LIVE MAGIC
Queen
•Prog Related
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Live, released in 1986 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. One Vision {From the Motion Picture Iron Eagle} (5:09) - Brian May / arranger, guitar, vocals 1986 Queen Productions ltd. Holywood Records. Produced by Queen and Trip Khalef Thanks to tuxon for the additionEdit this entry |
Buy QUEEN Live Magic Music
![]() | Live Magic EMI | $216.96 $30.91 (used) |
![]() | Live Magic Hollywood Records 1996 | $28.01 $8.98 (used) |
![]() | Live Magic EMI/Parlophone 1994 | $11.62 $2.61 (used) |
![]() | Queen - The Magic Years, Vol. 2 - Live Killers in the Making [VHS] Mpi Media Group 1989 | $118.99 $3.79 (used) |
![]() | Queen - Live Magic - EMI - F 669 844 EMI | $299.90 |
![]() | Live Magic by Queen Universal Music & VI | $137.50 |
![]() | Queen - Live Magic - EMI - 24 0675 1, EMI - 062-24 0675 1, EMI - 1A 062-24 0675 1 EMI | $41.50 (used) |
![]() | LIVE MAGIC(ltd.reissue) EMIMUSIC JAPAN | $27.46 (used) |
![]() | Live Magic Limited Edition Toshiba EMI Japan 2004 | $49.95 $44.18 (used) |
![]() | Live Magic Remastered Toshiba EMI Japan 2001 | $13.75 (used) |

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QUEEN Live Magic ratings distribution
(75 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of rock music(5%)
Excellent addition to any rock music collection(11%)
Good, but non-essential (35%)
Collectors/fans only (21%)
Poor. Only for completionists (28%)
QUEEN Live Magic reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Errors & Omissions Team

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

The purpose was much more obvious back in 1986 when this thing came out...QUEEN were ultra-popular, there were no official live document from the 80s and therefore no opportunity to hear new mega-hits performed live.
Even in that case this is a poor work. I guess fans were quite disappointed when this one came out, especially compared to excellent "Live Killers" from 1979.
This is not truncated version of "Live At Wembley '86", actually only "Hammer To Fall" and "Is This The World We Created...?" are recorded live from Wembley Stadium, the rest is from Knebworth Park and Budapest. However, there is no significant difference in the performance here and on "Live At Wembley" CD (save the fact that while listening to "Live At Wembley" you can feel like you were there, and the songs are prolonged rather than shortened).
I guess you have to be a really die-hard QUEEN fan (like I am) to get this CD - simply because of completing your collection, and because of alternative live versions. This one failed miserably on the test of time. One and a half star, but considering the fact that this document is not of any interest for prog rock fan, I won't round it to two stars.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

"Live magic" captures Queen at pretty much the height of their career. The resurgence in their popularity which resulted from their appearance at "Live aid" is captured here in a succession of songs which were live anthems and pop classics.
OK, that's the good news. The bad news is that this album fails to satisfy. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most significant is that the compilers have tried to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. There are a total of 15 tracks, squeezed onto two sides of an LP. This results in many of the songs being abbreviated.
The album is made up of songs taken from three separate gigs, two in the United Kingdom, and one in Hungary. Such is that band's professionalism that in reality it matters not where the recordings took place, the sound and the crowd's reaction is the same. There is no doubt that these recordings capture some of the excitement of a Queen gig; from the opening "One vision" through "Tie your mother down" and "Seven seas of Rhye", the band rapidly wind up the crowd to a frenzy.
One purpose the album does serve is to demonstrate the strength of the song-writing talent throughout the band. All four band members have songs included which can be classified as Queen classics. The emphasis is largely on Queen's then more recent numbers, with songs such as "Killer Queen", "Brighton rock", and anything from the first album, being ruthlessly (if understandably, some were on 1979's "Live Killers") omitted. The six songs on side one of the LP are largely unabridged, with only "Seven seas of Rhye" being cut down to segue into "A kind of magic".
The shortened tracks on the second side are presented as a sort of medley, leading to disappointing renditions of songs such as "Friends will be friends". The anthems "We are the champions", "Radio ga-ga" and "We will rock you" inevitably wind the crowd up further, Freddie by now has them in the palm of his hands. There is though a feeling of coldness and aloofness to it all.
For me, an integral part of the appeal of Queen's music is the quality of the studio production, and the perfect nature of the final product. In a live environment, such qualities are given lesser importance. It is therefore necessary to witness the performance to gain full satisfaction from it, not to simply hear it. As live Queen albums go, this is adequate, but in terms of the Queen discography it is far from essential.
PROG REVIEWER

Of course, several tracks are emasculated, but it was already the case during their first live album "Live Killers" released some seven years prior to this one.
The set list is of course seriously oriented towards their latest work (but who can blame a band to promote their most recent albums even if they were not great ones). Numerous hit singles are featured (and this was probably what the audience wanted to listen to).
Since this live record is shortly formatted, there won't be too much of a karaoke in here (which is a good thing). From the glory days (IMO), only three songs remain in this set : "Seven Seas Of Rhye", "Rhapsody" of course and the very good rocking "Tie Your Mother Down".
One gets the classic closing sports anthems which are almost an obligation for the band to play. The version of Hammer To Fall is also showing that the band still rocks all right and is more than a Kind Of Magic oriented.
It is of course not a great live record, but still a decent one. You shouldn't expect any prog in here. Maybe for their next album? Two stars.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Team

Queen was a fantastic live band and the shows where this live album was recorded were no exceptions. However, the final result is embarrasingly bad! Most of the songs have been truncated and there is simply not much 'magic' left in them at all. Also, this was recorded in several different places which gives a shattered impression.
There is the much, much better 2CD (and now also DVD) Live At Wembley, with a full show from this same tour. In the light of that excellent release, which contains every song from this album but in full, Live Magic is a very unneccessary release!
This is really only for completionists this one. By no means up to par with Live At Wembley CD and DVD (the DVD offers more value for money in my opinion as you get visuals with it as well as a 5.1 mix and lots of extras).
This is a very weird live album!
Latest members reviews
It is very unfortunate, that although Queen were one of the best live acts ever, they really hadn't
figured out how to record and release a decent document of their live show! Their 1979 attempt,
Live Killers was not a terrible attempt, but the sound quality and the lack of several of the
tour'
... (read more)
Report this review (#191010) | Posted by silversaw | Saturday, November 29, 2008 | Review Permanlink
I don't think this album is as bad as some people say, but it is correct to mention that "Live
at Wembley '86" is better than this one, not only because all the concert was recorded,
but also because the editions of the "Live Magic" are poorly done.
It also has another con...with the edition
... (read more)
Report this review (#41565) | Posted by | Thursday, August 4, 2005 | Review Permanlink
A poor excuse for a live album, the songs are good, the performance is equally great, as
can be expected from a band of Queens kaliber, but the production is awfull. I remember
buying this album with huge expectations, just a view at the setlist made me drule with
anticipation, but I didn't no
... (read more)
Report this review (#41197) | Posted by tuxon | Monday, August 1, 2005 | Review Permanlink
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