The Datafile PD-CD 3/PDCD_3.iso/magazines/qfn_16/!QFN-16/Text/Letters

Text File | 1995-03-28 | 8KB | 204 lines

LETTERS
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Dear David,
I was very heartened to read Brian's letter in the fan club
magazine regarding Queen's work on the their 'next' album.
I really do feel that he has genuinely had a change of heart
towards it, because I think he'd be one of the last people
one to fill his fans with "bull"!

Eagerly looking forward to 'Happiness?'.
I'm excited about the lyrics as much, if not nore than the
music. I've always liked Roger's solo lyrics, and this time
he must have a lot he wants to express.
By the way don't you think it's time for a Roger Taylor
video-clip release?

Andy Fitzgerald
France



DEAR ANDY,
"Yes" to your last question. I can't say any more!
Apparently the idea for a Roger/Cross video is something
that's being pushed by the fan club, so who knows.
Maybe 1995 will be a very 'full' year on the Queen front.
Watch this space!

Yes, I always feel that Roger has something interesting to
say (in his solo work). Though not everyone would seem to
agree. See other letters.

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Dear David,
First an apology! I threw away the envelope that QFN-15 came
in so I can't quote you m reference number that was on the
label! Sorry.

Secondly, thanks to Max Fuller for some information on
helping me obtain 'Blue Rock'. I finally found it, and paid
£19 for the CD. I'm still looking for 'Mad, Bad &
Dangerous...', and 'Mr Bad Guy' though. Anybody help?

Right as far as 'Happiness?' is concerned, I think Roger has
done well. With all due respect to Brian I think it is far
more clever than Brian's 'Back To The Light'. The songs are
fine and the lyrics mean something. 'Nazis 1994' has grown
on me and 'Revelations', Foreign Sand' and 'Dear Mr Murdoch'
are already ranked as favourites. Well done Roger.

As for Brian's live CD/Video I would rather have seen a
release of the Nottingham Royal Centre gig, but never the
less it's still a brilliant show. I can't help but think the
full arguement during 'Love Token' would have been better
than the obvious edit.

Right, my turn to help Max Fuller out. The Aston Villa show
is available as a double CD bootleg, which I've seen at the
Trans-Pennine Record Fairs. The title is something like 'The
Brian May Band - Aston Villa 1993' so it's obvious really.
It sells at around £27. I hope my information will be
helpful to somebody.

Kris Barford
North Ferriby
UK



DEAR KRIS,
I'm sure many people will be glad of the Aston Villa bootleg
information, as is it really was a superb show. Thanks for
your help, though I think it's called 'The Brian May Tour Of
England'.

Not to worry about not quoting your refernce number. It just
means I can't extract your details from my computer as quick
as I like to! I will now have tohave to look through pages
of printed names. (In future please everyone supply their
number with each letter - thanks). The other number on the
label (that I mentioned in the last issue) notifies you when
your subscription runs out, and is there for your guide.

I thought your brief summing up of 'Happiness?' was quite an
approriate one to print along side the non-complimentary one
which can also to be found on the letters page.

__________________________________________________________________

Dear David,
I bought Roger's album and like it very much. It's amazing
how un-Queen-like it sounds. I think it needs to grow on you
a little bit before you can make an honest judgment, unlike
Brian's last solo album, which I instantly liked because it
had the same sound we have all come to expect from him, but
after a few plays of Roger's, I really liked it. I am not
going to any of the concerts though as most of the venues
are not really near to me or anywhere I particularly fancy
going to anyway. We would normally go down to London to see
the show there, as we did last December for Brian's Albert
Hall show, but just haven't got the time this year. I expect
you will be going to one or more so hope you enjoy it. You
seem to be quite a Roger Taylor fan (Not only Roger, I love
he quality sound of all the members of Queen - Ed.) whereas
to be honest I am a Brian May fanatic, but hope the tour
goes well for Roger. The album didn't get too far up in the
charts did it? nor did 'Foreign Sand', but then not many of
Roger's ever have really have they?

The highest chart positions of:
'Fun In Space'      - 18 (UK)
'Strange Frontier'  - 30 (UK)
'Happiness?'        - ?? (UK)

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Dear David,
First of all, congratulations on the magazine, it is as
usual superb. Keep up the good work. I would like to comment
on Roger's new solo album, I'm sure the following criticisms
will come for some abuse from the Roger-lovers but here
goes.

The album is at best average, at worst dire.
How can someone who wrote 'A Kind Of Magic', 'Radio Ga Ga',
'Tenement Funster' etc. turn out such garbage? The lyrics
are immature, childish and banal, (see 'Revelation').
His first 2 solo albums were good, as was the first Cross
album, but it's been going down-hill ever since.

How long will it be before Roger is dropped, as The Cross
were after poor album sales. Will we only be able to buy
them on import, if we want to buy them at all?
C'mon Roger you can do better than that. Take a leaf out of
out of Brian's book and Bring out a decent album. You've
got the talent as the past proves. Do you expect loyal fans
to buy such rubbish forever?

Finally, what was special about the CD? It was numbered
but didn't seem any different other than that. Is it another
record company rip-off?

(The above is an edited version of Simpn's letter, as I
couldn't possibly print some of it).

Simon Rowes
Doncaster
UK

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DEAR SIMON,
Well, what can I say to that? You obviously don't care much
for Roger's output these days, so why did you buy the album?
Surely you know from his recent releases from what to
expect. You can't have bought it as a collector or you would
know the reason for the numbered CD - they're purely for
collectors.

I don't think your arguement about Roger's past talents and
his current efforts is really being fair. Just because he
wrote 'Radio Ga Ga' etc. doesn't mean he'll continue in the
same vein forever. Artists' change - if you personally like
one period - fine, but creativity demands change, other-wise
Queen would have been churning out 'Bohemian Rhapsody,
number 40', rather moving with the times and pushing at the
boundaries of modern music. The testament of many well
respected perfomers proves this point, as they cite Queen as
a huge influence in their career.
Queen were four very talented individuals, of which Roger
was an integral force.

Roger has said that 'Happiness?' is a very personal album.
The tracks that Queen performed, but written by him also had
the involvement of the 3 other members of the band. Surely
his solo work can't be compared fairly in this respect, no
matter how you dislike/don't enjoy the album.

So, maybe some of his lyrics are child-like, but certainly
not all. Maybe if you could associate with some of these
'simple' lyrics, they wouldn't seem so trite - they do to
someone. On the other Hand 'Radio Ga Ga' is hardly
Shakespeare is it?

I'm sure your letter will cause upset and disbelief in some
quarters, but maybe not in all quarters. What do other fans
think about 'Happiness?'.

Perhaps some fans will expect too much from each individual
member of Queen in future if they seem too un-Queen like.
Now that would be a tragedy, as Brin, John and Roger will
need all the support they can muster from fans, The media
(and non-fans) will possibly see them as easy targets, like
baby chicks pulled from the warm comfort and safety of a
secure nest!

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END