Queen - Innuendo

Japanese exclusive 2001 remaster of 1991 album. 12 tracks. Album Description

Freddie's swan song.

It was 1991. Rock was about to lose one of its icons. Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, was dying of AIDS and eventually succumbed to the disease. But before they did, they released one last album, sort of as a farewell. It became one of the best of Queen's new albums, and for a good reason.

The songs in this album range from hard to just plain haunting. The track opens up with the album title track, a progressive track involving many instruments, including a Spanish guitar. It then goes on to "I'm Going Slightly Mad," with its haunting keyboards and allusions to madness with its lyrics. Then it goes into "Headlong," a more enthusiastic song that's fast paced. The songs then range from rockers to songs about Freddie's pet cat. Songs such as "The Hitman" are straight up guitar, while tracks such as "Deliah" are more synthesized. Then, the album ends with another eerie track, "The Show Must Go On," which is Freddie's last song and one with probably the most meaning.

This is an album that's high reccomended, especially for Queen fans. December 3, 2008

'Innuendo' -- easily one of 1991's finest albums

1991 was a year of change in the music industry. Nirvana released the essential 'Nevermind.' Guns N' Roses released the 'Use Your Illusion' series that year. And who could forget U2's classic 'Achtung Baby'?

But the real surprise in 1991 was Queen's 'Innuendo.' Freddie Mercury, a sick and dying man when this was recorded, sounds better than ever, and Brian May's guitar is easily at it's best since, say 'Sheer Heart Attack' or 'News Of The World.'

Another pleasant surprise was Queen's return to heavy metal. The title track and 'Headlong' are really great early '90s heavy metal songs, and Mercury proves he still has the vocal range to sing metal -- and effectively.

'Innuendo' features two great, showstopping ballads, 'The Show Must Go On' and one of my personal favorites, 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives.' Mercury's voice is undescribable, it's just so great.

My personal favorite here is perhaps 'I'm Going Slightly Mad.' Mercury shows his bold, operatic range, and it's easily one of the greatest, most dramatic performances Queen ever did.

After 'Innuendo' was released, Mercury stepped in the studio to make a batch of final recordings that would later round up the 1995 album 'Made In Heaven.'

On November 23, 1991, Freddie Mercury announced he had AIDs. A day later, November 24, 1991, Mercury was dead at the age of 45. Elton John, David Bowie and the rest of Queen (May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor) all attended his funeral. When Mercury died, the music world truly lost one of it's greatest vocalists.

Overall, if you haven't already, listen to 'Innuendo.' It's not their best, but it's certainly one of their best. Mercury's voice is as fine as it's been in years.

I highly recommend 'Innuendo' to anybody who loves Queen or even appreciates them. Mercury purists should enjoy this album too.

ENJOY!!! November 25, 2008

On with the show

"Innuendo" was released in February of 1992. The single "These are The Days Of Our Lives" was issued ahead of the album to little airplay, while "Headlong" fared better at rock radio. The video for "Days" was interesting in that Mercury seemed frail looking and in poor health. In November, Freddie Mercury released a press statement that he was terminally ill with AIDS, and then died within days. As is now well known, Mercury was fighting to complete this album (along with tracks that eventually would become Made in Heaven) as his last testament.

As such, "Innuendo" is a really solid late Queen album, as good as A Kind of Magic and equal to A Day At The Races. Mortality was obviously weighing heavily on Mercury and his bandmates, as semi-autobiographical numbers like "I'm Going Slightly Mad," Mercury's ode to his cats "Delilah," the bittersweet "Days" and the stately "The Show Must Go On" all indicate. Brain May's guitar is hotter here than on many of their post-Game, on both "Bijou" and the epic title track.

Queen's pop sense also was in full swing here, with such missed opportunities for singles as "All God's Children" and "I Can't Live With You." Even though Mercury was in failing health, the band's tradition for pomp and grandeur continued with an album launch party occurring on the fabled Queen Mary liner in the US after Hollywood Records signed the band in the US. It's a considerable feat that the band decided to go out at full-throttle, with Mercury delivering some top-notch work. As the album closes, Mercury delivers what could be his finest goodbye.

"My soul is painted
like the wings of butterflies,
Fairy tales of yesterday,
will grow but never die,
I can fly, my friends!
The Show must go on!" November 12, 2008

"Destroy our fears, release your mask!"

I remember when this album was released, a friend of mine told me he saw a TV special about Queen. He said that Freddie, in particular, looked very unhealthy in the videos for "I'm Going Slightly Mad" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives." Well, I think we all know what happened to Freddie Mercury just months after this release. Although he was a fairly private person, the performance and the lyrics are Freddie's most personal. "Innuendo" features Steve Howe of Yes on the acoustic middle 8th. Freddie sings "Don't take offence at my innuendo (probably more in reference to his playful side than anything else). Some people have compared this to the middle 8th in "Bohemian Rhapsody." "I'm Going Slightly Mad" is a more humourous song, with hilarious lines "I think I'm a banana tree" and "I'm riding only 3 wheels these days, my dear, how about you?" John Deacon closes with a fast bassline. "Headlong" is more like the oldschool Queen as is "I Can't Live without You," both featuring some great guitar work from Brian May. "Don't Try So Hard" is a more personal song, warning people to do their best but not kill themselves in the process. "Ride the Wild Wind" is reminiscent of "Don't Lose Your Head," with Roger Taylor's fast and furious drums and opening narration "Push the envelope, don't sit on the fence!" "All God's People" sounds a little like "Somebody to Love," with its waltzy tempo and Gospel flavour. "Rule with your heart and lead with your conscience," Freddie preaches in the song. This song also features the operatic harmonies that graced earlier albums like A Night at the Opera. "These Are the Days of Our Lives" is a sensitive ballad about growing old with the one you love. "No use wondering what you did when you can sit back and enjoy it through your kids." "Delilah" is a humourous song about Freddie's cat and Brian makes cat sounds with his Red Special guitar. "Hitman" is almost a heavy metal rewrite of "Another One Bites the Dust." This song is probably meant to be tongue in cheek, as it seems uncharacteristic with the rest of the album. Brian plays a lovely romantic solo at the beginning of "Bjou" (which means "sacred jewel"). Finally, we come to the closing track, the ultimate farewell song "The Show Must Go On." Freddie probably knew his days were numbered but stayed strong, as you can hear with lyrics "Empty places, what are we living for?... I'll face it with a grin, I'm never giving in, on with the show!" On this no one can argue- Queen's legacy will go on. September 25, 2008

Queen - Innuendo

The music CD was in top condition. It was sent out to me before the alloted time. I would purchase a CD from these folks again. September 18, 2008

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