Customer Reviews

A Night at the Opera (30th Anniversary Coll. Ed) [CD/DVD Combo]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Loving 70s Queen so much, I always fantasised about "remixed" releases, not just "remastered" ones. A lot of the 70s production for Queen lacks the necessary balls - and because they were so clever with so many different layers, brilliant ideas sometimes seem to become lost or compressed into a 'tight' space.

This DVD has obliterated this problem. Listening to the DTS 5.1 DVD (especially after knowing the album in a certain form for so long) was for me, akin to a religious experience. From the thundering drums of "Death on Two Legs", to the swirling Freddie in the middle of "The Prophet Song", the Queen fan is immersed in a wash of brilliance, elegance and rock from all directions. I wasn't aware of the original instrument tracks being available for them to produce such a release so on hearing this, my excitement about the band has started all over again.

The reviewer here who says not to buy this because the video footage is crap must not have heard the DTS mix with 5.1 speakers around him - he simply would not have said such a thing if he had. The video is secondary here - I actually love it, but of course it's about the aural experience.

Be ready to transcend to another level in your musical experience.

I wasn't sure whether I should buy this version or not. I already had an earlier version in my collection but rave reviews, and the fact that A Night at the Opera is among my favorites through the years, convinced me to buy this updated version.

The re-mastering job on the CD version is great. The sound on the DVD version is, however, nothing less than stunning. The intro of Death on Two Legs gives an indication what is in store. When the drums roar during the chorus in the back speakers, there is no question about it, this is a bonanza sound experience. Most of the album sound wise is a roller coaster ride and with the great music accompanying it, this is a most buy.

The videos are mostly old Queen live footage, plus the videos originally shot for the singles. Some reviewers have given negative remarks about them but despite some problems with sound and sight being out of sync, I find the outcome being as good as it can be considering the limited options. God Save the Queen, with recent Brian May footage during the beginning and at the end Freddie walking of stage, is a very fitting finale of this set.

The packaging is extravagant, exemplifying the great detail put into this re-release. Much pride is inherent in this set and I recommend buying it, even if one may own an older version.

Despite what other reviewers have said, the DVD is great. It has all the tracks on the album and they are really cool to see on video for the first time. By the way, the making of ANATO is a fine addition to this collection. The DVD also provides very interesting commentary by all four members. The album itself ofcourse is great and sounds alot better. It is truely a classic containing all good or great songs.

Reviewers who made comments like "disappointed in the video" are missing the point: It's all about the 5.1 Surround mixes! A friend recommend this version highly and I've finally gotten around to buying this. But the point is that Queen's masterwork and Roy Thomas Baker's pinnacle are now being made available to enjoy in 6 channel audio. The videos are secondary to this kind of format.

Here is what you do. Go out and buy a 5.1 surround system. Set it up properly. Start the album (yes I said "album"). Then turn off the TV! Just listen. THAT is the purpose of these kinds of discs. Then after you have satisfied yourself, go back and listen to it again with the TV on and simply let your eyes gently fall upon the TV screen as screensaver images of yesteryear pass by. This is the purpose of this kind of disc.

PERFECT ALBUM. DISAPPOINTING DVD PRODUCTION.

First let me make it clear that that "A Night At The Opera" is a 5 star album. The music is amazing, brilliant and beautiful. It's hard to argue that it was one of Queen's finest albums, as well as one of the finest albums ever in it's genre. I don't think anything will ever change that.

The reason I had to give this collection 3 stars is because of the DVD included--certainly the reason I opted to buy this item (I already own it on vinyl and CD). However, I must say I am terribly disappointed with the DVD footage. The "new" videos it features are no more than edits of live footage over the studio recordings. And unfortunately, these appear awkward since Freddie's lips and Brian's hands are often slighly out of sync with the video.
Also included are music videos not even featuring Queen footage, but old stock footage of "related" material. "Seaside Rendezvous" is nothing more than old video of beaches. Certainly nicely done, but not really
Thankfully, the commentary really helps. If it wasn't for this I would have given the disc an even worse rating. Though, since it's "archive commentary" it doesn't quite "need" to be there. The bands gives some great background information on the album--though not generally about the specific tracks that the commentary correspond with.

Perhaps this is a "must" for a die-hard Queen fan, as it's an okay collection of rare QUEEN images and video. However, this doesn't sway my disappointment. It would have been more entertaining simply to include the live audio w/the corresponding live video. And personally, as a huge Queen fan I would much rather hear a rare live recording with live footage than the awkward out-of-sync music from an album I have already been quite familiar with for years. It just seems very pointless to me. Where's the NEW commentary? Or rare studio footage?

I really wanted to like the DVD in this set, but I just couldn't. It doesn't do the album the justice it deserves. It was produced unpassionately, simply with the purpose to make money. The producers threw in a bunch of great Queen stuff, but didn't really do much work to it. The DVD menu screen is and presentation is well done, but that's not what you're buying this collection for. I am a videographer and editor myself, and I could have edited together this same production even BETTER had I had access to all these footage. It's a mediocre production clearly not driven by the passions of a true Queen fan.

BOTTOM LINE:

Buy this if you want MORE of Queen and some interesting info about the album. It's certainly not much to spend to add to your Queen collection. However, is it essential to your Queen collection? No, not at all.. Like I said, the album itself still remains incredible. Though, the odds are if you're a Queen fan, you already own it. If you're NOT a Queen fan yet, STILL get this album. You can't really go wrong by buying the collecton with the DVD--but DO NOT expect to be impressed by the DVD. There's much better Queen stuff out there to spend your money on.

This by far is the place to start, if you want to appreciate the brilliance of Queen. As other generations are buying this just to get"Bohemian Rhapsody", those of us from other generations found a much smoother song in "The Prophets Song". This is CD is a variety of very different types of music,with something for anyone that loves music.

It's about f**king time! I got this cd in late November last year and I was so happy. They finally release a anniversary edition. But that wasn't the point. Queen was & always will be, the best band alive. Sure, there are other bands that are close behind, but this band was 100% original.
This was Queen's crowning achivement, their breakthrough album. To say the least, everyone likes it the best. But for me, this & Queen II are the band's essientals. But this album is really great. So.....just buy it. Alex (a Queen fan).

SoNgS:
1. Death on two legs (5/5) the piano intro is killer!
2. Lazing on a Sunday afternoon (5/5) nice song
3. I'm in love with my car (4.5/5) drums baby, drums
4. You're my best friend (5/5) Deacon's first hit
5. '39 (5/5) Long Away & this are my favorite Brian May on lead vocal songs.
6. Sweet Lady (5/5) Never the best, but something I'll listen to.
7. Seaside Renzdvous (5/5) a 1920s sound to it. Freddie & Roger are funny when they do the instrument imatations.
8. The Prophet's Song (5/5) the best underrated epic on the album. the vocals are amazing.
9. Love Of My Life (5/5) beautiful
10. Good Company (3/5) weakest track on here
11. Bohemian Rhapsody (5/5) this song sucks, just joking. this is the best F**KING song on planet earth, no questions asked.
12. God Save The Queen (5/5) Nice little song, just awesome!

While "Bohemian Rhapsody" deserves all the praise, adulation, and even the parody it's received over the years, what about "The Prophet's Song"? My God -- that these two tour-de-forces are on the same album / cd is simply insane!!! Mercury, May & Co didn't hold back anything. Was this truly the apex of rock, when it was clearly elevated to a mindboggling art form?

Queen's fourth album A Night at the Opera was originally released in December of 1975.
The album was the band's sink or swim album, if it flopped it would have been the end of Queen.
Here is a track-by-track summary of the album.
"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" kicks off the album in a hard rocking manner which was frontman Freddie Mercury's ode to an ex-management company whom treated the band like dirt. The vaudevillian sounding "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" follows and is great with its 1930s-ish sound and harmonized heavy metal guitar solo at the end is amazing. Drummer Roger Taylor's ode to the automobile "I'm In Love With My Car" follows and is a superb rocker sung by Roger. The ballad "You're My Best Friend" follows and is a nice song written by bass player John Deacon for his wife Veronica (whom he is still married to today) and was a US Top 20 hit in the summer of 1976 peaking at #16. I love the melodies and harmony parts. Guitarist Brian May's "'39" is a great skiffle (folk) song with Brian singing. The song is Queen's sci-fi song about a man who goes time travelling for a hundred years but comes back one year older. Musically sounds like an outtake from either The Beatles' Rubber Soul or a Kingston Trio album. Brian writes the next track, the rocker "Sweet Lady" which is a great hard rock track. Freddie's vaudevillian sounding "Seaside Rendezvous" ends the first half. Got to love those voice orchestrations from Roger and Freddie imitating a brass and horn section.
Brian's epic "The Prophet's Song" kicks off the second half in epic style and all I can say is WOW! The song was written while Brian was sick with the curable form of hepatitis and an ulcer which forced Queen to cancel a US tour in 1974. It's a great epic, superb vocals. Especially with Freddie's vocal solo which was pure genius. Freddie's "Love of My Life" follows and is a great song about a breakup. Brian's "Good Company" is next with Brian's jazz guitar orchestra, ukulele and vocals on this track just rock. Next is the album's biggest hit and Queen's arguable greatest moment, Freddie Mercury's nearly six minute "Bohemian Rhapsody". The song is Freddie's 6 minute magnum opus and a song unlike any in rock history. It has it all, ballad, an OPERA section (voices by the Queen members and was overdubbed and overdubbed to point where master tape almost deteriorated). This song would be Queen's first US Top 10 hit reaching #9 in 1976. Then it would reach #2 in 1992 in the US when re-released because of Wayne's World. Brian's classic rendition of the British anthem "God Save the Queen" closes this masterpiece.
When this album was released, it went to #4 in the US and became Queen's first million seller and has sold up to 3 million copies to date in the US alone (I helped when I first bought the album on CD in March of 1992 only being familiar with Bohemian Rhapsody and You're My Best Friend as they were on Elektra/Asylum's 1981 version of Queen's Greatest Hits).
In November of 2005, Queen re-released A Night at the Opera complete with a new remaster which buries any previous CD version of ANATO(including the remastered version on the 1998 Queen box set The Crown Jewels) plus a DVD of videos, commentary and the album in 5.1
The cut and paste videos on the DVD I liked the best are Death on Two Legs(showing footage from the Earls Court and Houston concerts in 1977), I'm in Love With My Car(which features more rare concert footage), Sweet Lady(with footage from the Hyde Park performance Queen did in 1976) and The Prophet's Song. Also, you get new re-mastered videos for You're My Best Friend and the "flames" version of Bohemian Rhapsody which was only an easter egg on the Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD released in 2002.
The commentary may not be new but at least it gives stories behind each track.
Some will say why buy again but I say go for it because of the remastering!
Highly recommended!

This is THE Queen album. If you have a 5.1+ surround system, you need this! The new mixes by Brian May are incredibly rich, and sound huge. The many layers of sound that Queen were famous for are now cascaded across all channels, bringing out every careful detail and nuance. The DVD images aren't bad, with mixtures of videos, stills, and live footage, but the audio is where it really shines.