Ready Freddie

All the hullabaloo about the film Bohemian Rhapsody put me in the mood to celebrate the life of Freddie, by way of his most quirky and introspective work with Queen. Though the movie was serviceable entertainment, it was hardly the Freddie biopic many of us fans were hoping for. Never mind, no doubt that Freddie would appreciate the Oscar at least.

The re-issue of Freddie’s solo work in remastered and ‘special edition’ form on the new compilation Never Boring warrants a re-visit to his solo works. Despite being a lifelong Freddie fan, I had never properly spent time with his solo stuff. Freddie’s foray into a solo career (briefly covered in the BoRhap movie) was not a success when measured against the huge expectations (and the size of his advance from the record label). Mr Bad Guy, his only album, took a long time to make - almost two years - and suffered from over production. Although a modest success in Europe, Mr Bad Guy didn’t achieve the creative credibility Freddie aimed for - the classic soul/pop/disco that had ripped up the music scene in the late 70s. It was a mish-mash, and sounded cheesy. Listening again to the tracks on Never Boring, they’re still a hot mess, but hugely entertaining nonetheless. Not to be taken seriously (probably not what he originally intended despite his wicked sense of humour), it is just tremendous fun darlings!

Thus, we have added no less than five solo tracks to our collection here, starting with his very 80s sounding rendition of The Great Pretender, and ending with Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow, a song Fred had written three times before. First as Play The Game in 1980 (still an underrated favourite of mine), then in 1984 as It’s A Hard Life on The Works, and yet again as Friends Will Be Friends in 1986 (aided and abetted by ‘Deacy’). Singles too, all of ‘em. Was he pulling our legs? The audacity of the man, darlings! Four times and the very same song! And, truly, never a dull moment.

ORIGINAL EDITORIAL

Vodka was Freddie’s favourite tipple, so much so that Queen even released its own limited edition brand of the stuff, which I served at a summer birthday party as part of a classic Vodka Martini named ‘The Ready Freddie’. It went down rather well. 

Naturally, the Ready Freddie comes with an appropriate companion playlist, which we may as well call Ready Freddie as well - keeping things nice and simple darlings! However, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you’ve never heard a Queen playlist quite like this one...

This isn't just Queen, it's Queen at its quirkiest and most flamboyant. One should only play these songs accompanied by the Ready Freddie because frankly, you’ll be conjuring up the spirit of Freddie both literally and metaphorically, dear. 

The playlist celebrates those moments where Freddie was in his element, winning over everyone else in the studio to create his unique, sometimes bizarre, vaudevillian vision. Which other rock band could make songs like Bring Back Leroy Brown, or Seaside Rendezvous? Only a rock band with Freddie in it, that’s what. He is on occasion, aided and abetted by “Deacy”, Queen’s dark horse hit machine (John Deacon delivered blockbuster Queen hits approx. every five years, including You’re My Best Friend, Another One Bites The Dust and I Want To Break Free). On Ready Freddie though, “Deacy” contributes two album tracks: the bright and breezy Misfire, maybe the first Queen song he ever got on a record, and the wonderfully loafy disco track Cool Cat, from the much maligned ‘Hot Space’ record. Both fabulous. 

The rest though, is pure Fred. Drink up, darlings! Like I said, flambo(u)yant.