Freddie Mercury – Never Boring (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Freddie Mercury – Never Boring (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 41:19 minutes | 523 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)

Iconic. Incomparable. Irreplaceable. But never, ever boring. Freddie Mercury’s spirit is every bit as central to the fabric of popular music today as it was during his unforgettable lifetime. The spectacular global success of the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, with global box office takings now close to one billion US dollars, was a powerful testament to Freddie’s presence as the ultimate rock frontman with Queen. But now comes a unique release to showcase the full range of his musical talents and passions, and their indelible imprint on the worlds of pop, opera and far beyond.

Released by Hollywood Records, the new Never Boring box set brings together for the first time a specially-curated selection of Freddie Mercury’s music, visuals and written and spoken words. It is a collection to jog the memory of fans, old and new, as to why Freddie remains such a beloved figure, nearly 30 years after his death. The set reminds us that Freddie was an exceptional singer, songwriter, performer and human being whose special kind of magic is captured in this exceptional collection of his solo work.

The package is meticulously compiled and produced by Queen’s longtime sound team Justin Shirley-Smith, Kris Fredriksson and Joshua J Macrae who also co-produced the Bohemian Rhapsody film official soundtrack album which became one of the biggest selling albums of 2018/2019. The album has remained high the UK charts since its release in November 2018 and in the US became Queen’s biggest selling album in 38 years.

Arriving in the wake of the success of the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, 2019’s immaculately produced box set Never Boring showcases the solo work of lead singer Freddie Mercury. Though he only ever released one proper solo album outside of Queen, 1985’s Mr. Bad Guy, Mercury did record enough individual material throughout his storied career to fill the three discs that make up this collection. Included are an 11-track special edition of Mr. Bad Guy, a nine-track edition of 1988’s Barcelona — his orchestral collaboration with opera diva Montserrat Caballé — and a compilation disc that brings together a handful of errant solo performances, including his 1987 cover single of the Platters’ “The Great Pretender.” Also included are a Blu-ray/DVD with music videos and live performances, as well as a gorgeous hardcover book with pictures and quotes from Mercury, and a foreword by actor Rami Malek, who portrayed him in Bohemian Rhapsody. In one sense, Never Boring is something of a vanity box, appealing mainly to hardcore Mercury aficionados as it scrapes together just about every scrap of what could constitute his solo work. In fairness, the legendary singer just didn’t record that much outside of Queen, and what he did record has largely been made available (albeit with less glamorous packaging pomp) on compilations like 1992’s The Great Pretender and 2016’s Messenger of the Gods: The Singles. Nonetheless, there is much to appreciate here, including Mr. Bad Guy singles like 1979’s Giorgio Moroder-produced disco track “Love Kills,” not to mention the powerful ballad “Made in Heaven” and the driving synth anthem “I Was Born to Love You,” both of which were later reworked by Queen along with the remainder of Mercury’s previously unused Queen recordings for inclusion on their final studio album, 1995’s Made in Heaven. The orchestral Barcelona alone (presented here in its reworked 2012 edition) is one of the most vibrant and moving collaborations between two absolute superstars you’ll ever hear. The bonus DVD offers some nice additions, including several of the live “La Nit” performances that Mercury and Caballé gave in 1988, all of Mercury’s music videos, as well as his 1986 interview for Time magazine with Dave Clark. Never Boring is a loving tribute to Mercury, spotlighting his diverse solo work and presenting it all in illustrious fashion.
– Matt Collar

Tracklist:
1-1. Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender (Special Edition) (03:25)
1-2. Freddie Mercury – I Was Born To Love You (Special Edition) (03:38)
1-3. Freddie Mercury – Barcelona (2012 Orchestrated Version) (05:42)
1-4. Freddie Mercury – Love Kills (Special Edition) (04:29)
1-5. Freddie Mercury – How Can I Go On (2012 Orchestrated Version / Single Version) (03:58)
1-6. Freddie Mercury – Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow (Special Edition) (03:45)
1-7. Freddie Mercury – Living On My Own (No More Brothers Radio Mix) (03:37)
1-8. Freddie Mercury – The Golden Boy (2012 Orchestrated Version / Single Edit) (05:12)
1-9. Freddie Mercury – She Blows Hot And Cold (Special Edition) (03:25)
1-10. Freddie Mercury – Made In Heaven (Special Edition) (04:05)

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