''The Solo Collection'' is a
compilation box set
A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit.
Music
Artists ...
detailing the solo career of
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter who achieved global fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen (band), Queen. Regarded as one of the gre ...
; it includes the material Mercury recorded before joining up with
Queen
Queen most commonly refers to:
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen (band), a British rock band
Queen or QUEEN may also refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Q ...
, up through the 1993 No More Brothers remixes. Mercury's two studio albums are included, along with various single edits and non-album singles, B-sides, remixes, instrumentals, collaborations, a large number of demo recordings and a set of interviews conducted by David Wigg. Also included are two DVDs: a collection of Mercury's promotional music videos, and a documentary covering his life.
Track listing
''The Solo Collection'' (twelve-disc edition)
Disc one: '' Mr. Bad Guy'' (1985)
All songs written by Freddie Mercury
#"Let's Turn It On" – 3:42
#"
Made in Heaven" – 4:05
#"
I Was Born to Love You" – 3:38
#"
Foolin' Around" – 3:29
#"Your Kind of Lover" – 3:32
#"Mr. Bad Guy" – 4:09
#"Man Made Paradise" – 4:08
#"
There Must Be More to Life Than This" – 3:00
#"
Living on My Own" – 3:23
#"My Love Is Dangerous" – 3:42
#"
Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" – 3:46
Disc two: ''
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
'' (1988)
#Barcelona (Mercury) – 5:39
#La Japonaise (Mercury) – 4:48
#The Fallen Priest (Mercury/Moran/
Rice
Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...
) – 5:45
#Ensueño (Mercury/Moran/
Caballé) – 4:21
#
The Golden Boy (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 6:03
#Guide Me Home (Mercury/Moran) – 2:49
#How Can I Go On (Mercury) – 3:50
#Overture Piccante (Mercury/Moran) – 6:39
Disc three: ''
The Great Pretender
"The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by the Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single in November 1955. The words and music were written by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successf ...
'' (1992)
#
The Great Pretender
"The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by the Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single in November 1955. The words and music were written by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successf ...
(Brian Malouf Mix) (
Ram
Ram, ram, or RAM most commonly refers to:
* A male sheep
* Random-access memory, computer memory
* Ram Trucks, US, since 2009
** List of vehicles named Dodge Ram, trucks and vans
** Ram Pickup, produced by Ram Trucks
Ram, ram, or RAM may also ref ...
) – 3:39
#
Foolin' Around (Steve Brown Mix) (Mercury) – 3:35
#Time (
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 1 ...
Mix) (
Dave Clark/John Christie) – 3:49
#Your Kind Of Lover (Steve Brown Mix) (Mercury) – 3:59
#Exercises In Free Love (Mercury/Moran) – 3:56
#In My Defence (Ron Nevison Mix) (Clark/Soames/Daniels) – 3:51
#Mr. Bad Guy (Brian Malouf Mix) (Mercury) – 4:00
#Let's Turn It On (Jeff Lord-Alge Mix) (Mercury) – 3:45
#Living on My Own (Julian Raymond Mix) (Mercury) – 3:38
#My Love Is Dangerous (Jeff Lord-Alge Mix) (Mercury) – 3:40
#
Love Kills (Richard Wolf Mix) (Mercury/
Moroder) – 3:28
Disc four: ''The Singles 1973–1985''
#
I Can Hear Music
"I Can Hear Music" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector for American girl group the Ronettes (credited as ''The Ronettes Featuring Veronica'') in 1966. This version spent one week on the ''Billboard'' Pop chart a ...
(
Larry Lurex, 1973 Single) (
Greenwich
Greenwich ( , , ) is an List of areas of London, area in south-east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London, east-south-east of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime hi ...
/
Spector/
Barry) – 3:29
#Goin' Back (Larry Lurex, 1973 B-side) (Goffin/King) – 3:34
#Love Kills (Original 1984 Single Version) (Mercury/Moroder) – 4:31
#Love Kills (Original 1984 Extended Version) (Mercury/Moroder) – 5:22
#I Was Born to Love You (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 7:05
#Stop All The Fighting (1985 Non-album B-side) (Mercury) – 3:19
#Stop All The Fighting (1985 Non-album B-side Extended Version) (Mercury) – 6:37
#Made in Heaven (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 4:50
#She Blows Hot & Cold (1985 Non-album B-side) (Mercury) – 3:26
#She Blows Hot & Cold (1985 Non-album B-side Extended Version) (Mercury) – 5:50
#Living On My Own (1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) - 6:40
#My Love Is Dangerous (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 6:29
#Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 5:32
#Let's Turn It On (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 5:08
Disc five: ''The Singles 1986–1993''
#Time (Original 1986 Single/Album Version) (Clark/Christie) – 3:58
#Time (Original 1986 Extended Version) (Clark/Christie) – 4:37
#Time (Original 1986 Instrumental Version) (Clark/Christie) – 3:22
#In My Defence (1986 Album Version) (Clark/Soames/Daniels) – 3:57
#The Great Pretender (Original 1987 Single Version) (Ram) – 3:29
#The Great Pretender (Original 1987 Extended Version) (Ram) – 5:54
#Exercises In Free Love (1987 Non-album B-side) (Mercury/Moran) – 3:59
#Barcelona (Original 1987 Single Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:27
#Barcelona (Original 1987 Extended Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 7:07
#How Can I Go On (1989 Single Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:02
#Living on My Own (1993 No More Brothers Extended Mix) (Mercury) – 5:16
#Living on My Own (1993 Radio Mix) (Mercury) – 3:38
#Living on My Own (1993 Club Mix) (Mercury) – 4:27
#Living on My Own (1993 Underground Solutions Mix) (Mercury) – 5:45
Disc six: ''The Instrumentals''
#Barcelona (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:26
#La Japonaise (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:46
#The Fallen Priest (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 5:50
#Ensueño (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran/Caballé) – 4:00
#The Golden Boy (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 6:05
#Guide Me Home (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 2:38
#How Can I Go On (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 3:58
#Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 4:03
#Made in Heaven (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 4:17
#Mr. Bad Guy (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 4:14
#There Must Be More To Life Than This (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 3:08
#In My Defence (Instrumental) (Clark/Soames/Daniels) – 3:56
#The Great Pretender (Instrumental) (Ram) – 3:26
Disc seven: ''Rarities 1: The Mr Bad Guy Sessions''
#Let's Turn It On (A Capella) (Mercury) – 3:04
#Made in Heaven (Alternative Version) (Mercury) – 4:27
#I Was Born to Love You (Vocal & Piano Version) (Mercury) – 2:58
#Foolin' Around (Early Version) (Mercury) – 4:14
#Foolin' Around (Original 1985 Unreleased 12" Mix) (Mercury) – 5:37
#Foolin' Around (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 3:40
#Your Kind Of Lover (Early Version) (Mercury) – 4:47
#Your Kind Of Lover (Vocal & Piano Version) (Mercury) – 3:38
#Mr. Bad Guy (Orchestra Out-takes) (Mercury) – 0:35
#Mr. Bad Guy (Early Version) (Mercury) – 3:29
#There Must Be More To Life Than This (Piano Out-takes) (Mercury) – 2:48
#Living on My Own (Hybrid Edit: Early/Later Versions) (Mercury) – 4:29
#Love Is Dangerous (Early Version) (Mercury) – 2:12
#Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Early Version) (Mercury) – 2:18
#Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (2nd Early Version: Extract) (Mercury) – 1:03
#Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (3rd Early Version) (Mercury) – 3:26
#Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Live Take) (Mercury) – 4:22
#She Blows Hot & Cold (Alternative Version featuring Brian May) (Mercury) – 4:36
#Gazelle (Demo) (Mercury) – 1:20
#Money Can't Buy Happiness (Demo) (Mercury) – 2:37
#Love Makin' Love (Demo) (Mercury) – 3:35
#God Is Heavy (Demo) (Mercury) – 1:22
#New York (Demo) (Mercury) – 2:12
Disc eight: ''Rarities 2: The Barcelona Sessions''
#The Duet (The Fallen Priest) (Extract from Garden Lodge tape) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 3:04
#Idea (Barcelona) (Extract from Garden Lodge tape) (Mercury/Moran) – 1:12
#Idea (Barcelona) (2nd Extract from Garden Lodge tape) (Mercury/Moran) – 1:04
#Barcelona (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:21
#Barcelona (Freddie's Vocal Slave) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:31
#Barcelona (Later Version: Freddie's Vocal only) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:26
#La Japonaise (Early Version: Freddie's Vocal only) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:41
#La Japonaise (A Capella) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:17
#Rachmaninov's Revenge (The Fallen Priest) (Early Version) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 4:46
#Rachmaninov's Revenge (The Fallen Priest) (Later Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) – 5:51
#Ensueño (Montserrat's Live Takes) (Mercury/Moran/Caballé) – 5:36
#The Golden Boy (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 3:54
#The Golden Boy (2nd Early Version: Extract) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 2:56
#The Golden Boy (A Capella featuring Gospel Choir) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 5:12
#Guide Me Home / How Can I Go On (Alternative Versions) (Mercury/Moran) – 6:54
#How Can I Go On (Out-take: Extract) (Mercury/Moran) – 1:31
#How Can I Go On (Alternative Piano Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 3:45
#"When This Old Tired Body Wants to Sing" (Late Night Jam) (Mercury/Moran) – 2:42
Disc nine: ''Rarities 3: Other Sessions''
#
Rain
Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...
(Ibex, Live 1969) (
Lennon–McCartney
Lennon–McCartney is the songwriting partnership between the English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942) of the Beatles. It is widely considered one of the greatest, best known and most successful musical collabo ...
) – 3:51
#Green (Wreckage, Rehearsal 1969) (Mercury) – 3:15
#The Man From Manhattan (Eddie Howell 1976) (Howell) – 3:22
#Love Is The Hero (Billy Squier: 12" Version 1986) (Squier) – 5:22
#Lady With A Tenor Sax (Billy Squier: Work In Progress 1986) (Squier/Mercury) – 4:02
#Hold On (Freddie Mercury and Jo Dare 1986) (Mercury/
Mack) – 3:38
#Heaven for Everyone (The Cross Version: Freddie Vocal 1988) (Taylor) – 4:48
#Love Kills (Rock Mix) (Mercury/Moroder) – 4:27
#Love Kills (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moroder/Keenan) – 4:26
#The Great Pretender (Original Demo) (Ram) – 3:04
#Holding On (Demo) (Mercury) – 4:12
#It's So You (Demo) (Mercury) – 2:40
#I Can't Dance / Keep Smilin' (Demo) (Mercury) – 3:43
#Horns Of Doom (Demo) (
Richards) – 4:16
#Yellow Breezes (Demo) (Mercury/Moran) – 5:25
#Have A Nice Day (Fan Club Message) (Mercury/Moran) – 0:45
Disc ten: ''The David Wigg Interviews''
#1979, London (
The Crazy tour) – 8:11
#1984, Munich (
The Works tour) – 11:27
#1984, Munich (Pt. 2 Going solo) – 7:37
#1985, Wembley, London (Week of
Live Aid
Live Aid was a two-venue benefit concert and music-based fundraising initiative held on Saturday, 13 July 1985. The event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia, a m ...
) – 6:45
#1986, London (
The Magic tour) – 10:35
#1987, Ibiza (Freddie's 41st birthday) – 9:56
#1987, Ibiza (41st birthday. Pt. 2 Montserrat Caballé) – 8:21
#1987, Ibiza (41st birthday. Pt. 3 The Great Pretender) – 10:26
Disc eleven: ''The Video Collection'' (DVD)
*Barcelona (Live Version) (Mercury/Moran)
*The Great Pretender (Single Version) (Ram)
*I Was Born to Love You (Mercury)
*Time (Clark/Christie)
*How Can I Go On (Mercury/Moran)
*Made in Heaven (Mercury)
*Living on My Own (Mercury)
*The Golden Boy (Mercury/Moran/Rice)
*The Great Pretender (Extended Version) (Ram)
*Barcelona (Mercury/Moran)
*In My Defence (Re-edit 2000) (Clark/Soames/Daniels)
*Guide Me Home (Mercury/Moran)
Disc twelve: ''The Untold Story'' (DVD)
*Spice Island Dawn
*Strange Discipline
*Culture Shock
*The Draftsman Of Ealing
*Musical Awakenings
*Love of My Life
*Bacchus And Aphrodite
*Butterflies And Peacocks
*A Day At The Opera
*My Kind Of Towns
*Last Days
In early prints of the ''Solo Collection'' box, the third chapter of the DVD, "Culture Shock", includes what is described in the audio commentary by the filmmakers,
Rudi Dolezal
Rudi Dolezal (, born 5 February 1958) is an Austrian film producer and film director best known for his music videos. He has directed and produced videos for artists such as Tom Waits, the Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Michael Jacks ...
and
Hannes Rossacher
Hannes Rossacher (born 16 October 1952, Steyr) is an Austrian film director and film producer.
Rossacher has worked with Rudi Dolezal since 1976 in their production company DoRo Productions. His contributions to the ORF (broadcaster), ORF youth pr ...
of
DoRo Productions DoRo Produktion Ges.mbH DoRo Productions is a film company based in Vienna, Austria. DoRo was named after the surnames of founders Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher.
History
Dolezal and Rossacher, also known as the "Torpedo Twins", first started ...
, as a reconstruction of a
Parsi
The Parsis or Parsees () are a Zoroastrian ethnic group in the Indian subcontinent. They are descended from Persian refugees who migrated to the Indian subcontinent during and after the Arab-Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century, w ...
initiation religious ceremony. This segment was completely edited out from all subsequent reprints of the DVD as it was considered potentially offensive. It is also absent from the second version of the documentary, released in 2006 as Disc 1 of ''Lover of Life, Singer of Songs'', the DVD release accompanying the
same-titled compilation CD of Mercury solo recordings.
''Solo''
The box set was also released as a three-disc sampler titled ''Solo''. This edition contains Mercury's two original studio albums, as well as a third disc of selected tracks from the twelve-disc box set.
;Disc one: ''Mr. Bad Guy''
;Disc two: ''Barcelona''
;Disc three (''Bonus CD'')
#I Can Hear Music (Larry Lurex, 1973 Single) – 3:29
#Love Kills (Original 1984 Single Version) – 4:31
#The Great Pretender (Original 1987 Single Version) – 3:29
#Living on My Own (1993 Radio Mix) – 3:38
#In My Defence (2000 Remix) – 3:55
#Time (2000 Remix) – 4:02
#Love Kills (Rock Mix) – 4:27
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Solo Collection, The
Freddie Mercury albums
2000 compilation albums
Parlophone compilation albums
2000 video albums
Music video compilation albums
Documentary films about rock music and musicians
Parlophone video albums
Compilation albums published posthumously