Review
by Collectors
music reviews
Queen took a short five day break after the important Mannheim show on
June 21st which included a radio broadcast around Germany. Berlin
captured in an excellent stereo audience recording taped close to the
stage. It captures the weight of the performance very well. Immigrant
Magic is the only silver pressed edition of what is one of the best
tapes from Queen’s Magic tour. Gypsy Eye brought out the high end
slightly, but did a very good job overall with the tape.
This was Queen’s first visit to Berlin in two years. Freddie’s
voice was well rested thanks to the five day break in the tour and this
represents one of his best vocal perfomances on the Magic tour.
The tape pics up right at the “God works in mysterious ways”
introduction to “One Vision.”
The early medley begins with a passionate “In The Lap
Of The Gods…Revisited” and runs through “Seven Seas Of Rhye” and
“Tear It Up” before ending with “A Kind Of Magic,” their latest
artistic creation. “Under Pressure” and “Another One Bites The
Dust” forms a dance pair, reminding the audience what Queen were doing
only several years before.
Freddie gives the usual denail to the break
up rumors before “Who Wants To Live Forever.” As the next song
“I Want To Break Free” begins Freddie quips, “Is this
where I wear the funny dress?” During the improper
improvisation Brian plays a few bars of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant
Song” prompting the rest of the band to follow. It lasts for about a
minute and Freddie is okay with the viking shrieks but is a but vague on
the lyrics.
The very long acoustic set includes both originals the
the covers of well known rockabilly tunes. ”(You’re So
Square) I Don’t Care” and “Hello Mary Lou” were regularly played
by Zeppelin on their early tours. May acknowledged in
an interview that was the inspiration for including them in the Magicset
and provides another link to Zeppelin. After the first verse of
“Hello Mary Lou,” Freddie says to “See, they’re clapping on the
off-beat.”
“I think you know this one” is Freddie’s simple
introduction to the set closer “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”
The encore set, beginning with a very tight “Radio Ga Ga” is standard
for the tour. Gypsy Eye’s cover art for this release is a clever
combination of the “Immigrant Song” single with the portraits of Queen
in their Magic cartoon personas. Overall this is a solid
effort by the label and is one of the best documents to have from the
Magic tour. |
