Freddie Mercury
STATE OF SHOCK 'Ultra Rare Tracks'

1 CD

Label: The Great Pretender Records  GPR 001 / URT 001
Country: Japan
Released: December 2003
Recorded: Various studio demos, live track & private recordings.
Sound: Excellent soundboard recordings. A few tracks are audience recordings.
Comments: Nice and interested. Some tracks previously un-released. Some tracks from the Freddie box (10 cd's + 2 DVD's). Anyway, a nice cd.
Roots: Un-released tracks & from Freddie's box.
Time: 79:51


Front cover

State Of Shock  (w/Michael Jackson, 1984)
There Must Be More To Live Than This  (w/Michael Jackson, 1984)
Every One Of Us  (w/Cliff Richard,  Live Dominion Theatre, London  April14th. 1988)
Made In Heaven  (alternative version, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow  (early version,  'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1985)
Love Makin' Love  (demo, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
Mr. Bad Guy  (early version, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
She Blows Hot And Cold  (alternative version w/ Brian May, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
Money Can't Buy Happiness  (demo, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
It's So You  (demo, 'Barcelona' session 1987)
Guide Me Home ~ How Can I Go On  (alternative version, 'Barcelona' session 1988)
Holding On  (demo, 'Barcelona' session 1987)
New York  (demo, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
Your Kind Of Lover  (vocal & piano version, 'Mr. Bad Guy' session 1984)
I Can't Dance ~ Keep Smilin'  (demo, 'Barcelona' session 1987)
The Great Pretender  (demo, 1986)
When This Old Tiered Body Wants To Sing  (late night jam, Mountain studio 1987)
Yellow Bleezes  (demo, 'Barcelona' session 1987)
The Duet (The Fallen Priest)  (w/Montserrat Cabbale. Garden Lodge March 29th. 1987)
Secret Track 1  (w/Peter Straker & Mike Moran at Freddie's house on February 29th. 1988)
Secret Track 2  (w/Peter Straker & Mike Moran at Freddie's house on February 29th. 1988)
Secret Track 3  (w/Peter Straker & Mike Moran at Freddie's house on February 29th. 1988)
Have A Nice Day  (w/Mike Moran. Fan club message to the fan club convention 1988)


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Back cover







Review by Collectors music reviews
State Of Shock follows the pattern of recent Queen releases by placing astounding new finds with filler that most Queen/Freddie Mercury collectors already have.  The new material here are demos recorded by Freddie and Michael Jackson in Los Angeles in early 1984 that never came to fruition.  They demoed three tracks, two of which are finally included in this collection.  “State of Shock” is very basic with Freddie and Michael singing with a drum machine.  It’s great to hear Freddie doing his thing with Michael and makes one wish this song was finished and released. The second track “There Must Be More To Life Than This” was originally intended for The Works, but finally found a home on Freddie’s 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy.  This version consists of Michael singing lead with Freddie at the piano telling instructions.  The third song is “Victory” which is still buried and was later re-recorded for The Jacksons.  Hopefully one day that might come to light.

The other brand new material are the secret tracks recorded on November 29, 1988 and have been called the “Pink Elephant Tape” because the cassette recorder used was in the shape of a pink elephant.  It simply consists of Freddie, Mike Moran and Peter Straker playing the piano and vamping to show tunes.  It’s a very interesting document.  Nothing astounding musically but a rare glimpse into Freddie’s private home life.  The balance of the tracks are demos taken from the massive Freddie Mercury Solo ten-cd box set that was released in December 2000 and unfortunately unavailable here in the states.  Luckily Great Pretender Records included some tracks that are not available on the three CD US version of the box set like “She Blows Hot And Cold” with Brian May.  I’m assuming this will be the only release on this label unless other Freddie gems are unearthed.  Until then, State of Shock is definitely a title worth owning.  (GS)