June 30th, 1980 Queen Release The Game - by Scott Carr

 

Queen began the 1980's on a high note with their eighth studio album The Game released on June 30th, 1980.

 

Like all their previous albums, Queen explored different musical styles but in the end made them all sound like Queen. The Game produced two of the bands biggest pop hits with the funky "Another One Bites The Dust" and the rockabilly flavored "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." The success of both singles pushed The Game to the number one position on the Billboard album charts, making it Queen's only US chart topper. The album sold 4 million copies, which tied sales figures of their 1977 release New of the World.

The album opens with the very majestic and classic Queen-sounding track "Play The Game." Written by Freddie Mercury, "Play The Game" is as good as anything Mercury had written on previous Queen records and I would say is a very underrated song in their catalog. "Dragon Attack" follows and is one of Brian May's funkiest guitar riffs ever. Amazing guitar work from Brian is all over this track. Next up, two contributions from bassist John Deacon and they couldn't be more different from each other. "Another One Bites The Dust" is a funky disco- infused romp that became a worldwide success and the band's first number one single in America. "Need Your Loving Tonight" is Queen's attempt at power pop, maybe one of their catchiest tunes ever. John Deacon's importance in Queen is often overshadowed by the other three songwriters in the band but he wrote some amazing songs that have stood the test of time. Side one closes with a song that Mercury claimed to have written in five minutes, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." This rockabilly tip of the hat to Elvis Presley would become the albums second number one single.

Side two of The Game does not feature any hits but has some shining moments. The best song on side two would have to be Brian May's "Sail Away Sweet Sister." Brian takes lead vocals on this one and it sounds like something right off Queen's 1975 masterpiece A Night At The Opera. Mercury's "Don't Try Suicide" is another highlight on side two and probably one of the cheeriest anti-suicide songs ever recorded.

"Don't try suicide, Nobody's worth it, Don't try suicide, Nobody cares

Don't try suicide, You're just gonna hate it, Don't try suicide, Nobody gives a damn"

Drummer Roger Taylor delivers two strong tracks with "Rock It (Prime Jive)" and "Coming Soon," the latter sounding like  a New Wave Beach Boys. Brian May's "Save Me" closes out the album and is a true Queen classic.

If I were ranking the Queen catalog, The Game would be very close to the top. Mercury and company never really made a bad record from their 1973 debut through to The Game. They covered a lot of ground during those years and always came out sounding like Queen. The Game is probably the last classic Queen record as a whole. While they definitely had some great material after The Game, the records became much less consistent. 

Queen were a band in the truest sense of the word, every member vital to the sound that made them so unique and The Game finds them at their peak.

If anyone is interested, here are my Top Five Queen records......

1. A Night At The Opera

2. The Game

3. News of the World 

4. Queen 

5. Sheer Heart Attack

Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps andReturning April.  Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

Click here to buy the Queen Collection Boxset - https://queenofficial.lnk.to/studio-collection Subscribe to the Official Queen Channel Here http://bit.ly/Subscribe2Queen Taken from The Game, and Forever, 2014. Queen - 'Play The Game' Click here to buy the DVD with this video at the Official Queen Store: http://www.queenonlinestore.com The official 'Play The Game' music video.

Click here to buy the Queen Collection Boxset - https://queenofficial.lnk.to/studio-collection Subscribe to the Official Queen Channel Here http://bit.ly/Subscribe2Queen Taken from The Game, 1980 and Forever, 2014. Queen - 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' Click here to buy the DVD with this video at the Official Queen Store: http://www.queenonlinestore.com The official 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' music video.

Fan made video :) Enjoy :) //http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GljcR85z1WE&feature=channel - here's better quality

Subscribe to the Official Queen Channel Here http://bit.ly/Subscribe2Queen Queen - Sail Away Sweet Sister (Official Lyric Video) Taken from The Game, 1980 and Forever, 2014. Sing along to 'Sail Away Sweet Sister' with this official karaoke style Queen lyric video. Welcome to the official Queen channel.

Click here to buy the Queen Collection Boxset - https://queenofficial.lnk.to/studio-collection Subscribe to the Official Queen Channel Here http://bit.ly/Subscribe2Queen Taken from The Game, 1980 and Forever, 2014. Queen - 'Save Me' Click here to buy the DVD with this video at the Official Queen Store: http://www.queenonlinestore.com The official 'Save Me' music video.

Subscribe to the Official Queen Channel Here http://bit.ly/Subscribe2Queen Queen - Dragon Attack (Official Lyric Video) Taken from The Game, 1980. Sing along to 'Dragon Attack' with this official karaoke style Queen lyric video. Welcome to the official Queen channel. Subscribe today for exclusive Queen videos, including live shows, interviews, music videos & much more.

Subscribe to the Official Queen Channel Here http://bit.ly/Subscribe2Queen Queen - Don't Try Suicide (Official Lyric Video) Taken from The Game, 1980. Sing along to 'Don't Try Suicide' with this official karaoke style Queen lyric video. Welcome to the official Queen channel. Subscribe today for exclusive Queen videos, including live shows, interviews, music videos & much more.

Top Ten Vocalists: Part Three - Number One

You've been reading, watching, listening, and debating.

You've seen the first nine of my Top Ten list - agreed and fervently disagreed.

Now you want to know who my number one is.

Here's the crazy thing - it's a tie.

I can't decide. See... I was raised in the 80s during the days of power chords, big hair, and leather spandex. But my brothers were ten years older than me and they taught me rock 'n roll starting with the music they listed to in the 70s.

So I'm stuck living in both worlds - the 70s and the 80s, which is why it's a tie.

My first #1 is Freddie Mercury

If you've been following along this isn't going to be a surprise to you. I'm into the power vocalists from the 70s, the guys with range and talent.  I've been saying you have to have more than passion or attitude to be on my list. Here's the thing... Freddie's got the complete package: attitude, performance, presence, and a voice like no other. The guy has a massive range and total control of this voice. The way he used vibrato then add a little growl is his trademark. Listen to these isolated vocal tracks from the recording of Somebody To Love. Here's the truly miraculous thing: there wasn't autotune in those days.  It was all pitch perfect.

Only Freddie Mercury could write and sing a song that blends opera and rock n roll, and then have the masses fall in love with it. Think about this for a moment. Practically the same audience that would blast out any other rocking 70s tune would still turn this song up on the radio.

Finally, check out this song - "Who Wants To Live Forever?" On the record, Brian May the guitarist sings the first verse then you can instantly tell when Freddie takes over. Listen to the passion that he slowly builds throughout the song to an explosion at the end.

But here's the thing: Freddie's awesome but he's not perfect.  In fact, I was hard pressed to find any rock vocalist that fit my high standards to be number one. That's why I have a tie.

My other #1: Axl Rose

Yeah. You read that correctly. Axl f'n Rose. The guy has that distinctive angry rock voice but he's got talent, too. He's got this weird range that's both tenor and baritone at the same time. When I first listened to Appetite For Destruction I actually thought there was two lead singers. But why should that keep him off my list? If anything that's a plus in rock 'n roll.

A couple video tracks here. First is one of my favorites - Paradise City. Axl's sandpaper voice scrapes out the high notes on the chorus while his rythmic melodies rock out the verses. I swear that the Axl's on beat during the first verse and Adler's off rhythm. I'm also pretty sure that Axl's singing both leads and back-up vocals on the opening chorus.

Here's Axl's baritone voice at it's best. Again, the rhythmic melodies really kick ass here. This is live in '88 at the Ritz. Slash isn't at his best in the clip, nor is the rest of the band. My guess is they are all flying high on heroin.

Here's Axl's softer side that really lets his melodies shine. It sounds nothing like the guy who sings Paradise City and Welcome To The Jungle. This is Patience off of Lies, Lies, Lies.

So here's the problem with Axl and why he wasn't a clear #1 for me. Everything after Lies, Lies, Lies was an abomination. Use Your Illusion I & II was such an overproduced bag of shit it was pathetic. Way to ruin the rawness that made Guns N Roses what it was.

So that's my top ten.

Wal Ozello is the author of Assignment 1989: The Time Travel Wars and was the lead singer of the Columbus hairband Armada. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here

Top Ten Rock Vocalists: Part One - by Wal Ozello

I'm sure this list will bring on comments-a-plenty, but I'm also sure to surprise you on the way.

Let me set the ground rules for my list. Only those with vocal talent are on it. These aren't front men.  Don't expect to see David Lee Roth, Mick Jagger, or Bruce Springsteen on my list.  Just because they can shake their ass, dance around, or have a shitload of stage presence doesn't mean they can actually sing. And just because they are an amazing songwriter like John Lennon or Billy Joel doesn't mean they have a voice that transcends the ages.

These singers use their voice as an instrument. They know how to sing a phrase, turn a note, and add color. They know when to rip out lyric with power or suddenly add that magical breathiness.  Most importantly, they are distinctive and instantly recognizable. You hear them and you know it. A band without them is just a bunch of musicians.

My runners-up for this list were (in no consecutive order): Jim Morrison, Axl Rose, Don Henley, Grace Slick, James LaBrie from Dream Theatre, Dio, Geoff Tate from Queensryche, and David Gilmour from Pink Floyd.

#10: P!nk. And right out of the chute I'm sure to get people to say WHAT????  Yeah, I said it. P!nk. There's got to be a woman on this list and it's not going to be Janis Joplin with her whiskey voice.  Remove the fact that P!nk's a pop sensation. She's got shitload of talent, blues, power, range, and dynamic. She can cross many genres and pull all of them off. Yeah, she's known for her pop and I can't blame her for wanting the fame and fortune and everything that goes with it. You still think I'm crazy?  Listen to her rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow at the Oscars. Sure, it's not rock... but it's bluesy as all hell.

#9 Eddie Vedder Eddie's voice reminds me of a string double bass that strums around in the lower range and every now and then works down the neck to surprise you with a higher note. He's able to bring emotion to a phrase without overdoing it - which is something most singers can't do. Listen to the opening notes of his song Release. At first, you'll mistake them for a low end note of a synthesizer.

#8 Roy Orbison I got to reach back to good ol' days of rock n' roll for at least one singer on my list. It's not going to be Elvis. It's not going to be one of The Beatles, either.  Roy has an amazing voice and complete control of it. He has range like none other and that soft, gentle voice that makes you think everything is going to be okay.   I fell in love with this song during my Blue Velvet days. Cue the candy colored clown they call the sandman.

#7 Bon Scott This guy is like an angry Bob Dylan with a range - sometimes you can't understand a word he's saying but that gravely bluesy angry voice makes you want to f'n rock. There's raw power in his voice but don't be fooled. He's not your ordinary angry hard rocker. The guy knows how to sing like a growling tenor saxophonist in a dive bar on Bourbon Street. Listen to the phrasing and rhythmic melodies he creates, entwining the lyrics in between the drum beats.

#6 Geddy Lee from Rush. Geddy doesn't have the panache like most of the singers on my list and ends up on more "best bassists" than vocalists lists.  But after personally singing his stuff over the past 20 years of my life, I can attest that it's extremely challenging. Just try hitting the high notes in Temple of Syrinx or the baritone notes of Trees. Geddy makes it all look effortless while he's playing the most complicated bass licks and keyboard parts. There's a certain beauty and awe about his melodies - they are a bit odd and different but that adds to the magic that is Rush. Here's one of my favorites.

Check out Part Two - Vocalists #5 through #2

Wal Ozello is the author of Assignment 1989: The Time Travel Wars and was the lead singer of the Columbus hairband Armada. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here