QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS: RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS

"Return Of The Champions" is a double live album of Queen + Paul Rodgers that was released in 2005. It was recorded during the Queen + Paul Rodgers live tour at the Hallam FM Arena in Sheffield, England. So, we can say it isn't properly a Queen's album but a Queen and Rodgers album. The concert was also released on DVD format in the same year.

Personally, I have the two versions of this live show, the CD and the DVD versions. So, I'm going to make two reviews of this live show. However, as they cross itself one with other completely, I'm going to make both reviews in one as a complement of the other. So, in this CD version I'm going to write more about the music and the songs, saving for the DVD the images of the place and the protagonists on this live show. So, to know what I think, you should read both.

"Return Of The Champions" has twenty-seven tracks. "Reaching Out" is a Queen and Rodgers song, a kind of an introduction to the concert. "Tie Your Mother Down" is a Queen's song released on their album "A Day At The Races". "I Want To Break Free" is a Queen's song released on their album "The Works". "Fat Bottomed Girls" is a Queen's song released on their album "Jazz". "Wishing Well" is a Free's song released on their album "Heartbreaker". "Another One Bites The Dust" is a Queen's song released on their album "The Game". "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is a Queen's song released on their album "The Game". "Say It's Not True" is a Queen and Rodgers song released as the first single by Queen + Paul Rodgers. "39" is a Queen's song released on their album "A Night At The Opera". "Love Of My Life" is a Queen's song released on their album "A Night At The Opera". "Hammer To Fall" is a Queen's song released on their album "The Works". "Feel Like Makin' Love" is a Bad Company's song released on their album "Straight Shooter". "Let There Be Drums" is a song by Sandy Nelson and Richard Podolor. "I'm In Love With My Car" is a Queen's song released on their album "A Night At The Opera". "Guitar Solo", as its name indicates, is a guitar solo performed by May. "Last Horizon" is a May's song released on his album "Back To The Light". "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" is a Queen's song released on their album "Innuendo". "Radio Ga Ga" is a Queen's song released on their album "The Works". "Can't Get Enough" is a Bad Company's song released on their album "Bad Company". "A Kind Of Magic" is a Queen's song released on their album "A Kind Of Magic". "I Want It All" is a Queen's song released on their album "The Miracle". "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a Queen's song released on their album "A Night At The Opera". "The Show Must Go On" is a Queen's song released on their album "Innuendo". "All Right Now" is a Free's song released on their album "Fire And Water". "We Will Rock You" is a Queen's song released on their album "News Of The World". "We Are The Champions" is a Queen's song released on their album "News Of The World". "God Save The Queen" is an instrumental version of the British anthem that was originally released on their album "A Night At The Opera".

"Return Of The Champions" is undoubtedly slightly a different Queen's live album. Of course we can miss a lot the absence of two members of the band, their bassist John Deacon and especially their charismatic front man Freddie Mercury. And as we know, Queen always was a band with a stabilized line up, which always was the same, till the dead of Mercury. So, for the purists to see the absence of Mercury is a true sacrilege and the fact that Deacon is also not there makes the case finally out of the question. But, for everyone else, we can look forward to a terrific document of a terrific tour. Of course Rodgers can't be Mercury, at least as far as his unique personality and on stage performance are concerned. But, vocally he is really great. In fact, Rodgers isn't trying to be Mercury, and this becomes apparent during the all performance. Besides Rodgers, May and Taylor also shine in their respective solo spots as well as the show in general. Both also share various vocal spots throughout the album. In relation to the songs, the album includes some of the best and most known tracks of Queen, which are some of the greatest moments in rock history. With a combined track list that most bands could only dream of, the chosen repertoire definitely works for me. Besides that, we have also here a few tracks that aren't linked with Queen. All of this is supported by a superb performance and a great production.

Conclusion: "Return Of The Champions" is really a great concert. It revisits almost all Queens' studio albums and all the live performance is great. Of course it's not Queen, but it represents undoubtedly a great tribute to Mercury and the music that he helped to create. For many of us, it's very refreshing to hear again these songs played once more by the few members of the original Queen's line up plus this front man, who is a legendary singer in his own right. The final result is more than recommendable and if you have an open mind you certainly liked it. They probably could have gone out years ago and gotten some Mercury's sound like. Still, they know very well that is completely impossible to imitate Mercury. So, they took the right decision and invite a singer who sounds nothing like Mercury. It's really recommended.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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