The Very Best Of Freddie Mercury Solo - Freddie Mercury Album Review

Album Review

Queen's Brian May's inscription for the Freddie Mercury statute in Montreux was "Lover of life, Singer of Songs." So true.

In July 1986 I was fortunate to see Queen's penultimate concert at Maine Road, Manchester. It was a show I'll never forget. Predictably Freddie was on top form. The 'same' show is now available on DVD, Queen - Live At Wembley, which recently topped the Music DVD charts.

Now, nearly 15 years after his untimely death, comes this magnificent account of his solo career, which, some people don't realise, began under the pseudonym Larry Lurex, covering a Beach Boys classic I Can Hear Music in 1973: a very rare copy is in my collection.( see image ) It included Brian May and Roger Taylor, released just before Queen's debut single.

In all, Freddie scored 11 chart entries, one of which was a re-issue of Barcelona, then a remix of Living On My Own, making it his only number one, and final release in 1993.

To celebrate what would have been his 60th birthday on September 5, (subtitled) Lover of Life, Singer of Songs shows the once flamboyant and gregarious Faroukh Bulsara is as popular as ever, particularly when, nowadays, leading showmen are virtually non-existent.

CD 1 has the hits singles, plus a thinly sung I Can Hear Music, its B-side Goffin /King's Goin' Back, with CD 2 bringing 'alternative' versions - remixes, extended versions, a demo, and one a cappella.

Opening with two splendid power-ballads In My Defence, The Great Pretender, Freddie shows what a passionate interpreter of songs he was. There again, passion overflowed on just about everything he tackled, like Made In Heaven.

Despite his rock credentials, he was fond of disco beats, highlighted on Love Kills and disco favourite Living On My Own.

Some of Disc 2 doesn't work form me, though Mr.Bad Guy (Bad Circulation Version) and the reggaefied Love Is Dangerous (Extended Version) are brilliant.

Mercury was a sophisticated guy possessing a fine arts degree, had a fantastic art collection, and I'm sure a harking to hit the stage doing 'operatic' classics, with Barcelona and Guide Me Home, (when he memorably complimented Montserrat Caballe), giving us a clue for a future direction. Another hint may be hidden in his spectacular hit Bohemian Rhapsody. Sadly, we'll never find out.

Elly Roberts