Disco de Queen: “Platinum Collection, Vol. 1-3”

Note the name of this compilation of songs. "Queens greatest hits". Not the best of, or queen stuff or something like that. The first 2 Cds are great but the third is pure rubbish! Maybe it is because the 3rd is severely wanting that they felt the need to combine it with the other two. What is the point? You probably already own at least GH one or two or maybe "classic queen" but there is no real reason to own GH3. Don't buy it!

Queen is one of my all time favorite rock bands and i own 2/3 of all their albums. I persoanlly think it is an abomination that songs performed by other people would make a so called queen CD. If somebody wants to do a queen tribute Cd using various artists much like they did with elton john's songs it would be great. But to throw these songs onto queen greatest hits CD? It's obvious that this is just a way to keep the wheel greased. That maybe; probably; a wycliff jean, david bowie, elton john or george micheal fan will snap this up just because they appear on it. I just think it harms the queen legacy.

I also object to using marginally popular solo efforts on a GH CD. Including freedie's or brian's solo material just cheapens evertything. The solo stuff just isn't the same, isn't as good. Sorry.

Want to experience queen? Than buy the first album "Queen". Then buy "Queen 2" and then maybe "Night at the opera". Experience one of rock's great bands the way you should.

3 discs, 17 songs each, 51 songs. The Platinum Collection supplants the gold Greatest Hits I & II CD along with the third greatest hits CD that came out later. But is uniting them justifiable? For Queen completists, this is the best thing barring a box set collecting all their albums together. For me, the sound of Freddie's voice, backed by the operatic backing vocals of the others did it for me.

On the first disc, all the familiar tracks that have been played to death on radio are here. The perennial classic, "Bohemian Rhapsody" leads the disc. The disc ends with another all-time classic, the overplayed "We Will Rock You" and its companion track, "We Are The Champions." which will be heard as long as America has sports events. Then there's "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race." "Flash" is a campy but fun track from Flash Gordon, and I always had a thing for the skiffle/50's rock of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

Two Highlander songs are on disc two, "A Kind Of Magic" and "Who Wants To Live Forever." The classic David Bowie collaboration "Under Pressure" is also here. "I Want It All" is a hard-driving rocker from The Miracle. A quick note: I was at NMSU when Freddie Mercury died, and my colleagues Nicholas and Frank speculated that "Who Wants To Live Forever" and "The Show Must Go On" took on new meanings, as we figured that Freddie knew he was dying and had stoically accepted his fate. The same can be said for "Too Much Love Will Kill You", on disc three.

The third disc should not, repeat, be denounced as a plate of warmed over leftovers. Far from it, most of them have Freddie Mercury on vocals, whether with Queen or solo. Elton John proves himself worthy of subbing for Freddie in "The Show Must Go On," a tragic anthem that fit both Freddie and Princess Diana. The mix of "Under Pressure" isn't that bad either. And the anthemic "Princes Of The Universe" from Highlander is thankfully included. The hard driving (pardon the pun) "Driven By You" proves that Brian May has got what it takes to be the new lead singer should he and the other two decide to make an album as a threesome. And the inclusion of Wyclef Jean's take on "Another One Bites The Dust" is tolerable.

My personal favorites: "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Under Pressure", "The Show Must Go On", "Who Wants To Live Forever", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Flash", "I Want It All", "Headlong", "Somebody To Love", and "Driven By You".

The history and chart successes of each single, along with the picture of each single album cover in the booklet really helps out. I had to laugh at the members in drag on the "I Want To Break Free" single.

If one has the gold Queen double CD along with the third greatest hits volume, this collection is superfluous. However, for those who want a crash course in Queen, this is ideal.

First things first. After reading the other reviews, there is an obvious conclusion: what is causing disagreement it's the 3rd cd, hence called "GH 3, Queen +". While some people say that it has terrible content, other reviewers liked it, but say it is not aptly to call it a Queen GH CD, rather more like a tribute to Queen, and others have no problem with it.

I know that every head is a world, and therefore the same number of different points of view about the same thing or taste, or whatever, so if we are going to judge the 3rd cd, TO BE JUST, let's do it OBJECTIVELY, STEP BY STEP:

I. Songs performed by "QUEEN": A. The songs included here are mainly those that appeared on MADE IN HEAVEN,and that were GH caliber.( obviously were not included in neither the first 2 when they were issued, but rather on a THIRD ONE). "HEAVEN FOR EVERYONE" "TOO MUCH LOVE WILL KILL YOU" "LET ME LIVE" "YOU DON'T FOOL ME" "THANK GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS (B-SIDE to the MADE IN HEAVEN TRACK "A WINTER'S TALE") These are the excellent songs from the MADE IN HEAVEN ALBUM/TIME, that never had the chance to be included on a GH compilation. (Personal comment: I would have put MADE IN HEAVEN, MOTHER LOVE, A WINTER'S TALE here, simply amazing songs). SO OBVIOUS RIGHT TO BE HERE.

"THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES ( from INNUENDO, a #1 hit, not included on GH No.2 "I don't remember the month it was issued for the first time GH2, so that it could have been included there") "LAS PALABRAS DE AMOR" "PRINCES OF THE UNIVERSE", songs from the time of GH2, of the same caliber, very powerful, but simply ommitted when it was issued. RIGHTFULY ON A QUEEN GH cd.

II. Songs performed by "QUEEN +": THE SHOW MUST GO ON + elton john: REALLY, REALLY GREAT VERSION, besides, you get the original on GH2 (just one personal comment: since they included here the version of SOMEBODY TO LOVE + GEORGE MICHAEL performed in the FM tribute concert, and although i know that the purpose of this is not to be the FM TRIBUTE CONCERT CD, which by the way isn't out there in the market!, the songs that are performed by QUEEN + ( and TOO MUCH LOVE WILL KILL YOU) that have a version on the tribute concert, those are the versions they should have included here, like) UNDER PRESSURE (rah mix), which is an excellent version, not like the tribute concert, besides you get the original on GH2, but don't fall under the illusion that they are mere "fillers", they are of the same level, just different, like ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

III. On the solo efforts: BARCELONA (FM + MC) it is just a very powerful and beautiful song. LIVING ON MY OWN by FM, was an award winning track, DRIVEN BY YOU by BM it is also a POWERFUL track, like the FM classic cover of THE GREAT PRETENDER.

Like I said, there are millions of different points of view on weather to include the "+" and the solo efforts on the 3rd CD, and the 3rd cd onto the BOX SET, there are different tastes, but the tracks included here have earned the right to be on this 3rd GH CD, and the cd on the set.

As for the first and second cd, there is nothing much more to say, in the sense that since you are buying them, it is because you like this kind of music(magic!), and it gives you a general look at the band's best work during their reign. Of course, there is always one or two songs that you say I would have put this song instead of this one, but not changing the main body of the cd's. But because they are to please the most people possible, they select the most popular tracks.

Alson highly recomended for newcomers, because this will introduce you very well to QUEEN'S music,(they have selected the most popular tracks, so you can have a general look at the best work of the band). And to those who just like excellent music

P.S. like it says on the credits of QUEEN ROCKS "of course, NO ONE BUT YOU is another story", an extremely powerful and beautiful track, tribute to freddie and others like Princess Diana who died before their time. Included on GH3

P.P.S Although I don't own it on this format, It is a better way to do so, because every cd is a must, and if you get 3 for the price of 2, and as a part of a nice boxed set package, it's a better deal.

Wow. That's alot of Queen. 51 tracks over 3 cds constitutes a bucket of Queen. Do you really need that much queen? Not really. Either the Greatest Hits/Classic Queen duo or Greatest Hits I+II will do you much better. Freddie MErcury's voice, arguable one of the best ever heard, puts itself above others like Michael Jackson and Jeff Buckley in the first two volumes of this compilation. The sheer amount of emotion he channels into his singing (The Show must go on, Don't Stop me Now) defies comprehension. Queen is about Freddie Mercury's singing, and freddie mercury's singing shines the most in the first two volumes. The third does have such songs as 'Princes of the universe', which while they were radio hits, made it more due to the catchiness of the lyrics than the quality of music.

Should this beyour first Queen purchase, go for it. The more Queen you can hear, the better. however, if you've bought an album or one of the disc on the collection, pass this up.The Third and special disc is wasted.

Should you be a die-hard Queen fan, it may appeal more, but the albums from whence the third disc came are probably a better place to get the music. There are no previously unrealeased songs on the third disc, no incentive. Pass on this boxed set, go buy something else from the esteemed and wonderful Queen.

I have Greatest Hits I & II. These 2 compilations are the best rock you'll ever listen to.

Adding a so-called Greatest Hits # 3 to the other two is a travesty.

The only song that can be rescued from CD # 3 is "Great Pretender" and it's not even a Queen song.

Don't buy this thing. Go for Greatest Hits 1 & 2. You won't need more.