Listening to Queen's, "A Kind of Magic" Forgot how good it is!

gfong
gfong Posts: 1,079
edited October 2013 in Music & Movies
What a good album, I had forgot how complex and entertaining the songs were. Vinyl sounds fantastic, very clean, not digital sounding, but crisp/clear. Funny I say that as it was their first digital recording on vinyl.

What are your thoughts on A Kind of Magic?

It came out right after "The Works", which in my opinion was very radio friendly with a hint of the old Queen rock popping out in some of the tracks.

Freddie can sure belt them out, his emotion(s) even in studio recordings, was second to none.

Magic may not be the most popular from thier titles, but I think it is a little overlooked.

Comments?
Post edited by gfong on

Comments

  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited February 2011
    "One VIsion" is a good song, as is the title song, but... meh. "One Year of Love" is one of my least favorite by them, and the rest are definitely meh.

    "News of the World" will always be my fave :)
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
  • On3s&Z3r0s
    On3s&Z3r0s Posts: 1,013
    edited February 2011
    It's not overlooked by fans of the movie Highlander. :biggrin: I like most of the songs on that album. One Year of Love is definitely kind of grating... I have to always skip that one too. Does the vinyl version have the repeated cut of One Vision at the end? Just gimme... Fried Chicken!!!
  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    fantastic album. Night at the Opera is still my fave though.

    I keep their 3-disc greatest hits set nearby at all times :D
    design is where science and art break even.
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited February 2011
    I'm a Highlander Movie and TV show fan , I really like this Album. I liked all Queens Albums. I have "A night at the Opera" on DVD AUDIO , it's fantastic.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited February 2011
    I don't have the Lp, heard of it, Absolutely love Freddie! and Brian May is uber bad a$$, does anyone remember the '82 tour when he had the swing guitar strap, from a 6 to a 12?? Crazy Little thing called Love....Swap, Bam!

    I brushed against Freddie at the Throckmorton Mining Co. on Cedar Springs in Dallas, have to say I went weak kneed, the man had a presence like no other,Jeeze what a voice..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTzZdIfBxrY
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
  • gfong
    gfong Posts: 1,079
    edited February 2011
    Awesome comments! I really like One Year, his vocals reach some nice heights and the sax is great. Of course it is not the ripping guitar work of May but still a nice song IMO.

    Pretty tough for me to knock anything Queen did. We all have our faves and that is why I think Queen appealed to so many fans. Many different "faces" that almost anyone can grab on to and enjoy.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,448
    edited February 2011
    stuwee wrote: »
    I brushed against Freddie at the Throckmorton Mining Co. on Cedar Springs in Dallas, have to say I went weak kneed, the man had a presence like no other...

    At least you didn't go Radio GaGa:tongue:...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2011
    newrival wrote: »
    fantastic album. Night at the Opera is still my fave though.

    I keep their 3-disc greatest hits set nearby at all times :D


    Night at the Opera is killer on the SDA's They took full advantage of stereo on that LP LOL. In headphones the vocals keep flipping between channels. Some of my fave work them them as well as news of the world and the game.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,509
    edited February 2011
    Someone I know, can't recall who, made a comment on facebook about how they would gladly trade a few current pop stars just to get Freddie back.

    Hot Space wasn't well received by some as it was a shift from their traditional style. But I like it, along with the rest. Jazz is one of my fav's.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2011
    Wasn't Jazz the one with Bicycle race? if so, I not only have the LP but the poster inside with the women on bikes.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited February 2011
    At least you didn't go Radio GaGa:tongue:...

    Hehe! I sho 'nuff did, do you think Lady Gaga will ever admit to Freddie as her muse?? She pales against him IMHO

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2omuoO_hIbQ&feature=related
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2011
    I will have to pick up this CD.. never owned it before. sounds like it could be really good.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
  • spock 2054
    spock 2054 Posts: 163
    edited February 2011
    Queen did a great job on the blu-ray of Flash Gordon too. The movie was really cheesy, but the soundtrack is excellent, esp the DTS-HD MA...It's like Queen meets Vangelis.
    polk monitor 70's
    center - polk monitor cs2
    surround - polk monitor 60's
    surround back - jbl e10
    sub - velodyne dps 12
    sub - polk psw110
    avr/pre-amp - onkyo tx-nr809
    amp - adcom gfa-5500
    amp - carver av405
    display - sharp lc70le847u
    tv - silicon dust hd homern
    blu-ray - oppo bdp-103
    hd dvd- toshiba hd xa2
    control - logitech harmony one
    turntable - technics sl1500 mkII
  • moggi1964
    moggi1964 Posts: 42
    edited February 2011
    I enjoy everything they did though don't necessarily love it all.

    I saw them at Knebworth in '86 which turned out to be their last concert with Freddie.

    125,000 people singing Bohemian Rhapsody is simply amazing. :cool::cool::cool:

    Just introduced my 9 year old son to NATO on vinyl and he loves it; especially DOTL (dedicated to....) which he sings constantly; he is actually just home from school and is singing it now :biggrin:
    Magnavox 185 modified amplifier
    Vista Phono+
    Technics SL-D2 with ADC XLM MKII improved/AT440OC
    Polk Monitor 70 + CS2
  • On3s&Z3r0s
    On3s&Z3r0s Posts: 1,013
    edited February 2011
    erniejade wrote: »
    Wasn't Jazz the one with Bicycle race? if so, I not only have the LP but the poster inside with the women on bikes.

    Yep, and that would pretty much have to be my all time favorite Queen album for nostalgic reasons. My high school girlfriend had that album and she and a friend used to like to put on Fat Bottomed Girls and dance to it. Pretty much the highpoint of my life, actually.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,983
    edited February 2011
    newrival wrote: »
    fantastic album. Night at the Opera is still my fave though.

    I keep their 3-disc greatest hits set nearby at all times :D

    Stop it....I do too. Their greatest hits is always playing at some point during the week. Light years ahead of their time.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Almadacr
    Almadacr Posts: 185
    edited February 2011
    Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid its one of the greatest BR that i have and also i really like Innuendo from 1991 .
  • gfong
    gfong Posts: 1,079
    edited February 2011
    Almadacr wrote: »
    i really like Innuendo from 1991 .

    I picked up the vinyl version about 2 months ago, I knew the hits off of it, but the entire album is really strong.

    For me "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" stirs some moments up from my past.
    In another context the song forces me to think about the lead singer (Freddy Mercury) and his life strugle with Aids while making his last album.
    While I may not agree with his lifestyle choices, the man was pure genius for music.

    The guitar work by Brian May is oustanding in the song mentioned above.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1F_wiUuez0
  • p51tj
    p51tj Posts: 23
    edited October 2013
    Brighton Rock for the win...Brian has some great skills!
    Yamaha MX 800, CX 800, EQ 630, TV 930, Pioneer PD-M6, Polk RTi A7, RTi A3, CSi A4, DSWPRO550wi

    It's Go Pens!!!
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,983
    edited October 2013
    Queen is my fav. You can't beat Freddy, the musical rifts, pure genius.

    Someone to love
    Under pressure
    Don't stop me now
    Invisible man
    ....aside from every other great song they delivered.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,919
    edited October 2013
    FWIW, My favorite thing about Queen is that their lead guitarist (who is also a pretty darned good rock guitarist, BTW) is a PhD astrophysicist :-)

    http://astro.ic.ac.uk/bmay/home
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,589
    edited October 2013
    mantis wrote: »
    I'm a Highlander Movie and TV show fan , I really like this Album. I liked all Queens Albums. I have "A night at the Opera" on DVD AUDIO , it's fantastic.
    yes it is