Customer Reviews

Queen: Complete Works

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Georg Purvis (aka Lester Burnham) has written one for the ages. It's odd that there hasn't already been a comprehensive, song-by-song review of Queen's material, much less the encyclopedic Queen-related material (including each members' solo projects.) There are also detailed but concise reviews of each album (again including solo projects) which do the best thing a review can -- make you want to listen again, or pick them up for the first time. Added bonuses for longer-term fans are reviews of unreleased songs, especially the alternate names you'll find when hunting them down.

I was wary of such a comprehensive tome containing one person's opinions, since many of the best review books balance several opposing ones, leaving the decision up to the reader. Fortunately, Mr. Purvis' opinions are well-formed and not just a categorical damning / favoring of any one member / style / era of Queen.

There is much more to this book than I have focused on in this review, see it for yourself!

Queen: Complete Works is the first book about a musician or band that I have ever read.

I have enjoyed Queen's music since the 1980's, so I decided to buy this book.

I was a little daunted at first because it contains no photographs and I wasn't sure if it would be lively enough to hold my interest.

I was so surprised to find that once I started to read, I simply couldn't put it down!

It's obvious that the author has a deep respect for Queen. His words are thoughtful and well-written and interjected with bits of humor.

The Pre-Queen and Album sections are a fascinating chronology of the band and, for me, were like a trip down memory lane. The Songs section interprets and critiques every song the band sang.

Now, I find that every time I hear a Queen song, I stop what I'm doing and listen to it.

This book has made me love Queen all over again.

This book is simply fantastic. It is vast and encylopaedic in every chapter. It has revealed plenty of tasty little tidbits and interesting facts that just make me giggle with excitement. Georg has done an excellent job of reviewing pre-Queen, Queen and post-Freddie Queen material as well as just about every song performed by Queen and all the stuff from the lads too.

It's well written and I know when I've finished it I'll be giving it to friends. They deserve to be educated by the best.

I'm just waiting for his book on my band now. It'll be a short two page romp.

I bought this book a few months ago, and I think it is excellent.

One thing to keep in mind however, is that this is definitely a 'reference book' more than a biography-type book. As such, it is not quite so much of a book that can be read from cover to cover, as a book that you look up interesting little bits and pieces in.

It is divided into several sections, from pre-queen, then gives a detailed account of the process behind the production of each album. Next it gives an extremely thorough description and write-up of EVERY SINGLE song performed by Queen (or any of its members by themselves). It then describes each gig played by Queen( set list, where played etc.), and gives a run-down of all 'non-album' items released (e.g. VHS, DVD etc.)

I most enjoyed the section about the production of the albums as this is the part of the book that reads the most like a biography, however I definitely enjoyed being able to read the descriptions of the individual songs. It also gives an excellent run down of DVDs etc, and helped me to choose which ones I wanted to buy (although it is now slightly out of date, and does not feature the most recent DVD).

Also, keep in mind, that there are no pictures to speak of in this book, which does not really detract - but just be aware.

All up though, a great book for any Queen fan, very interesting, although perhaps a little too in-depth for casual fans due to its 'reference book' nature.

I must admit, I was a little skeptical about buying this book, thinking that it wouldn't be much more than a long boring story about what the author thought about Queen. But, I was surprised. Have you ever wondered over the meaning of a Queen-song? Just look it up! Want to know about their bands before they became Queen? IBEX, 1984, Deacon and so on? Well... It's all here.
You won't regret buying this book : ) The only thing I have to comment is the lack of pictures. Not a BIG deal, but still. It would give the book a nice touch.

This book is simply the best consolidated information resource guide I have ever come across about the rock group Queen. It's a great book!!

Another year and another Fantasic Queen book hits the shelves full of Fantastic pictures,well written text and a must for any Queen or Music fan...10/10

"Queen - Complete Works" is a remarkable book. So accurate, so through, so in-depth, very well researched and written in an easy to use and informative style. This is, quite simply, *the* best book on the subject of Queen's musical catalogue and that of its members. This is "the bible" of Queen discographies and it will be an indispensible resource for all serious fans of this endlessly entertaining band - in all its past and present permutations. You will not be disappointed - guaranteed.

My son is the ultimate Queen music fan and this was the ultimate book for him. This books goes through each and every Queen song in such detail that a true fan will love it.

This is one of the best Queen biographies available, and the only good biography that contains good information about Queen after 1991.