The Complete Works (Queen album)

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The Complete Works
The Complete Works cover
Box set by Queen
Released 1985 (UK)
Genre Hard rock
Progressive rock
Glam rock
Pop rock
Heavy metal
Label EMI (UK)
Queen chronology
Greatest Hits
(1981)
The Complete Works
(1985)
Queen at the Beeb
(1989)

Following the 1985 Live Aid concert, Queen found themselves in a creative period. While spending only 20+ minutes onstage before the whole world, some felt that Queen had stolen the show. In the wake of this unexpected turn, Mercury called on the other band members, to go into the studio and record a song together. Until this point, all but a handful of songs were recorded by the individual members (and occasional duo-songwriting credits): "Stone Cold Crazy", "Under Pressure" (with David Bowie) and "Soul Brother". The result of this enthusiastic session was "One Vision" and its remixed B-side "Blurred Vision" being released as a single worldwide.

On December 2, Parlophone Records released what was then the definitive Queen boxed set: all of Queen's 11 original studio albums, their live album "Live Killers", and an extra disc titled "Complete Vision", which contained all the non-album A-sides and B-sides to that point. The band signed only 600 copies (on the "Complete Vision" sleeve), which have now become collectors' items. This was a 14 LP box; and in addition, the box featured two books, the first with all the albums' artwork, lyrics and pictures; the other had a color world map showing where Queen played and charted, and a world tour itinerary up to that time, showing a list of equipment they carried with them. Each album was digitally remastered and resleeved in white with an embossed Crest and gold Roman numerals.

As far as boxed sets go, this one was quite comprehensive. Missing from the box (if "missing" is the right word to use), would be their 1981 "Greatest Hits" album, and the few versions and edits released as singles worldwide. Queen has released four studio albums after The Complete Works; A Kind of Magic (1986), The Miracle (1989), Innuendo (1991) and Made in Heaven (1995).

[edit] Complete vision (album)

Bonus LP that came with the "Complete Works" boxed set in 1985 and tidied up the non-album a-sides and b-sides at the time. Oddly, both 33rpm and 45prm versions of the album exist.

[edit] Complete Vision track listing

  1. See What A Fool I've Been
  2. A Human Body
  3. Soul Brother
  4. I Go Crazy
  5. Thank God It's Christmas
  6. One Vision (Single Version)
  7. Blurred Vision

[edit] Album listing

  1. "Queen" (1973)
  2. "Queen II" (1974)
  3. "Sheer Heart Attack" (1974)
  4. "A Night at the Opera" (1975)
  5. "A Day at the Races" (1976)
  6. "News of the World" (1977)
  7. "Jazz" (1978)
  8. "Live Killers Vol. 1" (1979)
  9. "Live Killers Vol. 2"
  10. "The Game" (1980)
  11. "Flash Gordon" (1980)
  12. "Hot Space" (1982)
  13. "The Works" (1984)
  14. "Complete Vision" (additional LP)