*********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  Performer : Freddie Mercury Title : The Freddie Mercury Album No. of tracks : 11 Running Time : 44m 16s *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  Over a year has passed since the tragic death of Freddie Mercury on November 24th 1991. Since then, there has been an incredible surge of interest in both the songs of Queen and, more importantly, Freddie himself. No-one can deny that Freddie was a vocalist truly deserving of the status "legend". Late last year, to commemorate the first anniversary of his death, or to cash in on his current reign of popularity depending on how you look at it, this compilation album was released featuring a selection of tracks from Freddie's solo performances, including a number of tracks taken from his album "Mr Bad Guy". Most of the tracks have been left in their original format, but a couple have been re-mixed (I'll come on to these later). First, the packaging! There were two versions of the CD released. First was the "normal" release featuring a portrait photo of Freddie on the cover, along with a 12 page booklet featuring a few small photos and lyrics to all of the tracks. However, in the tradition of so many records nowadays, a collectors edition was also produced that came in an additional card sleeve, and featured 5 full colour photos. Granted, these photos are nothing more than larger versions of the photos inside the booklet, but it still made a nice collectors piece. Surprisingly, there was no difference in the cost! On to the songs themselves. First on the CD is Freddie's cover version of "The Great Pretender". This is a superb version of this classic song, and is even an improvement on the original, using the incredible range of Freddie's voice. In fact, I would say that the original lacks the charm, and, dare I say, tongue-in-cheek humour of Freddie's version. Also, great use is made of one of Queen's legendary trademarks - the "choir" effect. Simply stunning. Following this is "Foolin' Around". This is a rather bland hybrid of dance and ballad songs which is also the first on the CD to have been re-mixed. Fortunately not to a great extent, but there is a very intrusive snare drum beat thumping throughout the song that seems very out of place. This song could have been sung by anyone. It also highlights one of Queen's and Freddie Mercury's only weaknesses - lyrics. To be honest, the lyrics of many Queen songs are far from perfect and they are only carried by the tune and Freddie's vocals. The third piece is the ballad "Time", Freddie's contribution to the musical of the same name. This wasn't written by Freddie, but he carries the song as well as if it was one of his own. A good song, and a very subtle re-mix that doesn't spoil the song at all. A good track. Fourth is "Your Kind Of Lover". This track is simply awful! It starts in a promising fashion, mimicking the Queen classic "We Are The Champions", until it then hits a weak disco beat. No doubt most of the fault with this track lies with the re-mix, but it doesn't seem that there was a great song underneath to start with. Very repetitive. Next is a purely instrumental, piano-lead piece entitled "Exercises In Free Love". Although Freddie wrote the track, the only element that identifies the "song" as being by Freddie Mercury is the constant use of Freddie's distinctive "oooh's" (well, how would YOU describe them?) throughout the piece. As with the previous track, this should have been left off the CD completely. The sixth song is the recently released single, "In My Defence". This is another song from "Time" and again, it's another great song and a good vehicle for Freddie's voice. There are also shades of Brian May in the guitar solo! The seventh is the title track from his solo album, "Mr Bad Guy". This is a good old rock track for which Freddie was so well known. If you can ignore the truly dreadful lyrics, you'll find a very enjoyable song and one which is probably the closest on the CD to the more familiar style of Queen during the 80's. The subsequent song is "Let's Turn It On". This is yet another song that should have been relegated to the waste disposal chute! Again a bland song has been re-mixed, this time with a very heavy snare beat, coupled with some other added instruments that could only be described as a house/dance composite which seems to suffer immensely from both the original rock- influenced song and the re-mixed dance track strugling for attention. All I can say is that if Freddie was still alive today, this version of this song would NEVER have been produced. "Living On My Own" follows and is yet another track slaughter by the addition of a dance drum beat. It's really difficult to enjoy songs like this that feature Freddie's vocals. With saying that, going by the lyrics, the original version can't have been a classic either, with lyrics like these: Dee do de de, dee do de de I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, yeah Got to be some good times ahead Do I really need to go on? The penultimate song is "Love Kills", from the Georgio Moroder's soundtrack for Fritz Lang's Metropolis. This is another good song, although it does show that it originated from the early 80's and the actual backing to Freddie's vocals is very similar to the other Moroder songs I have heard. Still, a good piece, but anything would seem good after the previous efforts. Finally is the operartic "Barcelona". This is really a song that is subject to personal taste - many Queen/Freddie Mercury fans detest the song, personally I love it! This track probably makes the best use of all the familiar Queen production values and effects including the "choir" and the stunning use of stereo found on so many Queen albums. Overall, this probably won't appeal to the average Queen fan, but the majority of the songs are enjoyable and there is no need at all for me to praise the vocals! Queen fans and non-Queen fans should take a listen first, Freddie Mercury fans should have already bought it - if not, go and get it -- NOW! Reviewed by Simon Plumbe *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************