry between them on "Barcelona" is clearly evident.  There was a lot of mutual respect and admiration there; if the bio I read is any indication, he planted the seed, but SHE actually pushed the full collaboration.  She was way into it, and I think it was just as much a wing-stretch for her as for him. 

Again, the music isn't something I go back to, but I'm a big one for the "power" of music, to communicate, to connect, and to see such an undeniable union, over music, is really a beautiful thing to watch.  And credit to the band for letting him have his head, so to speak (it's a HORSE term).

[Orbert]

I think I remember watching them sing this live.  Wasn't it during the Olympics?  Maybe the opening ceremonies?

[TAC]

Gary and Brian with Hank Marvin in 2004 at the same function

I think that's the same pic I posted but somehow the other guy was cut out. I have no idea who Hank Marvin is.

[DragonAttack]

I think I remember watching them sing this live.  Wasn't it during the Olympics?  Maybe the opening ceremonies?

They may have shown the video, but Freddie died the year before the '92 Olympics.

For those who have a soft spot for the song, as well as the power of the Mercury / Caballe collaboration.... I'll add one more item before moving on to the next solo release Friday evening.....

[DragonAttack]

FREDDIE MERCURY & MONTSERRAT CABALLE     BARCELONA 12" Extended version

Released: 1987

Barcelona (edit) / Exercises in Free Love  b/w  Barcelona (extended version) 

Barcelona (edit)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Py1MqvuR_0

EXTENDED VERSION  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOvOnOCYATo

I am not sure of the exact date of this release in '87. 

What is worth noting, and worth listening to, is the extended version.  It has the epic beginning of the album version, and some lush instrumentation and vocals in the middle.  This may have been a work in progress for the album version.  Regardless, if you like or love the song, this is the best! 

This was made available on 'The Solo Collection', and is one of my five favorite song versions from the nine music discs in that box set. 

On a personal note: it has a very special meaning for me and my 'Bal-ti-mora' wife, especially of a time after I dropped her off at the airport after visiting me in Michigan way back when, knowing I wouldn't see her again for another three months. On my way to my then residence, I had this version playing in the car.

"The moment that you stepped in the room
You took my breath away....'

Oh, how I smiled!

And then....

'God willing we will meet again....someday......' 

 :'(

I still get goosebumps just thinking about that moment...

[The Curious Orange]

That cover photo has always annoyed me, and it still does. They're too far over to the left, they need to crop the right hand edge of the image and centre it a bit. it just looks wonky.

Hank Marvin was the lead guitarist of The Shadows, a seminal UK rock group of the 50s who are known for backing Cliff Richard, who was billed as the UK Elvis before finding God and ruining the Christmas Number One spot every year since. Marvin was a huge influence on every British guitar player that came after him.

[Stadler]

That cover photo has always annoyed me, and it still does. They're too far over to the left, they need to crop the right hand edge of the image and centre it a bit. it just looks wonky.

Hank Marvin was the lead guitarist of The Shadows, a seminal UK rock group of the 50s who are known for backing Cliff Richard, who was billed as the UK Elvis before finding God and ruining the Christmas Number One spot every year since. Marvin was a huge influence on every British guitar player that came after him.

There's a great compilation called "Twang!" that is a tribute to Hank Marvin and the Shadows.  Brian May, Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Mark Knopfler, and Keith Urban are all on there.  It's excellent.

[DragonAttack]

That cover photo has always annoyed me, and it still does. They're too far over to the left, they need to crop the right hand edge of the image and centre it a bit. it just looks wonky.

Perhaps to give Montserrat more of a 'front and center'?  At least Hollywood Records fixed it with the '92 reissue.

Hank Marvin was the lead guitarist of The Shadows, a seminal UK rock group of the 50s who are known for backing Cliff Richard, who was billed as the UK Elvis before finding God and ruining the Christmas Number One spot every year since. Marvin was a huge influence on every British guitar player that came after him.

I do enjoy 'Mistletoe and Wine' that was on a UK holiday CD back in the early '90s, and provided me with my first listen of 'Thank God It's Christmas'.  I certainly know he isn't your favorite , but all I have is two memories of him over here in the States.  And both are good.

Marvin and the 'Twang' release:  yeah, it's good stuff, and Brian's 'FBI' instrumental made its first appearance on it in '96. I'll eventually get to it .

Since we're time travelling, I'd forgotten to include Brian's '85 work with Chris Thompson.



Released:  1985 in West Germany (Ultraphone)
A Shift in the Wind (part 1 and 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjQpU6OIIQA&list=RDNjQpU6OIIQA&start_radio=1 

only part one is included from his ‘Back Tracks’ compilation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ7YHZdXo0M&list=PLwabi2I8vclKNkHaSZgELMneh8KMaGmVL&index=1  (missing A Shift In The Wind part 2)



**********************
going back to '86

Chris Thompson,  Mannfred Mann vocalist, sang vocals on Steve Hackett’s first solo album in 1986, which Brian also appeared on. The album featured performances by artists such as Brian May (Queen), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Ian Mosley (also from Marillion), and Bonnie Tyler. However, the album, entitled Feedback 86, was not released until 2002.