Queen previously promised to unearth some duets with Michael Jackson, and now we've got the details of this release from the archives. The compilation Queen Forever will be out on November 11 through Hollywood Records.
The collection includes an assortment of material, which is tied together by the songs' thematic focus on love. There are hits, new versions of classic songs, lesser-known gems, and unheard cuts from the vaults.
The Michael Jackson collaboration "There Must Be More to Live Than This" appears here. The song dates back to 1981, and after the track went unfinished, Freddie Mercury recruited Jackson to add some vocals. These old takes have been mixed by producer William Orbit. The song premiered on BBC Radio 2 today (September 19), and you can hear a radio rip of the track at the bottom of this page.
Other unreleased cuts appearing here include the previously unfinished Queen song "Let Me in Your Heart Again" (which Mercury sung 30 years ago and the surviving members added new instrumentation for this release) and a stripped-down version of Mercury's solo hit "Love Kills" (which similarly places Mercury's vocals atop new instrumentation).
The set is available either as a 20-song single CD or a 36-song double-disc set. See the tracklists below.
Previous reports have indicated that Queen and Jackson also recorded the songs "Victory" and "State of Shock" together. There's no word as to when or if these will be officially released.
Queen Forever (single-CD version):
1. Let Me in Your Heart Again
2. Love Kills - The Ballad
3. There Must Be More to Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
4. It's A Hard Life
5. You're My Best Friend
6. Love of My Life
7. Drowse
8. Long Away
9. Lily of the Valley
10. Don't Try So Hard
11. Bijou
12. These Are the Days of Our Lives
13. Las Palabras de Amor
14. Who Wants to Live Forever
15. A Winter's Tale
16. Play the Game
17. Save Me
18. Somebody to Love
19. Too Much Love Will Kill You
20. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen Forever (double-CD version):
CD 1:
1. Let Me in Your Heart Again
2. Love Kills - The Ballad
3. There Must Be More to Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
4. Play the Game
5. Dear Friends
6. You're My Best Friend
7. Love of My Life
8. Drowse
9. You Take My Breath Away
10. Spread Your Wings
11. Long Away
12. Lily of the Valley
13. Don't Try So Hard
14. Bijou
15. These Are the Days of Our Lives
16. Nevermore
17. Las Palabras de Amor
18. Who Wants to Live Forever
CD 2:
1. I Was Born to Love You
2. Somebody to Love
3. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
4. Friends Will Be Friends
5. Jealousy
6. One Year of Love
7. A Winters Tale
8. '39
9. Mother Love
10. It's a Hard Life
11. Save Me
12. Made in Heaven
13. Too Much Love Will Kill You
14. Sail Away Sweet Sister
15. The Miracle
16. Is This the World We Created
17. In the Lap of the Gods…Revisited
18. Forever
The collection includes an assortment of material, which is tied together by the songs' thematic focus on love. There are hits, new versions of classic songs, lesser-known gems, and unheard cuts from the vaults.
The Michael Jackson collaboration "There Must Be More to Live Than This" appears here. The song dates back to 1981, and after the track went unfinished, Freddie Mercury recruited Jackson to add some vocals. These old takes have been mixed by producer William Orbit. The song premiered on BBC Radio 2 today (September 19), and you can hear a radio rip of the track at the bottom of this page.
Other unreleased cuts appearing here include the previously unfinished Queen song "Let Me in Your Heart Again" (which Mercury sung 30 years ago and the surviving members added new instrumentation for this release) and a stripped-down version of Mercury's solo hit "Love Kills" (which similarly places Mercury's vocals atop new instrumentation).
The set is available either as a 20-song single CD or a 36-song double-disc set. See the tracklists below.
Previous reports have indicated that Queen and Jackson also recorded the songs "Victory" and "State of Shock" together. There's no word as to when or if these will be officially released.
Queen Forever (single-CD version):
1. Let Me in Your Heart Again
2. Love Kills - The Ballad
3. There Must Be More to Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
4. It's A Hard Life
5. You're My Best Friend
6. Love of My Life
7. Drowse
8. Long Away
9. Lily of the Valley
10. Don't Try So Hard
11. Bijou
12. These Are the Days of Our Lives
13. Las Palabras de Amor
14. Who Wants to Live Forever
15. A Winter's Tale
16. Play the Game
17. Save Me
18. Somebody to Love
19. Too Much Love Will Kill You
20. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen Forever (double-CD version):
CD 1:
1. Let Me in Your Heart Again
2. Love Kills - The Ballad
3. There Must Be More to Life Than This (William Orbit Mix)
4. Play the Game
5. Dear Friends
6. You're My Best Friend
7. Love of My Life
8. Drowse
9. You Take My Breath Away
10. Spread Your Wings
11. Long Away
12. Lily of the Valley
13. Don't Try So Hard
14. Bijou
15. These Are the Days of Our Lives
16. Nevermore
17. Las Palabras de Amor
18. Who Wants to Live Forever
CD 2:
1. I Was Born to Love You
2. Somebody to Love
3. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
4. Friends Will Be Friends
5. Jealousy
6. One Year of Love
7. A Winters Tale
8. '39
9. Mother Love
10. It's a Hard Life
11. Save Me
12. Made in Heaven
13. Too Much Love Will Kill You
14. Sail Away Sweet Sister
15. The Miracle
16. Is This the World We Created
17. In the Lap of the Gods…Revisited
18. Forever
