Customer Reviews

Stone Cold Classics

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This isn't too bad for a single-CD collection. Thankfully they realized that they don't necessarily have to include some of the sillier hit singles (like "Body Language" and "Flash"), and instead opted for FM album-oriented radio hits like "Tie Your Mother Down" and "Stone Cold Crazy" (the latter one of Metallica's influences). Those two songs give this CD more of Queen's rock feel which made the band famous, rather than too much later '80s pop. And there's a good balance between the '70s and '80s songs, showing Queen's diverse musical style. Though I can live without "You're My Best Friend" (and if you really want it you should get the actual classic album, "A Night At The Opera", which it came from), the strange omission of "Somebody To Love" is what I dropped one star for. That song was even performed on American Idol which this limited-edition disc was supposed to be tied into. Then I realized that not only did they also omit "Killer Queen", but the CD doesn't even seem full so it wasn't due to lack of space...there went the other star. But overall I still wouldn't mind giving this disc to friends as a good introduction to Queen.

But for the best Queen compilation, many fans seem to agree on buying "Greatest Hits" (with the pink CD cover) along with "Classic Queen" (with the blue cover) which were released together as companion CDs in the early '90s. (Those two discs also have a slightly better song selection than the similar 2-disc "Greatest Hits 1 & 2" and similar 3-disc "Platinum Collection".) The single-disc limited "We Will Rock You" edition of "Greatest Hits" from a couple years ago (a black cover with a picture of the four band members on the front) is probably the 2nd best overall collection.

Read the press release on QueenOnline.com. This is a tie-in with this week's American Idol show, where they're performing all Queen songs. There are only eight contestants performing on the show, so that's all the songs that are going to be on the album in addition to the obligatory We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions additions plus some live tracks from the tour with Paul Rodgers. It wasn't meant to be the definitive greatest hits CD. If you want that, get the Platinum Collection - that's a little closer to it.

As a Queen fan, I'm not giving this three stars because of the music. The music, as is the case with everything Queen does, is five stars. The Paul Rodgers tracks from recently can be skipped (I am a big Bad Company, Free and The Firm fan, but it's just not Queen without Freddie Mercury).

Back in the day, 'Greatest Hits' and 'Classic Queen' were the way to go if you wanted a good Queen collection. In 2008, it is STILL the way to go. 'Stone Cold Classics' is a very unnecessary release; I am aware that this was released to promote "Queen Week" on 'American Idol,' but still, they could have done better.

How could they omit 'Killer Queen' and 'Somebody To Love,' two huge radio hits for the Queen? COME ON HOLLYWOOD RECORDS!!! I could compile a better collection than they did.

Overall, don't buy this release unless you are a die-hard who is seeking the Paul Rodgers + Queen recordings. The sound quality is nothing new; sounds like it does on 'Greatest Hits' and 'Classic Queen.'

If you are seeking a single disc Queen collection, 'Greatest Hits' and 'Classic Queen' are what you need to get. If you want two take it up a step, buy 'The Platinum Collection' and 'Greatest Hits 1 & 2,' both contain most of the material on the single discs mentioned above.

Three stars for the compilation in general, but don't get me wrong, everything here except the Paul Rodgers material is five stars. All I'm saying is look elsewhere for a better Queen collection.

Recommended only for the die-hard Queen fan. The only reason I can think you would want to buy this is for the Paul Rodgers tracks. I will say this: Don't listen to the Rodgers tracks thinking they'll be anywhere near as good as Mercury's recordings with Queen.

a truly great collection of timeless music. you will enjoy this set :)

just finished watching "A Knight's Tale" (the 1991 movie with Heath Ledger) and much of the music was classic Queen ("We Are The Champions", "Another One Bites The Dust", etc...)...and it brought me to purchase this collection.

It's a great start...and hope you enjoy it!

I almost didn't get a chance to write this review. I was too busy laughing.

Laughing at what, you ask? At the silliness of the violently negative reviews over this album.

I will grant you that this compilation seems to be lacking in a few important songs (most especially "You're My Best Friend" and possibly "Somebody to Love"...I'm sorry, "39" is one of my all-time favorites and even I cannot get behind the complaint of it's exclusion here). I will grant you that the addition of two Paul Rodgers songs seems a bit dubious - I don't see his face on the cover. He's not a member of Queen. If that was going to happen, why the absence of the "+ Paul Rodgers" in the title of the album? Is this the band's way of getting us used to the notion of him possibly becoming a full-fledged band member? Who cares? (He's a means to an end, folks, and that end is getting our guys back on the road and maybe getting some new Brian and Roger music...and THAT I wanna hear!)

What I care about is the fact that the band's music is reaching new audiences. I was appalled at the Queen episode of Idol...what a joke, expecting these kids (some if not most of whom obviously had no idea what they were doing) to put these songs across in manner worthy of the band. However, the main objective as I saw it was marketing. I don't know how many young Americans got turned on to Queen after that show, but I hope plenty did. Queen needs some more recognition in this country!

So I have absolutely no problem with this album, its songs (hi, it's not a greatest hits compilation so calm down, everyone) or the purpose behind its release. Will I purchase it? Why should I? I already have all those songs on multiple cds. But it wouldn't be such a bad starter for the youngsters who may have been intrigued enough after Idol to hear more. And that's a great thing! Let's keep Queen going strong!

Oh, and one question: How many of these repackaged bands feature clips of their deceased or otherwise absent band members during their present-day concerts? How many of them would rather forget those ex-members? That's the folly of those bands, but not of Queen. They're not forgetting who they are or selling out. They're moving on under the Queen banner and giving fans, myself included, what they've craved for far too long: To see and hear their heroes once again. So let's maintain our focus, shall we?

At first, I just wanted to hear the songs they sang on idol, but I soon got hooked, and know The CD is never to far from me. Everyone needs tihs!

Queen's new compilation Stone Cold Classics is a waste of time and money.
I have not ever thought of giving a Queen album a low rating but this is a WASTE of TIME and MONEY.
Many of the hits are missing(Killer Queen, Keep Yourself Alive, You're My Best Friend, Body Language, Flash, Bicycle Race and Somebody to Love are not present) though Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Crazy little Thing and Another One Bites the Dust are featured.
The actual reaon for this poor excuse of a hits compilation was only done to cash in on the appearance of Queen and their songs on that awful show American Idol(which IS the Evil Empire of music shows with the judges which are that slimy cockroach Simon Cowell, one time Janet Jackson facsimile now has been Paula HABDULLAH the Butcher and the dude who was briefly in Journey Randy Jackson).
Save your money, buy The Platinum Collection or Greatest Hits-We Will Rock You version. This compilation is ridiculous!
What next, Pink Floyd or Rush on American Idol?, I certainly to God hope not!

Obviously more of a hits album for casual or new fans than something for the already converted, this is a really good selection of great songs for a great price. I bought it at a store yesterday and really like it.

I don't understand people who review/place ratings here who HAVEN'T EVEN heard the CD.

I read the reviews and just don't understand. There are so many Greatest Hits albums; why should people be upset about "what's missing?" - If you look at the content of the CD, you may find that these are the tracks THAT ARE STILL POPULAR! These are the tracks people are looking for now. So stop whining and go buy a Greatest Hits album. This CD does the new generation of Queen listeners proud. Queen has always had a handle on what people want. This is what the kids want!

Wow, this latest Greatest Hits album (I think it's Queen's 5000th Hits album) has more holes than Swiss Cheese. Look at the songs that were left off Stone Cold Classics:

1. Keep Yourself Alive
2. Liar
3. Seven Seas of Rhye
4. Killer Queen
5. Now I'm Here
6. '39
7. You're My Best Friend
8. I'm in Love with My Car
9. Somebody to Love
10. Bicycle Race
11. Play the Game
12. Save Me
13. Flash's Theme
14. Under Pressure
15. I Want to Break Free
16. Hammer to Fall
17. A Kind of Magic
18. Who Wants to Live Forever
19. One Vision
20. The Miracle
21. Breakthru
22. Innuendo
23. I'm Going Slightly Mad
24. Don't Stop Me Now
25. Spread Your Wings

I can't believe they left off Queen's breakthrough hit (Seven Seas of Rhye), their first international hit (Killer Queen), and one of their most popular songs of all time (Under Pressure). Don't forget about classic songs like Somebody to Love and You're My Best Friend. This album is a joke.

I agree with the previous review. Forget about this album, if you want a Queen: Greatest Hits album, get the We Will Rock You version (the one that came out about 2 years ago).